PDX Safety Announcement <RANT>
 

I just have to RANT about the continuous loop safety announcement at Portland International.

Every few minutes over the airport-wide speaker system comes the inane:

"Hi, I'm Doug Fuzzlebunny, chief of stupid announcements for the Port of Portland. If you see any terrorists lurking about leaving large unattended WMDs, please notify law enforcement immediately. Have a nice day and enjoy your stay at the Port of Portland."

Now, just passing through the airport, I don't even notice this announcement and I am sure few others do either. But, for some reason, in the last four years or so I often end up cooling my heels in Portland and I find a quiet corner to get some much needed sleep. Unfortunately, the speakers in those corners seem to be set on extra high and as soon as I start to doze, "Hi..."

I thought they might get rid of them after a bit, but four years later....

Standard fare across the nation???

Last time I went through SEA, it was in full force there.

Including blaring repeated announcements in the sterile areas reached only by a train ride - repeated loops about 3-1-1 restrictions beyond the checkpoint.

??!! Do they really think someone who has passed the checkpoint, taken a train, reached the gate area and discovered - gasp! - that he/she has something in his/her carry-on that can, in fact, be purchased or stolen from any number of shops and restaurants in the area - do they really think someone is going to hear the announcement and take the train back to the checkpoint to voluntarily surrender themselves for re-screening?

This is in addition to taped loops (as you noted, all loud - thankfully most of the CNN/Fox monitors are kept a bit quieter these days) with a welcome from the clown in charge, taped loops about 'security alert - report abandoned bags, bla-bla'. All repeated by a man and woman barking in their best designed-to-be-officious and grating outdoor voices, along with the unctuous oily voice of the Port of Seattle director.

Somehow they can always keep these obnoxious taped loops functioning in every corner of the airport (even the toilets!), but they don't seem to be nearly as good at ensuring complete coverage and reliability when it comes to checkpoint and security cameras.

Nothing but noise pollution. :mad:

ATL has one playing that starts out something like: 'security alert' - and then goes on to the usual -bla-bla. Good way to ensure that if there ever is a real security alert, people will just think it's more of the same.

Please continue to follow this thread in the FT West Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

"Don't tell ME which unattended bags to report."

"Listen, Betty, don't start up with your unattended bags _ _ _ _ again"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvdNCDVmRPo