An 8 year old on the No Fly List? Really?

[DaemonSeid]

Oh...I don't know...Legos can be quite dangerous in the wrong hands

[ForeverRoses]

Well, I guess TECHNICALLY the TSA is correct- the Mikey that they want isn't really this little boy. But since the name matches, he gets caught. Which is rediculous. But I guess that is what happens when people are so caught up in the letter of the law that they don't look at the spirit of the law.

Although I wouldn't put it past a crazy suicide bomber to use their 8 year old as a bomb carrier.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

Although I wouldn't put it past a crazy suicide bomber to use their 8 year old as a bomb carrier.

Right. Obviously little Mikie is most likely not a threat. Unfortunately, it's not going to stop him from being stopped on the way to the plane, and to be honest, I think he should be. I don't think it's necessarily the TSA's fault - they're doing their job. They should be taught more about doing it with tact.

[ThetaDancer]

Originally Posted by agzg

Right. Obviously little Mikie is most likely not a threat. Unfortunately, it's not going to stop him from being stopped on the way to the plane, and to be honest, I think he should be. I don't think it's necessarily the TSA's fault - they're doing their job. They should be taught more about doing it with tact.

THIS. I understand that TSA employees have a tough job, but I've lost track of the number of times I've been treated rudely and unprofessionally (and/or have seen fellow travelers treated in that manner).

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ThetaDancer

THIS. I understand that TSA employees have a tough job, but I've lost track of the number of times I've been treated rudely and unprofessionally (and/or have seen fellow travelers treated in that manner).

I guess it depends on where you fly and how you treat the TSA employees. I fly out of BWI in Baltimore sometime three times a month. The TSA employees at this very busy airport are very professional and polite. They do an excellent job processing a large number of patrons through the screening process. I have, however, seen very unnecessarily rude travelers take out their frustrations on TSA employees who are only trying to do their jobs. I actually can't remember a single time that I have been treated rudely by someone from TSA or seen someone else treated rudely that didn't deserve it.

As for the issue with this kid, aren't they now required everyone to give more information when they book flights to narrow down information so that these problems don't continue to occur. A simple birthday would keep mistakes like duplicated names from causing the wrong person from being searched every time he goes to the airport. We are expected to check name and birthdate when we verify our patients in hospitals. I don't see why Homeland Security should get away with less. Blaming TSA is like whipping your puppy because your husband let it piss on the rug.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

As for the issue with this kid, aren't they now required everyone to give more information when they book flights to narrow down information so that these problems don't continue to occur. A simple birthday would keep mistakes like duplicated names from causing the wrong person from being searched every time he goes to the airport. We are expected to check name and birthdate when we verify our patients in hospitals. I don't see why Homeland Security should get away with less. Blaming TSA is like whipping your puppy because your husband let it piss on the rug.

Yes, when I bought a ticket a few days ago, I was prompted for a little more personal information than I normally am (birthday, sex) and they prompted me for a redress number, if that was applicable. A redress number, it seems, can allow people like this little kid to be verified as NOT on the watch list to prevent this sort of nonsense. This isn't exactly new, so if this has been such a problem, why didn't his parents get him a redress number before?

This stuff seems at least 9 years late to me. I'm just saying.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

As for the issue with this kid, aren't they now required everyone to give more information when they book flights to narrow down information so that these problems don't continue to occur. A simple birthday would keep mistakes like duplicated names from causing the wrong person from being searched every time he goes to the airport. We are expected to check name and birthdate when we verify our patients in hospitals. I don't see why Homeland Security should get away with less. Blaming TSA is like whipping your puppy because your husband let it piss on the rug.

Agreed!

[sceniczip]

One of my Mom's coworkers shares a name with someone on the no fly list and they gave him a special document that he carries with him when he flies.

I can also see looking at kids because there have been people who have smuggled drugs using their kids as a pack mules so perhaps better safe than sorry? I don't know.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

Although I wouldn't put it past a crazy suicide bomber to use their 8 year old as a bomb carrier.

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking too.

[charlie2010]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses
Although I wouldn't put it past a crazy suicide bomber to use their 8 year old as a bomb carrier.

My two-year old son was searched last summer, when we were picked out randomly (I think) for an extra check when we flew 'home' from NY to Europe. At first I was a bit worried as I was not allowed to stay with him (had to stay 10 feet away), and at the time, he didn't speak that much English yet (he's come a long way since then!) and slightly annoyed. I understand the necessity of the whole screening process, and always try to be as cooperative as I can be but - naive me - was thinking this was a bit over the top and that a two-year old, in all likelihood, was not going to blow up a plane. My husband, rightfully, pointed out to me that if they didn't apply the same measures of security to kids, it would only be a matter of time before some idiot would use a kid for exactly that purpose.

The guy who 'checked' my son turned it into one big game for him, asking him to pretend he was an airplane (which was a word he did know) so he could pat him down.

If that's what it takes to fly home and arrive safely, then that's what it takes!

[honeychile]

I recently read an article that many of the child suicide bombers are actually handicapped, physically or mentally, and this is genocide in more than one way. Unfortunately, I forget the magazine - I was in a doctor's office.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I recently read an article that many of the child suicide bombers are actually handicapped, physically or mentally, and this is genocide in more than one way. Unfortunately, I forget the magazine - I was in a doctor's office.

Have you seen "The Hurt Locker"? If any of that was true, there are some very disturbing scenes in that movie involving a child.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Have you seen "The Hurt Locker"? If any of that was true, there are some very disturbing scenes in that movie involving a child.

Haven't seen that movie - but I'll be sure to put it on my Don't Bother list. Anyone who can use a child as any sort of tool of destruction is less than subhuman.

And I emphasize the word use because, well, kids sometimes just are tools of destruction - in a funny sense.