6 replies to this topic

[unluckycharm]

from newsweek
LINK

(page 1)
By Patti Davis
Special to Newsweek
Updated: 9:40 a.m. MT Aug 16, 2007
Aug. 16, 2007 - It was bound to happen. Now even a frown or grimace can get you into trouble with The Man.

“Specially trained security personnel” will be watching passengers for “micro-expressions” that will reveal treacherous agendas and insidious intentions at airports around the country. These agents, who may literally hold your fate in their hands have been given a lofty, Orwellian name: "Behavior Detection Officers."


Did anyone ever doubt that George Orwell’s prophecies in “1984” would arrive? In that novel, he wrote, “You had to live—did live, from habit that became instinct—in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.”

In the study of “micro-expressions”—yes, it is actually a field of study and there are some who are arrogant enough to call it a science—it has been decided that when people wish to conceal emotions, the truth of their feelings is revealed in facial flashes. These experts have determined that fear and disgust are the key things to look for because they can hint of deception.

Let’s see, fear and disgust in an airport? I’m frightened and disgusted weeks before I have to show up at an airport. In fact, I’ve pretty much sworn off the whole idea of going anywhere by airplane. It’s bad enough that I might be trapped in a crowded plane with no food or water and nonworking toilets for hours; now there are security agents interpreting our facial expressions. The face police, in place at more than a dozen U.S. airports already, aren’t identified as such. But the watcher could be at curbside baggage, the ticket counter or near the metal detectors and X-ray machines. The Transportation Security Administration hopes to have as many as 500 Behavior Detection Officers on the job by the end of 2008.

[Hooray For Everything]

...... every sound you made was overheard and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized.”

Sounds like a normal relationship to me....

well, my 'normal'.


"treacherous agendas and insidious intentions"

fairly pretentious album title...i like it...

I gotta say, I hate flying, scared shitless, and the "face police" are the least of my worries.

Now, when the 'thought police' show up on the scene, I'm fuckin' outta here...lemme know...

[dharma_bum]

i'm safe... on the other hand, if they consider a shit-faced looking grin a security threat, i guess i am screwed.

[weener]

Do they honestly think that scrutinizing the facial expressions of people at the airport is going to be an effective way to stop terrorism? How do they know if someone's malevolet microexpression means "I'm going to hijack a plane" or "I told my wife I was going on a business trip, but I'm really going to Costa Rica to hump 15-year old prostitutes."

[guitarduane]

Do they honestly think that scrutinizing the facial expressions of people at the airport is going to be an effective way to stop terrorism? How do they know if someone's malevolet microexpression means "I'm going to hijack a plane" or "I told my wife I was going on a business trip, but I'm really going to Costa Rica to hump 15-year old prostitutes."

i guess stopping either wouldn't be so bad

[thekillingtree]

International terrorism annually causes the same number of deaths as drowning in bathtubs or bee stings. It would take a repeat of Sept. 11 every month of the year to make flying as dangerous as driving. Over a lifetime, the chance of being killed by a terrorist is about the same as being struck by a meteor.

http://www.govexec.c...1/0807-01s3.htm

idk..idk..idk. is all this preparation worth it?

[GhostOfGCrites80s]

Do they honestly think that scrutinizing the facial expressions of people at the airport is going to be an effective way to stop terrorism? How do they know if someone's malevolet microexpression means "I'm going to hijack a plane" or "I told my wife I was going on a business trip, but I'm really going to Costa Rica to hump 15-year old prostitutes."

Well, he'll have a smile on his face on the return trip from his dacha.