In London, security = stupidity

[Incredible Hulctuary]

Flew back from London a few days ago (that's why you haven't seen me on this board since mid-July). While there I had to endure some of the useless tactics they have implemented in the name of security.

1. Train stations don't have have garbage bins, even though they often have food vendors. After having bought something and looking for a bin to throw away the junk, I came to learn that the bins were deliberately removed because somebody might leave a bomb in one of them. So I had to carry the garbage with me on the train and dump it in a bin when I got back to the street at my destination.

2. Went on the London Eye, which is a Ferris wheel over 400 feet high that gives you a great view of the city. Before you go on it they make you open your bags and they wave a metal detector wand up and down your body. I have no idea what they're trying to prevent, because you can walk right up to within less than 10 yards of the wheel without being searched (they only search people who actually entered the line), and if you plan to stab or rob somebody on it, you can't go anywhere until the wheel goes around and they let you off.

3. Went to a sporting event at a stadium. When selling bottles of water, they take off the cap and don't give it to you because (paraphased quote) "the cap can be used as a missile".

[whisper]

Originally Posted by Incredible Hulctuary

3. Went to a sporting event at a stadium. When selling bottles of water, they take off the cap and don't give it to you because (paraphased quote) "the cap can be used as a missile".

Probably not unreasonable, considering soccer holligans. When the seller said that the cap can be used as a missile, they probably know that for a fact - since the cap HAS been used as a missile.

[tommie frazier]

not so much the cap alone, but the bottle filled with liquid and capped. that's a one pound object that is easily thrown. without the cap, the liquid would spray out making it hurt a lot less if you were hit with a full one (assuming plastic).

[Pseudolus]

Originally Posted by tommie frazier

not so much the cap alone, but the bottle filled with liquid and capped. that's a one pound object that is easily thrown. without the cap, the liquid would spray out making it hurt a lot less if you were hit with a full one (assuming plastic).

Yup. This is also done at US stadia I've been in.

[Incredible Hulctuary]

Originally Posted by whisper

Probably not unreasonable, considering soccer holligans. When the seller said that the cap can be used as a missile, they probably know that for a fact - since the cap HAS been used as a missile.

It was track & field. No hooliganism. Plus it's so easy to carry into the stadium bottle caps or other small plastic objects that could be used as missiles.

[fallout]

Originally Posted by Incredible Hulctuary

It was track & field. No hooliganism. Plus it's so easy to carry into the stadium bottle caps or other small plastic objects that could be used as missiles.

Perhaps the goal is to stop mischief that is not pre--planned, spur of the moment sort of stuff?

I do not believe a terrorist attack will ever take place with bottle caps as a main ingredient.

[Emily]

Originally Posted by fallout

Perhaps the goal is to stop mischief that is not pre--planned, spur of the moment sort of stuff?

Agreed. This measure is to prevent 100,000 people at once from hurling full bottles towards the field after a questionable call. They probably do it at all stadiums regardless of the event, even though trouble is more likely at a soccer match than a track and field event.

This has happened at NFL games in the US after they started serving beer in plastic bottles. Some stadiums went back to paper cups.

[Zakarin]

Originally Posted by Incredible Hulctuary

1. Train stations don't have have garbage bins, even though they often have food vendors. After having bought something and looking for a bin to throw away the junk, I came to learn that the bins were deliberately removed because somebody might leave a bomb in one of them. So I had to carry the garbage with me on the train and dump it in a bin when I got back to the street at my destination.

Been that way for years - or at least since '86 when I was first there - the IRA used that tactic quite a bit.

Z.

[The Drunken Actuary]

Originally Posted by Incredible Hulctuary

they take off the cap and don't give it to you because (paraphased quote) "the cap can be used as a missile".

That had me laughing out loud. WTF.

[Ziff]

Reminds me of my college years and our bottle cap wars in the dorm hallways. Snap your fingers with a bottle cap resting on your thumb. It becomes a nasty missle.