Ponderance

(May 2003 - March 2007.) Tama's thoughts on the blogosphere, podcasting, popular culture, digital media and citizen journalism posted from a laptop computer somewhere in Perth's isolated, miniature, urban jungle ...

Heathrow, Terror(ism), Blogs and Bush

Friday, August 11, 2006
The blogosphere and citizen media responses to a foiled terror attack are vastly different to those when an actual attack occurs, but there have been some notable responses to the attempted UK attacks. The Globe and Mail has an article entitled Social media and the London terrorist plot but what it really boils done to is that there are a lot of shots of lines and security guards in airports on Flickr and some testimonies in blogs, but not a lot else to be found. Personally, I found Doc Searls semi-live blogging from Logan Airport as extra security swung into action, but before people knew why, quite evocative. There are lots of other personal tales being told about people's worries about loved ones on planes, and concerns about governmental reactions.

I think perhaps the most apt response I've heard from the blogosphere has been Ze Frank's recent vlog ...


the show with zefrank



In a far sillier tone, the reponse to the terrorist plot(s) has led to a WarOnFlyingLiquids and, of course, a Snakes on a Plane parody...

[Click image to expand; via Boing Boing]

Parodies aside, terrorism is a serious thing, and the restrictions in place in UK and US airports are most likely well-intentioned (even if some airport and security personnel don't seem to be using any common sense in enforcing these new rules), but I'm with Ze Frank in wondering if the terrorists are winning when even a foiled attack might bankrupt airlines and stop thousands of people from flying and the leader of the so-called free world attempts to use the plot as a means to energise his own political and military agenda by calling yesterday "a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation."

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1 Comments:

At 8/12/2006 06:23:00 am, Blogger Jason G said...

Thanks for your very thoughtful post. I agree that we need to consider when enough is enough. When have we let the terrorists win? I enjoyed the ZEFrank video and added it to my blog post about the same subject.

 

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