Thanks for serving your country, staff sgt., but you can't fly since your a terrorist

[KrazyHorse]

You fail to understand that different groups of people keep different lists and don't talk to each other.

The terrorist watch list people don't call up the Army and ask them if so-and-so is mentally stable and not a terrorist. They just add names to their own list based on some wacky criteria. Names are not going to be actively removed once they're on the list; instead, they'll only be removed if the name being there causes some sort of ruckus, as in this case. Having more names on the list is better than having less names, because it protects the people in charge of the list. This way, if somebody on the list hijacks a plane, the keepers of the list can say that he was on the list.

[KrazyHorse]

Ideally, all 6.2 billion people in the world would be on the list and nobody would be allowed to fly anywhere. That way we would all be perfectly safe.

[Kropotkin]

Oh, I do understand that. I just don't think it makes any real sense.

[KrazyHorse]

Apparently the list contains 325000 names. That's a good start.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Kropotkin
Oh, I do understand that. I just don't think it makes any real sense.

Wait, this is supposed to make sense?

edit: screw the otbot

[Kropotkin]

Patroklos seems to think so.

---

325 000 is a respectable number of people. Maybe the gov't can send them to Alaska to find gold, build roads and log timber. After all, "labour in the USA is a matter of honour, glory, pride and heroism!". I'm pretty sure that the Marine would make an excellent udarnik!

[KrazyHorse]

Now ask yourself why I've had pattie on ignore for 6 months or so...

[Pekka]

There is absolutely no proof that the system works. None what so ever. I work with IS's so if you're going to challenge this claim, better step up with some convincing evidence.

So as far as that is not an established fact, all claims about its efficiency are hot air and sometimes even false.

[KrazyHorse]

Apparently the list is continuing to grow at an exponential pace, by the way. It's been demonstrating a doubling time of 3-4 months over the last 4.5 years.

At this rate it should contain the names of everybody in the world in another 4-5 years or so

[DRoseDARs]

In case you're wondering, here's the complete list of all the "terrorists" and other such criminals the No-Fly lists have netted:

We're sorry, but that information is classified...

Spoiler:

...because we haven't caught a cold, much less a single terrorist, with these lists.

[Jon Miller]

This is like the communist scare of the 50s

JM

[Pekka]

It's difficult to approach and not make it like what JM said this is.

It's a real dilemma. How do you not violate the privacy of citizens (easy, you don't care about those rights) further and how do you make new systems that are efficient, yet produce mostly correct results???

What is the algorithm for such systems?

Don't think there are some wonder systems available that will tell you where the teros are. You still have to input the data, then by using some criterias or what ever, do data-mining etc.. you know you're bound to get mostly wrong results. That ultimately leads to labeling good citizens as 'possible teros'.

So how are we supposed to know who is tero and who is not? Just like the old days, solid intelligence. Name them one by one, that's the only way. No wonder computer will tell you anything.

[Thorn]

I think I'm on the no-fly list, but it doesn't stop me from driving somewhere, or boating it someplace.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

Originally posted by Japher
Someone named Daniel Brown is on The List? You think someone with such an obscure name would be easier to find!

They did find him. It actually WAS him. You should read the whole article

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
This is like the communist scare of the 50s

JM

Darned commies!!

Completely agree btw