Originally Posted by GUWonder
Along the same lines as above:
While 1939's talk is back in fashion with people inside the beltway, the "knock on the door" does happen even today. FBI and Secret Service knocking on doors investigating kids' role-playing game scenarios or hot-air-only words of anger has happened before -- even before 9/11. It's not unique to the US either.
Unfortunately, very true.
There was a kid in my hometown (pop. 1950 or so) who wrote something that might be construed as a childish threat to Clinton, who was the President at the time, on a $1 bill. Perhaps 5 words in total. He then spent the $1 bill at a department store.
A few days later, the Secret Service DID pay him a visit. Someone at the bank noticed the "message" on the $1 bill and contacted the store, who was able to ID the kid, at which point they turned it over to Secret Service. They interviewed his parents, teachers, classmates, etc. Seemed a huge waste of taxpayer $$$$ to me.
There are also of course the much better publicised cases such as the woman asking about a flight simulator game at a store and getting a visit from DHS.