# Remember the Emperor of the World? I think I met his wife today. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 6, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312 "2005-09-06T06:32:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/121 "2005-09-11T15:55:45Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > Laughing here. > > Making a sarcastic statement of “what’re late for your bomb?” ISN"T an accusation of a crime. Unless I missed it and big brother has mobed up the Thought Police. No, but it is a crime to make bomb jokes in the security line. It has been illegal for several years (before 9/11, so don’t blame Bush for this one) Read the signs next time you are at the airport. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/122 "2005-09-11T17:58:10Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > No, but it is a crime to make bomb jokes in the security line. It has been illegal for several years (before 9/11, so don’t blame Bush for this one) Read the signs next time you are at the airport. I wonder if wondering aloud if an individual is a terrorist qualifies as making a joke about a bomb. “He looks like a fscking bomb-carrying terrorist to me.” seems like an observation to me. Still not gonna’ do it, myself. I don’t want questioned for 3 hours about a quip, even if I manage to avoid fed time for it. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/123 "2005-09-11T19:37:06Z")
This used to be such a fun thread! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/124 "2005-09-11T20:04:49Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > This used to be such a fun thread! ☹ Yeah, some people around here need to grow a sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/125 "2005-09-11T20:33:06Z")
> [@wring](#): > > here, I’ll spell it out for you, \*\* Canvas\*\*. **Tripler** posted an accusation of a crime. I’m not sure how some of you think I’m on the defensive, as I stand by every single byte I posted in my post. But, allow me to clarify my own comments for the betterment of _all_ of you, in the hopes of turning this back into a relatively productive thread. My comment: > [@](#): > > I agree! I’ll keep that little story in mind and if I ever see it occur around me, I’ll happily point out to the TSA that they seem “suspicious”. Is meant to be taken at face value. If someone’s acting suspicious or “like a jerk”, I have no problem pointing them out to either airline employees or law enforcement. In the case of the OP, I’ve waited 20 minutes in line for a reason, and there’s no good reason you ought to be cutting in front of me. That’s a bit suspicious in my mind. Criminal, no. But damned weird if not downright rude. My comment: > [@](#): > > “Why do you need to rush through line? Your bomb about to go off prematurely?” Was meant sarcastically, solely for the context of this thread. I am not so much of an idiot to actually say this in an airport, lest I be ordered by gunpoint to lay down and “lick pavement”. Some of you are reading a little too deeply into this. Please, take a step back, take a deep breath, and grab a beer. Tripler I still have absolutely no problem letting the authorities know of something that is “out-of-the-norm”. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/126 "2005-09-11T20:46:11Z")
since when is acting like an arrogant jerk and or cutting in line an illegal act requiring law enforcement? “Officer, officer, he took cuts!” ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/127 "2005-09-11T20:52:46Z")
> [@wring](#): > > since when is acting like an arrogant jerk and or cutting in line an illegal act requiring law enforcement? “Officer, officer, he took cuts!” I never said it was illegal, just suspicious. What if said jackasses were drunk and potentially boisterous? If I gotta raise a stink about something, I’d rather fart in the terminal at sea level than have to deal with a pile ‘o’ shit at 30,000’. And why _shouldn’t_ I point them out to someone? Should we all just let people run all willy-nilly through security without any semblance of order? Go ahead, call me a ‘tattletale’. I don’t care. I think it’s an appropriate thing to do. Tripler In this particular thread, you could say I don’t give a ‘flying fuck’ what name you call me. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/128 "2005-09-11T21:07:08Z")
since when is acting like an arrogant jerk, cutting in line suspicious of illegal activity, needing police investigation? (generally, not with added incentives such as drunken/disorderly, alarms ringing from the bank nearby etc)? all of the examples in this thread that I saw were basic garden variety “I’m more important than you” type of shit we see every day. I guess we’ll now see the others who defended you as being obviously sarcastic appologize? you apparently were actually serious about turning in the line cutter into the authorities. what absurdity. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/129 "2005-09-11T21:15:42Z")
> [@wring](#): > > you apparently were actually serious about turning in the line cutter into the authorities. > what absurdity. I don’t care one way or the other about the debate that apparently went back and forth over what people thought I meant. You’re both right. I was serious, but included some sarcastic comments. Get over it. But I would politely tap a TSAer or cop on the shoulder and say, “What the hell, over?” and let the officer make the decision on what to do. I don’t think it’s absurd at all. I would ask why you think it’s absurd. What would you do, just let anyone cut in front of you for no reason in such a circumstance? For that matter, would you let anyone cut in front of you at the supermarket or post office? Tripler Yer losing me here with your train of thought, and rather quickly. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/130 "2005-09-11T21:26:22Z")
line cutters generally are rude, inconsiderate jerks who will cost me a moments thought of “what a jerk”. not worth any further action on my part. the fact that you think that it (alone) is worthy of suspicion sufficient to notify authorities is pretty scarey. that’s a pretty low threashold. I’m reminded of my ex who threatened to take me to court over our son’s haircut. (he disapproved). some one acting in a rude behavior is deserving of our scorn, derision, point and laugh. I would save our police and security resources for things of consequence. (again, simply cutting in line then standing there, not with fuses dangling, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/131 "2005-09-11T21:31:22Z")
I fail to see the absurdity of **Tripler’s** intentions myself. In March I was at the CDG airport and had spent roughly an hour and a half in line waiting to get through the international checkpoint so that I could get to my flight. Several people in line around me were all concerned that they would miss their flights (I was worried about that myself…in fact, my flight was delayed an hour so that people waiting in line to be checked wouldn’t be left behind). As I reached the beginning of the line, I saw an older couple rush up the side of the roped-off area, brushing past all of us who had been waiting in line. Even though many people who’d attempted earlier to ask the guards politely if they might be allowed to go through without standing in line because their planes were scheduled to leave soon, these people made it through the security checkpoint in less than two minutes, cutting in front of everyone without a word to anyone. I said something to them, but they ignored me completely. I’m not sure what language they spoke, they might not have understood me or they may have simply ignored me and several other passengers who glared evilly at them. Someone did tell the security guards as they rushed off to find their plane but the guards did nothing. They didn’t have time to leave their posts to chase the people down. The words and actions of the passengers who had waited in line had no effect on these people, but I firmly believe it should have. That couple should have been turned around at the security checkpoint and sent to the end of the line like everyone before them had. If I ever have the opportunity to be in that airport again, and I’m running late for a flight, I know that if I jump the line it’s likely that a bunch of passengers will be mad at me but that the guards will do nothing. What’s my incentive, or the incentive of anyone else who saw those people that day, to stand in line for almost 2 hours if I can bypass the line entirely by being an asshole? What kind of problems could it create for the security guards if people get the idea this behavior will be tolerated? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/132 "2005-09-11T21:38:20Z")
> [@wring](#): > > line cutters generally are rude, inconsiderate jerks who will cost me a moments thought of “what a jerk”. not worth any further action on my part. the fact that you think that it (alone) is worthy of suspicion sufficient to notify authorities is pretty scarey. that’s a pretty low threashold. I’m reminded of my ex who threatened to take me to court over our son’s haircut. (he disapproved). > some one acting in a rude behavior is deserving of our scorn, derision, point and laugh. I would save our police and security resources for things of consequence. (again, simply cutting in line then standing there, not with fuses dangling, etc.). Given the location the OP provided–the airport–with security being an elevated concern, I don’t think it’s scary at all. Again, I’ll happily point it out, but as a passenger, I’m forced to leave it to the officers for their interpretation and action. Supermarket, Post Office, some other store, I’d give 'em some verbal hell, but there’s not much I can do except claim my double coupons. But at an airport, with someone acting suspiciously (which includes trying to cut in line to me), deserves to be highlighted to LEOs and everyone else around. I’m not trying to be a Crusader of Good Manners here, but in this case, I’d don a cape. Tripler G’head, call me an asshole. I dare ya. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/133 "2005-09-11T21:38:36Z")
rude ? yes, advise check in people ‘Hey, I was here first’. ok. tell security people they should be checked out? not in my book. rude does not equal suspicious. rude happens every day. see to me it’s the difference between mentally wishing some one would be audited by the IRS and actually contacting them. one would hope that you’d only suggest a governmental investigation when there’s some real reason to do so, vs. some one was arrogant and rude (again, referering to the actions described by posters that tripler was responding to, not additional things that may add up to suspicious). YMMV but if you think you’re waiting too long now, just wait til you’re behind tripler who’s alerting airport authorities over folks merely for cutting in line. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/134 "2005-09-11T21:41:01Z")
> [@wring](#): > > tell security people they should be checked out? Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! Now you’re putting words in my mouth. I’m simply advocating pointing someone out as suspicious. It’s up to the LEOs to figure out what to do. I never said, “I would tell the TSA to strip search them!”. I simply indicated that I’d point out such behavior to an officer. Tripler You’re overreading my comments. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/135 "2005-09-11T21:41:02Z")
**Tripler** what the fuck is with all the invitations (and suggestions) for me to call you names? please knock it the fuck off. thanks, ever so. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/136 "2005-09-11T21:42:19Z")
> [@wring](#): > > **Tripler** what the fuck is with all the invitations (and suggestions) for me to call you names? please knock it the fuck off. thanks, ever so. There was a smilie behind the last one, again, indicating sarcasm. I will stop with the sarcasm, only because you don’t seem to be seeing it for what it is today. Trip ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/137 "2005-09-11T21:44:00Z")
what do you think is achieved by your action of “Pointing the person out” to LED? other than your personal suggestion that they should be checked out? that’s not putting words in your mouth, it’s following the logical results of your action. and again if line cutting alone is enough to be suspicious in your book, yes, I do think it’s a waste of resources. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/138 "2005-09-11T21:48:44Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > There was a smilie behind the last one, again, indicating sarcasm. > > I will stop with the sarcasm, only because you don’t seem to be seeing it for what it is today. > > Trip you did it several times, and I’d not called you any names. yet you kept the suggestions. this last time you added the smiley , but frankly by this time, I didn’t bother waiting long enough for the smilie to load up (they load up last for me) before finally suggesting to you to please stop. I don’t (usually) call people names, thought it was rather odd and annoying that you kept on offering it. Of course, fortunately for you, I don’t consider odd and annoying sufficient to contact LED’s. (see, **that** was a joke. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/139 "2005-09-11T21:51:12Z")
> [@wring](#): > > what do you think is achieved by your action of “Pointing the person out” to LED? other than your personal suggestion that they should be checked out? Again, as a passenger, I can’t make up the mind of an LEO to take action. Usually, they’re sentient beings and can decide what to do on their own. If you want me to be technical, my intended goal was to be another pair of eyes and ears in an already hightened security area. It’s up to the officers to take action. If they deem it unneccesary, well, I’m outta luck. > [@](#): > > that’s not putting words in your mouth, it’s following the logical results of your action. It’s putting the words in my mouth insofar as that you are accusing me of ordering an officer to apprehend and search someone. I’m not. I’m just bringing a situation to their attention. Another logical result of my act would be an officer stepping up to the “line cutters” and telling them to get to the back of the line. Another logical result would be that, “Well, they’re “special needs” passengers, and we allow them to proceed to the front of the line.” I don’t think publicly raising a question is a bad thing in that sort of environment. You make it out to be like I’m a judge, jury, and executioner. Tripler I think I’ve beaten my position to death. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312/140 "2005-09-11T21:53:17Z")
> [@wring](#): > > you did it several times, and I’d not called you any names. yet you kept the suggestions. this last time you added the smiley , but frankly by this time, I didn’t bother waiting long enough for the smilie to load up (they load up last for me) before finally suggesting to you to please stop. I don’t (usually) call people names, thought it was rather odd and annoying that you kept on offering it. Of course, fortunately for you, I don’t consider odd and annoying sufficient to contact LED’s. (see, **that** was a joke. 😉 ) Nah, that’s my sense of humor–being called a knucklehead or something else. I just thought that with such passion and vigor you’ve debated my position, I thought I’d give you a little license to let one loose. 🙂 Tripler C’mon, you know you wanna. Just a little “Jackbooted Thug” or something. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-the-emperor-of-the-world-i-think-i-met-his-wife-today/320312.md?page=8)