FWIW they have the same questions (and more along on the same lines) on the US Visa forms as well. Questions such as "Do you intend to come to US for terrorism activities", "Do you intend to come to US for money laundering" etc... Answer Yes and No only.

I figure the least DOJ can then do is convict a criminal based on their answers to the US visa :)

'Were you involved in any Nazi activity?'

Reminds me of the time a male TSAer asked if there was anything in my bag I didn't want him to see.

" You mean besides my dirty underwear?"

The look on him face was priceless :D

I just dealt with one of these guys and he could barely speak english. You'd think for a first class check in they could get someone a little more appealing and a little more comfortable with speaking english in LONDON! He kept trying to ask me if I was staff or confirmed.... which didn't make any sense until I finally realized he was asking if I worked for United..... I get asked if I'm an unaccompanied minor when I fly alone..... do I look like I work for United?

The I-94W form that VWP passengers used to fill out on the plane had questions like these and then said "If you've answered yes to any of the above, please contact the American embassy before you travel to the US (???) since you may (???) be denied admission to the USA." Uh, sure. :confused::confused::confused:

Trying humor with the humorless, I used to answer, "It can all hurt you if you drop it on your toe."

I changed to "With the proper training in its use, nothing I carry and use is unsafe."

Both are true, and the usual response was a smile. However, there were a few that did not think humor was appropriate at the check point and assumed that I was some sort or terrorist that had devised a sinister plan for injuring passengers and thus bringing down an airplane by the dropping of my carry on upon ones toes. Failing in that, my plan would be that someone would grab my carry on, open it and go though it, finding an item to use improperly without adequate training endangering themselves and the plane by connection.

So then I started saying: "Only if you are stupid." This scared some of them so badly that I had to stop.

I then went to the standard and not precisely true, "No."

Oh, well, I'll save the humor for those with a sense of it.

One has to wonder about the intelligence of anyone who thinks those questions serve ANY useful purpose. Nobody in their right mind would answer 'yes'.

So I guess I'm wrong... It's not a terrorist, criminal question... It's a short form insanity test.

I suspect that these questions, particularly with the alternating correct yes/no correct response, are designed to make you read all of the questions closely and not particularly to find out specific information.

Did you fight for the Confederate States of America? :rolleyes: I always answer yes and begin reciting my list of ordinary items that "could" be used as a weapon. It serves the same useful purpose as an other teaching opportunity. The questioner starts to realize that the question is idiotic (if he didn't already).

Bruce

There is actually a reason for these. They can deport you without trial for answering these incorrectly rather than the offence itself. Sounds strange but is the same Al Capone being convicted for taxes.

Last week I handed over my passport and landing card (not in the US) and the official pointed out that I had not filled in most of the card. (It was a long week and I apparently was quite out of it by that point)

He filled it in for me, thanked me, and welcomed me to his country. :D

That was so nice of him!
 

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:)That is really nice(and surprising) to hear. I would love to know where this
occurred if you don't mind saying.
I would be amazed if something like this happened in the US.:(

I had something very similar happen to me once, but I can't recall where. (I've been to 90 or so countries.) The entry form had two sides, but I -- foolishly -- didn't notice on the airplane and completed just side 1. The immigration inspector helped me to complete side 2 and even told me to skip a bunch of stuff that he said wasn't important! Then he admitted me. Very friendly and easy-going.

Bruce

I am guessing it was probably not the US. It used to be that other countries were considered unfriendly, now it is the US that is considered unfriendly, and not worth visiting. Americans abroad now get treated worse due to the view of America as it is now.

Absolutely no doubt about that! :(

Bruce