Dumb

[aussie]

whilst reading through another forum recently I found this what do you guys think?
the writers name was Mephisto


What does everyone think of the increased security at the airports these days? I am a pilot, and I get to see it all over the U.S., so let me be the first to say it's a total joke. My employer buys me tickets to get to my plane at the beginning of the trip, and they are purchased one way at the last minute. This qualifies me for everything but the body cavity search, evidently. Yesterday I even had to take off my damn shoes! Wouldn't be so bad if they just searched my stuff, but they have to make small talk about all my stuff while they paw through it. For example, while holding my fiber supplement over her freaking head, the girl yesterday says "What is this stuff I see a lot of pilots carrying this?" I asked her if maybe she would like to inquire about my sex life next, if she was feeling nosy. The worst part is the knowledge that this is all for show. The flying public has no idea. I talked to a UNITED AIRLINES (yes the one that had a plane hijacked) flight attendant the other day that told me of a catering cart that arrived on the aircraft with both security seals broken. When she brought it to the attention of her supervisor, she was told to serve the food anyway! When she began to protest she was threatened by the supervisor, and told she would be FIRED. Anyone else think this is all a freakin joke?

[berly]

I'm not sure WHAT to make of that one. It feels somewhat inflated - but they say the truth is stranger than fiction?!?

He says he is a pilot. If he believed what he was saying would he still continue to fly? Perhaps he will continue to fly and just pack a lunch, eat lots of prunes and wear slippers?

I think every form of service that involves large numbers of people and their safety has it's own "dirty little secrets". Personally, I make it a policy never to engage in revealing conversation with anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant. I simply dont.want.to.know.

I'm happy to shake the sand from my hair, thankyouverymuch.

[The_Roach]

Air travel is still the safest form of transportation in the world. The airlines have been trying to tell people for years. Now that people have been struck dumb(er) by the this most recent (and unusually brutal) terrorist attack, it is likely that more people are afraid to fly than at any other time in commercial flight history.

As a result of this, the airlines have had to do damage control by reinforcing the "illusion of safety". Commercial airplanes have probably been made as safe as humanly possible already. The airlines are (hopefully) aware that another terrorist attack like the one that occured on September 11th in the near future is not only extremely unlikely, but also foolhardy on the part of the would-be terrorists.

The only reason security measures have been stepped up is to convince people that every precaution has been taken to ensure their safety. This is a business decision, however. If the airlines did not increase security to this absurd level, people simply wouldn't fly unless it was absolutely necessary. This would result in the collapse of an industry that has already seen difficult times in recent years.

However, should somebody truly wish to bomb or hijack a plane, there is really little that could prevent them. Careful planning will result success for these people. The odds that you will be on the exact flight when such an attempt is tried once, maybe twice, a year are so astronomical as to be rendered absurd.

Is it an insult to our intelligence that the airline industry has taken these steps? I think so. On the other hand, I've actually spent some time thinking and researching this, and I've come to some educated conclusions as a result. Most people reacted to the fear in exactly the way I would want them to had I been involved in such a terrorist attempt. If you want to be patriotic, get on the damn plane.

Besides, this will only last until a few months after the conclusion of the war. In the meantime, make sure that you packed your own bags, and don't agree to carry something on a plane for someone. And keep your photo ID or passport with you at all times. Don't forget your sarcastic wit.

And your toothbrush... never forget your toothbrush.

[Diva]

Whoa, such an 'Amaurotistic approach, Roach. But what do you think about the attendant being ordered to serve food that had been opened? They pull those out in grocery stores. Why risk the lives of these people over processed food?

I think that they should have thanked her for bringing it to their attention and changed the damn food. They would of :
1) Given possitive feedback to an employee.
2) Made sure that the safety of the passengers where not at risk.

I don't care if this happened BEFORE Sept. 11th, 2001. If it's open, it's trash.

[The_Roach]

I would likely chalk it up to the flight attendant's supervisor being poorly qualified for his position. If indeed this is true, my real concern is not whether or not the food I'm about to eat on an airplane is safe (I go in with the assumption that it is not) but whether the people responsible for my safety on the plane are willing to stand up against behavior such as that displayed by the supervisor.

She should have quit, five minutes after obtaining the names of all passengers on board. Then, she should have sold the story to the newswires, and contacted the people on board the flight to encourage them into joining a class action lawsuit. It's not only the proper, moral thing to do, but also the capitalistic, American thing to do.

[aussie]

Originally posted by TheRoach

She should have quit, five minutes after obtaining the names of all passengers on board. Then, she should have sold the story to the newswires, and contacted the people on board the flight to encourage them into joining a class action lawsuit. It's not only the proper, moral thing to do, but also the capitalistic, American thing to do.

I have no doubt that would be a great and profitable thing to do roach. However I equally have no doubt she would have signed a contract of employment with a non disclosure clause in it. Also once she was bullied into serving those meals she her self would have become culpable. The fact that she was bullied into committing a breach of public safety/airline policy and probably federal law would also no doubt make her hesitant to speak out.
Im sure however we can both agree that her supervisor is right at the bottom of the food chain

[berly]

Did you guys see "The Insider"?

[The_Roach]

I really wanted to see that film. I'm a big fan of Pacino, and I thought Russell Crowe had a real Keifer Sutherland thing going for him. The only downside is that it portrayed one of my favorite industries in a less than favorable light.

The_Roach sparks up another death stick

Then again, I hear it's also really negative towards one of my least favorite industries.

The_Roach shoots his television

I might still go rent it.

[berly]

The non-disclosure contract and lawsuit talk reminded me of the movie. It explores somewhat the same dilemma as our open food cart debate here.

You don't have to be too afraid Roach, Crowe's performance will not remind you of Sutherland (at least I don't think it will). I didn't want to watch it either, not for any specific reason - just apathy. Now that I have seen it, I've been surprised by how many times I've looked back on it or used it as an example. I would recommend it to you. There are no surprises on the evils of either industry. You will still want to shoot your t.v. and have a smoke afterward.

[The_Roach]

Originally posted by berly
You don't have to be too afraid Roach, Crowe's performance will not remind you of Sutherland (at least I don't think it will).That's a shame. I've never really thought much of Russell Crowe, but I love Keifer's work. He's looking more and more like his father every year.

When it came out, I was really keen on seeing it. However, never leaving my apartment (except for work or to buy more smokes) limits th number of films I can watch. If my roomate doesn't buy it, I don't watch it. That doesn't leave many films that I don't have ample opportunity to view, though.

[berly]

Well, as someone's opinion that I trust - you are now obligated to provide list of Keifer's work that I can look at. I honestly can NOT remember the last thing I saw him in, and I don't like feeling as if I've missed out on something good.

[Amaurote]

I recommend Dark City, for his performance as "The man who sold out the human race"; and also for the sight of Richard O'Brien levitating while wearing a black trilby...

[berly]

Thanks Am. I will check it out. Just added trilby to the terms that I've learned fom my Am-word-of-the-day. Was that the shortest post you've ever made?

[The_Roach]

While I'm not a big fan of television, I have made an effort to watch Keifer in 24 on the Fox Network. It's the closest thing to a badass that Keifer's ever played (he cut the thumb off the corpse of an FBI agent to use in identifying him in the first or second episode). All in all, it's not that bad for a TV show. Pretty suspenseful, and they've managed to tie all of the sub-plots together fairly well.

[berly]

Well, it's a good thing it is on the Fox network. I don't have cable, I don't have a dish - facts that horrify most people. I should be able to view it if I get the rabbit ears pointing just the right way, position the t.v. so I can see the reflection in the mirror and hold one arm straight out (with breaks durring commercials)?

[Jennafer]

Fuck it. I'm not taking a plane ever again, in my life. It's just not natural for people to be up in the sky anyway...Greyhound works for me. I'll be my own flight attendent with plenty of booze and food. And if we crash, I have a chance of just a broken arm/leg whatever, better than the ultimate bang. Safer my ASS!!! That's probably exactly what they want you to believe to get your money and your life up in the air, just to have it ripped to shreds. Oh, and that movie wasn't all that for Pacino. But, it was informative. J.:rolleyes:

[The_Roach]

See, that's the thing I love about air travel. If I go by bus, I've spent half of my two week vacation travelling to where I want to be. Sometimes it really is the destination, and not the journey.

While I will be the first to admit that statistics is the voodoo of math, more people die from auto related incidents every year than by air travel. A lot more. I fly two or three times a year and have never had an incident. My mother used to fly on business trips every week, and has never had an incident on a plane. If safety is your primary concern regarding airplanes, I'd look for a new primary concern.