stupid british tourist

[martinexsquaddie]

apprantly some dopy British tourist is in jail after making a dumb joke in florida claiming her backpack contained a bomb.
Well I have no problem making her spend a night in the cells keeping her on remand for 6 months seems a might excessive.
In the uk that sort of behaviour would have led to arrest and then charge probably a fine or community service.
I suppose some DA going to ask for years of jail time parnoid muppets.

[Tengu]

Dumb ppl like that deserve to be locked up

[Caribou Kid]

Yeah, those good old days of making a joking reference to anything vaguely resembling an explosive device are pretty well numbered. Soon I won't even be able to get away with wearing my "There are very few problems that cannot be fixed with the judicious application of C-4" t-shirt.
Unless you are an EOD tech, or similar, most people seem to have a very dim view of anything remotedly associated with things that go "boom."

A buddy of mine used to have a novelty plastic alarm clock that looked like a small IED (coiled "wires" from the ticking clock mechanism, fake little sticks of dynamite, plunger, etc.) which he picked up on a trip to Singapore or Bangkok. Didn't look very real, sorta like the way a water pistol resembles a true firearm. Needless to say, the Company Sergeant Major took a VERY dim view of this little bedside timepiece during his next barracks inspection, and it was deep-sixed into the industrial bin after my buddy finished doing his fortnight of subsequent "extra" duties. :lol: (Backchatting a CSM during his inspection of your room is not the best way to win him over, apparently!) Afterwards he got one of those huge Swatch watches (really, really big watch to go on the wall, looks like the wrist-worn swatch) as a replacement clock. D'oh!

[NcDeuce]

Dumb ppl like that deserve to be locked up

^ Word

Have you ever seen the shirts that say "Bomb Technician" and "If you see me running, follow me" or something like that. Funny stuff.

[martinexsquaddie]

yes but remanded in custody c'mon hardly a danger to anyone
thats a might over the top
especially as she was leaving to get a new visa
your depriving some visa clerk of a sorely needed laugh.
as in you want what :) make a sentance out of hell cat and chance rofl

[AFG]

Dumb ppl like that deserve to be locked up

^ Word

Have you ever seen the shirts that say "Bomb Technician" and "If you see me running, follow me" or something like that. Funny stuff.

I think its

"I'm a bomb technician. If you see me running, try to keep up."

[UkrainianAmerican]

Ehh,Ithink she should be released ASAP. I dont see what the big deal is.

[Roger Rabbit]

I think she should spend perhaps a night or a day or two in a police cell to set an example that this is not something to joke about at an airport. 6months is a little bit too long though.

[marktigger]

HANG ON HER SPENDING A NIGHT IN ANYFORM OF DETENTION IS A BIT OVER THE TOP

[2Sheds_Jackson]

She should spend the night in jail - or until it can be determined that she's not a threat.

AND she should be made to pay for any and all expenses incurred by her dumb ass remark - security overtime, the hotel bills of anybody who's flights were delayed, fuel for any acft. that had to delay in pattern or sit on the ramp etc.

The answer is to make these idiots fully responsible for the consequences of their actions. That will put a stop to it in a hurry.

[martinexsquaddie]

bbc.com website carries a story more and more people are coming out with this sort of comment and finding that people at airports have a distinct lack of humour.

[army cadet_ngcsu]

They should give her a "blanket party" and let her go back! Hazing is the answer children.

[Roger Rabbit]

Theres a time and place to make these sort of jokes. Its not to airport security when they're on duty though.

[Sabre]

They should check her bag, believe she was making a joke, she'd realise Americans don't understand irony, they'd let her go and she'd be on her way...no harm done.

Unfortunately, the big stick has won. All hail the wildly inaccurate big stick. :roll:

[MolliG]

I think The Sun's...

YOU IDIOT
... Sums the girl up. ;)

[cut]

and the arresting police officer

[usa320]

Have you ever seen the shirts that say "Bomb Technician" and "If you see me running, follow me"

I own it.

Folks, getting arrested for making bomb jokes in an airport isnt something new since 9-11- its just taken more seriously now, as it should be.

She should spend a few days in jail. assuming background checks come up clear.

I find it strange that when an American pilot gave a brazilian security guard the middle finger, everyone here cried out about how he should be fined heavily and spend years in prison, but when a british tourist makes a blatant THREAT to NATIONAL SECURITY, they should be slapped on the wrist and let go.

Apparently crude gestures are now a greater offense than making threats to the safety of others.

[cut]

threat to national security? :cantbeli:

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Well, she may not have been an actual threat, but she did break the law. I haven't been able to find the details of the story - but typically when this happens they close the terminal, delay (or cancel) the flight, and all normality goes to hell. People miss connecting flights, have to stay overnight, other flights are delayed in departure & arrival etc.

So her idiocy was not without real cost. It cost fellow passengers. It cost taxpayers. It cost the airlines. I would suggest that she be let go, so she can return to her job and then pay those costs.

I'm amazed how many people would just let her walk away with only a night in the pokie, after she totally screwed so many people. Maybe we should let them determine her punishment...

[Fox2]

threat to national security? :cantbeli:

Try to see it from the security's point of view. A person "jokes" about having an explosive in their carry-on backpack. Are you going to make that judgement that they are "just kidding" and let them on by?

Part of me feels that some of the posters identify with the woman because she's from the UK. The only reason I deduct that is because the majority of those against her being held are British (I think).

But now imagine if the person in question was not a British female, but a male from a third-world country. Would you be more inclined to keep him under watch?

I believe this woman should be punished and everyone should understand that if you make light of very serious issues, you will not get away with it.

That all being said, I personally do not know the specifics of this case, so I cannot say whether or not the 6 month holding time is too much.

There has to be a reason for it. It could just be policy to keep potential threats for a minimum amount of time. Or it could very well be that they found something in her background. I don't know.

Interesting story, nonetheless. Thanks for posting, Martin. :D

[mustamato]

apprantly some dopy British tourist is in jail after making a dumb joke in florida claiming her backpack contained a bomb.
Well I have no problem making her spend a night in the cells keeping her on remand for 6 months seems a might excessive.
In the uk that sort of behaviour would have led to arrest and then charge probably a fine or community service.
I suppose some DA going to ask for years of jail time parnoid muppets.

Land of the free with freedom of speach eh?

[Roger Rabbit]

What so you think it is ok for me to stand up in a library and say i have a gun all in the name of freedom of speech?

[mustamato]

What so you think it is ok for me to stand up in a library and say i have a gun all in the name of freedom of speech?

If you did it here and it turned out that you didn´t really have a gun, you wouldn´t be jailed, that´s for sure. I don´t even think you would get a fine if you didn´t threaten to kill anyone. In countries with real freedom of speach it´s not illegal to have a bad sence of humour.

[Roger Rabbit]

Thing is that a bomb at an airport is not something to joke about. 6 months in prison sounds quite harsh though. Back to the airport though, its not the time or place to joke about such things. If your on a firing range you dont joke about shooting your mate standing next to you.

[Fox2]

Walk into a cinema and at the top of your lungs scream, "FIRE! FIRE! OH MY GOD! FIRE!"

Then tell them you were joking.

edit - I just realized my avatar is such a good illustration for the above.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

What so you think it is ok for me to stand up in a library and say i have a gun all in the name of freedom of speech?

If you did it here and it turned out that you didn´t really have a gun, you wouldn´t be jailed, that´s for sure. I don´t even think you would get a fine if you didn´t threaten to kill anyone. In countries with real freedom of speach it´s not illegal to have a bad sence of humour.

Remember that not all speech is "free". You cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theatre (to use the old adage). You would be held be responsible for what happens. This is a widely misunderstood part of the constitution. There are clear limits on speech. You can't make threats against people. You can't lie under oath, etc etc.

[cut]

Walk into a cinema and at the top of your lungs scream, "FIRE! FIRE! OH MY GOD! FIRE!"

Then tell them you were joking.


different situation, she didn't say it with a straight face or make a threat, it was clear she was joking from the start, if you had a bomb you wouldn't tell a customs officer, etc...


Samantha had a small rucksack on her back and was asked by an officer what was in it. She laughed and said, ‘I’ve got a bomb’

[Whistler]

Same BS comes up EVERY time some idiot gets arrested for making retarded bomb jokes at an airport or customs area.

Airport security guards aren't paid to be an audience for every asshole who thinks hes a comedian. They take their work very seriously and rightfully so. As an air traveller I am GLAD that they question anybody who is walking around talking about blowing things up. If you are dumb enough to do that in an AIRPORT, you proabably should be investigated.

Any airport in the world is the same. American, Canadian, European, etc. The simple solution is to just NOT say stupid things.

That is too much to ask from some people though :(.

BTW bringing up "free speech" in this argument is pretty stupid and shows you have no idea what free speech is. I don't want to write a page explaining it, but simply put, you don't have free speech in a private establishment. If you walk into a Ford dealer and start screaming about how great Chevy's are they will kick you out, they don't give a sh*t if you think it is your right, it is their property and they can do what they want.

[Fox2]

Remember that not all speech is "free". You cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theatre (to use the old adage). You would be held be responsible for what happens. This is a widely misunderstood part of the constitution. There are clear limits on speech. You can't make threats against people. You can't lie under oath, etc etc.

Exactly. Basically, the way I understand it, as a layman, there is a boundary beyond which "speech" (ie. expressing one's beliefs or opinions)becomes "threat".

Also a common misconception... The First Amendment in the Bill of Rights simply says the government cannot keep you from freely speaking your opinions or beliefs, but if someone else doesn't like your opinion, they also have a right to tell you so. The only time they do not have that right is if they threaten you with violence. At that point, their "speech" is no longer "free", and becomes a threat to your well-being.

Back on topic, this woman made a joke that may not have been immediately seen as a joke. The minute she said "bomb," she became a threat or potential threat to the security.

[Fox2]

Walk into a cinema and at the top of your lungs scream, "FIRE! FIRE! OH MY GOD! FIRE!"

Then tell them you were joking.


different situation, she didn't say it with a straight face or make a threat, it was clear she was joking from the start, if you had a bomb you wouldn't tell a customs officer, etc...


Samantha had a small rucksack on her back and was asked by an officer what was in it. She laughed and said, ‘I’ve got a bomb’

Sorry, I should have made it more clear that it was in reference to the free speech stuff, not the thread topic. :oops:

Also, about the joke stuff...There have been many cases like this before. The Transportation Security Administration has protocols for this sort of thing, and that's what the officers follow to the letter. If the protocol says, someone mentions bomb or admits to having one, they are immediately arrested, that is what is going to go down.

Now that you mention the dialogue, she was very, very stupid to make such a comment. Most of the incidents like this in the past were comments such as, "What, do you think I have a bomb in there or something?!" and not direct affirmations of possession.

It seems this woman affirmed she had a bomb, whether jokingly, good intentions or otherwise, she essentially said to their face, "I am in possession of an explosive." Regardless of whether it was done with a laugh or frown, she deserved to get arrested on the spot.

[Jack Mehoff]

apprantly some dopy British tourist is in jail after making a dumb joke in florida claiming her backpack contained a bomb.
Well I have no problem making her spend a night in the cells keeping her on remand for 6 months seems a might excessive.
In the uk that sort of behaviour would have led to arrest and then charge probably a fine or community service.
I suppose some DA going to ask for years of jail time parnoid muppets.

Land of the free with freedom of speach eh?

Do you have a brain of a retarded monkey with brain tumor? Why don't you go into a crowded theater a yell fire and come back here and tell us

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Also, ask yourself what becomes of the airport, airline, and government manager who is told "and oh yeah, heh heh that's a bomb in my backpack"...and then does nothing...and there IS a bomb in there...and hundreds go down in flames. Besides the human toll, everybody is fired, hundreds of millions in lawsuits.

The stakes are too high. Just letting her walk is not an option. The purpose of her sentence is not just to punish her, but to deter others from doing the same thing.

They used to put people in stocks, out in the public square. Punishment and deterrence at once. I wonder if a modern version of that wouldn't be a better option.

Back when I was in the USAF, if you got caught without your seatbelt, you got to work the front gate checking everybody's seatbelt for a week. Needless to say, it's more effective than fining somebody $15. Maybe they should make her load luggage for a week.

[Jack Mehoff]

What so you think it is ok for me to stand up in a library and say i have a gun all in the name of freedom of speech?

If you did it here and it turned out that you didn´t really have a gun, you wouldn´t be jailed, that´s for sure. I don´t even think you would get a fine if you didn´t threaten to kill anyone. In countries with real freedom of speach it´s not illegal to have a bad sence of humour.

Hey, Sweden forced your people to serve in the armed forces but you don't see me yelling freedom of choice, do i?

[Fox2]

In countries with real freedom of speach it´s not illegal to have a bad sence of humour.

That's because everyone has a bad sense of humor in Northern Europe. :lol:




Just pullin' your chain there, bud. ;)