A couple of people have mentioned cases where people have reported an “unaccompanied package” and it contained nothing to fear. Just wanted to balance the picture with this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/1609685.stm
Didn’t search for it specifically, it came up during a search of the BBC site.
I live in NYC. Pre 9/11 one time I was waiting for the train in TIMES SQUARE. (ACE Line) I spot some beat up luggage there. Two big cases that are a bit roughed up. No one is right next to them. The train comes and as it is kind of late the platfrom clears and everyone gets in the train. The bags were left there.
I was pretty freaked out.
I spoted some Police in the next car and I went down there and told them about the bags. They called the lost and found people.
I wonder what they would do today?
Quasi, you did the right thing. Better safe than sorry.
In January 2001, I yelled at a guy in the Atlanta airport for leaving his bag by itself while he went to the counter to change his seat. He laughed in my face like I was an idiot. In the background, we could both hear the recorded message over the PA system, “Because of increased security measures, please keep a close eye on your belongings in order to prevent bringing unwanted items on board.” Or something like that.
If it can happen in Oklahoma City, it can happen anywhere. Even in Dallas, Georgia.
Tell the guy not to take it so hard. Better to have you tell him about it; how bad would he feel if he carried a real bomb into a hospital instead?
Err…was that before the warning about shopping malls and after the warning about parades or between the warning about places of worship and the warning about sporting events?
Seriously, what HASN’T had a warning yet…
The mall warning was quickly shown to be a hoax; the others were never specific. What’s different about the hospital warning is that it was specific to a point. Certain cities during a certain period of time, and wasn’t Atlanta on the list of potential targets? Dallas isn’t all that far away, just up 278. All it takes is one nutball to take the warning as a suggestion.
Two unattended bag incidents:
about 10 years ago, my husband and I were taking the commuter train home from downtown Chicago on New Year’s Day. There was an unattended briefcase on the seat next to it. My husband picked it up and brought it to the conductor. He told him he found it on the seat and the conductor started yelling at him not to touch anything that doesn’t belong to him. He carried on like a madman! Good thing ours was the next stop. My husband was ready to throw him off the train.
We’re in Reagan International Airport and there’s an unattended bag next to us. I tell the people at the counter, and they just kind of mosey over and start going through it themselves. (What?) Finally, the woman who owned it (who was sitting a couple rows away) just walked up and claimed it, like it was no big deal. She didn’t get yelled at or anything!
More kudos to you, Quasi. It’s unfortunate that you made this guy feel bad, thus making yourself feel worse, but you did the right thing. For the love of Mike, airports tell you that they’ll routinely detonate any unaccompanied baggage - these things are not to be trifled with. Yeah, it’s just papers or a doll, this time. What about next?
Perhaps you were harsh, and now you (and he) feel bad. But feel better knowing that your security guard will remember next time, that you still have an intact hospital, and that his little girl still has her father.
Snicks
I appreciate the support, y’all, and yeah it was way out of character for me and some folks (including yours truly) were taken aback at my outburst, but it happened, it won’t happen again and everything’s cool.
BTW, I’m flying in the morning. Home to Germany for Christmas, and guess who’s going to be just a tad more vigilant this time?
Happy Holidays to y’all and especially to my Buddy! 
And yes, the southern accent completely disappears once I start the “Sprechen Sie.” My American colleagues are constantly amused when they hear me speaking to someone from home.
Quasi
Quasi dear, enjoy your trip! Bon Voyage (Sorry I don’t know much Germany beyond ‘shiza’ (sp?) )
[sub]PS - I told you I was right about this![/sub] 
d’oh, German not Germany.
I had to look very closely at that word, Slainte! At first glance I thought you were speaking Yiddish to me, but then it hit me! The word is spelled Scheisse, and I think we both know what it means, right?
See ya!
Quasi
Yeah, yeah. It was the phonetic spelling.
Have a good trip.
Like “gluewein”… you can now add “shiza” to the list of humorous mistakes.