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Chewbacca vs the TSA
Chewbacca and twitter defeat the TSA
Apparently, a cane only looks like a weapon when there's no bad publicity attached to it. Perhaps they were concerned it was an actual lightsaber? |
One of them was probably hoping to take it home. :td:
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Just goes to show . . . . the farce is with them.
~~ Irish |
The TSA does not make sense...
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GKNhxopDXb...ca_defense.jpg |
Glad he retracted his Tweet, mistakenly blaming AA for his hassles.
Rule of thumb... let the wookie win. |
You know, we joke a lot about the low intelligence of some TSOs, but this one is no joke - it's a CANE. It's made out of TRANSPARENT LUCITE. Yet they had to examine it because they thought it might be disallowed as a weapon?!
What kind of abject MORON actually believes that a cane shaped like a lightsaber might be a weapon? There is no such thing as a real lightsaber and everyone knows it except small children who are too young to know better, and apparently a few numbskull TSOs at Denver. These guys don't need retraining, they need the Billy Madison treatment, because their intelligence and mental development obviously arrested when they were in 2nd grade. A lightsaber cane might be a weapon? Fire anyone who thought so IMMEDIATELY. This is even stupider than the whole "frosting is gel-like" cupcake in a jar fiasco. This is stupider than disposing of "potential explosives" in a trash can right in the middle of the c/p. This is stupider than the idea that Die Hard 3 binary liquid explosives can be carried in water bottles and mixed aboard an airplane to create a bomb. It's imbecilic to a degree that even I never thought TSA capable of achieving. |
Originally Posted by WillCAD
(Post 20890951)
You know, we joke a lot about the low intelligence of some TSOs, but this one is no joke - it's a CANE. It's made out of TRANSPARENT LUCITE. Yet they had to examine it because they thought it might be disallowed as a weapon?!
What kind of abject MORON actually believes that a cane shaped like a lightsaber might be a weapon? There is no such thing as a real lightsaber and everyone knows it except small children who are too young to know better, and apparently a few numbskull TSOs at Denver. These guys don't need retraining, they need the Billy Madison treatment, because their intelligence and mental development obviously arrested when they were in 2nd grade. A lightsaber cane might be a weapon? Fire anyone who thought so IMMEDIATELY. This is even stupider than the whole "frosting is gel-like" cupcake in a jar fiasco. This is stupider than disposing of "potential explosives" in a trash can right in the middle of the c/p. This is stupider than the idea that Die Hard 3 binary liquid explosives can be carried in water bottles and mixed aboard an airplane to create a bomb. It's imbecilic to a degree that even I never thought TSA capable of achieving. Got my chuckle of the day. ^^^ |
Originally Posted by WillCAD
(Post 20890951)
You know, we joke a lot about the low intelligence of some TSOs, but this one is no joke - it's a CANE. It's made out of TRANSPARENT LUCITE. Yet they had to examine it because they thought it might be disallowed as a weapon?!
What kind of abject MORON actually believes that a cane shaped like a lightsaber might be a weapon? There is no such thing as a real lightsaber and everyone knows it except small children who are too young to know better, and apparently a few numbskull TSOs at Denver. These guys don't need retraining, they need the Billy Madison treatment, because their intelligence and mental development obviously arrested when they were in 2nd grade. A lightsaber cane might be a weapon? Fire anyone who thought so IMMEDIATELY. This is even stupider than the whole "frosting is gel-like" cupcake in a jar fiasco. This is stupider than disposing of "potential explosives" in a trash can right in the middle of the c/p. This is stupider than the idea that Die Hard 3 binary liquid explosives can be carried in water bottles and mixed aboard an airplane to create a bomb. It's imbecilic to a degree that even I never thought TSA capable of achieving. |
We all know all airports and checkpoints have their own rules.
This is DEN. Perhaps eyecue can shed some light (but not with a light saber!) |
Originally Posted by WillCAD
(Post 20890951)
You know, we joke a lot about the low intelligence of some TSOs, but this one is no joke - it's a CANE. It's made out of TRANSPARENT LUCITE. Yet they had to examine it because they thought it might be disallowed as a weapon?!
What kind of abject MORON actually believes that a cane shaped like a lightsaber might be a weapon? There is no such thing as a real lightsaber and everyone knows it except small children who are too young to know better, and apparently a few numbskull TSOs at Denver. These guys don't need retraining, they need the Billy Madison treatment, because their intelligence and mental development obviously arrested when they were in 2nd grade. A lightsaber cane might be a weapon? Fire anyone who thought so IMMEDIATELY. This is even stupider than the whole "frosting is gel-like" cupcake in a jar fiasco. This is stupider than disposing of "potential explosives" in a trash can right in the middle of the c/p. This is stupider than the idea that Die Hard 3 binary liquid explosives can be carried in water bottles and mixed aboard an airplane to create a bomb. It's imbecilic to a degree that even I never thought TSA capable of achieving. TSA! |
Here's the picture that Peter Mayhew (Chewie) posted:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BL2K1VsCUAIWT7-.jpg:large Is that you, eyecue? |
And the Secret Service wrestled the light saber to the ground......
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Originally Posted by RatherBeOnATrain
(Post 20892044)
Is that you, eyecue?
Still, I guess the "never happened" defense is blown :D . |
Originally Posted by WillCAD
(Post 20890951)
What kind of abject MORON actually believes that a cane shaped like a lightsaber might be a weapon? There is no such thing as a real lightsaber and everyone knows it except small children who are too young to know better, and apparently a few numbskull TSOs at Denver.
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Originally Posted by WillCAD
(Post 20890951)
You know, we joke a lot about the low intelligence of some TSOs, but this one is no joke - it's a CANE. It's made out of TRANSPARENT LUCITE. Yet they had to examine it because they thought it might be disallowed as a weapon?!
What kind of abject MORON actually believes that a cane shaped like a lightsaber might be a weapon? There is no such thing as a real lightsaber and everyone knows it except small children who are too young to know better, and apparently a few numbskull TSOs at Denver. These guys don't need retraining, they need the Billy Madison treatment, because their intelligence and mental development obviously arrested when they were in 2nd grade. A lightsaber cane might be a weapon? Fire anyone who thought so IMMEDIATELY. This is even stupider than the whole "frosting is gel-like" cupcake in a jar fiasco. This is stupider than disposing of "potential explosives" in a trash can right in the middle of the c/p. This is stupider than the idea that Die Hard 3 binary liquid explosives can be carried in water bottles and mixed aboard an airplane to create a bomb. It's imbecilic to a degree that even I never thought TSA capable of achieving. |
Originally Posted by IrishDoesntFlyNow
(Post 20889538)
Just goes to show . . . . the farce is with them.
~~ Irish |
This is the same agency which almost made me miss a flight because they were doing a gate check and found my deadly chopsticks, so not too surprising. I guess they watched too many saturday afternoon kung fu features...
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Originally Posted by gobluetwo
(Post 20895801)
This is the same agency which almost made me miss a flight because they were doing a gate check and found my deadly chopsticks, so not too surprising. I guess they watched too many saturday afternoon kung fu features...
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Originally Posted by chollie
(Post 20895957)
Chop sticks that you acquired in the sterile area or that they allowed through the checkpoint (in error, apparently)?
And not that it matters, but I brought them through the checkpoint. |
Originally Posted by WillCAD
(Post 20890951)
You know, we joke a lot about the low intelligence of some TSOs, but this one is no joke - it's a CANE. It's made out of TRANSPARENT LUCITE. Yet they had to examine it because they thought it might be disallowed as a weapon?!
What kind of abject MORON actually believes that a cane shaped like a lightsaber might be a weapon? There is no such thing as a real lightsaber and everyone knows it except small children who are too young to know better, and apparently a few numbskull TSOs at Denver. These guys don't need retraining, they need the Billy Madison treatment, because their intelligence and mental development obviously arrested when they were in 2nd grade. A lightsaber cane might be a weapon? Fire anyone who thought so IMMEDIATELY. This is even stupider than the whole "frosting is gel-like" cupcake in a jar fiasco. This is stupider than disposing of "potential explosives" in a trash can right in the middle of the c/p. This is stupider than the idea that Die Hard 3 binary liquid explosives can be carried in water bottles and mixed aboard an airplane to create a bomb. It's imbecilic to a degree that even I never thought TSA capable of achieving. Think before you bash please! |
Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20896287)
Wow! Really? You dont believe that can could be used to strike someone in the same manner as a baseball bat?
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eyecue, can you provide a link to the place on the (mess) TSA website that shows the restrictions on canes?
Weight limit? Length restrictions? Material/construction/appearance restrictions? Are there any guidelines at all for either pax or TSO? Remember: part of the issue here was that the guy had already flown outbound with no problem. Did the US lack of consistency, poor training, inconsistent standards cause an issue for both pax and TSO? (This is a touchy matter for me right now. I will fly out in a few days. Once again, I will have to check a shoebox-sized bag. Why? Local fantastic barbecue place makes great beans and sandwiches. After over a decade, TSA still can't answer the question: can I take a container of baked barbecue beans on the plane or do I have to check them? Last time, they challenged my sandwiches, but finally let them pass, after opening each one up. :rolleyes:) I have seen elderly folks using marvelous canes made out of a single piece of polished wood. Are they supposed to know that such canes may be disallowed at the whim of a TSO? Remember: you may be talking about non-FT first time flyers who don't watch the news or read every item about TSA. Or even really know anything about TSA. After all, an ordinary aluminum cane is generally unquestioned - but a nerf baseball bat will be confiscated. Which one is capable of causing more damage in the hands of a the right person? If there's a concern about the use of a cane as a weapon, why wouldn't you have the pax get an airline/TSO/LE escort to the gate, or call for a wheelchair and an LE to transport pax and cane to the gate. Put the 'dangerous' cane in the hands of the LE/flight crew to stow it out of the pax' control after the pax is on board and return it to the pax at deplaning. Please don't respond with 'If you knew how many hundreds of times people try to bring big, heavy dangerous walking sticks through the checkpoint every day...'. |
Originally Posted by Spiff
(Post 20896377)
Couldn't care less. A baseball bat is not a credible weapon to harm an airplane. Proscription of such non-credible items is beyond stupid. It's a waste of everyone's time and liberty.
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Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20896417)
Neither is a pocket knife but we know how that turned out.
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Originally Posted by chollie
(Post 20896382)
eyecue, can you provide a link to the place on the (mess) TSA website that shows the restrictions on canes?
Weight limit? Length restrictions? Material/construction/appearance restrictions? Are there any guidelines at all for either pax or TSO? Remember: part of the issue here was that the guy had already flown outbound with no problem. Did the US lack of consistency, poor training, inconsistent standards cause an issue for both pax and TSO? (This is a touchy matter for me right now. I will fly out in a few days. Once again, I will have to check a shoebox-sized bag. Why? Local fantastic barbecue place makes great beans and sandwiches. After over a decade, TSA still can't answer the question: can I take a container of baked barbecue beans on the plane or do I have to check them? Last time, they challenged my sandwiches, but finally let them pass, after opening each one up. :rolleyes:) I have seen elderly folks using marvelous canes made out of a single piece of polished wood. Are they supposed to know that such canes may be disallowed at the whim of a TSO? Remember: you may be talking about non-FT first time flyers who don't watch the news or read every item about TSA. Or even really know anything about TSA. After all, an ordinary aluminum cane is generally unquestioned - but a nerf baseball bat will be confiscated. Which one is capable of causing more damage in the hands of a the right person? If there's a concern about the use of a cane as a weapon, why wouldn't you have the pax get an airline/TSO/LE escort to the gate, or call for a wheelchair and an LE to transport pax and cane to the gate. Put the 'dangerous' cane in the hands of the LE/flight crew to stow it out of the pax' control after the pax is on board and return it to the pax at deplaning. Please don't respond with 'If you knew how many hundreds of times people try to bring big, heavy dangerous walking sticks through the checkpoint every day...'. |
Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20896287)
That is why realistic looking toy weapons are not allowed.
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Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20896287)
Wow! Really? You dont believe that can could be used to strike someone in the same manner as a baseball bat? There is ALOT more to this than meets your critical eye. There are a lot of items that passengers carry onto planes that are considered DUAL USE ITEMS. The fact that it was shaped and designed like a light saber had nothing to do with the issue. The issue was and is the legitamacy of the cane as an assistive device for a disability. TSA weighs that against the probability that it can be swung to hurt someone. There is also the scare factor in allowing something like this onto a plane. That is why realistic looking toy weapons are not allowed. In fact the city of DENVER has an ordinance that say no weapon like objects of any types including toys are allowed and that includes squirt guns. In this case the fact that it was a cane was the over riding factor to let it go. Also in light of all the mention of the political power of social media, social media had NO INFLUENCE on this at all! Because Mayhew would have to post the issue and it would have to garner a following and that following would have to be noticed and then someone with authority would have to make the call and that call would have to go to DEN operations for TSA and then to the checkpoint. That would take longer than the 5 or so minutes that was the reality of the decision making time.
Think before you bash please! Exactly what do you mean by that? Because, frankly, it sounds like you're saying that the TSOs were attempting to determine whether he had a genuine medical necessity for the cane, and I don't believe TSOs are either medically qualified or legally permitted under ADA to make such a determination. And as far as the "swung to hurt someone" argument goes.... wow. Just wow. The idea of differentiating between a "dangerous" cane and a "non-dangerous" cane is sort of like differentiating between "dangerous" skydiving and "non-dangerous" skydiving; if the chute don't open, you'll be just as flat when you hit the ground. The length, weight, mass, thickness, or Star Wars Trivial Pursuit value of a cane is completely irrelevant to it's effectiveness as a weapon. The skill and intent of the person wielding it are the only factors determining lethality or even basic danger. But thank you for mentioning the "scare factor." All you did there was reinforce the idea that someone at DEN actually believes that lightsabers are real weapons, because even if they knew that the cane was not a real lightsaber, the fact that they might have thought it was prohibited because it "resembled a weapon" proves that they are unaware that lightsabers are not weapons - they're movie special effects. What's next - lifelike dinosaur replicas being held in quarrantine with the other pets? Passports for Barbie dolls? Will Tickle Me Elmo have to get a Nexus card?
Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20896458)
The only time that I have seen canes be restricted is when they are TREKING POLES. If you recall I said the legitamacy of the item as an assistive device. TSA could let anything go if there was a way to assure that the owner would always have 100% control of the item during the flight AND there was no nefarious character bringing it.
Peter's cane is obviously not a sword cane - it's TRANSPARENT. Peter's cane is obviously not hollow and full of coke, er, C4 - it's solid lucite with a solid aluminum handle. Face it eyecue - the only reason the TSOs paid any attention to this cane was the fact that it is shaped like a lightsaber, and they were too dumb to realize that lightsabers are not freakin' real! |
I assume this guy has flown with this cane many times before. Why was it an issue this time? I just chalk it up to typical TSA logic such as why a pie is a permitted item but a frosted cupcake is not. Of course other airports will allow the frosted cupcake so nobody really know if it is permitted. It's like how a 12 year olds shoes are safe, but a 13 year olds shoes are dangerous. Also five 100 mL bottles of water are safe, but one 500 mL bottle of water is dangerous.
I don't think that cane would have been a very good weapon on a plane anyway. It's quite large and I think that would have been hard to wield effectively in a plane. Also there is no way anyone is getting into the cockpit with a cane. Someone could hurt another passenger, but that could happen with someone swinging a laptop power adapter. |
Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20896417)
Neither is a pocket knife but we know how that turned out.
Could you direct me to any publicly available reference that guides a traveler in limiting the "scare factor" of items we might try to bring on an airplane? Did it occur to anyone at TSA that the cane is large because the user is tall? |
Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20896287)
Also in light of all the mention of the political power of social media, social media had NO INFLUENCE on this at all! Because Mayhew would have to post the issue and it would have to garner a following and that following would have to be noticed and then someone with authority would have to make the call and that call would have to go to DEN operations for TSA and then to the checkpoint. That would take longer than the 5 or so minutes that was the reality of the decision making time.
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Originally Posted by WillCAD
(Post 20896736)
"Legitimacy of the cane as an assistive device."
Exactly what do you mean by that? Because, frankly, it sounds like you're saying that the TSOs were attempting to determine whether he had a genuine medical necessity for the cane, and I don't believe TSOs are either medically qualified or legally permitted under ADA to make such a determination. And as far as the "swung to hurt someone" argument goes.... wow. Just wow. The idea of differentiating between a "dangerous" cane and a "non-dangerous" cane is sort of like differentiating between "dangerous" skydiving and "non-dangerous" skydiving; if the chute don't open, you'll be just as flat when you hit the ground. The length, weight, mass, thickness, or Star Wars Trivial Pursuit value of a cane is completely irrelevant to it's effectiveness as a weapon. The skill and intent of the person wielding it are the only factors determining lethality or even basic danger. But thank you for mentioning the "scare factor." All you did there was reinforce the idea that someone at DEN actually believes that lightsabers are real weapons, because even if they knew that the cane was not a real lightsaber, the fact that they might have thought it was prohibited because it "resembled a weapon" proves that they are unaware that lightsabers are not weapons - they're movie special effects. What's next - lifelike dinosaur replicas being held in quarrantine with the other pets? Passports for Barbie dolls? Will Tickle Me Elmo have to get a Nexus card? Um... there is no guarantee that ANYONE with an assistive device can maintain 100% control of it during a flight, yet folks with wooden and metal canes and crutches are allowed on without an eye batted every day. Sure, wood and metal canes are examined to be sure they're not sword canes - which are legitimately prohibited items - and holow metal canes, walkers, and crutches are swabbed to make sure they're not full of drugs... hehe, sorry, to make sure they're not full of explosives (sorry, I forgot for a minute that TSA NEVER illegally exceeds their legal search restrictions by intentionally looking for drugs or other contraband!) But aside from those basic precautions, nobody pays any attention to a wood or metal cane. Peter's cane is obviously not a sword cane - it's TRANSPARENT. Peter's cane is obviously not hollow and full of coke, er, C4 - it's solid lucite with a solid aluminum handle. Face it eyecue - the only reason the TSOs paid any attention to this cane was the fact that it is shaped like a lightsaber, and they were too dumb to realize that lightsabers are not freakin' real! Just because you dont like TSA does not mean that the group of people that comprise the workforce are so unintelligent as to believe a light saber is real. With that in mind, can you say that everyone on that plane can figure it out too? The legitimacy of the cane as an assistive device, A person could bring a Luisville slugger to the check point or a hockey stick and attempt to claim that it is a cane. Its been tried before. Same thing with cue sticks, lacrosse sticks, the list goes on and on. All property taken to a security checkpoint for boarding aircraft is screened. Most of your post here is becoming sarcastic and grandiose. Think good sir and leave emotion out of this. |
Originally Posted by sinanju
(Post 20898033)
Um... no. His original tweeting included an @mention of AA who, I can tell you from experience, are very responsive to social media. Knowing they were dealing with a celebrity with a tech-and-social-media-savvy fan base, they were likely on the phone with the DEN locals inside of two minutes.
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Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20898075)
With that in mind, can you say that everyone on that plane can figure it out too?
Seriously. Either the checkpoint thugs were complete idiots or attempting to seperate the man from an ebay-able item. There is no flight safety issue here. |
Originally Posted by Boggie Dog
(Post 20897057)
Yes, we do. It goes to prove the idiocy of TSA and these TSA policies. I guess the "scare factor" overrules common sense at TSA.
Could you direct me to any publicly available reference that guides a traveler in limiting the "scare factor" of items we might try to bring on an airplane? Did it occur to anyone at TSA that the cane is large because the user is tall? |
Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20898120)
And then they had to locate a manager and then they had to call the checkpoint and so on and so on. The three people from TSA at the desk in the picture are capable and authorized to make such decisions on their own.
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Originally Posted by sinanju
(Post 20898130)
Anyone who doesn't also believe in Santa? Absolutely. Anyone who does believe in Santa and thought it was realy would also think it was the coolest thing they ever saw.
Seriously. Either the checkpoint thugs were complete idiots or attempting to seperate the man from an ebay-able item. There is no flight safety issue here. |
Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20898151)
As I alluded to in my first post on this thread, Denver has a law that is much more restrictive about items that resemble weapons and the allowance of them to airplanes. Scare factor involves belt buckles that look like grenades, belts that have bullet looking adornments, realistic replicas of any kind of weapon etc. Denver law would go so far as to say that nerf guns, squirt guns, etc are not allowed at all.
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Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20898203)
In your eyes this might be the case. We are not talking about age though. Anyone with impaired reality issues could believe that it is real. Age is not a boundary. Reduced mental capacity is and it would be disruptive on the plane to say the least. But hey it was allowed and it only took approx 5 minutes to clear so why are we even having this discussion except to dispel the issue that TSA thought it was real, or they were going to steal it etc. I am just pointing out all the aspects to this that are not being considered by you guys and gals. It really is a non issue and has become fodder for all the haters on here.
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Originally Posted by spd476
(Post 20897027)
I assume this guy has flown with this cane many times before. Why was it an issue this time? I just chalk it up to typical TSA logic such as why a pie is a permitted item but a frosted cupcake is not. Of course other airports will allow the frosted cupcake so nobody really know if it is permitted. It's like how a 12 year olds shoes are safe, but a 13 year olds shoes are dangerous. Also five 100 mL bottles of water are safe, but one 500 mL bottle of water is dangerous.
I don't think that cane would have been a very good weapon on a plane anyway. It's quite large and I think that would have been hard to wield effectively in a plane. Also there is no way anyone is getting into the cockpit with a cane. Someone could hurt another passenger, but that could happen with someone swinging a laptop power adapter. |
Originally Posted by eyecue
(Post 20898203)
Anyone with impaired reality issues could believe that it is real.
Is that what we're building security around? Why we're talking about this is because the guy is famous and because of his fame, things turned out fine. We're talking about it because the not famous in the world have to suffer at the hands of farkwits like the denver three in the picture and probably don't have as many happy endings to their stories. |
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