The Etymology of the Word "Terror"

Fascinating, isn't it?  A word that once simply described a human emotion has morphed into a psychological and sociological phenomenon.  It isn't really deconstructed.  It isn't really defined.  But when mass media and social media converge on your mind with this term -- make no mistake about it -- you know exactly what to think, you know exactly what to fear.  And, in some sense, you know that you are not allowed to question.

To question leads, for the questioner, to being ostracized.  Or worse -- even attacked.  Because the fear response is so integral and so powerful, that the mind of the viewer goes into a different mode.  One where remote and even extremely unlikely and attenuated potentialities are viewed as an immediate, clear and present danger threat.  It is almost as if there is an assailant just outside the door trying to get in.  The level of emotional fear is that palpable.

And there are other aspects to this new version of "terror."  CNN runs a byline that says, "FEAR OF HOMEGROWN TERROR."  It is the same word, but now it means something else.  And it still connotes the fear response that forces people from the rational side of their brain to the flight or fight response side of the brain.  But now it means some kind of movement or apparatus.  It could be a large group of people or a very small group of people.  It may be a militia or a rag-tag group of fighters of some sort.  Often times, however, it is simply a group of people with a certain ideology. 

Which leads to the question -- why is a government with a First Amendment to its Constitution pursuing people because of their ideology?  Once you take away the fear response that comes into play with the word "terror," the question is unavoidable.  The whole purpose behind John Locke and John Stuart Mill and the Enlightenment and the First Amendment is that good ideas will win out and bad ideas will fade in the open marketplace of ideas.  But when Government picks and chooses what should and shouldn't be known, that marketplace is defeated, and inquiry and knowledge are lost.  Bad ideas may actually win out.  And who is it, exactly, with this ideology that trumps the Constitution?  It is always vague and nothing is ever specific about it.

Which gets us to the last part of the word "terror."  Not only does it short-circuit the reasoning functions of the brain when broadcast ubiquitously by mass media and social media, and not only is it used to describe some malingering force that could exist, but you cannot know exactly who, where or why it is.  That is for the adults, and you are to be treated like a child.  The government suddenly knows better than you what is better for you.  Now I don't need to tell you that this is an abortion of free government and the ideals it represents, outlined above.  But once you have short-circuited people's mind to the fear channel, the rational side that would alert them to this strange alter-ego government goes quiet, it goes silent.

You cannot know where exactly they are, so they could be right behind you.  That's pretty terrifying, right?  And they may actually be someone you know, but who is concealing their true identity.  That's even more fearful and leads to social paranoia.  The Crucible exemplified the society tearing itself apart in fear as everyone becomes a suspected witch.  And the more the witch denies that she is a witch, the more likely she is a witch.  Because that is what witches do.  The terror is so terrifying that you simply wouldn't understand it, is the meme.

And in this, there is some truth.  Because once the word has activated the dog whistle fear receptors, you lose your conventional understanding.  You lose the faculties that you use every day to question things suggested to you to ascertain for yourself whether or not something really is (or really isn't) bad for you.  It is what you do your entire adult life.  But with "terror," you are no longer allowed.  Someone must make those decisions for you.

So now that you understand what is going on with the word "terror," and now that you understand what it does when you hear it, what are you going to do about it?