Yet another bodyscanner Pit Thread (with pervs!)

[The_Tao_s_Revenge]

@Really_Not_All_That_Bright

Wait, there are actual jetpacks?

There are! But just like most wicked cool things they’re highly dangerous, so an important first step to operating them is to tell your friend “here hold my beer and watch this!”.

[PlainJain]

@Bricker

Actually, I’d argue it is less believable.

In the Fox story, the jetpack itself is real; Fox & Friends’ mistake was the claim that the LAPD was buying them. That, too, is not patently unbelievable. The thing that should have made them think twice was buried in the details: that the LAPD was buying 10,000 jetpacks at $100,000 each. Only by doing the math that this claim implies do you reach the obviously unbelievable item: the LAPD is spending a billion dollars.

The only part of the whole story that was unbelievable was the billion dollars part? Really? I guess it was a stretch asking that crew to ‘do the math’ but there was nothing “buried in the details”. These were ‘reporters’ giving us a story. If they are wrong about details that most of us can figure out in our heads in about 3 seconds, they are responsible for the content. But it wasn’t a stupid story only after you did the math, the whole thing was idiotic. I loved the part where they claimed the jetpacks would be running into helicopters.

In fact, many police departments use Segways as a mobility tool in certain circumstances. I’m not sure what, specifically, makes you say that it’s ludicrous on the face of it to imagine that a police department might have, or at least test, a similar role for jetpacks.

Can you explain why you feel it’s ludicrous on the face of it?

Can you give me a scenario in which it’s not ludicrous? With helicopters and infrared cameras the police already have the capacity to track criminals from the air. And helicopters can stay up considerably longer than 30 minutes. But suppose it’s for apprehension instead. What’s a cop going to do when confronting a suspect with a 500 pound jet pack strapped to him? Add in the cost, the danger, etc and it’s very ludicrous.

[Bricker]

@PlainJain

Can you give me a scenario in which it’s not ludicrous? With helicopters and infrared cameras the police already have the capacity to track criminals from the air. And helicopters can stay up considerably longer than 30 minutes. But suppose it’s for apprehension instead. What’s a cop going to do when confronting a suspect with a 500 pound jet pack strapped to him? Add in the cost, the danger, etc and it’s very ludicrous.

Sure, but helicopters can’t be carried in the back of a panel truck. Presumably the jetpack could be part of a special ops unit, and deployed at the scene when air recon was needed, instead of waiting for air support.

In any event, all those details unfolded into the story – may point is that on its face, it’s not ludicrous. Only as the details unfold do you begin to see the flaws.

By contrast, the headline is one that simplywouldnt ever run on a legitmate news source, even though the content itself certainly could.

[PlainJain]

@Bricker

Sure, but helicopters can’t be carried in the back of a panel truck. Presumably the jetpack could be part of a special ops unit, and deployed at the scene when air recon was needed, instead of waiting for air support.

I’m guessing an unmanned craft could do the job better, cheaper and safer… if such a thing was actually needed.

[Ludovic]

I can believe jetpacks. If they come down just a bit in price and have a proven track record in the next 5-10 years they will be picked up by law enforcement.

In the meantime, check out what Palm Bay’s finest are using in the meantime. Jetpacks aren’t too much of a stretch.

[perfectparanoia]

@gonzomax

There are plenty of claims of TSA checkers reaching down peoples underwear. Besides the crotch is not the only place you get skin problems.

Cite? I am pretty sure that if a TSA inspector put their hand inside my underwear, they would be missing said hand in fairly short order.

This is supposed to be a pat down, not a strip search.