Does Osama Bin Laden Frighten You?

[Simplicius]

As for the nominal topic at hand, I think the average person isn't scared enough and doesn't take life seriously enough in the modern world, but, uh, terrorism is the least of your concerns right now, seriously. Also one of the least preventable.

The difference between a campaign of terror in one's own locality and one at great distance or distributed across the entire globe is significant, though. There's absolutely no way I will experience actual fear on account of a terrorist organization that operates on such a large scale that it only intermittently targets my own country and has never targeted my geographic region. Even a terrorist campaign removed from my own location but within the US would not occasion fear until it or its motive started heading my way. Concern, alarm, yes - fear, no.

As already stated, fear is a reaction to an immediate danger or the appearance thereof. When that danger is not manifest, there is no reason to feel fear.

[andrewgpaul]

No, mostly because he's a laughable fellow. He orchestrated the destruction of two of our buildings. We blew up two of their countries.

Which is quite impressive, since they only 'had' one before you started

I'm not bothered about AQ. I was more bothered by the IRA at the time than by AQ now.

[Durandal]

I fear the government that exploits villains more than the villains themselves.