Flying...
The combination of being about 24 hours away from taking off in a plane, reading a somewhat reflective, messed up book, and a nice looong hot bath has put me in a contemplative mood. Here's the result:
When I was a child, I remember taking flying. The worst I had to worry about then was making sure mom packed gum so my ears wouldn't hurt, I made sure to grab a pillow from the plane stash before they were gone, claim the window seat, and keep myself occupied for the length of the flight. Oh, and and to keep track of my paper plane ticket. ID? I didn't need ID until I was flying overseas and needed the passport. Granted, my parents might have had ID to check in and get the tickets, but I wasn't aware of that.
When I came home from being away, family was always there, at the gate, ready to greet us. I remember jumping up and down trying to spy them over the heads of the taller adults as I was un-boarding off the plane. Then we'd walk down the concourse together, dad holding my newly acquired stuffed animal, jabbering about the good time I had.
I think there were bag scanners and metal detectors, but they were merely a nuisance, and everyone could go through. When I was a little bit older, the scariest experience I had with them was in the Paris airport and the metal buckles on my hiking boots set off the metal detector. They scanned my boots, (asked) and patted down my boots/ankles, and let me go with no problem. They asked if you had any knives, but only so they could check the blade to see if it was within regulation to bring on board. My medium sized (3 inch blade) pocket knife went through just fine (the blade was shorter than the width of her name badge).
***
Now that I'm older I still have to remember the gum, reading material, pillow, and such. Window seat is nice but not as important anymore.
I was surprised and rather shocked someone mentioned that oh, you can't bring knitting needles on the plane anymore. Huh?!? What's someone going to do with a pair of knitting needles? Also, when did it change that your loved ones couldn't go with you to see you off the flight if they weren't flying with you? When did airports become so damn paranoid?
I was rather shocked again to hear about the whole plastic bag & limited liquids on carry on's requirement. The last time I've flown was after 9-11, so we had the whole take off your shoes, put everything in a bin, etc thing but it was before this whole liquid thing. Now my mother in law can't even wear her medically prescribed gel orthotics because of some uber-paranoid airport afraid that her shoes are going to blow the fucking plane.
So yeah...when flying used to be a reasonably enjoyable experience, now I just feel like a timid animal going *don't hurt me* and *just let me get through this without attracting undue attention*
What the hell happened? I can't remember well...was it all 9-11 and some dumb shits (them and our own paranoid bureaucracy) or was it something else? And, granted I too often feel myself behaving in the same way, why are we all crazy sheep watching this happen? Are we really any safer?
My $0.02
When I was a child, I remember taking flying. The worst I had to worry about then was making sure mom packed gum so my ears wouldn't hurt, I made sure to grab a pillow from the plane stash before they were gone, claim the window seat, and keep myself occupied for the length of the flight. Oh, and and to keep track of my paper plane ticket. ID? I didn't need ID until I was flying overseas and needed the passport. Granted, my parents might have had ID to check in and get the tickets, but I wasn't aware of that.
When I came home from being away, family was always there, at the gate, ready to greet us. I remember jumping up and down trying to spy them over the heads of the taller adults as I was un-boarding off the plane. Then we'd walk down the concourse together, dad holding my newly acquired stuffed animal, jabbering about the good time I had.
I think there were bag scanners and metal detectors, but they were merely a nuisance, and everyone could go through. When I was a little bit older, the scariest experience I had with them was in the Paris airport and the metal buckles on my hiking boots set off the metal detector. They scanned my boots, (asked) and patted down my boots/ankles, and let me go with no problem. They asked if you had any knives, but only so they could check the blade to see if it was within regulation to bring on board. My medium sized (3 inch blade) pocket knife went through just fine (the blade was shorter than the width of her name badge).
***
Now that I'm older I still have to remember the gum, reading material, pillow, and such. Window seat is nice but not as important anymore.
I was surprised and rather shocked someone mentioned that oh, you can't bring knitting needles on the plane anymore. Huh?!? What's someone going to do with a pair of knitting needles? Also, when did it change that your loved ones couldn't go with you to see you off the flight if they weren't flying with you? When did airports become so damn paranoid?
I was rather shocked again to hear about the whole plastic bag & limited liquids on carry on's requirement. The last time I've flown was after 9-11, so we had the whole take off your shoes, put everything in a bin, etc thing but it was before this whole liquid thing. Now my mother in law can't even wear her medically prescribed gel orthotics because of some uber-paranoid airport afraid that her shoes are going to blow the fucking plane.
So yeah...when flying used to be a reasonably enjoyable experience, now I just feel like a timid animal going *don't hurt me* and *just let me get through this without attracting undue attention*
What the hell happened? I can't remember well...was it all 9-11 and some dumb shits (them and our own paranoid bureaucracy) or was it something else? And, granted I too often feel myself behaving in the same way, why are we all crazy sheep watching this happen? Are we really any safer?
My $0.02