# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/21 "2016-05-08T04:22:04Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Say, who invented that zero, anyhow? The Indians, actually – yet another case of all the brown people looking alike to the scared masses! ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/22 "2016-05-08T04:43:21Z")
The inventor of the zero had nothing to show for it. ---
**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:** [May 8, 2016, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/23 "2016-05-08T04:47:57Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > The inventor of the zero had nothing to show for it. Sounds like a circular argument. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/24 "2016-05-08T04:50:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Al Qaeda, algebra - it’s a natural mistake. Algebra’s one a dem Arabic words, innit? Yes. Yes it is. ---
**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 8, 2016, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/25 "2016-05-08T04:58:39Z")
> [@Lobot](#): > > 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”. [Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!](https://40.media.tumblr.com/50c03ac3ac89e55981ab71faa5aa273f/tumblr_mo4o76NqeM1qk6v3ao1_500.png) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/26 "2016-05-08T05:56:45Z")
Security update: TSA agents will now be working in teams of three - one who knows how to read, one who knows how to write, and one to keep an eye on the two dangerous intellectuals. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/27 "2016-05-08T08:14:28Z")
I’ll have to extra careful tucking the red and green wires into my carry-on from now on. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/28 "2016-05-08T10:59:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If you see something, say something. But be aware that you’ll be punished for saying something. There’s a difference between, “the man next to me is trying to set his feet on fire,” and, “the man next to me is doing math.” I can’t imagine any situation in which even the most simple common sense does not see that the latter is not dangerous. Any person who would report such a thing is demonstrating that they are too stupid to be allowed out of the house without adult supervision. And the TSA agents and police aren’t much better. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/29 "2016-05-08T11:08:43Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > There’s a difference between, “the man next to me is trying to set his feet on fire,” and, “the man next to me is doing math.” I can’t imagine any situation in which even the most simple common sense does not see that the latter is not dangerous. Ah, but presumably you would recognize advanced math on paper. To the woman, they were hieroglyphics, or worse, Arabic. Nobody uses Arabic except terrorists who are computing bomb settings. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/30 "2016-05-08T11:21:21Z")
I first saw this story [via Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/05/08/flight-delayed-when-math-mistaken-for-terrorism-by-passenger.html) and was masochistic enough to read the comments. While it seemed noteworthy that a high portion of FoxNews readers capable of writing comments seemed intelligent, I also saw some gems: > [@](#): > > is there any doubt the woman was one of obamas children, she’s the victim here. > > Looks like Menzio wants to make a mountain out of a molehill. The woman expressed her concern, her concern was checked out, and the flight resumed [more than two hours late]. No big whoop, except to Menzio. Better safe than sorry. > > Just more proof of how the DOE and NEA have together managed to destroy our schools. > > So you want to wait till it’s to late to say something ??? > > The state of the world’s economy and the fact this guy is some sort of award winning economist actually makes this lady right. He’s the worse form of terrorist.Wrecking people’s lives with screwed up ecooimic principles. ---
**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, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/31 "2016-05-08T12:17:16Z")
It’s those pesky ecooimic principles again… I blame the ecoo-terrorists. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/32 "2016-05-08T12:45:12Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Security update: > > TSA agents will now be working in teams of three - one who knows how to read, one who knows how to write, and one to keep an eye on the two dangerous intellectuals. 😃 > [@Frank](#): > > There’s a difference between, “the man next to me is trying to set his feet on fire,” and, “the man next to me is doing math.” I can’t imagine any situation in which even the most simple common sense does not see that the latter is not dangerous. Many years ago, I took a management course. One of the first things taught: “There is no such thing as common sense.” > [@Musicat](#): > > Ah, but presumably you would recognize advanced math on paper. To the woman, they were hieroglyphics, or worse, Arabic. Nobody uses Arabic except terrorists who are computing bomb settings. I wonder what else the woman has seen in her time on Earth and considered to be Arabic. Also, she would probably have had a conniption fit if a real live Arab had been sitting next to her and was reading his Bible in Arabic. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/33 "2016-05-08T13:00:08Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > There’s a difference between, “the man next to me is trying to set his feet on fire,” and, “the man next to me is doing math.” {…} Sadly, not in 'Merica (Fuck YEAH!), not no more. “If you see something, say something” is perfectly fine . . . _if_ you actually fucking _see something_ ! CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/34 "2016-05-08T13:20:22Z")
Honest folks, it’s only a clock. What do you mean it looks like a Glock, I made it for school, it’s just a clock. (in Farsi of course) ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/35 "2016-05-08T13:29:44Z")
I absolutely support the interrogation and reporting. The Arabic world is the source of some of the most notorious math dealers in history. You know what happened to us after we got our first hit of algebra! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/36 "2016-05-08T13:29:56Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If you see something, say something. But be aware that you’ll be punished for saying something. If you see a fire, pull the alarm. But be aware that even if there’s no fire, just a chair painted orange, you did the right thing and you can expect to receive a public commendation for your bravery and ingenuity. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/37 "2016-05-08T15:17:02Z")
> [@frank](#): > > there’s a difference between, “the man next to me is trying to set his feet on fire,” and, “the man next to me is doing math.” i can’t imagine any situation in which even the most simple common sense does not see that the latter is not dangerous. > > Any person who would report such a thing is demonstrating that they are too stupid to be allowed out of the house without adult supervision. And the tsa agents and police aren’t much better. but he was **brown**!!! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/38 "2016-05-08T15:33:10Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Security update: > > TSA agents will now be working in teams of three - one who knows how to read, one who knows how to write, and one to keep an eye on the two dangerous intellectuals. You Middle Easterns are NSFW. Mind you, I think I’ve heard that as being considered for censors back under el Generalísimo… ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/39 "2016-05-08T18:53:18Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Science = terrorism. The scary thing is that the terrorists hate education too. Two sides of the same coin, I tell ya! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219/40 "2016-05-08T19:48:24Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > 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. It did happen in this case. > [@Philly.com](#): > > [After](http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160508_Passenger_thinks_Penn_prof_doing_math_is __quot_terrorist__ quot__flight_delayed.html) authorities realized the woman’s concerns about Menzio were not credible, Flight 3950 took off - minus the complaining passenger and after a more-than-two-hour delay…He said the woman was rebooked on another flight to Syracuse that night. He also ignored her small talk. Maybe she was just a spurned PUA. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flying-morons-another-plane-delayed-by-a-fucking-idiot/754219.md?page=3)