# Condition orange! Condition orange! Everyone to please quiver in terror! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 21, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362 "2003-12-21T20:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/21 "2003-12-22T09:10:17Z")
Chefguy, I deal with people in the transportation industry so I am always asking about anything unusual that they’ve seen. I would take the alerts seriously. There have been multiple attempts by foreign nationals (on differet airlines) to test security procedures. I think the attempts are lame but they should not be dismissed. And I’m not sure the threat alerts are just for our benefit. I think it is a way of publicly saying we know something’s up and have increased security measures accordingly. I don’t mean to be an alarmest, but 9/11 actually happened. I am now more aware of my surroundings when I fly. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/22 "2003-12-22T11:49:08Z")
Terrorised yet? My own personal vigilance level will only reach Orange if - sorry, _when_ - Mr Bush is re-elected. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/23 "2003-12-22T11:53:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tinkertoy \* > \*\*Damnit! I knew I should have done laundry today. I have nothing to Coordinate. \*\* You should just come down to Knoxville, TN. Six months here and you’ll naturally own something in Volunteer orange. It’s a delightful color. I believe they called it “blaze orange” in Maine. ---
**Author:** ![Chavardz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@Chavardz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chavardz)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/24 "2003-12-22T12:14:14Z")
Waiter, can I get another shot of _paranoid_ over here? ``` Oh my God, I said shot! ``` ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/25 "2003-12-22T13:05:19Z")
Moving this to MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/26 "2003-12-22T13:42:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > \*\*Apparently our fear quotient isn’t up there where the current White House occupant would like it to be, so a more alarming color has been imposed upon our holidays. And you all thought that Saddam’s capture actually meant something. > > I am **ORANGE** - fear me! \*\* This post has been oranged by the orangist! ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/27 "2003-12-22T16:09:22Z")
I once heard about a jittery old coot in this town who said, “When I go out, I take two pistols and a rifle. There’s a lotta crazy people out there!” That was long before 9-11-2001. Seriously, there’s little I personally can do. I can be vigilant, for what that’s worth, but I have my life to live. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/28 "2003-12-22T16:45:09Z")
Woo hoo! My parents are going to LA for a week on Saturday and guess who has to drive them to the airport at an even MORE ungodly hour! 😃 I should take bets on how many miles away the Sentra will be from the terminal where I drop them off. At least if terrorists decide to take over the plane, my Dad and about 200 other people will tear them to shreds. Maybe they’re thinking of using empty planes–take the place of one of those drunk Virgin pilots. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/29 "2003-12-22T17:45:06Z")
They’d never get away with hijacking planes again. They might go back to bombing them, tho. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/30 "2003-12-22T18:04:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tinkertoy \* > \*\*Damnit! I knew I should have done laundry today. I have nothing to Coordinate. \*\* You could just wear red and some yellow and ask people to mentally mix it for you. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/31 "2003-12-22T20:09:22Z")
Be not afraid! [The orange is alert and watching over you and your beloved computers!](http://community.webshots.com/photo/782975/104247988ghMJlj) ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/32 "2003-12-22T21:07:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blown & Injected \* > Gezzzz, do nothing and the man is a slacker, do something and the man is a slacker. Aren’t you assuming that raising the terror threat level actually constitutes “do[ing] something”? ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/33 "2003-12-22T21:45:20Z")
GWB is taking the rest of the year off for a long winter’s nap. What, me worry? ---
**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 22, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/34 "2003-12-22T22:03:43Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by dwalin_ > \*\* Was there any actual reason for this? Could you provide a link? This the first I’ve heard of it… \*\* There’s been a report of some high-ranking al-Qaida dude issuing what could be a sleeper cell to start an operation. [news link](http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=CEEBE828-F39F-4A5E-B123E3E3F98D33CD) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lamar Mundane \* > \*\*Great. I am flying to D.C. tomorrow. Plus, it’s going to be snowing in the AM. I have a bag full of Christmas presents (wrapped) that I need to carry on. > > Oh, joy. \*\* Joy, indeed. I hope you don’t have any [fruitcake, cheese, or chocolate](http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=4A42C22B-29F4-44D6-85AF-21DE49C5CD1E) in there. ---
**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 22, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/35 "2003-12-22T22:09:36Z")
I seem to be missing a few words up there. ---
**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 22, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/36 "2003-12-22T22:10:43Z")
Oh, and anyone else having trouble getting to [cnn.com](http://cnn.com)? **Chefguy** ’s link keeps freezing my browser. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/37 "2003-12-22T22:43:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chavardz \* > \*\*Waiter, can I get another shot of _paranoid_ over here? > > ``` > Oh my God, I said shot! ** > > ``` Careful… _they_’re reading what you type! ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/38 "2003-12-22T23:13:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blown & Injected \* > \*\*Gezzzz, do nothing and the man is a slacker, do something and the man is a slacker. How safe can the boarders of the USA actually be considering all the importing we do over here!? \*\* I gotta agree here. I mean, we gave Bush and Co. hell because if a breakdown in intelligence that might have alerted them to 9/11. Not they _are_ alerting us that something may be up and all we can say is “Yawn … just contact me of anything happens.” I understand that there’s not a lot that individuals can do, but that’s not what the alert is for really. It’s for the appropriate agencies to do what they have to do to be prepared and alerted for whatever may come based on the intelligence that they now have. Damned if you do … damned if you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Chavardz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@Chavardz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chavardz)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/39 "2003-12-22T23:36:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cheddarsnax \* > \*\*Careful… _they_’re reading what you type! \*\* Oh shit, oh shit. What should I do? I know I’ll hide under my bed! Drat, they read that too. Uhm, I’ll go to a cabin in the mountains! D’oh!!! Maybe I should stop posti ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362/40 "2003-12-23T00:11:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diceman \* > \*\*They’d never get away with hijacking planes again. > > They might go back to bombing them, tho. \*\* As someone who is flying to Paris on Xmas eve, this just gives me a warm fuzzy. :o [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condition-orange-condition-orange-everyone-to-please-quiver-in-terror/220362.md?page=3)