--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Attention, to a terrorist group, is often…" description: "\"Attention, to a terrorist group, is often what the well-meaning, outraged response is to your two-bit Internet troll: it is the food that feeds them.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/zeynep-tufekci-5405_attention_attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often_940984.jpg" --- # Attention, to a terrorist group, is often what the… ![“Attention, to a terrorist group, is often what the well-meaning, outraged response is to your two-bit Internet troll: it is the food that feeds them.” quote by Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/zeynep-tufekci-5405_attention_attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often_940984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/zeynep-tufekci-5405_attention_attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often_940984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/zeynep-tufekci-5405_attention_attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often_940984.jpg) > “Attention, to a terrorist group, is often what the well-meaning, outraged response is to your two-bit Internet troll: it is the food that feeds them.” [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Giving attention to terrorists feeds them; ignoring trolls can reduce their influence. **In simple terms:** Attention fuels terrorists. Key Takeaway Avoid amplifying extremist messages. Themes media terrorism attention economy Mood critical analytical Type journalistic educational When to use this quote - social media moderation - public communication strategies Key Concepts information warfare psychology of outrage Questions to Reflect On - How can we responsibly address extremist content? - What role does public outrage play? A Different Perspective May underestimate the need to counter misinformation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) ## Related quotes > [The Iranian government is the government that supplied the arms on the Karin-A to the Palestinian Authority several years ago, they are the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/the-iranian-government-is-the-government-that-supplied-the-arms-on/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [You cannot defend a terrorist group just because they are fighting Daesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/recep-tayyip-erdogan/you-cannot-defend-a-terrorist-group-just-because-they-are-fighting/) [Recep Tayyip Erdogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/recep-tayyip-erdogan/) > [Well, you know, they were - they were a terrorist group. They - when I was kidnapped they published all of their statements about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-hearst/well-you-know-they-were-they-were-a-terrorist-group-they-when-i-was/) [Patty Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-hearst/) > [This is technology that will not go away. And to risk it moving into the hands of a terrorist group like al Qaeda or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sununu/this-is-technology-that-will-not-go-away-and-to-risk-it-moving-into/) [John Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sununu/) > [My name is Brian and I am a troll. An internet troll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limmy/my-name-is-brian-and-i-am-a-troll-an-internet-troll/) [Limmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limmy/) > [“On the internet you're a troll until proven innocent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narcissismus-decimus-maximus/on-the-internet-you-re-a-troll-until-proven-innocent/) [Narcissismus Decimus Maximus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narcissismus-decimus-maximus/) > [What it takes to combat a internet troll on the e-net is to face the troll, or never give in and respond to him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doctavius/what-it-takes-to-combat-a-internet-troll-on-the-e-net-is-to-face-the/) Doctavius > [Nothing concentrates the mind like a firm deadline, and a little voice in the back of my mind reminding me that, "If you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-page/nothing-concentrates-the-mind-like-a-firm-deadline-and-a-little-voice/) [Clarence Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-page/) > [Trump is an internet troll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/trump-is-an-internet-troll/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Until al Qaeda attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, Hizballah had killed more Americans than had any terrorist group in history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/until-al-qaeda-attacked-the-united-states-on-september-11-2001/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [If a terrorist group wanted to hit Britain, all they'd have to do is kill 100 random celebrities. The country would have a nervous breakown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-morris/if-a-terrorist-group-wanted-to-hit-britain-all-they-d-have-to-do-is/) [Chris Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-morris/) > [ Even Hamas - Hamas is a terrorist group - do you know that Hamas came out in opposition to \[Donald \]Trump's statement? That puts… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/even-hamas-hamas-is-a-terrorist-group-do-you-know-that-hamas-came-out/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [“A terrorist group calling themselves the Scarlet Guard released this video moments ago.” “The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-aveyard/a-terrorist-group-calling-themselves-the-scarlet-guard-released-this/) [Victoria Aveyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-aveyard/) > [The truth is, there is no Islamic army or terrorist group called Al Qaida. And any informed intelligence officer knows this. But there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-cook/the-truth-is-there-is-no-islamic-army-or-terrorist-group-called-al/) [Robin Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-cook/) > [Our war on terror begins with al-Qaida, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/our-war-on-terror-begins-with-al-qaida-but-it-does-not-end-there-it/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More by Zeynep Tufekci > [For many people, tear gas is their first interaction with state violence. It's the first time they've been treated like an insect, usually by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/for-many-people-tear-gas-is-their-first-interaction-with-state/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [It seems to me that states (and corporations) have become increasingly secretive and opaque, while people are increasingly exposed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/it-seems-to-me-that-states-and-corporations-have-become-increasingly/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [Social media is enhancing human connectivity as people can converse in ways that were once not possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/social-media-is-enhancing-human-connectivity-as-people-can-converse/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [Bike-friendly cities provide some of the best quality of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/bike-friendly-cities-provide-some-of-the-best-quality-of-life/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [In the Middle Ages, psychosis may have involved visions of the devil, snakes, or witches. In the 21st century, it can involve dressing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/in-the-middle-ages-psychosis-may-have-involved-visions-of-the-devil/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [Very few of us consider strength-training as essential exercise, but it is. It is especially crucial as one ages, because a natural part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/very-few-of-us-consider-strength-training-as-essential-exercise-but/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [That is the key strength of independent academia: we can speak up in spite of corporate or government interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/that-is-the-key-strength-of-independent-academia-we-can-speak-up-in/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [When people confidently announce that once robots come for our jobs, we'll find something else to do like we always did, they are drawing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/when-people-confidently-announce-that-once-robots-come-for-our-jobs/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [In fact, commercial aviation is so safe because redundancy is mandated by regulation and built into every level, but our commercial-flying experience is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/in-fact-commercial-aviation-is-so-safe-because-redundancy-is-mandated/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [Condemnation campaigns can and do work, even in conditions where one thinks there are no morals left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/condemnation-campaigns-can-and-do-work-even-in-conditions-where-one/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [The first time I was teargassed, in Istanbul, Turkey, I thought I was going to die. Overwhelming pain flooded my eyes, nose, throat, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/the-first-time-i-was-teargassed-in-istanbul-turkey-i-thought-i-was/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [Silicon Valley engineers and employees may well be overwhelmingly liberal, but Facebook is run by the algorithms they program, which optimize for the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/silicon-valley-engineers-and-employees-may-well-be-overwhelmingly/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [Ability to disseminate one's ideas on the Internet is now a sine qua non of inclusion in the global public sphere. However, the Internet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/ability-to-disseminate-one-s-ideas-on-the-internet-is-now-a-sine-qua/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [Data is immensely appealing to me as a social scientist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/data-is-immensely-appealing-to-me-as-a-social-scientist/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) > [In our increasingly connected world, every virus is but a hop or two away: almost all humans are close enough to someone who flies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/in-our-increasingly-connected-world-every-virus-is-but-a-hop-or-two/) [Zeynep Tufekci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) [Explore all 101 Zeynep Tufekci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Attention, to a terrorist group, is often what the well-meaning, outraged response is to your two-bit Internet troll: it is the food that feeds them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zeynep Tufekci" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often-what-the-well-meaning/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often-what-the-well-meaning/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/zeynep-tufekci-5405_attention_attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often_940984.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/zeynep-tufekci-5405_attention_attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often_940984.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85f/zeynep-tufekci-5405_attention_attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often_940984.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Attention, to a terrorist group, is often what the well-meaning, outraged response is to your two-bit…” — Zeynep Tufekci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Zeynep Tufekci", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeynep-tufekci/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Attention, to a terrorist group, is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often-what-the-well-meaning/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeynep-tufekci/attention-to-a-terrorist-group-is-often-what-the-well-meaning/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```