Seems like he didn't make a false bomb report, he just made a bad joke. Can you throw people in prison for that now? Bad jokes should be a felony.

That is unless they are made by muslims. In that case we are racist against the brown people, and have no say whatsoever because they are oppressed, and we are not. Please pick up your check over there.

Not funny.

TSA agents have any remaining shreds of a sense of humor or a sense of proportion surgically removed when hired. Someone who carelessly leaves a 20 oz bottle of water in their bag is just as dangerous as the guy who makes a bad joke in the security line or as the guy smuggling a chainsaw in his carry-on.

They are all breaking the rules.

How is that making a false bomb report? He just asked a question.

This reminds me of the freedom of speech case where a judge found it legal to give a cop the middle finger.
Though legal, the judge said if you do it, you can expect a response from the cop.

With that said it's still not a good idea to joke around like that.

The line to enter the Arch in St. Louis has a sign warning more or less about this sort of thing. I found out the hard way by some off-hand remark. Luckily the officer was pretty nice about it. He thought it was silly, but didn't want me to cause problems with others.

It's missing the point however. This is all security theater. No terrorist is going to walk through airports looking sweaty, nervous and joking about shoe bombs. They're going to attempt to blend in and cause the least amount of problems for themselves as possible. But hey, as long as it looks like we're doing something. Right?

@mgy: I saw this reported on CNN yesterday. From all accounts, he ssems like an idiot. Maybe they were just doing the other passengers a favor by not having them endure his lame attempts at humor throughout the flight.

What a retard. Everyone knows that the appropriate drunken response is "Are you the stewardess who checks my UNDERWEAR for a bomb?"

@Mr_D: Yes. Yes, you can.

This is just like the old adage about not shouting "fire" in a crowded theater. It's become a cliche, but just because it's not taken seriously anymore, doesn't mean it's a good idea to do it. If you really did yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater and people got hurt, then you really would go to jail. Even if it was a "bad joke."

Likewise, while we may joke about the "shoe bomber" and how his stupid plan managed to inconvenience millions of travels, you should not be "joking" about bombs in an airport or an airplane. When your job involves hurling through the air at hundreds of miles per hour, miles above the ground, you tend to get a little edgy about the idea of an "unscheduled" stop in the side of a mountain.

I don't blame airline personnel for being a bit jumpy when it comes to talk of bombs. Talking about bombs, or even joking about bombs in an airport is serious business these days. Don't do it. You aren't going to get a laugh. You'll be lucky if you don't spend time in jail. Seriously.

Yay... security theater. Gotta love it.

Look, it was a simple misunderstanding. The guy saw a job listing for "Deputy Assistant to the Shoe-Bomb Inspector" and wanted to know whom he should speak with for an interview.

"Jokes" about bombs and weapons have long been prohibited at the airports; years before 9/11/2001. Circa 1993, I nearly got strip-searched in San Jose because a business travelling companion thought it would be funny to say "is that the bag with all the contraband?" as my carry-on went through the x-ray machine.

I hated that guy.

@starrion: Seriously, I thought I was gonna get shot coming back from Las Vegas a few years ago because I forgot I left a cigarette lighter in my carry on. They flipped out and started yelling at me "what's this!!!!, what's this!!", like that was the first time anyone had ever forgot about a lighter they had on them.

@plamoni:

This isn't exactly the same as yelling "fire" in a crowded theater. This is closer to making a joke about yelling "fire."

It was a dumbass move, but it doesn't deserve 3 days in jail.

I guess the joke bombed. MIRITE?

Ex girlfriend had a friend who made a "joke" about a bomb in an airport, pre-9/11. He went to jail.

@larrymac808: I know of two guys who pulled a bad prank on a third guy:

Cut out the shape of a pistol in aluminum foil and place it in with the mark's work papers or files. He'll never notice. But the 2-dimensional x-ray machines love it.

@Mr_D: Where do I petition Dane Cook getting thrown in prison? Or executed?

I believe the moment you enter an airport, you are stripped of all constitutional rights. At least that's how it felt when I was on my honeymoon in October. Ever seen the prison shows where prisoners are being led back to their cells after being let out in the yard? "MOVE ALONG! DO NOT STOP! BEHIND THE LINE! QUICKLY PEOPLE!". You felt like if you sneezed you would be immediately tackled and hauled off to Gitmo.

sounded like a valid question. maybe someone forgot to look at his shoes and he thought she was doing a piss-poor job.

@Ash78:

That sounds like fun for your close friends who can't afford that dreamy trip to jail.

The TSA is required to take all bomb jokes seriously. It's CYA:

1. Passenger makes a bomb comment.
2. TSA employee thinks it is a joke and lets it pass.
3. Turns out to be real. Bomb goes off.
4. Someone finds out that said TSA employee knew about the bomb.
5. Media circus.

I think the length of time he spent locked up was excessive. But you have some responsibilities too when you're in a heightened security area.

@loueloui: What? I can't tell if you're making a racist generalization for sure, because you're incomprehensible.

@Hooray4Zoidberg: They did that to me over a pair of nail clippers I'd forgotten about in my purse. I still can't figure out how those are a weapon - they didn't even have the nail file attachment that some do.

@B: Seconed! I want to play the most dangerous game with that man...not to be confused with "the crying game".

Now, while I understand that joking about a bomb is a bad idea, I dont think "are you the one who checks for shoe bombs" should equal three days in jail. Maybe missing your flight.

1st what if she was being a nazi...I've met some flight attendant nazis before.

Second, what if I'm havign a conversation with my wife and the word bomb comes up? Is the content of my conversation going to be judged? The content of my bags, yes, but this is just stupid.

The terrorists have won.

@larrymac808: Ugh. Please tell me you punched him in the face later.

Dear First Amendment,

I'm writing this letter as a goodbye. You and I had a lot of great times together. Like when I was in 11th grade and made vagina my answer to every question my English teacher asked*. Or a year ago when I figured out that my wife gets totally uneasy with that word and I started saying it all the time.

I will miss the way I could say what I wanted, I will miss the way I could totally say fuck israel and free palestine without being phone tapped.

What I will miss the most is how you will continue to protect certian peoples and religions while abandoning me. Now all I have is my 'Big Brother".

Well, goodbye first amendment, maybe we'll meet again one day.

Effectionatly Yours,
Wormfather AKA 001547182

Ah...you gotta love Bush's America! You better behave for the airport Gestapo or be jailed for as long as we want. Yes Sir! No Sir! How high should I jump Sir!

It's amazing to me that someone making a joke about a shoe bomb and being subsequently arrested is considered an acceptable outcome by anyone. The very notion that there are "things one shouldn't say" in a given situation stands against the very freedoms that the United States was founded upon.

@Blueskylaw: Reminds me of the Simpsons.

Homer gets his shirt deep fried.
Homer: And you said they couldn't deep fry my shirt
Marge: I didn't say they couldn't, I said you SHOULDN'T.

@mgy:

Actually, as I learned in security training for my Federal job, jokes about spying, selling secrets, etc. do correlate with actually doing those things. I'm guessing it's a way of relieving the tension of doing something that could easily cost your job and every serious job you might have afterwards (or life in this case).

I'm not sure what the data would say in this case, but knowing what I do, I'd still pull him aside to be on the safe side. Nobody wants to be the one who missed The Clue.

@Ash78: Now that's some funny shit!!!

Reminds me of Airplane II when a couple passes a sign saying Hi-Jacking was a federal offense. The wife then notices his friend across the concourse and tells the husband to say hello.

Hi, Jack! the guy says.

Tackling ensues.

If a false bomb report was made, it was made by the flight attendant. Asking if she checks for shoe bombs is not the same thing as reporting having or having seen a bomb. (Similarly, "do you sell magazines?" in no way implies that the speaker has a magazine.)

@Saboth: I won't do business with a company that treats me like a criminal. This is true of software, movies and music and is also true of airlines.

Though I realize that the TSA and the airlines are separate entities, they have a vested interest in making sure that I, a prospective client, am treated well and with courtesy.

@CES.GitEmSteveDave: Striker!

@vladthepaler: I see your point, but, but, but, we're afraid man. I mean real scared here take our liberties but protect us from bad jokes, arabic t-shirts and bottled water.

this guy is quite a catch. his wife must be a top notch gal.

As they said in "Men in Black," The FBI has no sense of humor that we are aware of."

The guy is an idiot and deserves what he got.

The 3 days of jail wasn't for making a bad joke - it was for being stupid.

@Saboth:

I wear boots. Have one pair of tennis shoes I wear when I exercise. Other than that, boots. When I go through an airport, it is a pain to take them off and then put them back on, so I don't. The guy usually pulls me to the side, scans me and I'm on my way. Last time through I got the type of treatment you mentioned. I refused and came very close to being arrested.

'Homeland Security' has done nothing but put uncontrolled power into the hands of idiots while creating a class of sheep in the people actually paying a private company for a service. It doesn't protect those flying from squat. It's pitiful enough I have to ask some overpaid union worker for the opportunity to scan me like I'm five and playing mother may I?

@RurouniX: Yeah, what a dumbass, thinking he should have the right to say what he'd like.

Whatever you say, battousai.

@Wormfather is Wormfather: I asked for two waters on a Delta flight (I was in first class and had to run to catch my flight) and the attendant said that she would bring me one, but if I wanted another I would have to get off of the plane to get it. We were in flight.
Definitely a water nazi.

And this is why, when planning a trip to a friend's wedding 750 miles away next summer, I have no desire to fly. As others have said, it just makes me feel like a prisoner. I already tend to get anxious when flying anyway, and I can't see it ending well. Much like the cop who pulled me over for a bullshit reason assumed I was a drug smuggler because I as nervous.

@larrymac808: I did something similar when crossing the border from Mexico to Texas in 1993. I said something about a friend having crack in his pocket while crossing. This got myself and my 3 friends the chance to have a Mexican border guard search us thoroughly. Not a strip search thankfully, but I never want to have my junk groped while I'm handcuffed again, unless it is something I request.

you can't say the word "bomb" or "explosion" on a plane or in an airport within earshot of any official employee. Same as shouting "fire" in a crowded theater, they have to assume that it's not a joke and arrest you.

@Mr_D: We've got signs all over the airport in Maryland that says even joking about bombs could lead to an arrest.

Honestly, while I have serious reservations about the word "bomb" = jail approach, I'm generally in favor of anything that'll keep douchebags like this off the streets for a few days.

Dumbass. Never say "bomb", "fire", or greet your friend Jack in an airport. NEVER.

@concordia:

I told my wife I hope she enjoyed the honeymoon, because it will be a LONG time before we fly again!

I don't think I'd ever make the mistake of saying something as stupid as that, but stuff like this is the reason I take the train whenever possible these days. My semi-regular (every few months) trip between pittsburgh and new york is 9 hours by train, or 1.5 hours by plane. When you count security, delays, transport to and from the station/airport, and buffer time, the plane trip takes about 7 hours total and the train about ten.

The train takes 3 more hours, but I don't have to deal with security, can carry three bags (or two bags and a folding bike), it's quieter, I get more space and the freedom to get up and walk around whenever I want (not to mention 30 minutes in Philadelphia to grab a bite to eat), and I don't spend the majority of the trip rushing around, finding gates, etc.

As air travel gets touchier and touchier, and less efficient, the train becomes a more attractive choice daily.