[extropy-chat] Stupid luddites oppose home cyclotrons...

[Adrian Tymes]

--- spike <spike66 at comcast.net> wrote:
> Those slacker security guards endanger us all!  Robert could
> have easily gone crazy, taken those drives out of his bag
> and begun hurling them at fellow passengers, or beaning
> them to unconsciousness, thereby allowing him to take
> over the aircraft and slam it into Microsoft's 
> headquarters.  It should be illegal I tells ya.

Those who possess hard drives are presumed to exercise at least
mild responsibility.  Kind of like how martial artists don't have
to leave their hands in their carry-on baggage.  (Given the
extremely confined spaces and ample cover, the usual counter to
martial artists - a gun - isn't as effective on an airplane.)

Besides, what they're really worried about is some passenger
hacking into the (closed, and therefore not really hackable)
airplane control systems.  They figure they'll have time to check
anyone running a computer if it happens mid-flight, but during
takeoff and landing...well, why do you think they ask that all
electronic devices be turned off?