Purpose of the terror alert levels (Rainbow of Doom)

[Phlegmak]

So, what exactly is the purpose of the terror alert levels? I'm referring to the colors red, yellow, and so on to indicate the danger of a terrorist activity in the US.

Let's say it's red today. So what is the ordinary American supposed to do with that information? Not go to work? Not take a flight? Go about his day as he ordinarily would?

Since the ordinary American can do nothing with that information other than stay home, it just seems more like scaremongering.

Let's pretend the terror alert levels are accurate. If it's red today, and a terrorist action happens today, then what does that mean? It means the US government knew about it and didn't stop it? If it's red today and for the next few days and no terrorist action happens, what does that mean? If the government doesn't announce that they stopped a terrorist action, it connotes they're incompetent. Or perhaps a terrorist saw the alert level and said, "You know, I don't feel like committing suicide today." Or perhaps the government caught a terrorist but doesn't reveal who it was as part of an operation to catch other terrorists. But in that last case, it begs the question of what on Earth is the purpose of the terror alert levels?

 

[The Yankee]

We're never getting to blue and green.

But it's a helpful reminder of how life could be so much worse if our heroes in the DHS weren't around.

I need to go buy duct tape.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

i've always wondered, what does all that money in DHS go to?

 

[Ansar]

We're never getting to blue and green.

I'm assuming those are the safest levels?

But it's a helpful reminder of how life could be so much worse if our heroes in the DHS weren't around.

What/who is the DHS?

I need to go buy duct tape.

Huh?

 

[The Yankee]

i've always wondered, what does all that money in DHS go to?

A lot of it doesn't go to New York. (zing!)

I'm assuming those are the safest levels?

Yep.

What/who is the DHS?

Department of Hues and Silliness....I mean.....Homeland Security

Huh?

I'm going nostalgic.

 

[Bamspeedy]

The terror alert levels I don't think was ever meant to be for the normal citizen to pay much attention to. Of course with how much the media talked about it a couple years ago, you would think differently. It is intended to deal with extra security procedures and having more patrols around certain areas, etc.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

The terror alert levels I don't think was ever meant to be for the normal citizen to pay much attention to. Of course with how much the media talked about it a couple years ago, you would think differently. It is intended to deal with extra security procedures and having more patrols around certain areas, etc.

so that's why they make press conferences when they raise it.

 

[The Yankee]

IIRC, the intent was that different places around the country would be at different levels based on the risk. Yet, whenever they tamper with it, outside for that time when they said a few buildings in Midtown were at Orange, the entire nation hops along for the ride.

 

[Bamspeedy]

so that's why they make press conferences when they raise it.

Because there are thousands of cities across the country that would be affected by it and have to change their security procedures and thousands of police angencies that would have to do more patrols. If you aren't in the security industry, it doesn't affect you.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

Because there are thousands of cities across the country that would be affected by it and have to change their security procedures and thousands of police angencies that would have to do more patrols. If you aren't in the security industry, it doesn't affect you.

then why alert the general population?

 

[The Yankee]

then why alert the general population?

Gotta show the public you're on the case!

 

[Mr. Dictator]

Gotta show the public you're on the case!

i'd say sleeper cells would watch cnn more than the general public.

 

[Bamspeedy]

then why alert the general population?

Easier and faster to get the message out than contacting every police agency and security service individually. There is a ton of news in the paper everyday that doesn't affect me personally. The government would never have a press conference if they were only limited to ones that dealt with issues that affect everybody.

 

[The Yankee]

i'd say sleeper cells would watch cnn more than the general public.

To be honest, if they never said anything, we'd be even more pissed off than over some of the stuff they are doing (or not doing).

 

[Mr. Dictator]

To be honest, if they never said anything, we'd be even more pissed off than over some of the stuff they are doing (or not doing).

true, but it's still odd to me.

and it's kinda odd that they say go back to life as it was and then keep reminding us that there's terrorists out there. you can't go back to life as it was like that.

 

[The Yankee]

Just go shopping.

 

[Godwynn]

I think it being colored is stupid. Why not just say, today the percentage for a terrorist attack is elevated...

"AAAHHHHHH, WHAT COLOR IS ELEVATED?!?! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!11111111seven"

 

[The Yankee]

"AAAHHHHHH, WHAT COLOR IS ELEVATED?!?! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!11111111seven"

It took me two years to get over that. Then Bloomberg said we were at "Orange Plus" and I just lost my zest for life.

 

[Japanrocks12]

the first time I heard "orange", I immediately packed all my possessions and relocated to a secluded shack some 100 miles east in the desert.

 

[nivi]

I think it being colored is stupid. Why not just say, today the percentage for a terrorist attack is elevated...

"AAAHHHHHH, WHAT COLOR IS ELEVATED?!?! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!11111111seven"

Becuase then they'd have to admit that orange is 0.01%. People are scared better with abstract things rather then numbers.