The growing public outcry about terrorism concerns and pat-downs at airports continues to get headlines, because inconvenienced folks are outraged at being physically searched for threats. And the more they holler and scream, the more I remember about the flying I used to do myself, because for quite a few years it seemed to me I was almost always airborne.
Now, during those years the security checks were nowhere near what they are now, and certainly pre-9/11. Nonetheless, plenty of folks were upset even then that they were being inconvenienced, especially since I don't think they deemed themselves harmful.
I myself began to dread how distasteful air travel was, and how much it inconvenienced me. Considerable extra time was taken due to the need of arriving so far before departure time, merely to get through pre-flight checks. Then, I sat in lounges for what seemed like forever, waiting again until boarding began. In all, somewhere around two wasted hours or more of my time was taken every time I flew.
Then, of course, if you add in other delays, for equipment checks, late arrivals of incoming aircraft for turn-around or continuing flights, and quite often, inclement weather, the time spent in airport lounges or bars in total was immense.
Of course with all that time frittered away in airports, I think one becomes a "profiler" of sorts simply by experience and exposure. Because you tend to see how people react under certain conditions, and at times, can sense who's going to do what and when merely from observing their mannerisms, appearance, and certain demographic characteristics, such as age and dress.
For example, an easy guess would be the guys whose flashy shirts were unbuttoned down to their waists and wearing so much gold around their necks you wondered how they could stand erect. In their case it was even money that they'd either stay in a bar for the duration of the wait, and perhaps not board at all when the time came because they'd become incoherent. Or else they'd stand at the podium outside the boarding ramp and try to hit on the female agents.
Then there were the infrequent flying high-rollers who were so impressed with themselves they demanded to see everyone up to the chairman of the airline, because men of their stature and importance rated immediate take-off, regardless. Diametrically juxtaposed to them were the families who had all their worldly possessions packed in big green plastic bags and cardboard cartons, and argued loudly about how they didn't want their stuff flying as baggage. Those were also the ones whose kids screamed for entire flights, and turned around in the seat in front of you and threw applesauce in your face.
The quietest types tended to be the experienced business types who sat apart in the lounge, then boarded early because they flew first-class and kept their heads buried in their Wall Street Journals, sipping dry Martinis as the dregs of society squirmed, clawed, and muscled their way to their seats in the back. And those same, elite pre-board types were also the first off upon arrival, so they were half way to their destinations in limo's by the time most peons reached baggage claim.
As the list goes on there are many more categories and types by which experienced flyers, or knowledgeable others might categorize passengers. And I can certainly understand why some might think profiling would work and make things move faster. But, I don't really think that's the point. Because all it takes is one small mistake and the ball game is over.
So, in my opinion folks should just understand how dramatically things have changed and that this isn't a game, nor is pre-boarding scanning or searching an inconvenience that should be removed because a lot of spoiled, unknowing, selfish types think they're more important than others safety. But, what's most sadly important in the matter is, apparently it's going to take another disaster to shut these morons up.
That's it for today folks
Adios
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