# Apparently, I AM a terrorist... (airplane rant) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 11, 2002, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131 "2002-12-11T23:17:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/81 "2002-12-12T21:14:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Diane, > > Would you preffer that? Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![BIG\_DADDY\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@BIG\_DADDY\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIG_DADDY_1)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/82 "2002-12-12T21:25:17Z")
Diane, Just wanted to know if that made you feel more comfortable to have a woman searching you instead of a man. It wasn’t a trick question honest. My girly has been searched by men for what it’s worth. DB, Why do you guys make me repeat things over and over. I already stated that I was making a point and that point was that a great majority ARE Middle Eastern Men and we would have to be dumb as hell to ignore that. BIG DADDY Still waiting to have a real debate with anyone except Gary. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/83 "2002-12-12T21:28:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BIG\_DADDY \* > \*\*Mr. Fuck orr Avalonian, > > If you don’t have enough common sence to know who is responsible for a majority of the terrorist acts on us and our allies take the test moron. Bet you still can’t pass. > > \*\* I’m fed up with this list which is posted over and over again… I hope that someday, someone will write a similarily written list of terrorist attacks by non-muslim-male-between…etc…so we can post it each time someone reuse this tired argument… ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/84 "2002-12-12T21:31:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Diane, > > Just wanted to know if that made you feel more comfortable to have a woman searching you instead of a man. It wasn’t a trick question honest. My girly has been searched by men for what it’s worth. It was just question. I was recently pulled off the line for a search (I set off the machine) and was told by the woman security officer that if there is any contact, it must be done by the same sex. I don’t think I have ever noticed male/female. I was just wondering if it was true. In answer to your question, I don’t care if it is male or female as long as they cop a feel. ---
**Author:** ![BIG\_DADDY\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@BIG\_DADDY\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIG_DADDY_1)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/85 "2002-12-12T21:34:49Z")
> [@](#): > > In answer to your question, I don’t care if it is male or female as long as they cop a feel. NICE! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/86 "2002-12-12T21:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anthracite \* > \*\*My worst experiences have all been at Cincinnatti. To the point where I consciously route flights and connections around that airport, no matter how much it delays me, unless there is no other option. \*\* Oh my fucking GOD I hate CVG. I have never had worse travel experiences than when I’ve had to make connections through that god forsaken place. If I can avoid it I will never fly through there again. FTR, I’m white and male, but I got the intrusive security check too. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/87 "2002-12-12T21:38:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Why do you guys make me repeat things over and over. > I already stated that I was making a point and that point was that a great majority ARE Middle Eastern Men… Because we’re saying that they’re _not_, and would you kindly justify that statement if you want us to accept it please. We’d have to be “dumb as hell” to take your word for it, frankly. All your posts have so far proved is that the vast majority of terrorist acts committed by Muslims are in fact committed by Muslims. This is not news to most of us though I’m willing to allow that your threshold for surprise might be lower than the average. It doesn’t excuse bone-headed conclusions, however. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/88 "2002-12-12T21:39:31Z")
> [@](#): > > NICE! Get it where ya can. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/89 "2002-12-12T21:39:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BIG\_DADDY \* > \*\*Still waiting to have a real debate with anyone except Gary. \*\* You know, you _could_ start a terrorist thread in Great Debates instead of hanging around the Pit. Or does that make too much sense? ---
**Author:** ![BIG\_DADDY\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@BIG\_DADDY\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIG_DADDY_1)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/90 "2002-12-12T21:44:10Z")
Jeff, Well for starters Diane is over here. 😛 BIG DADDY Just might take your advise. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/91 "2002-12-12T22:04:42Z")
Good luck. The almighty tactic of morphing people’s names into insults isn’t going to work over in Great Debates. ---
**Author:** ![ScoobyTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@ScoobyTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScoobyTX)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/92 "2002-12-12T22:10:52Z")
Why do I figure we’ll be seeing **BIG\_DADDY** star in his very own pit thread shortly after going to GD? ---
**Author:** ![BIG\_DADDY\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@BIG\_DADDY\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BIG_DADDY_1)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/93 "2002-12-12T22:22:10Z")
jarbooby wrote: > [@](#): > > Good luck. The almighty tactic of morphing people’s names into insults isn’t going to work over in Great Debates. You only need that when the other person is uncapable or unwilling to to have an intelligent conversation. Diane, Thanks for the smile. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/94 "2002-12-12T22:43:13Z")
Also from **loomisfoil’s** cite: > [@](#): > > There is no federal law that requires airlines to provide an employee of the same sex to conduct the searches. Passengers who try to complain find that the price of objection can be a missed flight. > > \ > Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano is assembling a database of 32 aggrieved passengers who have come forward with stories of possible sexual abuse in airports in Arizona and elsewhere. One case involves a 12-year-old girl. > > \ > > Women singled out > > The stories of abuse are impossible to corroborate or independently verify, but the common denominator seems to be women singled out based on their beauty rather than their potential to be hijackers. > > Erik Collins, a computer technician from Kansas City, Mo., said he was waiting at a Southwest Airlines gate at Sky Harbor when he started talking to two airline employees who had just patted down a blond woman. > > “They chuckled and proceeded to tell me how their ‘random’ system worked,” Collins said. "They would pick two or three random men, and then take turns picking out ‘the top two or three hottest women’ in the gate area. After their break, I watched them ‘randomly’ pick people out exactly as they had explained, often looking at each other for approval of their selections. > > “These people are on power trips. They act like they’re God.” No law that requires security of the same sex to perform the search - great idea there. :rolleyes: A 12 year old girl has (most likely) been groped. And the guards brag to a male passenger about their “random” selections. These security personnel are _way_ out of control. It’s sickening. ---
**Author:** ![Slainte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Slainte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slainte)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/95 "2002-12-12T22:51:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monstre \* > \*\*So here’s an idea (also to **BottledBlondeJeanie** and **Slainte** ): > > Next time they single you out for a frisking, do your best Meg Ryan impersonation from “When Harry Met Sally”. You know… the cafe scene. > > Maybe they’ll get the hint. 😉 > > \*\* Ordinarily, I would agree that this might embarrass someone into stopping. With the out of control security people that I have read about and experienced firsthand, I am inclined to think this would just encourage them. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/96 "2002-12-12T22:58:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary Kumquat \* > \*\*OK. I asked to see if it was any of the airports I’m used to, as the things you describe surprise and disappoint me. I was also worried that it might have been a UK airport, where lately the security staff have become very irritating. > > Is it really the case that male staff are being used to frisk female passengers? That’s almost unbelievably stupid. \*\* I don’t know if you travel in the US much, but I went through Gatwick and Heathrow many times this last year. And relative to the average US airport, it’s like night and day. The difference being that I’m treated like an actual human being at UK airports. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/97 "2002-12-12T23:02:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by loomisfoil \* > \*\*Were you travelling through [phoenix](http://www.arizonarepublic.com/special42/articles/0207frisk07.html)? \*\* I mentioned Phoenix in my prior post, and that article backs it up. Another thing that may not be mentioned (but I think is pertinent) is that women at the Phoenix airport dress, in general, skimpier and with less clothing by far than any other airport I regularly fly through. Not that they bring it on themselves, of course, but perhaps with less clothing, the male agents see more opportunity for a quick little bit of harmless degredation? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/98 "2002-12-12T23:05:50Z")
FTR, since I’ve been mailed by three people - I’m not telling what happened to me in Cincinatti, so don’t ask me any more. It was too embarassing and degrading to discuss. It made/makes me want to _hurt_ people. Seriously hurt people. ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/99 "2002-12-12T23:21:15Z")
Try travelling with an Irish passport Anthracite. I have had my carry on luggage checked through _every single time_ I have flown through Stanstead and Heathrow (never flew through Gatwick). About half of those times I have also recieved a pat down. They are very professional about it and all, but it feels like such a waste of time when I haven’t had a bomb with even once. Although it is nice having ones (almost) very own terminal at Heathrow [sub](been a while since I have flown through Heathrow, is Terminal 1 still for only Ireland and Isle of Man?)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131/100 "2002-12-12T23:23:52Z")
**BIG\_DADDY** , do not copy and paste entire articles. It will only get deleted. We take copyright issues VERY seriously here at the Straight Dope. Lynn For the Straight Dope [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparently-i-am-a-terrorist-airplane-rant/142131.md?page=6)