13 Jul 08 TSA Forbids Plane Pilot from Keeping His Airline-Issued Dinner Knife
Perhaps one of the most “TSA acts by senseless routine” stories I’ve read thus far, from Salon’s “Ask the Pilot” columnist:
“But sir, how can it not be allowed when it’s the same knife they give you on the plane!”
“Those are the rules.”
“That’s impossible. Can I please speak to a supervisor?”
“I am the supervisor.”
There are those moments in life when time stands still and the air around you seems to solidify. You stand there in an amber of absurdity, waiting for the crowd to burst out laughing and the “Candid Camera” guy to appear from around the corner.
Except the supervisor is dead serious.
Realizing that I’m not getting my knife back, I try for the consolation prize, which is getting the man to admit, if nothing else, that the rule makes no sense. “Come on,” I argue. “The purpose of confiscating knives is to keep people from bringing them onto planes, right? But every person on my flight was legally handed one of these knives with their meals. How can you … I mean … it just … At least admit to me that it’s a dumb rule.”
“It’s not a dumb rule.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No, it isn’t.”
