These People Make my Head Hurt

[HoreTore]

They hardly ship bulk in passenger planes, way too heavy. Long distance transportation goes by sea

Ship bulk? Who cares about that? I'm talking about the employees travelling on company time by plane.

[Fragony]

Ship bulk? Who cares about that? I'm talking about the employees travelling on company time by plane.

They can do that, so then why is airport security a waste of money?

edit, I mean the greatest waste of money in human history

[HoreTore]

They can do that, so then why is airport security a waste of money?

edit, I mean the greatest waste of money in human history

Sigh..........

I have already explained this, but I'll do it one more time:

Because standing in line for 30 minutes costs money. And that cost is transferred to the consumer, as rising costs for a company results in rising prices for their products.

Time is money.

[Fragony]

Sigh..........

I have already explained this, but I'll do it one more time:

Because standing in line for 30 minutes costs money. And that cost is transferred to the consumer, as rising costs for a company results in rising prices for their products.

Time is money.

It's called checking in, even without airport security tickets have to be checked, and it isn't airport security who does it anyway. You just walk through a sensor, takes a few secs

[Hax]

So apparantly, during a week of heightened tension and intense security measures, 200 Imams decide to fly across America, dressed in head-to-toe Islamic garb, to see (try?) if they will face anti-terror measures. Three got denied from flying.

Whatever else one may think of this, these are not ordinary people going about their daily business. These were activists in action, trying to see if they would (could?) find themselves discriminated against.

1.5% was barred from flying. Maybe it's not as bad as it looks.

[Fragony]

1.5% was barred from flying. Maybe it's not as bad as it looks.

I disagree, although only 3 got out of it what they wanted. Must be hard work shrieking you are discriminated when you aren't

[HoreTore]

It's called checking in, even without airport security tickets have to be checked, and it isn't airport security who does it anyway. You just walk through a sensor, takes a few secs

Standing in line takes around 30 minutes during rush hour, where most business flights take place. This is in addition to the time it takes to check in etc.

[Fragony]

Standing in line takes around 30 minutes during rush hour, where most business flights take place. This is in addition to the time it takes to check in etc.

You walk through a sensor luggage is scanned c'est ca. Back at ya, how much would it cost if employees don't want to fly because it's not safe.

[HoreTore]

You walk through a sensor luggage is scanned c'est ca. Back at ya, how much would it cost if employees don't want to fly because it's not safe.

You walk through a sensor, yes, after standing in line for 30 minutes minimum. Something tells my you usually travel very early in the morning and at smaller airports.... My personal record is 1,5 hours at Gardemoen in the early afternoon.

You ask how much does the paranoid and hysterical cost our society? Way too much.

[Viking]

Had security check taken that long on Gardermoen at a minimum, I'd missed a few planes by now. But luckily, reality differs - so it's cool (I'd hate to have to travel by train!)

One does not board an Israeli plane wearing a Panzerjager t-shirt.

Yes, because muslims = nazis. Comparison makes sense.

Whatever else one may think of this, these are not ordinary people going about their daily business. These were activists in action, trying to see if they would (could?) find themselves discriminated against.

And they got discriminated - which means that we should complain about their behaviour. Of course, only bad guys would ever protest against discrimination - I mean, who else.

[Major Robert Dump]

WHATS CRAZY IS THAT THIS STUFF HAPPENS EVERYWHERE I TRIED TO FLY FROM KUWAIT TO SWEDEN DRESSED AS A PIG AND THE PASSENGERS COMPLAINED AND TEH PILOT KICKED ME OFF AND I HAD TO DRIVE INSTEAD.

[Louis VI the Fat]

1.5% was barred from flying. Maybe it's not as bad as it looks.

Countless millions of times do Muslims travel the US airspace each year. It is - what? -0.0001% who fail to make their flight. Sometimes through perhaps no fault of their own, sometimes for reasons the refused traveller has a large influence upon.


Rosa Parks, Blacks in general, were outright barred from travelling in the bus (in certain sections of the bus in certain sectors of America). Muslims by contrast are perfectly allowed to travel anywhere, any which way they please.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Yes, because muslims = nazis. Comparison makes sense

No, compared is the predictability of the trouble one will face over non-conformist attire when travelling by air.

[HoreTore]

No, compared is the predictability of the trouble one will face over non-conformist attire when travelling by air.

.....and that, my friend, is horribly wrong.

I find it fascinating to see an educated frenchman argue in favour of conforming to the standards of the power elite. What happened with your revolution anyway?!

[Louis VI the Fat]

What happened with your revolution anyway?!

I've cut my hair and turned square.

I shall now take it all out on all you unwashed punks, browns, and anything else deviating from my norm.

[HoreTore]

But do you find it hip to be square?

Here, there and everywhere?

[Strike For The South]

But do you find it hip to be square?

Here, there and everywhere?

Progress upsets the status quo

I assume Louis rather likes the status quo

Non?

[Louis VI the Fat]

I dislike Status Quo, but by Jove, I love Huey Lewis.


Did I tell you all how I once bumped into him and we had a great chat? Awesome guy, really the kindest man you'll ever meet.

[Strike For The South]

Is that an American Psycho reference?

[HoreTore]

I'm enlisting you to forced "hits of the 80's"-education camp, SFTS.

Son I am disappoint.

[Strike For The South]

I wasn't even alive in the 80s

[PanzerJaeger]

One does not board an Israeli plane wearing a Panzerjager t-shirt.

Yes, because muslims = nazis. Comparison makes sense.

Yes, because panzerjaeger t-shirt=nazi. Comparison does not make sense!

[Shibumi]

* I was at an airport security and was asked to take my flipflops off. I very politely asked the person what possible bomb could be hidden in a pair of flip flops. His reply was theater voicing "we have a loudy here". Enter airport security personnel, guns drawn.

In the interrogation room I was informed that uttering the word "bomb" was oh so bad. Very very very bad. Terroristicly bad even.

I then asked them if airport security now had reached some sort of Harry Potter world, where uttering the world "Voldemort" would evoke evil. In her defense, my interrogator held her face for about 5 seconds before laughing her cute behind off and set me free.


* I had a can of beer in my rucksack (I collect foreign beers). Obviously Code Red. I drank it in record time with security staff watching - several pats on the pack and a loud burp later I was no longer deemed a potential threat.

* I brought a ceremonial short sword in my hand luggage. It cost about 10.000€. I was asked to hand it in as it endangered the flight. The item was as blunt as could be, and I politely explained that I could cause way more harm with stuff found in the tax free shop inside of the gate. Interrogation room once again. Ended with me keeping the sword.

* I could go on.

I fly a lot, and it is just obscenely retarded how airport security works. So much time, money and effort to waste.

Should they inquire about the sword, yes of course. Should it be a big debacle - no. The "war on terrorism" has quickly escalated to a war on freedom, a war against our own populace. Someone in this forum once explained that forcing school lunches on children to fight obesity was wrong as it was the Swedish way of starting the adherence to the state at a young age.

Having to take flipflops off is the American way of..?

Note: this is not general US bashing, just that airports have a international protocol by - well - the strongest link in this case - and the US is this strongest link.

[PanzerJaeger]

* I was at an airport security and was asked to take my flipflops off. I very politely asked the person what possible bomb could be hidden in a pair of flip flops.

Ummm... it's not that far of a stretch from an already-attempted terrorist plot.

Quite frankly, acting like a pompous brat towards airport security says more about you than the TSA. I know you think you're clever, but I guarantee you that they hear the same "but why should the rules apply to me" whining from dozens of people each and every day.

I know that it is fashionable to bash airport security, and indeed it is a pain compared to what it used to be, but it is their a$$ on the line if someone gets through. It is clunky, inefficient, and imperfect today, but has and will continue to get better as technology and techniques continue to evolve - and may well be phased out to some degree if the threat from Islamic extremism diminishes. It took El Al years to refine that airline's sophisticated security apparatus, and under far more favorable conditions.

I try to work with them instead of against them. They're just trying to keep me safe, after all. Trust me, they don't want to be handling your nasty flip flops any more than you want to take them off.

[Shibumi]

Ummm... it's not that far of a stretch from an already-attempted terrorist plot.

Quite frankly, acting like a pompous brat towards airport security says more about you than the TSA. I know you think you're clever, but I guarantee you that they hear the same "but why should the rules apply to me" whining from dozens of people each and every day.

I know that it is fashionable to bash airport security, and indeed it is a pain compared to what it used to be, but it is their a$$ on the line if someone gets through. It is clunky, inefficient, and imperfect today, but has and will continue to get better as technology and techniques continue to evolve - and may well be phased out to some degree if the threat from Islamic extremism diminishes. It took El Al years to refine that airline's sophisticated security apparatus, and under far more favorable conditions.

I try to work with them instead of against them. They're just trying to keep me safe, after all. Trust me, they don't want to be handling your nasty flip flops any more than you want to take them off.

Shoe bombers shoes:


As a sidenote - do note that that carried explosives enough to give him a bad burn. Would not do much to an aircraft though.

Flipflops:



Now where would you hide a bomb?

It is quite cute that you defend one of the biggest scams in modern history - the theaters of airport security. But it is a bit mislead when you try to do it just to spite me - against all common reason.

[Askthepizzaguy]

I would suppose that it's possible the interior of the flip-flop (the sole) could be hollowed out and packed with C-4 or some other explosive, then pieced gently back together.

A professional could make a bomb out of almost anything, really.

[Shibumi]

I would suppose that it's possible the interior of the flip-flop (the sole) could be hollowed out and packed with C-4 or some other explosive, then pieced gently back together.

A professional could make a bomb out of almost anything, really.

ATPG, I have the deepest respect for your achievements in TWMII, and I generally bow when you post in here. In this case however, you are more than utterly wrong.

Yes of course you could hollow out the sole of a flip flop and fill it with C4, you could even make a big enough blast to blow out an aircraft window!

If you held it to someones face, you could possibly sacrifice your hand to (not def.) kill him/her (just like you could with stuff from the tax free store).

You are obviously a guy above average intelligence, fight with me on this.

[Askthepizzaguy]

I'm not saying it's right or wrong that we have security measures to prevent against such threats, but threatening to blow someone's head apart with C-4 is a powerful enough threat to be a security risk. It's also possible the C-4 could be used against a cockpit door or something.

I'm generally on your side that the security is overboard. All I'm saying is, and it doesn't have to be C-4, but anyone with average intelligence could make a bomb out of your flip-flop. One that could be lethal or at least present the appearance of a threat, or a possible security risk anyway.

That's all I was pointing out.

[Shibumi]

I'm not saying it's right or wrong that we have security measures to prevent against such threats, but threatening to blow someone's head apart with C-4 is a powerful enough threat to be a security risk. It's also possible the C-4 could be used against a cockpit door or something.

I'm generally on your side that the security is overboard. All I'm saying is, and it doesn't have to be C-4, but anyone with average intelligence could make a bomb out of your flip-flop. One that could be lethal or at least present the appearance of a threat, or a possible security risk anyway.

That's all I was pointing out.

You could also buy a vodka bottle at the tax free store after the control - breaking it at the handle - and threaten someones face.
Or you could buy 10 bottles - spill it out in the cabin - ignite the carpet and you would get quite a fire.

Two hollowed out flip flops with military C4 could in the worst case scenario make a dent in a cockpit door. In the average case scenario it would leave a burn mark that is REALLY hard to wash away - meaning hours of extra labor for the janitor detail. Oh the horror.

[PanzerJaeger]

Now where would you hide a bomb?

In the soles of course, which appear to be less than an inch shorter than Reid's.

Here's a better question. Do you honestly believe the TSA has the time and resources availible to carefully analyze each every pair of shoes that pass through the airport for a) the ability to create a bomb out of them and then b) the blast radius and lethality of said bomb before they ask people to remove them?

It is quite cute that you defend one of the biggest scams in modern history - the theaters of airport security. But it is a bit mislead when you try to do it just to spite me - against all common reason.

I wasn't trying to spite you. You're post came off as genuinely arrogant and lacking in understanding of the unenviable position airport security is in - trying to stop the very real threat of terrorism while operating under arduously strict procedures (no profiling) and attempting to respect passenger privacy concerns. The fact that you've admittedly been dragged into interrogation rooms at least three times seems to indicate that the problem resides with you and not the TSA.