ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the way the security industry tells its story—a story that ends, naturally, with them racing to the rescue. The horror stories convey to the security professional their indispensableness. Like other professionals, they are motivated by money, obligations, and prestige, and their actions are shaped by their training, the culture of their work world, and the belief systems that circulate in the profession. Therefore, the horror stories are an important element of the techno-security buildup, for they legitimize the security profession at the same time that they elicit fear and worry from the general public, adding to the likelihood that sales will increase. The horror stories are the lifeblood of the industry, giving the professionals what they need to feel valued, and stoking the crisis, the panic, and the paranoia to keep people buying. Each horror story that is a part of this drama plays its role in bolstering the security industry and importance of security professionals.
