[Ninjaneer]

Well, I've got an upcoming flight tomorrow, vacationing next week in another state. My bro found out there's an online check-in feature with our airline and proceeded to use it for our family members but once he got to my ticket they didn't allow it to go through and said I had to manually check-in in person.

Ever since 9/11 I've been getting "randomly" selected. Next time they tell me I've been "randomly selected" I should just ask them "Really?! What did I win?!" The funny thing is out of my entire family I'm the only one who was actually born here We're all citizens though.

It has happened enough times that I'm pretty sure - well, obviously - my name is just flagged in some cross-checking with a database. The only decent reason I once got for the random selection was that my ticket had "SSSS" printed on it in the bottom-right corner and the guy said it's probably due to the way we purchased the ticket (online with a credit card) - umm ok... like that isn't common. Hello! It's a round-trip ticket, don't worry, I intend to return.

Anyway, the only benefit of this random selection is that I actually get through the line faster At least in my local airport there's a clerk half-way through the line to the detectors and they'll point me to the other line, which is shorter. And they recently installed these cool new machines. You step in and it emits a series of air bursts that hit parts of your body, slightly lifts your shirt (to check the belt buckle too I guess) and this seems to bypass the need for the guard to search me with their magic wand.

Security theatre, as Bruce Schneier coined the term: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theatre. Apparently there is a database system known as the Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System but I have no clue if this database extends to the general population since the description of it sounds to be for more serious risky / questionable passengers. But it could be, it does mention a Passenger Name Record comparison in which a score is assigned based on collected information.

/rant

[Ray]

That sucks! Sorry to hear.

[Kiemyster]

lol. well, what can i tell you? get used to it bro. ive never been screened, and never will. mainly because im guyanese. and they know i wont take over a plane. heres why:

10 REASONS GUYANESE PEOPLE DON'T MAKE GOOD TERRORISTS

1) 8:45 A.M. IS TOO EARLY FOR A GUYANESE
2)GUYANESE ARE ALWAYS LATE: THEY WOULD MISS ALL 4 FLIGHTS
3)HOT GIRLS ON THE PLANE WOULD DISTRACT THEM
4)ONCE IN THE AIR, THEY WOULD'VE TALKED LOUDLYLY AND CALLED ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES
5) FREE FOOD AND FREE DRINKS ON THE PLANE WOULD DISTRACT THEM
6)THEY WOULD HAVE PUT DOWN ANY WEAPONS TO TALK THEIR POINT ACROSS
7) THEY LOVE NEW YORK CITY
8) THEY WOULD BE FIGHTING AMONG EACH OTHER ABOUT WHO THE BOSS IS, HENCE, A BIG FIGHT ON THE PLANE
9) THEY WOULD'VE PLACED A BIG GUYANESE FLAG IN THE WINDSHIELD OF THE PLANE AND CAN BE SPOTTED A MILE AWAY
10) THEY WOULD'VE TOLD EVERYONE MONTHS BEFORE THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT. (THEY CAN'T KEEP GOOD GOSSIP TO THEMSELVES)

lol. cheers!

[Nikki]

Aww that is messed up. At least you do get to cut in the line.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by Kiemyster

lol. well, what can i tell you? get used to it bro. ive never been screened, and never will. mainly because im guyanese. and they know i wont take over a plane. heres why:

10 REASONS GUYANESE PEOPLE DON'T MAKE GOOD TERRORISTS

1) 8:45 A.M. IS TOO EARLY FOR A GUYANESE
2)GUYANESE ARE ALWAYS LATE: THEY WOULD MISS ALL 4 FLIGHTS
3)HOT GIRLS ON THE PLANE WOULD DISTRACT THEM
4)ONCE IN THE AIR, THEY WOULD'VE TALKED LOUDLYLY AND CALLED ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES
5) FREE FOOD AND FREE DRINKS ON THE PLANE WOULD DISTRACT THEM
6)THEY WOULD HAVE PUT DOWN ANY WEAPONS TO TALK THEIR POINT ACROSS
7) THEY LOVE NEW YORK CITY
8) THEY WOULD BE FIGHTING AMONG EACH OTHER ABOUT WHO THE BOSS IS, HENCE, A BIG FIGHT ON THE PLANE
9) THEY WOULD'VE PLACED A BIG GUYANESE FLAG IN THE WINDSHIELD OF THE PLANE AND CAN BE SPOTTED A MILE AWAY
10) THEY WOULD'VE TOLD EVERYONE MONTHS BEFORE THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT. (THEY CAN'T KEEP GOOD GOSSIP TO THEMSELVES)

lol. cheers!

I find this quite funny...

I travel to Georgetown every now and then. My parents live there as my father is involved in some forestry projects. So yes I'm a bit familiar with local culture etc etc

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by ThreeThirtyEye

That sucks! Sorry to hear.

Thanks, I've gotten used to it... pretty much expect it lol

Originally Posted by Nikki

Aww that is messed up. At least you do get to cut in the line.

True Maybe the day I'm not selected I'd be dismayed for not getting the express lane! hehe

Originally Posted by KL2DC

I find this quite funny...

+1
Pretty funny

[Kiemyster]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

I find this quite funny...

I travel to Georgetown every now and then. My parents live there as my father is involved in some forestry projects. So yes I'm a bit familiar with local culture etc etc

hahah awesome. i would ask u to come give me a visit. but. I live in Trinidad. ehh if you ever come down let me know!

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by Kiemyster

hahah awesome. i would ask u to come give me a visit. but. I live in Trinidad. ehh if you ever come down let me know!

all flights to GEO always stops at Trinidad...will let you know. Cheers

[TahoeOG]

man sorry to hear that bro. It's cool though like that dude in the song said, "don't worry be happy" I tend to try to do that now. When i fly 3 times that has happend to me. I don't make a big deal out of it, i quietly go and can't wait to see what they will ask me to do, like take my shoes off, or take my belt off, or empty my pockets, etc... Hey the flight is NOT going to leave with out me, and i have nothing to hide, and yes i end up going faster than the longer line lol... Hey as long as they don't try putting fingers in my butt or any weird stuff like that, it's all good.

BTW i'm hispanic! ON the way back from brazil this last time, i was on a plane with a lot of Tourist!.. Once i got to newark international airport, the officer looked at everyone in front of me, then when he got to me, he walked to me. And as he was walking to me i thought, "i know i know i know, step out of the line please, etc.."

SO he said exactly that, they followed by, where were you, where you going, why, how long, etc... So i have a tang top with a HUGE GRACIE JIU JITSU COMPETITION on, a GRACIE JIU JITUS bag, and black blues purples gray bruses on my arms, shins, and neck. So i go, i went for competition, 1 week, came back because i live here. As if my story and my bruses and gear were not enough, i guess he didn't trust me. Stared at me and then later said... "ummm.......ummm........ what's in the bag?".. I'm like my training gear. He's like "ok, care to open it?".. I smile and say, "of course = D" I open it up and their is my gi (kimono or uniform) with my CUP right in the center of it.. He smiles and laughes and says, it's ok, welcome back....

Hey it's all good?.. I never take it personally

[533ogetnom]

Originally Posted by billmister

man sorry to hear that bro. It's cool though like that dude in the song said, "don't worry be happy" I tend to try to do that now. When i fly 3 times that has happend to me. I don't make a big deal out of it, i quietly go and can't wait to see what they will ask me to do, like take my shoes off, or take my belt off, or empty my pockets, etc... Hey the flight is NOT going to leave with out me, and i have nothing to hide, and yes i end up going faster than the longer line lol... Hey as long as they don't try putting fingers in my butt or any weird stuff like that, it's all good.

BTW i'm hispanic! ON the way back from brazil this last time, i was on a plane with a lot of Tourist!.. Once i got to newark international airport, the officer looked at everyone in front of me, then when he got to me, he walked to me. And as he was walking to me i thought, "i know i know i know, step out of the line please, etc.."

SO he said exactly that, they followed by, where were you, where you going, why, how long, etc... So i have a tang top with a HUGE GRACIE JIU JITSU COMPETITION on, a GRACIE JIU JITUS bag, and black blues purples gray bruses on my arms, shins, and neck. So i go, i went for competition, 1 week, came back because i live here. As if my story and my bruses and gear were not enough, i guess he didn't trust me. Stared at me and then later said... "ummm.......ummm........ what's in the bag?".. I'm like my training gear. He's like "ok, care to open it?".. I smile and say, "of course = D" I open it up and their is my gi (kimono or uniform) with my CUP right in the center of it.. He smiles and laughes and says, it's ok, welcome back....

Hey it's all good?.. I never take it personally

i would take that personally, once he was done i would tell him im going to stand there and wait untill he selects a non minority out of the line and screens them

[runnerx]

Sorry but please post a picture of you, and let us decide why they pick you

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by runnerx

Sorry but please post a picture of you, and let us decide why they pick you

lol...

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by billmister

Hey it's all good?.. I never take it personally

Nice story lol... I used to practice Ninjitsu a few years ago but currently on hold
Ah yes, the shoe searching, and sometimes everyone has to take their shoes off regardless of which line they're in... I really don't wanna smell everyone's feet
And nah, I don't take it personally. I find it quite amusing actually, despite the minor annoyance.

Originally Posted by 533ogetnom

i would take that personally, once he was done i would tell him im going to stand there and wait untill he selects a non minority out of the line and screens them

Yea that'd be great! I've seen it happen, but very rarely.

[schneid4323]

God i tried to fly with an expired lisence.......

First i go to the lady and shes like OMG its expired and writes something on my ticket.
Then i go to the xray and they pull my to the side and go:
"Oh so you have no ID"
"No, I have my ID"
"But it says here you have no ID"
"No, I have an ID it just expired"
"Point out your bags please"
So then i point out my bags....... they grab them and walk me behind some curtains...
Behind the curtains were some lovely marines, with guns..... And I got a pat down.....
Meanwhile they open my bag, and find a box labeled Laser Diffuser, some piping (metal), and a BOV..... So they were like ok WTF, I just sighed and let them do there extensive bomb test....

Needless to say fuck airport security...

[scottwww]

I don't fly much, but if being profiled would get me into a faster line, I wouldn't complain. Just take my whole family with me. It would make me feel priviledged. That's right. I'm part of the priviledged class.

[SoYank]

I went through security at IAD once and nearly had to strip to the Fruits. I told them next time I came through Dulles I was going to be wearing a bathrobe, slippers, and a jockstrap.

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by SoYank

I went through security at IAD once and nearly had to strip to the Fruits. I told them next time I came through Dulles I was going to be wearing a bathrobe, slippers, and a jockstrap.

That's too much clothing, go in with Borat's swimming thingamajig

scott: why do I get the feeling you might post a "did the thingamajig look like this?!"