See something you don't understand, assume it is an issue, and report it to clueless authorities. "What could possibly go wrong?" Schneier on Security: Tagged war on the unexpected.
The most recent entry in that list is from October 12th. Airline Passenger Mistakes Vintage Camera for a Bomb
Back in 2007, I called this the “war on the unexpected.” It’s why “see something, say something” doesn’t work. If you put amateurs in the front lines of security, don’t be surprised when you get amateur security. I have lots of examples.
The camera buff was "detained" for several hours, mostly because the authorities are also idiots.
The one I always liked was the Italian Economics Professor who was "detained" because he was doing math on an airplane, and found that more interesting than talking to the random person seated next to him. The random person was sure that meant he was a terrorist! From 2016: Economist Detained for Doing Math on an Airplane.
An economics professor was detained when he was spotted doing math on an airplane.
For my take on that incident when it happened, see this link.
That entry on the professor doing math, in the list includes the lamest math joke ever. Well, maybe not quite ever...
At Heathrow Airport today, an individual, later discovered to be a school teacher, was arrested trying to board a flight while in possession of a compass, a protractor, and a graphical calculator.
Authorities believe she is a member of the notorious al-Gebra movement. She is being charged with carrying weapons of math instruction.
This is worse than "amateur security." This is insanity.
The list, at the 2nd link above, is quite long.
Strange that I can't find a picture of that camera.
ReplyDeletePopular Photography said that the authorities have not identified the camera, but they were betting on a twin-lens reflex of some kind, medium format. Which makes sense, because a rangefinder looks like a camera, and an single-lens reflex looks exactly like a DSLR.
DeleteThough it could have been a single-lens medium format like a Hasselblad.
He had other cameras in his checked luggage, so what was in his carry on was probably an expensive camera.
That Popular Photography article is at this link.
I'm a camera guy so I would know what a camera looks like. Just curious as to how stupid the person that reported it is.
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