# Who Would Rate My "Threat" Quotient? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-rate-my-threat-quotient/224170 "2004-01-12T14:29:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CheekyMonkey613](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@CheekyMonkey613](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheekyMonkey613)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-rate-my-threat-quotient/224170/1 "2004-01-12T14:29:07Z")
In a Washington Post article today, [U.S. to Push Airlines for Passenger Records](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A8504-2004Jan11?language=printer), I learn: > [@](#): > > Under the system, all travelers passing through a U.S. airport are to be scored with a number and a color that ranks their perceived threat to the aircraft. From what I can understand “The government will compel airlines and airline reservations companies to hand over all passenger records for scrutiny by U.S. officials”. First Question: **Who** would score me with a number and a colour? The airline personnel? Customs? Second Question: **What** passenger records? All previous flights? December 1999 I was booked Montreal to Las Vegas. So would that raise their eyebrow? [ > [@](#): > > … Zemiri has been barred from returning to Canada after being deemed a “threat to national security,” apparently because of his affiliation with the Montreal-based Al Qaeda cell that dispatched Ressam and other conspirators on the thwarted attack against the busiest airport on the West Coast during celebrations around New Year’s Day 2000. ]([http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/01/09/suspect\_held\_in\_la\_bomb\_plan/](http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/01/09/suspect_held_in_la_bomb_plan/)) VERY suspicious! (When in fact all I did was party with the best of them on the Strip that night). Oooooh, another Montrealer went into the States JUST before New Year’s Eve. What OTHER records would they want? What would be deemed as suspicious? Last Question: What happens if you’re unfairly scored? If your name has “Al” or “Muhammed” in it and you often visit friends or family in the Middle East? Are you screwed for life with a code-yellow? And what if someone is rated as “Green”, but is really a “Red”? Carte blanche in the name of speed, efficiency and laziness? I can’t see how the ratings would be uniform, seeing that presumably different people (with different perceptions of what connotes a “threat”) will be doing the ratings. I just don’t understand how this will work. Anybody else have a grasp on this? :dubious ---
**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:** [January 12, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-rate-my-threat-quotient/224170/2 "2004-01-12T14:57:10Z")
Why do you want to know? _Real_ Americans just shut up, & do as their told! Ask John Ashcroft. He’ll tell you! 😉 Notice to the Humor-Impaired–the above is a FRIGGIN’ JOKE! Thank you. ---
**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:** [January 12, 2004, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-rate-my-threat-quotient/224170/3 "2004-01-12T15:01:37Z")
[This link will explain it all!](http://homepage.mac.com/leperous/.Pictures/silence.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![OneYogini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b9e5f3/32.png) [@OneYogini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneYogini)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-rate-my-threat-quotient/224170/4 "2004-01-12T15:09:34Z")
[highjack] Funny…I’m highjacking your thread about airplane security issues - lol! Okay, I would like to personally rate your “threat” quotient! Here goes…Canadian. Hmm, no biggy, in my opinion. Female…well, you gotta go through the x-ray machine so I can see if you have anything “up your koochie” (as discussed in a thread about “vagina bombs” recently). Engaged…to an Australian…hmm, I’m gonna have to think about THAT for a minute. lol! I give you a “hot pink” rating. Because you’re FABULOUS!! Hopefully you can get a serious response now that I’ve added my silliness. [end highjack]