# If I Use The 'B' Word On The Internet, Will The FBI Tap My Phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135 "2003-08-05T15:33:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/1 "2003-08-05T15:33:51Z")
If I were to post a question here that had the ‘B’ word in it- the one that rhymes with contact lens manufacturer Bausch and Lomb- would the FBI or some other federal agency take note of this and begin monitoring all of my activities? Is it true that everything posted on the internet is screened and investigated if at all suspicious?? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/2 "2003-08-05T15:42:30Z")
Let’s find out. [size=7]Bomb.\* Will report back if FBI knocks at my door. Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/3 "2003-08-05T15:48:10Z")
I think somebodies aluminum foil helmet is slipping. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/4 "2003-08-05T16:03:55Z")
You fools, don’t you know about Project Eschelon? Now you are all being monitored just for viewing this thread and so am I for responding to it. That’s OK though. I’ve been monitored since late 2001, ever since I threatened the Presidential goat with feltching. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/5 "2003-08-05T16:34:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Surreal \* > **If I were to post a question here that had the ‘B’ word in it- the one that rhymes with contact lens manufacturer Bausch and Lomb-** Boam? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/6 "2003-08-05T17:22:21Z")
Heck, I’m posting under my real name with my real city listed. Bomb, Allah, President, Airline, Airplane, Anthrax, Al-Qaida, Saddam, Osama, Terror, Conspiracy. Come and get me, G-man. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/7 "2003-08-05T17:26:52Z")
Yes and no. Certainly the word “bomb” is too often used innocently for such a thing to be automatic. A movie can be a bomb, a comic can bomb, and a girl might be “da bomb.” There are reminiscences of youthful cherry bomb usage, stink bombs, toilet bombs, etc. There are also political and historical discussions of bombs, both ancient and modern. However, I have seen evidence of automated scavenging for threats on message boards; an aquaintance of mine posted a rambling epistle on a grammar message board which included the words “White House,” “President,” and something about “attack” or something. All of the words were used innocently, in unrelated parts of the message. Within minutes of posting, the message had thousands of hits; eventually, it had over 10,000. On a grammar board. Poor guy was very unsettled (especially since he works for defense contractors in Washington). Given the speed with which this all happened, I’m certain that the message was detected and read by several automated programs, all of which escalated to levels that could determine that the message was, in fact, innocent. On the other hand, even a human being might have trouble identifying an ironic sentence from one that sincerely advocates use of explosives against certain targets, and such a message might very well get you noticed enough to be investigated. It requires some pretty compelling evidence to get a wiretap warrant, however, so use those smilies! ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/8 "2003-08-05T17:31:32Z")
This reminds me of the old “NSA line” that people used to put into email and USEnet news postings. ---
**Author:** ![SkyBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/9 "2003-08-05T17:46:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*Heck, I’m posting under my real name with my real city listed. > > Bomb, Allah, President, Airline, Airplane, Anthrax, Al-Qaida, Saddam, Osama, Terror, Conspiracy. > > Come and get me, G-man. \*\* Duuuuude…you’re in like, SO much trouble man. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/10 "2003-08-05T17:48:19Z")
What about our Spanish-speaking population: bomba = bomb bomba = pump I always worry about getting on an airliner with my bicycle pump and being jumped by security when I say “Si, la bomba esta guardado en el equipaje.” And then having them hit me harder when I say “Esposa de la condessa” when they ask me what I’m hiding. Hey, I’m gringo; I can get away with it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/11 "2003-08-05T17:51:59Z")
_For the attention of all operatives. **Eyes Only.** _ Agents Kingsly and Gordons will be assigned to this one. Open a file, code Green, titled **Surreal** , using the Houston protocol. Let’s have this one by the book, people and … what? … Is this on? Um… … Anyone like pie? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/12 "2003-08-05T17:56:44Z")
There used to be an urban legend about the NSA and the British government tapping all Ireland =\> UK phone calls with an automatic trigger that flagged key words. I dismissed it as tinfoil haberdashery. So I used to say “hello Mr NSA man, semtex, bomb, cocaine bla bla bla” when on the phone to the UK. Well, it turns out it was completely true, and not only that but the British government had been using some of the intelligence to bid against Irish companies in commercial deals, and had to apologise. The Brits were provided with the technology and intel by the NSA in exchange for a) sharing the intel, and b) early warning stations and listening posts on UK soil. ---
**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/13 "2003-08-05T18:06:28Z")
So if I were to say that someone should try to assassinate the president or join a terrorist group to bomb the White House, then I would be tracked down\*? I wonder what the hit count on this thread will go to now. Sometimes I think everyone in the world is just a little too paranoid. In any case, if I may hijack slightly to ask a semi related question, what are the jurisdictional issues for tracking of information such as this outside the US? - - this was posted as an example. Nothing was meant by it. Hey… what’s with the rifle? I said I was kidding! Help! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/14 "2003-08-05T18:19:25Z")
Since when do Lomb and bomb rhyme? ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/15 "2003-08-05T18:44:28Z")
[http://www.echelonwatch.org/](http://www.echelonwatch.org/) for anyone interested. oh , and, of course, bomb, semtex, fertiliser, sugar, cell, ETA, IRA, Oklahoma, material, WMD, CND,Faslane, Dounreay, Sellafield,… oh no - enough now - I just have to go and find a fag. Aha - I have just made a new conspiracy theory: to wit, I now suspect all these “intellignece” organisations of causing me to lose track of proper spelling when I am typing on the 'net. Yep - that is the reason. They sabotage my innocent words and cause me to look like an illiterate oil… Opps - that should have said “oik”. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/16 "2003-08-05T18:53:23Z")
If you don’t pronounce Lomb and Bomb to rhyme, you are pronouncing one of them incorrectly. Kodak and Xerox also rhyme. (In-joke.) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/17 "2003-08-05T18:56:54Z")
In an English accent, “Lomb” and “bomb” rhyme perfectly - they rhyme with “from”. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/18 "2003-08-05T19:12:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Futile Gesture \* > \*\*_For the attention of all operatives. **Eyes Only.** _ > > Agents Kingsly and Gordons will be assigned to this one. Open a file, code Green, titled **Surreal** , using the Houston protocol. Let’s have this one by the book, people and … what? … > > Is this on? > > Um… > > … Anyone like pie? \*\* The orange goose flies to the green creek. Repeat–The orange goose flies to the green creek. If the blue dog barks at midnight or noon, burn the rutabegas. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/19 "2003-08-05T19:31:04Z")
When I was on a school trip to Moscow during Commie days, we would call each other on the hotel phone, and have the following conversation: “The flowers in Gorky Park are particularly fine this year.” “Yes, and grandma’s cookies are in the oven.” “Then the grey wolf runs at midnight.” ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135/20 "2003-08-05T19:55:49Z")
^^^ Aahahaha. Classic 😃 My favourite secret undercover sentence was always “the eagle flies at midnight” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-the-b-word-on-the-internet-will-the-fbi-tap-my-phone/193135.md?page=2)