Tourist Thrown Off Train by Goons Because He Took Photos and Doesn't Speak English
#61
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: VPS
Programs: DL-DM, 2MM; AA,QF,UA, WN. Every imaginable hotel program
Posts: 2,352
Consider:
1) The story is published in a liberal church-related blog pushing a liberal agenda (read some of the other "articles").
2) There are no hard, verifiable facts presented. We know "west of New Haven" and "train" and that is about it. No dates, times, names.
3) There is no independent source of the same information...try searching for this story somewhere else.
4) There are no Amtrak rules against taking pictures from a train.
This story is about as believable as the accounts describing how the government knew about 9/11 ahead of time, or alternatively, that the administration actually demolished the WTC, or that high government officials purchased insurance on the WTC two weeks ahead of 9/11, or.......
Just because you see it in print or especially on a website does not automatically make it true. But if it makes you happy to believe that it is true so that you can hate America more, be my guest.
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA EXP/Marriott Plat/Hertz PC
Posts: 12,724
#63
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: VPS
Programs: DL-DM, 2MM; AA,QF,UA, WN. Every imaginable hotel program
Posts: 2,352
OK. I have given you some of the reasons to doubt the veracity of this article.
You are the one who took this from a source with an agenda, and you have presented it as fact. That is not a good way to go about it. This story smacks of propaganda. I really doubt that this is a factual account for the reasons I have stated. Unless there is independent corroboration of this account, I choose to disbelieve it. I am willing to be corrected, however, if there is a reliable independent source of verifiable information with the same story.
If it makes you happy to believe it so that you can express your outrage, go right ahead. But realize that some would call you gullible.
You are the one who took this from a source with an agenda, and you have presented it as fact. That is not a good way to go about it. This story smacks of propaganda. I really doubt that this is a factual account for the reasons I have stated. Unless there is independent corroboration of this account, I choose to disbelieve it. I am willing to be corrected, however, if there is a reliable independent source of verifiable information with the same story.
If it makes you happy to believe it so that you can express your outrage, go right ahead. But realize that some would call you gullible.
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA EXP/Marriott Plat/Hertz PC
Posts: 12,724
Maybe I shouldn't have.
#65
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
Hi-ho, hi-ho as off to OMNI we go.
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Half the distance to EWR than PHL.
Programs: UA, AA, B6, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, SPG
Posts: 11,695
The reason for the lack of signs is that there is no law that says it's prohibited or illegal to take photos on board trains in most cases to back up posting of such a sign.
#68
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 15,978
fellow humans just don't get involved in anything that doesn't directly involve them.
Most of us suck
Personally, I'd like to see more posts that report specific actions one has taken to challenge TSA and DHS actions. IOW, for every aggravating incident posted it would be nice to know whether a comment card was filled out, letter sent to representatives, media contact made -- and what the outcome was. Reports of success in dealing with these travel annoyances or attrocities would help to galvanize more construction actions. It would be a wonderful thing if FTers lead the vanguard on TSA reforms.
Someone has to be part of the solution; it might as well be us.
#69
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Write your congresscritters now, and explain that you feel the trust and openness long a hallmark of our beloved land is being eroded to nothing by petty bureaucrats who arrogate to themselves the authority to detain, interrogate, or confiscate property from, anyone they please under some impenetrable knee-jerk rubric of Home Defense. They're destroying the village in order to save it. Anyone who isn't reminded of the power grab carried out by Hitler in the wake of the Reichstag fire hasn't studied enough history.
Exhort them to enact legislation now, before it's too late, that makes it a federal crime to push people around by citing non-existent regulations contrived on the spot. Mandate that in cases such as the deplorable incident that started this thread (or almost any in the FT Security forum), the official issue a citation, in duplicate, specifying exactly which law or regulation has been broken. Make their promotion/retention contingent upon the outcome.
Exhort them to enact legislation now, before it's too late, that makes it a federal crime to push people around by citing non-existent regulations contrived on the spot. Mandate that in cases such as the deplorable incident that started this thread (or almost any in the FT Security forum), the official issue a citation, in duplicate, specifying exactly which law or regulation has been broken. Make their promotion/retention contingent upon the outcome.
#70
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
I worked for a railroad many, many years ago, and at least at that time and for that railroad, the conductor was responsible for the train's operation. So the conductor is in charge. However, often the person you see going up and down the aisles isn't the conductor, but a trainman, like a junior conductor.
#71
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Bansko, Bulgaria
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,260
#72
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 22,778
http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/w..._diplomacy.php
Making America safe, one intimidation at a time.
I am sick to death of this crap. How do we get our country back?
Making America safe, one intimidation at a time.
I am sick to death of this crap. How do we get our country back?
#73
Join Date: May 2002
Location: In the home of the "brave"?
Programs: Whatever will get me out of Y and into C or F!
Posts: 3,748
You need to report these folks to the police force of the agency that runs the trains (Amtrak? Try Amtrak Police and the Amtrak Inspector General) So that they are re-trained (or fired) before someone gets killed.
#74
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,662
I was on Caltrain yesterday and a gaggle of teenage girls got on at a stop near a mall. They had been shopping. They were so noisy that they got through my noise-canceling earphones. They were snapping pics a lot as well. It would have been awesome if the conductor had kicked them off. He could have - one of the girls didn't have a ticket because the machine wouldn't take her Visa gift card. And then they missed their stop because they were too busy being obnoxious. I would have been happy to assist them from the train while it was still moving...
#75
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
I don't think reality has much to do with imperative signage, in general.