Originally Posted by Toy Soldier (Post 7436907)

Fear is a huge part of all indoctrination including most religions (fear of death, fear of hell, fear of oblivion, general fear of the unknown) and I don't doubt that there are many and varied methods used in the initial recruitment process. Some will be afraid, some taken by force, others seeking glory or hungry for power, some genuinely devout and following warped teachings, others simply lost and seeking direction, and taken under the Wings of the wrong people. The last of those I think would apply to Mr Edwards, were he real. Regardless, I think early on in the process many (if not most) of these kids probably find themselves in over their heads... A large part of the "monster creation" process being the gradual desensitisation to violence and atrocities that would come from witnessing such atrocities repeatedly. Perhaps, the boy in the linked article was simply "utilised" prematurely.

Anyway, it's not simply country of origin we're talking about here. People aren't surprised by British-born kids of middle eastern origin leaving to join IS. Well, it gets a mention, but hardly the media attention that something like this does... And why would they be fearful of the things mentioned any more than the white boy? And yet, people are not shocked in the same way...