Yeah, saying "I'm not a terrorist" is kind of a line I'd expect to hear to in a tv show or something. Do you tell the cop "Don't worry, I'm not a kidnapper"?
When a flight attendant tells you to not take pictures, its obviously for security/terrorism concerns. I find it truly ridiculous if we can no longer make true statements in an attempt to alleviate such fear ("I am not a terrorist").
When a cop pulls you over because there was a kidnapping a year ago, you do not end up in jail for making the claim "Don't worry, I'm not a kidnapper"
> When a flight attendant tells you to not take pictures, its obviously for security/terrorism concerns.
Not necessarily. A plane is a crowded, cramped environment and other passengers (such as myself) might not want to be photographed.[1] A broad "no photos" rule is an easy way to make sure that those of us who don't want to be photographed don't have to be. Similarly, photo-taking by tourists is often distracting (people spilling into aisles, flash photography in a small reflective space, etc.). People often seem to have no idea how to take photos without being disruptive. I agree that the disruption is the problem, but a "no photos" rule is easier to enforce than "photos, but no flash, except the LED flash on camera phones..."
This interaction should have ended after "thanks, I didn't know there was a policy against taking photos."
[1] See, for example, the evergreen controversy about the photography rules at Burning Man. It's a constant balance between "people want to take pictures so they can remember what happened" and "some people don't want to be photographed in what for them is a very personnel experience."
> When a cop pulls you over because there was a kidnapping a year ago, you do not end up in jail for making the claim "Don't worry, I'm not a kidnapper"
No, but you'll get a more thorough check of your car (trunk and backseat), plus a more in-depth check of your car's plates and your ID - because you just made a seemingly unrelated statement about a horrible thing (kidnapping) when the cop pulled you over for something trivial (not obeying speed rules).
>...you'll get a more thorough check of your car (trunk and backseat), plus a more in-depth check of your car's plates and your ID - because you just made a seemingly unrelated statement about a horrible thing (kidnapping) when the cop pulled you over for something trivial (not obeying speed rules).
not sure if i made my original point correctly. putting away the camera is entirely related to terrorism, which is why its perfectly reasonable to respond with "I am not a terrorist" (taking pictures of the plane for future blowing-up operations)
Next time a cop pulls me over I'll tell him: "I'm not a turtle". Or "I'm not lightbulb". Or this: "I'm not a tea leaf". And hope they are not looking for an escaped turtle, a lost lightbulb or a tea leaf that jumped out of a tea cup.
Except that it's not obviously for security concerns. hey might want to make it difficult for passengers to record broken equipment that makes them look bad. They might just be unhappy about the out-of-fashion decor. Or they might want to make it harder for competitors to build a complete record of their fittings. It might be as simple as not being able to tolerate a flash going off and making a blanket ban that covers all cameras is the simplest way to do that.
There is any number of reasons why they might want to ban photos of plane equipment that just boil down to airline self-interest without playing the "security" card. Not that this invalidates them, but it does put the flight attendant's request in a less all-trumping context.
I love that form. No, I've not committed genocide lately, nor am I entering with the intent of setting myself up as a drug lord... Maybe some light murder and mayhem, though, if I feel bored or the hotel isn't up to scratch.
