[user104658]

Originally Posted by Northern Monkey

What does fear mongering actually mean?

An increased "chatter" in the average-joe-media relating to terrorists or terrorist activity or potential terrorist activity to get Old Betty clinging to her tea-cosy and having earnest, worried chin-wags with her postman about how the country is going to be destroyed by terrorists. Usually preceeding the announcement of some military campaign / policy change that would otherwise seem unpalatable to reasonable, rational people.

It is real and it happens a lot.



Also happens with benefits, of course. A million and one sun / mail rag stories and daytime TV documentaries about how awful the situation is and how everyone is actually a benefits cheat whether they receive any benefits of any kind or not, followed by - *boop* - surprise surprise, some hideous new policy being announced as part of a "crackdown". "Hooray!!" cheers Betty, "It's about time! I was just watching about this last week, it was on th'telly just after Murder She Wrote, benefits scum. Most of them are terrorists, you know."


It's OK if you don't see it though... most people don't... they wouldn't bother if it didn't work, I guess.