Criminal sense of humour

[wishfulthinking]

A well known aussie footie star was overheard to say to a team mate at takeoff on a qantas plane "have you got the bombs strapped on?"

Airport security were called aboard.

The law states that such comments even if made in jest can attract up to a max $5,500 fine.

The footie star got verbal reprimand.

Playing judge, jury and executioner, should he be charged?

 

[Aurora Black]

Security watchdogs need to lighten the hell up.

 

[Huckleman2000]

A well known aussie footie star was overheard to say to a team mate at takeoff on a qantas plane "have you got the bombs strapped on?"

Airport security were called aboard.

The law states that such comments even if made in jest can attract up to a max $5,500 fine.

The footie star got verbal reprimand.

Playing judge, jury and executioner, should he be charged?

Yes. Fine him and make him fight it.

These sorts of laws do nothing to prevent terrorism. I would imagine lesson one covers not talking about the plan while you're in the security line.

The main offense the laws seek to curtail is needless diversion of the security people, which just messes up the whole stupid system for everyone. Obviously the moron thought that, as somewhat of a celebrity, he enjoyed a certain amount of discretion. For that alone, fine him, as far as I'm concerned.

However, people should be dissuaded from doing really stupid things, like talking about bombs in airports or on airliners. Fining this joker sounds like a really easy way to get that message across. As much as I indulge the devil on my shoulder to make an easy joke, I know enough not to mess with airport security. Of course it's all an elaborate exercise in futility, but it's the price of air travel, which is already disagreeable in the extreme. As someone who travels frequently, this fuckhead should have known that.

(I started out saying "No" on the basis that it's all such a farce, but about two sentences into it I realized that tolerating people who call attention to that fact in the airport only makes things more disagreeable for everyone. Air travel is a prime example where going along to get along is the only rational choice.)

 

[S-Des]

If it's illegal, it's illegal. If not, take the law off the books. I personally am sick of obeying laws that other people ignore. There's a law here about virtually everything. I'm fine with doing away with many of them, but don't like others getting preferential treatment. Sports stars, actors, and musicians constantly get away with crimes the rest of us get screwed over for. One set of laws for everyone and get rid of the crap that's not important (damn, I sound cranky, don't I?).

Huckleman, I agree in principle. You also have to keep in mind that if someone panics because of what he says, it will cost thousands (or more) in the delays and security sweeps. I agree it doesn't prevent terroism, but yelling fire in a crowded movie theatre could cause a panic that might result in injury or even death. People say stupid things. When they do, they should pay the price (as long as everyone pays the same price).

 

[wishfulthinking]

I would think the security officers would be in serious trouble for using their "discretion" not to fine him.

If he was going to be a bonehead, he should have chosen his moment - eg. while at the hotel, and not on the plane.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I certainly can't see giving the bum preferential treatment. He should have been jailed and fined and barred from the airport.

 

[Huckleman2000]

I would think the security officers would be in serious trouble for using their "discretion" not to fine him.

If he was going to be a bonehead, he should have chosen his moment - eg. while at the hotel, and not on the plane.

Hmmm....
Was he en route to an important match? Not that I agree with it, but I can understand where that could be a mitigating factor. Of course, in that case he'd be on a team-chartered plane, right? RIGHT?!

I'm not backing off my principles, you understand. I can just see where there might be circumstances where one principle trumps another. Now I'm confusing myself again! It was when I found myself agreeing with Box!

 

[arienette]

Just because someone is an athlete, a celebrity, movie star, etc. does not mean that they should get away with something the average joe out on the streets certainly would not.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

With all the boneheads out there in the world you would think the message would have gotten through to them by now. "NO JOKES IN THE AIRPORT".

I think he should have been fined and taken off the plane in cuffs, just as I would have been if I had been a big dummy and said what he did. It sure as hell wouldn't have mattered one iota whether I had an important meeting to get to as to what would have happened to me.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

...keep in mind that if someone panics because of what he says, it will cost thousands (or more) in the delays and security sweeps. I agree it doesn't prevent terroism, but yelling fire in a crowded movie theatre could cause a panic that might result in injury or even death. People say stupid things. When they do, they should pay the price (as long as everyone pays the same price).

Exactly. If it is illegal, and can cause such panic and fear, especially given the paranoia following 9/11, then fine his ass and make it public.

Q_C

 

[FallingToFly]

If it's illegal, it's illegal. If not, take the law off the books. I personally am sick of obeying laws that other people ignore. There's a law here about virtually everything. I'm fine with doing away with many of them, but don't like others getting preferential treatment. Sports stars, actors, and musicians constantly get away with crimes the rest of us get screwed over for. One set of laws for everyone and get rid of the crap that's not important (damn, I sound cranky, don't I?).

Huckleman, I agree in principle. You also have to keep in mind that if someone panics because of what he says, it will cost thousands (or more) in the delays and security sweeps. I agree it doesn't prevent terroism, but yelling fire in a crowded movie theatre could cause a panic that might result in injury or even death. People say stupid things. When they do, they should pay the price (as long as everyone pays the same price).

Well, if you obey laws that everyone else ignores, and you live in one of those states that outlaws oral sex or anal sex or same sex or any of the other fun sex...

I'd be cranky too.

Personally, I live in Florida, where it's illegal to bathe naked.

I ignore that law.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Well, if you obey laws that everyone else ignores, and you live in one of those states that outlaws oral sex or anal sex or same sex or any of the other fun sex...

I'd be cranky too.

Personally, I live in Florida, where it's illegal to bathe naked.

I ignore that law.

Well at least if you bath with clothes on they figure they will get washed at the sametime as you and therefore be far healthier in the long run.

 

[FallingToFly]

Well at least if you bath with clothes on they figure they will get washed at the sametime as you and therefore be far healthier in the long run.

Yeah but I have this odd thing about actually getting CLEAN.. not halfway so.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Yeah but I have this odd thing about actually getting CLEAN.. not halfway so.

Does the law say anything about a shower? Take a shower instead!

 

[FallingToFly]

Does the law say anything about a shower? Take a shower instead!

It's basically a law that says- you may not bathe yourself in any way while naked. I ignore it.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

It's basically a law that says- you may not bathe yourself in any way while naked. I ignore it.

Oh the moral indecency! Can you imagine having everyone bathing in their back yard naked...

Wait, that would be the coolest thing ever!

 

[Guest]

Oh the moral indecency! Can you imagine having everyone bathing in their back yard naked...

Wait, that would be the coolest thing ever!

Yeah, it's one of those very old, creaky laws that has never been removed from the books.

Of course, there is no law about typing via computer into an online erotica forum while naked, which is what I do.

As for the footie star, there is no way he is ignorant about the whole terrorism paranoia. He was banking on his influence to make him above the law. Fine him. Embarrass him. Oh, and a public apology for it would be a nice touch, just to get the message through that being an ass isn't good.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

It's basically a law that says- you may not bathe yourself in any way while naked. I ignore it.

But the law in question wasn't this subjective. Panic can cause unnecessary harm if the reason for the panic is something more along the lines of a bad joke told by an idiot in an airport/airplane. The law you noted is more like the law in Georgia about not taking shotguns to church unless they're loaded (I think it was Georgia, and it may be off the books by now). This law is to avoid a waste of time for security and to curtail any unnecessary fear or harm.

Big difference there.

Q_C

 

[Selena_Kitt]

But the law in question wasn't this subjective. Panic can cause unnecessary harm if the reason for the panic is something more along the lines of a bad joke told by an idiot in an airport/airplane. The law you noted is more like the law in Georgia about not taking shotguns to church unless they're loaded (I think it was Georgia, and it may be off the books by now). This law is to avoid a waste of time for security and to curtail any unnecessary fear or harm.

Big difference there.

Q_C

Like yelling fire in a crowded theater? Seems a similar kind of thing to me... has the same feel.... "I was just joking"... well, we know what Freud said about jokes...

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Like yelling fire in a crowded theater? Seems a similar kind of thing to me... has the same feel.... "I was just joking"... well, we know what Freud said about jokes...

No what did he say?

 

[kiwiwolf]

Devil's advocate? Yeah he should have been charged. Social status should never be a shield for dickheads to hide behind, especially in this day and age with the threat of terrorism ever present.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Been in a similar situation. Jay was NOT amused.

Still, I doubt the Greeks would be as touchy about such jokes as his fellow Americans.

 

[Tom Collins]

I say hang him up by his testicular tussue in the middle of the airport. The best outcome would be that he'd lose his ability to reporduce, thereby improving the gene pool.