Shannen Rossmiller

Some of the members spoke Arabic and could spot things easier. And this introduced Shannon to some deeper conversations that were happening around Islamic extremism. These chat rooms and forum posts were often in Arabic, and Shannon, being from Montana, did not speak Arabic. But she wanted to speak it so she could research all this better. She really wanted to understand their culture.

Some of the members spoke Arabic and could spot things easier. And this introduced Shannon to some deeper conversations that were happening around Islamic extremism. These chat rooms and forum posts were often in Arabic, and Shannon, being from Montana, did not speak Arabic. But she wanted to speak it so she could research all this better. She really wanted to understand their culture.

So she started learning little bits of Arabic here and there, at least how to read it. Now, even though she was teaming up with the Seven Seas group to share information, she'd often stray off on her own like a lone wolf. She'd explore a lot on her own without telling the group what she found or what she was up to.

So she started learning little bits of Arabic here and there, at least how to read it. Now, even though she was teaming up with the Seven Seas group to share information, she'd often stray off on her own like a lone wolf. She'd explore a lot on her own without telling the group what she found or what she was up to.

She also wasn't entirely upfront with Randy, her husband, about what she was doing online too. Like, he knew she was interested in this, but he didn't really know how obsessed she was with it. Every now and then, she'd find a forum post or a person in a chat room who would just give her the shivers. When people are chatting online, it's hard to know when to take them seriously.

She also wasn't entirely upfront with Randy, her husband, about what she was doing online too. Like, he knew she was interested in this, but he didn't really know how obsessed she was with it. Every now and then, she'd find a forum post or a person in a chat room who would just give her the shivers. When people are chatting online, it's hard to know when to take them seriously.

People joke around a lot. There are trolls everywhere. But Shannon could sense when someone was being serious and would sometimes see a post that looked threatening, like a person might actually be in danger from this post, right? This person posting it might be really dangerous and try to hurt someone. What do you do about that? This really bothered her.

People joke around a lot. There are trolls everywhere. But Shannon could sense when someone was being serious and would sometimes see a post that looked threatening, like a person might actually be in danger from this post, right? This person posting it might be really dangerous and try to hurt someone. What do you do about that? This really bothered her.

She never forgot about the lives lost in 9-11. As a proud American, Al-Qaeda seemed to be her enemy now too. But at the same time, she was like a moth drawn to the flame. You know the saying, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. She was realizing her enemies were right there on the other side of her screen. The internet is a way to bring everyone closer to each other.

She never forgot about the lives lost in 9-11. As a proud American, Al-Qaeda seemed to be her enemy now too. But at the same time, she was like a moth drawn to the flame. You know the saying, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. She was realizing her enemies were right there on the other side of her screen. The internet is a way to bring everyone closer to each other.

These enemies weren't in some faraway land or in a cave. They were right there in her little computer room, downstairs in her computer. And that proximity intrigued her to no end. She wanted to talk with them. And they were right there. With them being so close, she got to talk with them. But it's strange, you know? Like, what is she going to say? Hey, listen up, you punks.

These enemies weren't in some faraway land or in a cave. They were right there in her little computer room, downstairs in her computer. And that proximity intrigued her to no end. She wanted to talk with them. And they were right there. With them being so close, she got to talk with them. But it's strange, you know? Like, what is she going to say? Hey, listen up, you punks.

I'm a respected judge, a mother of three, proud citizen of the United States, and I don't like the tone of your voice. No. She knew that being herself in this situation would get her nowhere. Her IRL status had no power here. But on the Internet, you can be anyone. So to get closer to her enemies, she knew she had to be someone she wasn't.

I'm a respected judge, a mother of three, proud citizen of the United States, and I don't like the tone of your voice. No. She knew that being herself in this situation would get her nowhere. Her IRL status had no power here. But on the Internet, you can be anyone. So to get closer to her enemies, she knew she had to be someone she wasn't.

Now, I want to imagine she disguised herself up by throwing on some camouflage clothes and covering herself in mud. But in reality, she just picked a username and registered on the forum or chat room and acted like an Islamic extremist herself, one of them. but it's actually more complicated than that.

Now, I want to imagine she disguised herself up by throwing on some camouflage clothes and covering herself in mud. But in reality, she just picked a username and registered on the forum or chat room and acted like an Islamic extremist herself, one of them. but it's actually more complicated than that.

Keep in mind, she'd been lurking on these forums and chat rooms for months now, and she was analyzing hundreds of posts, thousands of messages, and was getting fairly well-versed in Arabic. She could understand some conversations without needing to run it through a translator.

Keep in mind, she'd been lurking on these forums and chat rooms for months now, and she was analyzing hundreds of posts, thousands of messages, and was getting fairly well-versed in Arabic. She could understand some conversations without needing to run it through a translator.

This let her pick up on little nuances, such as how people talk or when they talk, and certain quotes that people often used. Shannon tried to fit in by talking like them, mimicking their traits, These individuals typically held extreme views of Islam. Some were claiming to be members of Al-Qaeda or supportive of them, and they were justifying and planning violence against Western countries.

This let her pick up on little nuances, such as how people talk or when they talk, and certain quotes that people often used. Shannon tried to fit in by talking like them, mimicking their traits, These individuals typically held extreme views of Islam. Some were claiming to be members of Al-Qaeda or supportive of them, and they were justifying and planning violence against Western countries.