Learning Your Terror Score

[Zeb_Carter]

The federal government is disclosing that it assigns a computer-generated score to millions of Americans. What is the score? It's your terror score! It is supposed to measure the risk you pose of being a terrorist or criminal. And you're not going to believe how they do it. The scores are assigned to travelers, both foreign and domestic, based on a variety of factors.

The criteria for determining how dangerous or terrorist-prone you are includes: an analysis of your travel records, where you are from, how you paid for your tickets (cash? Terrorist!,) Add in your motor vehicle records, any one-way travel you've done in the past, seating preferences and what kind of meal you ordered. It's called ATS...the Department of Homeland Security's "Automated Targeting System." [pdf]

So what is your Terror Score?

 

[TheEarl]

I've gotta be well up there. I've got tanned skin, a beard, a funny accent, I follow a small and diverse religion and my chemistry teacher once told me how nitroglycerine was formed.

In the high 80s, at least, unless I shave off the stubble, in which case I could drop to 60.

The Earl

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I've gotta be well up there. I've got tanned skin, a beard, a funny accent, I follow a small and diverse religion and my chemistry teacher once told me how nitroglycerine was formed.

In the high 80s, at least, unless I shave off the stubble, in which case I could drop to 60.

The Earl

Back in the '90s I would have had a high score as I flew one way quite a number of times. I also flew out of the country a lot. But being a blond with blue eyes kind of helps now.

 

[glynndah]

I played a game awhile back with a large group of friends where the question was "Which person at this table would make the best spy?" Everyone, including me, said I would make the best spy. Spies and terrorists seem to have a lot in common, so maybe I'd send up a red flag. (Of course, a good spy slips in and out, gets the information or plants it and leaves without a trace, so, of course, my score's really quite low.)

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I played a game awhile back with a large group of friends where the question was "Which person at this table would make the best spy?" Everyone, including me, said I would make the best spy. Spies and terrorists seem to have a lot in common, so maybe I'd send up a red flag. (Of course, a good spy slips in and out, gets the information or plants it and leaves without a trace, so, of course, my score's really quite low.)

I don't think spies would have a high score either as they tend to blend in to the local populace or are rather non-discript. The fact is they don't want to be noticed, they would follow all the rules and regulation of the country they are in and would never draw anyones attention to themselves on an aircraft. The would have all the proper credentials and would comply with all request by the authorities.

 

[S-Des]

I don't think spies would have a high score either as they tend to blend in to the local populace or are rather non-discript. The fact is they don't want to be noticed, they would follow all the rules and regulation of the country they are in and would never draw anyones attention to themselves on an aircraft. The would have all the proper credentials and would comply with all request by the authorities.

I would have said quite low until my last airport visit. Then I got the extra search (the details of which will never be told in public ). While the guard was getting to know me quite personally, I realized they were going through my carry-on bag thoroughly. They never asked, but they had to wonder what I was doing with Kiten's pink panties Now I'm guessing my number is quite high.

 

[Huckleman2000]

This is a classic case of a misuse of statistical probability. Just because statistics work in the aggregate, does not mean that they are any good at all for predicting individual instances. For example, if I know that people who buy one way tickets, order vegetarian meals, pay cash, and wear robes are more likely to purchase organic fertilizer, and there are enough of them, then that MIGHT be worth figuring out, if I"m in the business of selling organic fertilizer. (Bite your tongue...) These people could be members of a back-to-nature farm-commune trend (my target market), or they could be North Africans going home after attending college (not my target market, but someone that looks just like them based on those few factors). I can send out a mailing to all of them, and know that a higher portion of the people who receive the mailing will be interested in my bullshit. I will send out fewer pieces, with less waste.

However, terrorists aren't a target market. They're a handful of people with a wide variety of possible actions that will accomplish their objectives. How many millions of people have flown since 9/11/01? How many thousands of those have fit this pseudo-statistical profile (based on the actions of 19 terrorists)? How many terrorists have been caught boarding a plane with explosives? Zilch. Nada. Goose-egg city.