Great reader responses to a Guardian story about the UK terror threat level being raised

[marmar]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/29/uk-terror-threat-raised-severe



State of emergency: we need wider powers. Private property suspended, all property deeds transferred to the government with immediate effect.
Do not leave your homes except to work, citizen.
Show me your papers.

NucMed ReluctantDissident
29 August 2014 2:54pm


"Step up to red alert!"
"...Are you sure Sir? It does mean changing the bulb..."
To quote Red Dwarf.

bobnoxious BombNumber20
29 August 2014 3:00pm


To quote an episode from 'Futurama' - 'Beige Alert! Beige Alert!'

Saeid Alami BombNumber20
29 August 2014 3:06pm


Unless we're supposed to *do* something (dig a bunker, stock up on canned food) when the threat level is raised, isn't it all a bit meaningless?
If there is a genuine raised risk of a threat, then the security services should be attempting to foil it - as is their job.
Aside from attempted scaremongering (do you know anyone who is worried when this happens), I fail to see the objective.

Anothersmallcog lazerguided
29 August 2014 2:54pm


Classic distraction. Have they no shame - Lynton Crosby's fingerprints all over this. Do they - the establishment think we are really that thick?

NorthernLight
29 August 2014 2:49pm

It really is difficult to take this kind of thing seriously anymore. No recent government has any credibility on this score.

marukun NorthernLight
29 August 2014 2:59pm


Absolutely. This is total bullshit.
More people die falling down the stairs in the UK each year than ever from terrorist attacks.
Live you life normally but look both ways before crossing the road and don't run down the stairs.

Redtalk NorthernLight
29 August 2014 3:00pm


The message is just: Be scared, don't think analytically about the situation, just be scared


francoisP
29 August 2014 2:49pm

Citizens it is your duty to be afraid

Redtalk francoisP
29 August 2014 3:04pm


ISIS ARE LITERALLY LIVING NEXT DOOR TO YOU! You wonder how you lost your phone yesterday, IT WAS ISIS! They're on our streets so make sure you're constantly checking your back! I just think we should surrender our Human Rights to make sure ISIS can never hurt us!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary. H.L. Mencken

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. I really like that LOTS of people have caught onto that trick.

Judging from comments I read all over the web, in various news stories, and even on Amazon, which is becoming quite the hothouse for political comment related to books and other things....people are getting very wise.
Looks like Balir and Shrub did one good thing, at least.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Yep. "Terra, Terra, Terra" has lost it's ring of credibility to "Sigh. Not again.".

[Archae]

2. Who is Lynton Crosby?

[GeorgeGist]

9. This guy

[xchrom]

5. du rec.

[hifiguy]

6. Many people's BS detectors are a lot more sensitive these days.

And this shit doesn't work.

[grasswire]

7. Guardian always has great comments.

And there don't seem to be any cults of personality defended there.

[seveneyes]

8. It's not like religious nutcases are going to start beheading people in the streets of London