London Subway

[Al_Ninio]

Well, it's no 9/11

That is the dumbest fucking thing I have ever heard.

My condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

[Matt Brown]

Jesus....this was about the first thing that i heard about when I woke up. After the shock wore off, it hit me to start checking, to make sure everybody i know in London is alright. After reading this thread, it looks like a lot of the brittins folks already checked in. Good. I pray that everybody is safe again.

I live in Washington DC now. Riding the Metro is going to be a totally differenet experience I bet.

My prayers are with you all, i hope everybody is alright

-Matt

[LGM]

Oh God, Al. I didn't mean "Oh America is better because we lost 3000+ people in 2 huge plane crashes and building collapses"

I sympathize deeply for everyone affected. I didn't mean for my comment to be insensitive and belittling to the victims in London.

I'll stop talking before you can misquote me again. I did also say it was " equally horrid and fucked up."

I do send my condolonces and London will be in my prayers tonight.

[Mr Flibble]

My heart goes out to the relatives of the britteners, and we all hope and pray that they will return safely.

EDIT: This morning's copy of the telegraph mentions that there was an electrical fault on a London subway this morning. And yet know I hear that there may be up to 50 dead.

I'd also like to point out that I have muslim friends, and although Al Queda is not necessarily responsible I'd like to point out that the Islamic faith does not condone the actions or methods of these extremist groups.

[Al_Ninio]

I'll stop talking before you can misquote me again.

Misquote?
There aren't many other ways, or any, for that matter, to interpret what you said other than one that is belittling and dumb. Or, uh. Or did you just try to let us know that they were not, in fact, the same event? I'm sure most of us know that.

Please explain, if even just in PM, because I am pretty damn curious as to what you meant.

[Andail]

Well, it's no 9/11

That is the dumbest fucking thing I have ever heard.

I don't think that was all necessary, Al. It might have been an irrelevant reflection, but hardly worth such strong words.

As for the attack; we simply have to prepare ourselves for these kinds of things in the future. As Darth put it (amen, brother)

The more we hunt them down and kill them, the more hatred we create.  This hatred drives the desperate into acts of terrorism.

We should be focusing on why they do it, and take steps from there.

Why believe and hope that they wouldn't do it, after all the suffering we (countries like the UK) have caused them?
Why believe that certain actions do not have reactions? That's absurdly naîve.

As long as we speak in terms of "revenge", "war against terror", "good guys versus bad guys", etc, we will have to accept the circle of violence. Every person in this thread who have used these words and phrases will have to accept it. Everything else is hypocricy.
Or maybe you don't have to accept it, but at least you have to expect it to last forever.

I feel for the londoners, but not one little bit more than I feel for the victims of western (not least the English) foreign policies, which caused this to happen.

[scotch]

AGA and I are fine, we were walking around Central London most of the day (carrying all my camping stuff which weighs a ton, damn you terrorists!), because all the trains and busses and our coach home weren't running. Ã, Police everywhere, but all the armed CTs were base camping at Scotland Yard, not a lot to do for them now, I guess... Anyway, we managed to get a train out of Waterloo and made it back to Wales without paying.

Doesn't seem to be that huge of an attack now I'm back, thankfully. Ã, We didn't really know what was going on at the time. Ã, It's no 9/11 (though AGA suggested that today would be called the 7th of the 7th, while having lunch).

Aside from the lack of busses and tubes and mostly just police traffic London was quite busy, and nobody was panicked. Ã, I'm not sure what Dave would be doing now, I expect he'll find an internet cafe and post soon.

At Staines train station it put the tubes being down to "an electrical fault" too Ã, Stupidly we ignored the announcer telling people not to bother going to London today.

[Pumaman]

I hope everyone travelling home from Brittens is alright, this is yet another terrible attack. While LGM is fair to say that it's on a different scale to the WTC attacks, that doesn't change the fact that yet more innocent people have been killed for no good reason.

If the terrorists have a problem with the Iraq/Afghanistan wars, then why not attack those responsible, such as the government and the army. Attacking civilians is such a cowardly way to do things.

I suppose this was bound to happen sooner or later, it's quite impressive really that the security services had managed to stop it happening for so long.

[Andail]

Oh, and to Alison and Dave's family;

Until we hear from Dave, just bear in mind that there have been about 50 casualties in an area of literally millions of people - the risk of anything happening Dave is statistically infinitesimal. We have to expect that he'll find an internet café sooner or later. Try not to worry in the meantime.

My sympathies.

PS:
Pumaman and Al; incidentally, Scotch just used the exact same phrase "it's no 9/11".

[dasjoe]

i already said in #ags that in my opinion dave got his flight and has no idea about all this - his plane left at 11am (according to haddas), he was last active on the forums at 10:30.. that could mean he checked in, found an internet terminal and browsed the web/forums until he had to board his plane.

he then should be landing in new york (or wherever he was heading, as long as it's near the east coast) about now or in the next hour(s).

[chapter11studios]

I'd also like to point out that ... the Islamic faith does not condone the actions or methods of these extremist groups.

You know, I've heard this said a lot, but it's not really true. Some intrepretations of Islam don't condone it, but there sure as hell are some that do.

EDIT: To be clear, I feel for those that do not condone it and get unfairly grouped in with the extremists. I just mean to say that there are too many people out there who are Muslim and do believe in this stuff. This being exhibit A.

[Andail]

I just mean to say that there are too many people out there who are Muslim and do believe in this stuff. This being exhibit A.

And what about christianity? Which religion do you reckon have most lives on their concience?
Sorry to start an argument, but a terrorist act like this cannot allow us to all of a sudden make rash and irrational generalisations regarding world religions.

[chapter11studios]

I'm solidly atheistic and I've never murdered a soul. My issues with religion go deeper than Islam.

[chapter11studios]

And what about christianity? Which religion do you reckon have most lives on their concience? Sorry to start an argument, but a terrorist act like this cannot allow us to all of a sudden make rash and irrational generalisations regarding world religions.

I don't think my statement was any more generalized than the statement that "Islam doesn't condone killing people in the name of religion." There are clearly interpretations of Islam that DO condone it. Just as there are intrepretations of Christianity that have led to some pretty sick and twisted things, too.

[Andail]

Ok, then I get your point.

I just hope that people will regard this in an anthropological point of view rather than theological.
Terrorism is carried out by persons who take advantage of the desperation of their people. You can't wage wars against it, nor can you refute it by debating over holy scrolls.

[Pumaman]

Something I find rather bizarre about today is that there has actually been less media coverage than when Diana died.

On that day in 1997, radio stations stopped playing pop music and just played sad tunes, TV was non-stop coverage of her death, people were openly crying in the streets, it was crazy.

Today, radio stations continued playing their normal music, TV has had some interruption for news coverage but not too much, and ordinary people continued to go about their daily business.

Yet which of the two events was more important: one person dying in a car crash, or several people being killed and injured by terrorist bombs? Completely bizarre.

[passer-by]

Today, radio stations continued playing their normal music, TV has had some interruption for news coverage but not too much, and ordinary people continued to go about their daily business.

I hope it doesn't show indifference but a victory. Like they say, the most important think isn't not to fall , but to get up when you do...or something like that.
My sympathies to those who didn't have good news today.

[chapter11studios]

Terrorism is carried out by persons who take advantage of the desperation of their people. You can't wage wars against it, nor can you refute it by debating over holy scrolls.

I agree. And I would probably extrapolate that some terrorist "foot soldiers" have been brainwashed into believing that what they do is in the name of their religion, without really having exposure to an environment that fosters enough context for them to understand just how insane that is. Does that make sense?

[Sam.]

cj, i think thats the point, it sound stupid, but its a statement saying that we can't be affected by terrorist attacks.

This makes me so fucking mad, perhaps im just being naive, but i can't see ANY reason for these attacks. Especially on civillians. IF we did do something to deserve these attacks, we didn't randomly blow up 400 civillians to prove just to prove a fucking point.

[LimpingFish]

What a fuck up of a world we live in.

Sympathy to all.