Sunday, September 23, 2007

Dangerous Clothes


Play-Doh, wires, and a peg board - that was enough to send security staff at Logan Airport into a paranoid state of hyper fear, fingers twitching on their triggers. A female M.I.T. student, who had been wearing the wires and peg board zip-tied to her sweatshirt, is labeled a bomb hoax threat terrorist. Maybe it was just a bad week to have the last name of Simpson.

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She's extremely lucky she followed the instructions or deadly force would have been used. And she's lucky to be in a cell as opposed to the morgue."

I would have imagined security staff at Logan, of all places, would be trained to observe and recognize what a bomb would look like. Especially as Logan is on a high threat level status. Wonder what would happen if someone was seen wearing those sneakers that have teeny lights in the heels of their shoes? I think an indication of how much this case was overblown can be found in the judge's decision to put Simpson's bail at $750. I would expect the entire case to be dropped.

It's true that funky fashions are often seen as a threat, just ask someone who wears their pants hanging half off their ass. Some say these pants threaten society and laws are being passed to ban low-slung baggy apparel. Will you feel safe if that happens?

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And let's spend a lot of taxpayer money to enact the laws and enforce them. That'll show these teenagers who wears the pants."

Will you be able to wear your "Don't Tase Me, Bro!" t-shirt without being seen as a threat? Could you freely wear a shirt that had lettering reading "This Shirt Is Illegal"?

Did it all go downhill straight to the hottest part of hell when the days of Statutes of Apparel disappeared?

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The English Sumptuary Laws were well known by all of the English people. And they were strictly obeyed! The penalties for violating Sumptuary Laws could be harsh - fines, the loss of property, title and even life."

See also the laws for men's clothes.

3 comments:

  1. I think tripping over in those arse revealing pants is just the punishment needed. That and the well-deserved ridicule from adults.

    As for Ms Simpson - stupid mistake and overreaction. I can't help but eye up bags and packages and fellow passengers in the Underground these days. Part of polite traveling on public transport means being considerate enough not to scare people.

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  2. yes indeed - i think odd/strange/dangerous clothing provides its own rewards/punishments.

    and note to self - don't wear electronics to the airport.

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  3. Anonymous11:12 AM

    I was elated with that bold young woman who went to the airport with electronic gear strapped to her shirt. If more people snubbed the so-called rules of air travel perhaps we'd be allowed to keep our shoes on our feet. I always nearly get arrested at the airport. I'm sury and rude. Period. I am not a threat to anyone's life except the fool who tries to touch me or my things. Airport security is a total joke. Anyone wanting to blow up a plane could do it without puting their belt in a plastic box and getting it x-rayed. The culture of fear in this country is insane. And I'm crazy enough already.

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