The casualization of the world

[Shangas]

It really is NOT worth it.

Can you imagine what would happen if you got onto a plane wearing a three-piece suit and a fedora?

"Sir, your tie is a strangulation-hazard".
"I did it up myself".
"Yes, but you could use it to strangle the pilots".

"Sir, your hat could be concealing a pocket firearm. I'll have to confiscate it for the safety of mankind".

"Sir, your vest might be bulletproof. Now why would you need a bulletproof vest if you didn't already know that there would be a terrorist attack on this plane? You're gonna have to come with us..."

"Sir, I believe your tie-bar is the final component of the detonation-device used to blow up the bomb you clearly have hidden in your briefcase. I'm gonna have to ask you to strip..."

My uncle, who lived through the Fall of Singapore in 1942, and who is now over seventy years old, told me quite flatly, that he almost refuses to go flying anymore. It's such a pain in the ass he just can't put up with it.

I reckon it had something to do with the whole: "I lived through WWII to look forward to THIS?" kind of thing.

 

[Kirk H.]

It really is NOT worth it.

Can you imagine what would happen if you got onto a plane wearing a three-piece suit and a fedora?

"Sir, your tie is a strangulation-hazard".
"I did it up myself".
"Yes, but you could use it to strangle the pilots".

"Sir, your hat could be concealing a pocket firearm. I'll have to confiscate it for the safety of mankind".

"Sir, your vest might be bulletproof. Now why would you need a bulletproof vest if you didn't already know that there would be a terrorist attack on this plane? You're gonna have to come with us..."

"Sir, I believe your tie-bar is the final component of the detonation-device used to blow up the bomb you clearly have hidden in your briefcase. I'm gonna have to ask you to strip..."

My uncle, who lived through the Fall of Singapore in 1942, and who is now over seventy years old, told me quite flatly, that he almost refuses to go flying anymore. It's such a pain in the ass he just can't put up with it.

I reckon it had something to do with the whole: "I lived through WWII to look forward to THIS?" kind of thing.

You are right flying nowadays is a PITA. Like Rue, I too remember when people used to dress up to travel, but in fairness in flying prior to 9-11 I had also noticed people boarding planes in slippers, sweat pants Etc

 

[rue]

You are right flying nowadays is a PITA. Like Rue, I too remember when people used to dress up to travel, but in fairness in flying prior to 9-11 I had also noticed people boarding planes in slippers, sweat pants Etc

Yup. I think it was in the 90s when people stopped caring what they looked like when traveling.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Might as well fly naked the way things are going.

 

[rue]

Might as well fly naked the way things are going.

You first

 

[Shangas]

With those full-body scanners, we already are, Victor. We already are.

That said, when I fly, I dress for comfort first, style second. I'm sure that's the case with almost everyone onboard, except for those who have to make a great impression the very second they get off the plane.

Perhaps there should be a new thread. "Flying in Vintage Style - How to do Both in Comfort".

 

[rue]

With those full-body scanners, we already are, Victor. We already are.

That said, when I fly, I dress for comfort first, style second. I'm sure that's the case with almost everyone onboard, except for those who have to make a great impression the very second they get off the plane.

Perhaps there should be a new thread. "Flying in Vintage Style - How to do Both in Comfort".

Easy... wear a dress like I do

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I remember hearing a news story about a TSA agent who punched out a fellow TSA agent who laughed at him when the former went through the full body scanner as part of a training exercise.

 

[scottyrocks]

There was a time flying through Belfast especially in a suit I was never pulled over, whereas the one time I wore a leather jacket, I was pulled up at every single "random"check....

When I flew to Manchester to stay with friends many years ago (probably April 2000), I was wearing a leather riding jacket and carrying a satchel filled with my riding gear, including my helmet. I was stopped and asked to empty my bags. When the agent asked me my reason for traveling, my daughter, then 7 years old, who had heard too many of our conversations during the planning of the trip, said, to 'drink beer and ride motorcycles.' After my initial shock at her response, I smiled at the agent and said, 'not at the same time.' They let me through without any issues.

 

[Shangas]

Your kid knows honesty. You're a good father.

We've all been pulled over by the security agents at the airport at one time or another. It happened to me once on the way to Singapore. It happened to my dad once on the way to London.

 

[samtemporary]

Is flying properly dressed a pain in the rear? Absolutely. But I am trying to make a concerted effort to bring back a little sense of propriety - I think that if people see that it is possible and can be done, then maybe - just maybe - a convert I can make

With that being said, I traveled through a few airports in the U.S. in my Navy uniform while on orders, and had to take off my shoes, my belt, and undergo a pat-down because my ribbons set off the metal detector. The days of military members in their dress uniforms commonly seen traveling my be over, but I refuse to give in.

 

[The Good]

^ The next time I fly, which will be to Hawaii, I'm thinking about just wearing a safari shirt and khakis. I'm also bringing along a straw hat by Sunbody. I want to try to make an effort to look more presentable than the general public, too, but I don't really hold it against them. Come to think of it, I'm a little out of the ordinary, not them. I feel like I've become more tolerant of casual attire since last year, but it would be nice to see people dressing more traditionally.

 

[Flicka]

I mostly fly for business and quite often fly out in the morning and home at night so I almost always wear business clothes. On the flights I take, most people do. Very conservative of me; I'm sure the Commission would appreciate it if I showed up in my flanell PJs next time...

On a more serious note; in my experience it doesn't matter what you wear in airport security. It's always: shoes off, jacket/cardigan off, belt off, laptop out of the bag and a nice pat-down. Occasionally it's also a more thorough search. I almost missed a flight in Oslo once because they made me take off my highly suspicious trousers.

My biggest airport peeve isn't security. It's all those idiots who can't read the 'remive your shoes' and 'take out your laptop' signs who hold up the queue instead of preparing as they wait in line. Makes me wonder if 100 really is average IQ. Not in airports, it seems.

 

[Kishtu]

I was thinking this very morning, whilst dressing the Small, how much popular clothing has become infantilised - men's in particular.
Wilbert is 19 months old (NB - we aren't really cruel enough to call our son Wilbert. It's one of his many affectionate nicknames) and I wouldn't expect him to deal with laces, buttons, ties etc.
His shoes have velcro straps. His trousers have got elasticated waists. His tops pull on over his head. or have big chunky zips.

Poor little toad, how little he knows that if he runs with the crowd into his teens, it's not going to get much better :eeek:

 

[J.W.]

Yeah, Airport security... The last time we flew, I was decently dressed IMHO: Some dressy 501's, a dark blue dress shirt and some Caterpillar boots for our vulcano-scaling, as they would have been too heavy for my suitcase. My partner was dressed in like manner, so I believe we really looked "respectable". Anyway, we both were searched thoroughly and the young punk-style gentleman directly after us was just waved through. So it's really true what MacGyver said: If you don't want to be touched, make sure people don't want to touch you.

 

[Giftmacher]

$200 for some cloth shoes? And they're thinking it's cool? Poor people..

 

[Two Types]

I recall going through an airport with my father in the early 1980s. He was wearing a blazer, blue shirt and tie and grey trousers. I noticed that we were ushered through very swiftly and shown great courtesy by the airport staff. We eventually ended up in a location we were not supposed to be in. We were soon ejected by security. It was then that I noticed that my father was dressed exactly like all the airport staff. So yes, dressing smartly did have advantages (until they rumbled us as accidental imposters).

 

[Edward]

We've all been pulled over by the security agents at the airport at one time or another. It happened to me once on the way to Singapore. It happened to my dad once on the way to London.

It was pretty much constant for me in the early days of back and forward between London and Belfast, for the obvious reasons. The accent stopped getting me followed round shops over here a good couple of years before I stopped being a primary target for "random" searches at the airport. Now it's my Muslim chums who get all the "random" attention.

Is flying properly dressed a pain in the rear? Absolutely. But I am trying to make a concerted effort to bring back a little sense of propriety - I think that if people see that it is possible and can be done, then maybe - just maybe - a convert I can make

No dressing properly, just he security. I've been aware of the environmental questions for years and give them quite some thought but to be brutally honest it is the frankly stupid levels of security to which we are subjected nowadays that make me avoid flying where there is a reasonable alternative. I once had a walking stick refused as carry-on, and had to check it into the hold on its own. Any aeroplane which can be successfully hijacked with a walking stick damn well deserves to be.

On a more serious note; in my experience it doesn't matter what you wear in airport security. It's always: shoes off, jacket/cardigan off, belt off, laptop out of the bag and a nice pat-down. Occasionally it's also a more thorough search. I almost missed a flight in Oslo once because they made me take off my highly suspicious trousers.

I always ask them if they need my shoes - most of the time they say no (typically I am in leather shoes with leather soles). I do try to fly in braces to avoid the hassle of removing a belt. I'm afraid, though, I refuse to be rushed by airport security when I am re-dressing myself. hey have inconvenienced me enough already - if they wish for me not to take up time getting my shoes, jacket, belt etc back on - plus everything in my pockets, then they can stop inconveniencing me to that degree. hat said, I will choose that every time over to total invasion of privacy that is the X-ray machine. I saw those in operation for the first time in DC last year. Very civilised that one is offered the option of that or the traditional route. Here in the UK, while the X rays are only being trialled in one airport they are non-optional, and a number of people who objected for religious or other reasons have been refused access to their flights.

 

[MisterCairo]

Some walking sticks can be rather effective as weapons:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lord-Rings-replica-Gandalf-Wizards/dp/B001B0NYQK

 

[MisterCairo]

For heaven's sake, don't give them any more ideas!

It really is NOT worth it.

Can you imagine what would happen if you got onto a plane wearing a three-piece suit and a fedora?

"Sir, your tie is a strangulation-hazard".
"I did it up myself".
"Yes, but you could use it to strangle the pilots".

"Sir, your hat could be concealing a pocket firearm. I'll have to confiscate it for the safety of mankind".

"Sir, your vest might be bulletproof. Now why would you need a bulletproof vest if you didn't already know that there would be a terrorist attack on this plane? You're gonna have to come with us..."

"Sir, I believe your tie-bar is the final component of the detonation-device used to blow up the bomb you clearly have hidden in your briefcase. I'm gonna have to ask you to strip..."

My uncle, who lived through the Fall of Singapore in 1942, and who is now over seventy years old, told me quite flatly, that he almost refuses to go flying anymore. It's such a pain in the ass he just can't put up with it.

I reckon it had something to do with the whole: "I lived through WWII to look forward to THIS?" kind of thing.