# The Flying Morons - another plane delayed by a fucking idiot **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 7, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219 "2016-05-07T20:51:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/1 "2016-05-07T20:51:39Z")
A few weeks ago, a UC Berkeley student was [removed from a plane, restrained, and interrogated](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-student-removed-southwest-airlines-flight-arabic-20160418-story.html) for having the temerity to speak Arabic, after a passenger complained. Now, a plane has been delayed for two hours after another prime example of American stupidity. The offense this time? [Doing math](http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/07/professor-flight-delay-terrorism-equation-american-airlines). > [@](#): > > An economics professor says his flight was delayed because a fellow passenger thought the equations he was writing might be a sign he was a terrorist. > > American Airlines confirmed on Saturday that a woman expressed suspicions about a University of Pennsylvania economics professor, Guido Menzio. Another example of the growing Trumpification of America. I know it’s never going to happen, but i sometimes think that people who make these sorts of bullshit complaints should be treated the same as people who prank-call 911. There comes a time when being a complete fucking lobotomy victim should not excuse you from the consequences of your actions. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/2 "2016-05-07T21:00:01Z")
\*If you see something, say something! \* How fucking stupid is that, anyway??? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/3 "2016-05-07T21:49:47Z")
That flight was delayed about two hours because of this. In the article I read, the economist was critical of the TSA or whatever authorities were questioning him, for not being able to clear this all up in 15 minutes. The guy is a tenured, published economics professor. He had sufficient identification with him. They should have been able to verify some of that or do some basic checking up on him very quickly. Most importantly, it’s bad enough that the nit-wit in the seat next to him didn’t even know a mathematical equation when she saw one (well, it _was_ a differential equation . . . ) but apparently the people questioning him weren’t too quick to figure that out either. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/4 "2016-05-07T21:54:13Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > That flight was delayed about two hours because of this. In the article I read, the economist was critical of the TSA or whatever authorities were questioning him, for not being able to clear this all up in 15 minutes. > > The guy is a tenured, published economics professor. He had sufficient identification with him. They should have been able to verify some of that or do some basic checking up on him very quickly. Most importantly, it’s bad enough that the nit-wit in the seat next to him **didn’t even know a mathematical equation when she saw one (well, it _was_ a differential equation . . . )** but apparently the people questioning him weren’t too quick to figure that out either. My mathematics background ended at a few weeks of algebra and I would still recognize that as mathematics. Though it’s possible his handwriting was poor or small. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/5 "2016-05-07T22:12:31Z")
He’s writin’ stuff! Geddim! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/6 "2016-05-07T23:39:04Z")
I thought it was gym teachers who were terrorists? ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/7 "2016-05-07T23:50:25Z")
Serious proposal: The complainant is also removed and questioned about their reasons. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/8 "2016-05-07T23:56:52Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I thought it was gym teachers who were terrorists? It’s terrorists all the way down. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/9 "2016-05-08T00:01:09Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > Serious proposal: The complainant is also removed and questioned about their reasons. If you see something, say something. But be aware that you’ll be punished for saying something. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/10 "2016-05-08T00:27:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If you see something, say something. But be aware that you’ll be punished for saying something. Once you start telling people to “be vigilant”, you’re basically encouraging them to uncritically indulge their prejudices. So no, I don’t think it’s enough to instruct people, “If you see something, say something”. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/11 "2016-05-08T00:38:55Z")
I sometimes take notes in my own made-up font that looks more like Kryptonian than Helvetica. Guess I won’t be doing that on a plane… Uh, oh, what happens when people my kids’ age grow up to be TSA agents? Woe to the old lady guilty of writing cursive! (I keep getting asked to translate letters from grandma…) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/12 "2016-05-08T01:02:01Z")
As someone who struggled with all facets of math after the 9th grade, I find differential equations to be _very scary_. I’d have reported him too, or at least “accidentally” spilled a Diet Coke on him. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/13 "2016-05-08T02:35:17Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Another example of the growing Trumpification of America. From the [professor](http://gothamist.com/2016/05/07/ivy_league_economist_interrogated_a.php) himself: > [@](#): > > “A security protocol that is too rigid—in the sense that once the whistle is blown everything stops without checks—and relies on the input of people who may be completely clueless,” he said. “What might prevent an epidemic of paranoia? It is hard not to recognize in this incident, the ethos of [Donald] Trump’s voting base.” ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/14 "2016-05-08T02:48:25Z")
This will be the new Driving While Black. Cyphering While Tan. Lock him up! ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/15 "2016-05-08T02:49:58Z")
Obligatory stale “weapons of math instruction” joke. ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/16 "2016-05-08T02:57:32Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If you see something, say something. But be aware that you’ll be punished for saying something. Since when is inconvenience punishment? It’s just about effortless to “say something,” but if you’re not willing to take a later flight to explain your concerns, how frightened are you really? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/17 "2016-05-08T02:59:57Z")
Al Qaeda, algebra - it’s a natural mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/18 "2016-05-08T03:08:46Z")
Science = terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/19 "2016-05-08T04:08:59Z")
Pffft. Economics isn’t science. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/20 "2016-05-08T04:10:06Z")
Say, who invented that zero, anyhow? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219.md?page=2)