Flight Sim enquiry raises terror alert

[WingNOT]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/28/34776.html

The Register uses it's familiar mix of sarcasm and ridicule to point out that 10 year old boys aren't normally considered security threats in the USA... (By the way did you hear about the 'suspects' that led to cancellation of Air France flights to the USA over Christmas ? Turned out to be a small boy and an 86 year old lady Chinese restauranteur...! Feeling safer yet ?)

"A mother's enquiry about buying Microsoft Flight Simulator for her ten-year-old son prompted a night-time visit to her home from a state trooper.

Julie Olearcek, a USAF Reserve pilot made the enquiry at a Staples store in Massachusetts, home to an earlier bout of hysteria, during the Salem witch trials.

So alarmed was the Staples clerk at the prospect of the ten year old learning to fly, that he informed the police, the Greenfield Recorder reports. The authorities moved into action, leaving nothing to chance. A few days later, Olearcek was alarmed to discover a state trooper flashing a torch into to her home through a sliding glass door at 8:30 pm on a rainy night."

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My favourite is the kicker...

"At one time it was rare to find US citizens, in the safest and most prosperous country in the world, jumping at their own shadows. Now we only note how high."

[Cannikin]

1. I've logged hundreds of hours on MS Flight Simulator...

And I've started flight lessons but I had to quit after 10 hours.....Does that make me a terrorist in Homeland Security eyes?


...and I'm gay on top of that....If Bush wins the election, I'll probably be sent to Guantanamo.

[SheilaT]

2. How interested in learning to

take off and land were you? (sarcasm off)

Among the early programs we got our boys was the Microsoft flight simulator, and one thing they loved doing was flying into the Hancock Tower or crashing into Lake Michigan. Chicago was the city simulated. I guess they must be terrorists.

[DarkSim]

4. I think im a terrorist!

Oh yeah, i can recall flying into the WTC once or twice and into the pentagon and many historic/political sites.

To tell you the truth there is not much else you can do with MSFS, once taking off, landing and emergencies get boring... Scenery looks good though...

i really am a terrorist

damn....

[DarkSim]

3. Omfg? all for MS flight sim?

I've got dozens of hours on MSFS and at least 500h on Il-2 "Sturmovik" forgotten battles Plus i play online constantly...

Wow im really in for a beating once the government starts to monitor "The Zone", GameSpy and most importantly Hyper lobby.

damn it.