# Attn. Morons: They. Didn't. Do. It. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 15, 2002, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565 "2002-09-15T18:51:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/41 "2002-09-16T02:19:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > **It’s possible that this woman isn’t an ignorant racist who imagined the whole thing. It’s possible she’s a liar. In which case she should be prosecuted and the young men should sue for civil damages.** You’ve got to be kidding. She’s a racist who should be prosecuted? What about the mother-fucking assholes who made a terrorist threat? ---
**Author:** ![grendel72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@grendel72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grendel72)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/42 "2002-09-16T02:32:01Z")
Who made a terrorist threat?? ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/43 "2002-09-16T02:35:45Z")
9/11 was bad, but wait until 9/13! Let’s bring it down. Any other questions? ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/44 "2002-09-16T02:43:02Z")
Anyone who thinks that this situation is simple and cut and dried is a dolt. We are working with several ifs here. #1) If these guys were terrorists, and the lady heard what she claimed she heard, and did nothing or if she called it in and the cops did nothing, then the guys went out and blew up a building in Miami, I’d be hearing a lot of people bitching about how the information without acting on it, we are already seeing that attitude with the failures of the CIA and FBI (even ignoring the Church Commision.) #2) At this time, the guys don’t appear to be terrorists, so now it comes down to why were they called in. Did the lady hear or mishear what prompted the call in. Was it racially motivated? In a way, these are water under the bridge. The whys are not as important as the results. If the lady missheard, and called it in, you may dislike the possibility that her hearing colored it, but I’m sorry, we all can’t be superhuman perfectly emotionless, utterly uninfluenced by outside forces like you are. If the lady did hear correctly, then she did the right thing, and called it in, such a ‘joke’ is tantamount to crying fire in a theatre, it served no purpose other than to cause alarm and disruption. If she heard right, then the three men got what they deserved, and brought it upon themselves, no worry. If she missheard, then the hospital should have a damn spine and keep them on, and report the death threats to the police, and assist in the prosecution of anyone making such threats (Actually, the latter part even if the three did perform such a stupid act as make such a joke. Death Threats are always to be taken seriously.) My stances; The three men should be kept on by the hospital as the investigation continues. The police did the right thing by stopping the vehicles and when the dogs reacted as they are trained (Eg. Sitting when smelling nitrates.) they were correct in searching the vehicles. The three men however were correct in refusing the search initially, IF, they were not told the why of the search. The woman was right in calling it in, such tips are what catches a large number of theives and criminals. The media should be castrated for releasing the names of the people involved, and the police should have a bit more of a damn spine for letting the names out. I will state that I am in favor of profiling. You aren’t looking for a race, you are looking for a terrorist. At this time, yes, most terrorists are of middleeastern descent, when more John Walker Lindhs start showing up, the profile will change. (And they will start showing up.) ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/45 "2002-09-16T03:00:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by black455 \* > So far, we’ve got statements from _four_ people: the tipster, and the three med students. Unless somebody happened to record what was said at the Shoney’s, that’s all we’re going to get. So given a few things: > [ul] > [li]3 \> 1[/li][li]The police found absolutely no evidence that the med students were up to anything.[/li][li]A person of Middle Eastern descent would have to be an oblivious box of rocks to make fake bomb threats in public. I mean, shit, remember when people were shooting at _Sikhs_???[/li][/ul] > > …I’m inclined to believe that Mrs. Stone is either a racist, a liar, an ignorant tub of shit, a hypersensitive busybody with a superhero complex, or all four. > \*\* I can’t believe i am reading this. Mrs. Stone is a racist, ignorant, hypersensitive tub of shit. Why? Because of the statements from three people accused of having made “jokes” about blowing up Miami. Why should we give more weight to the self serving statements of these three jokers than to a disinterested witness? You have absolutely no basis for your accusations, and are doing the same thing to Mrs. Stone (by the way, does anyone know that Mrs. Stone is white? I haven’t seen a picture of her.) that you allege has been done to these three men. If there is any criticism to be levied in this case it should be against the police for releasing inaccurate and incomplete information. I, for one, will not vilify this woman for reporting suspicious behavior. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/46 "2002-09-16T03:15:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Narile \* > **At this time, yes, most terrorists are of middleeastern descent, when more John Walker Lindhs start showing up, the profile will change.** We’ve had white terrorists around for a while (abortion clinic bombers, the Unabomber, Timothy McVeigh, to name a few), but certain kinds of people only seem to notice the ones who aren’t white. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/47 "2002-09-16T03:18:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by black455 \* > \*\*Quoth **Finagle** : > …and **tlw** > **grendel** nailed it, natch. So far, we’ve got statements from _four_ people: the tipster, and the three med students. Unless somebody happened to record what was said at the Shoney’s, that’s all we’re going to get. So given a few things: > [ul] > [li]3 \> 1[/li][li]The police found absolutely no evidence that the med students were up to anything.[/li][li]A person of Middle Eastern descent would have to be an oblivious box of rocks to make fake bomb threats in public. I mean, shit, remember when people were shooting at _Sikhs_???[/li][/ul] > > …I’m inclined to believe that Mrs. Stone is either a racist, a liar, an ignorant tub of shit, a hypersensitive busybody with a superhero complex, or all four. > \*\* Wow. Way to keep an open mind there, Black455. Personally, I think if you are going to play the role of outraged defender of civil rights, you have to be scrupulously fair-minded. That means not vilifying anyone until all the facts are in. As far as your first point, 3 is not greater than 1 when the three share a common interest. If you look at the last paragraph of the article [http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/09/13/alligator.alley/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/09/13/alligator.alley/index.html) , you will see that the woman thought the guys might be “messing” with her. (And the article implies that her son also heard the conversation which would add credence to her account.) I’ll reserve judgement on the 3\>1 issue until I hear what explanations the three came up with when they were being interviewed separately. ``` I tend to believe that the three guys were in fact joking around. Their current explanation, that they were talking about "bringing down" a car doesn't seem to hold water, not if they are fluent English speakers. No one says "I have contacts that could ...". They say "I have some friends" or "I know some people". You pretty much only say "I have contacts" if you're trying to sound like a secret agent or a drug runner. ``` ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/48 "2002-09-16T03:21:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rhum Runner \* > **Because of the statements from three people accused of having made “jokes” about blowing up Miami.** Cite? The news reports I have read make no mention of any comments that any rational, intelligent person would interpret as a threat. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/49 "2002-09-16T03:34:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Finagle \* > \*\*I tend to believe that the three guys were in fact joking around. Their current explanation, that they were talking about “bringing down” a car doesn’t seem to hold water, not if they are fluent English speakers. No one says “I have contacts that could …”. They say “I have some friends” or “I know some people”. You pretty much only say “I have contacts” if you’re trying to sound like a secret agent or a drug runner. \*\* She’s still the only person who claims they said any of these things. Does this really not sound like normal English to you? I just said last week, “I have some contacts in Mexico, so I would have no problem if I decided to go there.” I guess someone overhearing that remark would be justified in assuming I’m a drug dealer? ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/50 "2002-09-16T03:40:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*Cite? The news reports I have read make no mention of any comments that any rational, intelligent person would interpret as a threat. \*\* From **Finagle’s** article. > [@](#): > > At one point, Stone said the bearded man said if Americans "were sad on 9/11, wait until 9/13. > > Stone said she heard one of the men ask “Do you think we have enough to bring it down?” Another one of the men replied, “If we don’t have enough to bring it down, I have contacts and we can get enough to bring it down.” Threats? Ok, maybe not. But, if they did say these things I think she was right to report it. I think we can agree that the police may not have handled it very well. And it appears from the same article that Mrs. Stone is white, FWIW. (answering my own question) ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/51 "2002-09-16T03:47:06Z")
CNN’s current story at [http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/09/15/fla.terror.students/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/09/15/fla.terror.students/index.html) reports that the men were talking about a car that they were trying to have shipped. This is the “Do you think we have enough to bring it down?” reference. They did not say anything about “if Americans were sad on 9/11, wait until 9/13.” It sounds to me like the woman in question completely freaked out, possibly based on the men’s ethnicity, called the authorities, and then slightly embellished her story to make it sound more plausible. Thus resulting in possibly destroying these men’s careers, as the medical school they attended has now kicked them out. Chalk another one up for patriotism. Woo frigging hoo. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/52 "2002-09-16T04:03:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Finagle \* > \*\*I tend to believe that the three guys were in fact joking around. Their current explanation, that they were talking about “bringing down” a car doesn’t seem to hold water, not if they are fluent English speakers. No one says “I have contacts that could …”. They say “I have some friends” or “I know some people”. You pretty much only say “I have contacts” if you’re trying to sound like a secret agent or a drug runner. \*\* She’s still the only person who claims they said any of these things. Does this really not sound like normal English to you? I just said last week, “I have some contacts in Mexico, so I would have no problem if I decided to go there.” I guess someone overhearing that remark would be justified in assuming I’m a drug dealer? ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/53 "2002-09-16T07:18:34Z")
japatlgt is male. Hullo everyone. Upon further review I now understand that the accuser was a customer and not an employee. That really doesn’t make much difference though if the suspicion is that the accuser is a moron. I didn’t mean to portray a stereotype actually just a suspicion based on my experiences in Paradise. I still suspect that practically everyone in the restaurant was on full alert and had antennae fully extended. Happens frequently doesn’t it. Someone wanders in your little world that doesn’t appear to fit in your tiny view. I didn’t mean to draw flames (honestly) but this is “the pit” isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/54 "2002-09-16T07:33:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chula \* > \*\*Cite? The news reports I have read make no mention of any comments that any rational, intelligent person would interpret as a threat. \*\* Au contraire. Only an freaking idiot would not take [the comments](http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/4069255.htm) as a terrorist threat. > [@](#): > > "…mourned on 9/11 and they are going to mourn again on 9/13…’’ Gee, all sorts of room for interpretation, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2002, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/55 "2002-09-16T07:51:40Z")
> [@](#): > > The cops used explosives to detonate a suspicious knapsack found in one car. (They didn’t.) Actually, they did. I watched it go boom. ---
**Author:** ![Efrem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@Efrem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Efrem)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/56 "2002-09-20T10:47:59Z")
This turely is a sad story, when three medical can be precuced so heavily like this because of their origin (race, religon, etc)… it’s just sad ☹ BTW a big hearty _ **Fuck You** _ to all of those who appear to be in favor of profilling ‘Arabs’ or anyone of Middle-eastern desent (Narile, Witch, Brutus, pesch), you are either rasicts, or idiots and it is that kind of reasoning (the mixing of fear and stupidity) that gets these people death threats. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Anahita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9a28c/32.png) [@Anahita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anahita)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/57 "2002-09-20T11:40:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Actually, they did. I watched it go boom. \*\* I read it was a ‘water cannon’, whatever that is. See my first link for a cite. Unfortunately, I can’t access it myself. ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/58 "2002-09-20T12:21:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Efrem \* > \*\*This turely is a sad story, when three medical can be precuced so heavily like this because of their origin (race, religon, etc)… it’s just sad ☹ > > BTW a big hearty _ **Fuck You** _ to all of those who appear to be in favor of profilling ‘Arabs’ or anyone of Middle-eastern desent (Narile, Witch, Brutus, pesch), you are either rasicts, or idiots and it is that kind of reasoning (the mixing of fear and stupidity) that gets these people death threats. :mad: \*\* Couldn’t agree more. Just guessing that some people don’t see how the whole concept of freedom is being eroded daily, not by terrorists but by administrations. Certainly, our govt here in the UK is becoming more restrictive daily… …I wonder how many americans saw this and believe the message (it’s a truly excellent satirical site by the way): [http://www.snitchreport.com/](http://www.snitchreport.com/) Best… J. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ace_of_Swords)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/59 "2002-09-20T16:32:30Z")
**Efrem** , I’m afraid you didn’t make much sense. I ran your post through the babelfish translator a couple of times. Let’s see what we have! > [@](#): > > This turely is a sad history, when three doctors can as heavy be precuced as this due to their origin (race, religon, the etc)… it is hardly sad BTW vetoes to the great warm excrement to all those that appear to be in favor the ’ Arabs or any person of desent Medio-del this (of Narile, of the witch profilling, Brutus, pesch), you are or rasicts, or the idiots and is that class of the reasoning (mixing itself fear and stupidity) of which it obtains these threats of the death of people. Ahh, much better. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ace_of_Swords)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565/60 "2002-09-20T16:40:34Z")
Hmm. I was still unable to figure out several words, so I let my spellechecker do it’s thing, and than ran Babelfish through German, Italian, French, and Japanese. I think we’re close to a breakthrough! > [@](#): > > 3 PUT there is A doctor where therefore the heavy box the beginning (competition and the religion, and so on.) For the sake OF as this RK the time OF the precooked, sad history the set which is the turkey with the veto whose fact OF the BTW ton largely hot excretory ones where therefore it had that almost is sad the way ’ the Arabian or the person OF the cent Medio Conducido OF the Narile OF the profiling, the Brutus and peach magical errand (), that, tons you or the racists, or it is ton the fool, (thesis threats OF death OF the person who is emergency lakes because this class OF inference which) is feared the fact that it mixes with some stupidity is into favor acres obtained. Thesis threats indeed! I’m watching you verrry closely. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-morons-they-didnt-do-it/128565.md?page=4)