# What Would You Do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 22, 2004, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320 "2004-07-22T10:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/1 "2004-07-22T10:22:32Z")
What would you do if you were walking through the busiest international airport in the United States and you saw a Middle Eastern man videotaping the board which features the arrival and departure information for all flights? ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/2 "2004-07-22T10:40:32Z")
I would think it was kind of weird, and I might possibly mention it to a ticket agent or gate agent. However, I would probably not call the FBI or the Pentagon, because he’s only getting information that’s easily available to anyone on the internet, or present in the airport. Assuming you saw such a thing, why did it disturb you, and what did you do? ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/3 "2004-07-22T11:52:17Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > What would you do if you were walking through the busiest international airport in the United States and you saw a Middle Eastern man videotaping the board which features the arrival and departure information for all flights? What would you do if you were walking through the busiest international airport in the United States and you saw a Blond-haired, blue-eyed woman videotaping the board which features the arrival and departure information for all flights? Grim ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/4 "2004-07-22T12:19:00Z")
I’d have to wonder about _anyone_ who is videotaping flight information. Jotting something down or looking it up on the internet as a reference is one thing. But videotaping? On the other hand, it could simply be construed as one way of recording information. I don’t think I’d say anything. I mean, he could be looking at it at home for an hour or looking at it on his computer for an hour. Maybe he’s just an unimaginative guy who just got a camera. Weird, but certainly not illegal. In other words, I would have to fight my urge to report someone for doing something that triggers a fear response for no good reason. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/5 "2004-07-22T13:07:15Z")
People video all sorts of strange and mundane things. Particularly if the camera’s their new toy. I can’t see how, just because filming the arrivals board seems odd, there could be any possible sinister motive. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/6 "2004-07-22T13:10:25Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > What would you do if you were walking through the busiest international airport in the United States and you saw a Middle Eastern man videotaping the board which features the arrival and departure information for all flights? Considering that all the information about the regularly scheduled flights is available in so many other public forum I’d just shake my head at what people think they’ll want for their vacation videos and keep on walking. I might be concerned watching the same man videotaping the security check in queue, but still I doubt I’d do anything about it. If for no other reason that there’s been so much footage taken on even that in the post 9/11 world that I don’t think that there’s any real purpose in jumping to conclusions about why a man is doing something I see as odd, but not overtly dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/7 "2004-07-22T14:04:23Z")
I don’t know; I don’t get most performance art. ---
**Author:** ![Daftbugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Daftbugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daftbugger)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/8 "2004-07-22T14:05:51Z")
I’ve seen people take photo’s of departure boards. I always assumed that tehy were going on a big holiday. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/9 "2004-07-22T14:22:11Z")
I would ask people about it on the SDMB in a sensibly and informatively titled thread. If I thought anything about it at all. I don’t imagine that yesterday’s arrival and departure information is in any way secret or useful to a terrorist. ---
**Author:** ![kwikwitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kwikwitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwikwitty)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/10 "2004-07-22T14:32:22Z")
Maybe give him an odd look and gauge his reaction to it… if I was that bothered. :rolleyes: But I think the answer to your implied question is… no, you should not feel guilty for being suspicious of someone of Middle Eastern appearance when participating in an ‘out-of -the-norm’ activity, as long as you do not act on your unfounded impulses until you _have_ reason. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/11 "2004-07-22T14:32:31Z")
It’s kind of a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. If you report it, you’re a paranoid bigot. But if you don’t report it and something happens, you’re a cad for withholding important information that might have helped to thwart a tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/12 "2004-07-22T14:37:22Z")
When my students would show me their vacation photos, the first shots would often be of the inside of Narita airport (including the schedule board), followed by a photo of their in-flight meal. I most likely wouldn’t even bat an eye. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/13 "2004-07-22T15:08:17Z")
If he (or anyone else for that matter) seemed shifty eyed while doing it. Say he was wearing a cape and was twisting his mustasche all while laughing in a manical manner, I would point it out to a ticket agent or something. I don’t think it would set alarms off in my head because, well, it seems so freaking obvious that I would imagine that most terrorists would ‘know better’. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/14 "2004-07-22T15:10:31Z")
If he (or anyone else for that matter) seemed shifty eyed while doing it…say he was wearing a cape and was twisting his mustasche all while laughing in a manical manner, I would point it out to a ticket agent or something. I don’t think it would set alarms off in my head because, well, it seems so freaking obvious that I would imagine that most terrorists would ‘know better’. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/15 "2004-07-22T15:23:34Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > What would you do if you were walking through the busiest international airport in the United States and you saw a Middle Eastern man videotaping the board which features the arrival and departure information for all flights? I would do nothing. That kind of information is publicly available. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/16 "2004-07-22T16:58:33Z")
> [@grimpixie](#): > > What would you do if you were walking through the busiest international airport in the United States and you saw a Blond-haired, blue-eyed woman videotaping the board which features the arrival and departure information for all flights? > > Grim Tell her to take the lens cap off. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/17 "2004-07-22T17:17:53Z")
I would say that he’s a history professor going to a conference, who is documenting for his university that he actually attended the conference and did not pocket the money or simply go on vacation. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/18 "2004-07-22T17:22:04Z")
Not only is that info publically available from multiple sources, but isn’t it only current for a few hours or so. It seems like by the time you could do anything useful with that info all those planes will have already landed/departed and there will be new flights on the board. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/19 "2004-07-22T17:22:51Z")
I’d asssume it was someone filming a holiday video. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320/20 "2004-07-22T18:23:18Z")
My first reaction was that he was waiting for someone to arrive. I try to put a little bit of narrative into my videos, especially if I’m bored. He was probably planning on editing it later, and having a few exposition shots would be very helpful in making a coherent narrative. Maybe a “I made it okay” to the ones left behind? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do/256320.md?page=2)