The Airline Screening Playset: Hours of Fun!
posted by Daniel Solove
After blogging a few weeks ago about the airline screening playset, I went ahead and ordered one.
Each day, I would check my mailbox, eager with excitement about its arrival. Today, it finally arrived. I rushed to open it and began what would be hours of exciting play. Here’s what came in the playset:
I was a bit disappointed in the toy’s lack of realism. There was only one passenger to be screened. Where were the long lines? The passenger’s clothing wasn’t removable for strip searching. The passenger’s shoes couldn’t be removed either. Her luggage fit easily inside the X-ray machine. There were no silly warning signs not to carry guns or bombs onto the plane. And there was no No Fly List or Selectee List included in the playset.
Another oddity was that the toy came with two guns, one for the police officer and one that either belonged to the X-ray screener or the passenger. The luggage actually opened up, and the gun fit inside. I put it through the X-ray machine, and it went through undetected. Perhaps this is where the toy came closest to reality.
The biggest departure from reality was that the passenger had a cheery smile on her face.
To make the toy more realistic, I required the passenger to show her ID, which she didn’t have. Indeed, the playset didn’t come with an ID card, so it wasn’t the passenger’s fault. But I had the screener cheerfully deny her the right to board the plane. Ha!
But she still had that silly smile.
I wasn’t ready to give up, however, so I decided to have her searched from head to toe with the magnetic wand.
But she still had that smile.
I then knew what I had to do to get that smile off her face — I had the screeners search her luggage by hand and destroy it in the process.
But she was still smiling.
So I created a No Fly List. But there was a problem. The passenger had no name. Nevertheless, I had the screener tell her that she was on the list and that she couldn’t fly until she went through the bureaucratic hassle of trying to clear her name from the list. I had the screener tell her that it could take her weeks or months to set things right, and that there was no guarantee that she would ever get off the list unless she knew top officials in the Bush Administration.
But she was still smiling.
What was wrong with this woman? Was she just so happy because it appeared that TSA’s security was “really working to protect us”? Apparently so. She just wouldn’t stop smiling. So finally, I had the cop shoot her dead.
October 11, 2005 at 12:03 am
Posted in: Humor, Privacy, Technology
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Responses (79)
The Volokh Conspiracy - October 10, 2005 at 11:38 pm
Law Professors Playing With Dolls:
Over at Concurring Opinions, Daniel Solove is reverting back to childhood. Seems like $14.99 well spent.
Adam S - October 11, 2005 at 12:01 am
I love it!
But I do want to clarify one thing: The set does come with a no fly list.
You’re just not cleared to see it.
The Moderate Voice - October 11, 2005 at 1:27 am
Playtime!
Daniel Solove has fun with the Airline Screening Playset.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
Very funny.
Beltway Blogroll - October 11, 2005 at 7:35 am
A Twisted (And Funny) Take On Airline Screening
Law professor and Concurring Opinions blogger Daniel Solove just got a new toy in the mail: an airline screening playset made by Playmobil. It’s the perfect gift for tots of the 21st century. But parents, please don’t let your children…
Beltway Blogroll - October 11, 2005 at 7:36 am
A Twisted (And Funny) Take On Airline Screening
Law professor and Concurring Opinions blogger Daniel Solove just got a new toy in the mail: an airline screening playset made by Playmobil. It’s the perfect gift for tots of the 21st century. But parents, please don’t let your children…
Paul Gowder - October 11, 2005 at 9:14 am
Dan, you just made my morning. I’ll write the futile habeas petition when you get haled to gitmo.
Emergent Chaos - October 11, 2005 at 9:17 am
Airport Screening Is Not A Game?
A few weeks ago, I reported on PlayMobil’s airport screening playset in “From The Mouths of Toymakers.” Dan Solove shows his true commitment by buying one, and documenting his hours of fun in “The Airline Screening Playset: Hours of…
Derek - October 11, 2005 at 10:05 am
Hilarious. I love it. My stomach hurts now from laughing. Thank you.
A Stitch in Haste - October 11, 2005 at 10:09 am
“Those Flying with Small Children…”
…might want to prepare them for the adventure with the Airline Screening Playset.
Hours of fun for the whole family bureaucracy!
John C. Spaccarotella - October 11, 2005 at 10:28 am
This action set would be perfect for my five year old son - he now finds toy guns more effective than toy light sabers anyway. He too is learning to be an effective security guard, because after he has you stick your hands up and then cuffs you - he shoots you.
U.S. PIRG Consumer Blog - October 11, 2005 at 10:55 am
New privacy blog by professor
Professor Dan Solove of George Washington U Law School in DC has a new blog, concurringopinions.com. Dan is co-author, with EPIC’s Chris Hoofnagle (his blog), of the Model Regime of Privacy Protection. Dan has a post on the effort by…
The Yin Blog - October 11, 2005 at 10:57 am
Demented airport toy story
Check out Prof. Solove’s demented airport security toy story. I wonder if this is going into his FBI file. . . .
Saar Drimer - October 11, 2005 at 11:04 am
Awesome commentary.
dantes - October 11, 2005 at 11:27 am
Brilliant, Dan. Just brilliant (the ways you find to avoid work, I mean!).
Orrill Reports: I'm sorry I'm showing such a complete lack of remorse - October 11, 2005 at 1:03 pm
What, no latex gloves?
This looks like a great Christmas present, realism be damned….
Orrill Reports: I'm sorry I'm showing such a complete lack of remorse - October 11, 2005 at 1:03 pm
What, no latex gloves?
This looks like a great Christmas present, realism be damned….
aax - October 11, 2005 at 1:23 pm
I notice you had them shoot her face down. Couldn’t bear to see the expression of DEATH, huh?
shadow assassin - October 11, 2005 at 3:51 pm
I would bet that she was still smiling after gunning her down. I think she should be shot repeatedly til she learned her lesson!
ElNacho - October 11, 2005 at 8:41 pm
hahahahah, thats great
#! /bin/Grandsham - October 11, 2005 at 9:47 pm
Airline Security + Playmobil = Hilarity
nothing like playthings that imitate reality: Concuring Opinions: The Airline Screening Playset…
Christy - October 11, 2005 at 10:03 pm
I love this post, though I have an existential question: how does one remove one’s name if one has no name from the No Fly List?
Troy - October 11, 2005 at 11:23 pm
It makes me wonder if the airplane playset even has a key coded cockpit security door.
idlegrasshopper - October 11, 2005 at 11:32 pm
If only there was a voluntary manslaughter playset…
Although with all those guns about, and the frustration of being denied admittance to your important flight, it’s not long before some extreme emotional disturbance manifests itself.
DRT - October 12, 2005 at 3:01 am
Airline Passenger Screening: The Toy
The Agitator - October 12, 2005 at 3:03 am
Airport Screening Is No Game. Oh Wait, It Is!
Over at Concurring Opinions, Daniel Solove puts the new Playmobil airport screening toy set through its paces. It’s true:…
John P. Hoke's Asylum - October 12, 2005 at 8:01 am
Little Boys Play With Dolls
Just when you thought you had your Christmas list ready to give to Santa, and a couple of hundred affadavits from coworkers, friends and loved ones that you have been an extremely good boy this year, another gift idea has come around the pike that w…
Don - October 12, 2005 at 8:12 am
Well Done! The fact that the passenger kept smiling throughout the entire ordeal just proves she had something to hide- I recomend the body be immediately incinerated in case of biological contamination.
Linklog: Read My Antennæ - October 12, 2005 at 10:30 am
Airline screening playset
An ultimately timely toy! Forged in the dark entrails of another corporation, it is egregiously politically correct about the joys of the Brave New World - and the linked page reflects it.
Remember Truman Show? The travel agent’s office with a …
Jenny - October 12, 2005 at 1:08 pm
OMG this is hilarious.. well done. I love the part where the cop shoots her dead. I’m sure she was still smiling after that tho.. LMAO!
Ken - October 12, 2005 at 1:54 pm
You silly fool! You neglected to purchase:
#3199 Taxi (with suspicious-looking driver)
#3185 Jet Airliner (with kick-proof doors)
#3212 Baggage Carrier (with lost luggage from Denver)
#7342 Baggage Trollies w/suitcases (suspicious luggage left unattended)
and, of course:
#3670 Remote Control Module.
Buy these items and you’ll have the long lines quickly enough!
lesley - October 12, 2005 at 2:33 pm
THATS IS CLASSIC……I WANT AN AMERICAN AIRLINES TOWER OPERATIONS PLAYSET……!!!
Irwin Lazar's "Real-Time" Blog - October 12, 2005 at 3:03 pm
Concurring Opinions: The Airline Screening Playset: Hours of Fun!
This is the funniest thing I’ve seen on the web in a long time. Anyone who has flown in the last four years ought to check this out. Interestingly enough, the author is a law professor.
Irwin Lazar's "Real-Time" Blog - October 12, 2005 at 3:03 pm
Concurring Opinions: The Airline Screening Playset: Hours of Fun!
This is the funniest thing I’ve seen on the web in a long time. Anyone who has flown in the last four years ought to check this out. Interestingly enough, the author is a law professor.
richard - October 12, 2005 at 3:14 pm
I laughed out loud. Who said that Law Professors don’t have a sense of humor?
Save The GOP - October 12, 2005 at 4:46 pm
Random funny post o’ the day
Read this hillarious post about the “Airline screening playset”
H/T: The Corner
…
North Canton Airline and Storm Door Company - October 12, 2005 at 6:51 pm
You’d think I’d have one of these
You’d think I’d had one of these, considering the theme o’ this ‘ere blog.
tribe.net: www.concurringopinions.com - October 12, 2005 at 9:33 pm
The passenger’s clothing wasn’t removable for strip searching.
http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2005/10/the_airline_scr.html
Schneier on Security - October 15, 2005 at 11:46 am
Playmobil Security Checkpoint
Now you too can play airline security. Daniel Solove tried to play with one, and found it wanting. But don’t let that sourpuss dissuade you; it’s a great Christmas gift….
IO ERROR - October 15, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Playmobil Security Check-In: Airline screening for kids
This will make a great Christmas gift! Not for children under 4, though.
The Playmobil Security Check-In includes two security screeners, a passenger, luggage, a metal detector, conveyor belt to screen the luggage, and two toy guns.
…
Anthony.Nemitz - October 15, 2005 at 12:39 pm
The Airline Screening Playset: Hours of Fun!
This is absolutely hilarious: The Airline Screening Playset: Hours of Fun! I’m thinking of buying one just for fun as well!
Technorati Tags: funny
…
tribe.net: www.concurringopinions.com - October 15, 2005 at 4:17 pm
more indications that we’ve jumped the tracks (#5327 in a series)
Playmobile now sells an airport security check in station. Just what the kid…
Pat's Blog - October 15, 2005 at 7:34 pm
For those who just can’t get enough of airport security….
http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2005/10/the_airline_scr.html
Pat's Blog - October 15, 2005 at 7:34 pm
For those who just can’t get enough of airport security….
http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2005/10/the_airline_scr.html
philippe.blog() - October 16, 2005 at 2:44 pm
Airport Security for the kids (and adults)
philippe.blog() - October 16, 2005 at 3:04 pm
Airport Security for the kids (and adults)
Exigency In Specie - October 16, 2005 at 4:15 pm
A Fun Christmas Present
Playmobil try to produce a realistic playset for Christmas.
…
Qbi's Weblog - October 16, 2005 at 5:06 pm
Passagierpr
Qbi's Weblog - October 16, 2005 at 5:06 pm
Passagierpr
Shift Blog - October 17, 2005 at 2:15 pm
Security Check-in
With conveyor belt to screen luggage and a metal detector: Playmobil Product 3172. (link via Concurring Opinions)…
FreedomSight - October 17, 2005 at 11:58 pm
TSA Playset is Unrealistic, Says Solove
Heh.
The Airline Screening Playset: Hours of Fun!After blogging a few weeks ago about the airline screening playset, I went ahead and ordered one.
[...]
What was wrong with this woman? Was she just so happy because it appeared that TSA
dreamgeek - October 18, 2005 at 11:09 pm
The Airline Screening Playset! YAY
The Airline Screening Playset! YAY
KaTZ World - October 25, 2005 at 2:27 pm
haha that is some funny stuff
Airline security playset
KaTZ World - October 25, 2005 at 2:31 pm
haha that is some funny stuff
Airline security playset
Concurring Opinions - October 30, 2005 at 1:08 pm
Unusual Action Figures
What does Moses have in common with Rosie the Riveter? How is Oscar Wilde similar to Alexander the Great? Stumped? They’re all action figures. Yes, really. Since I’ve now earned a reputation blogging about toys with the Playmobil airline screening…
Concurring Opinions - November 7, 2005 at 10:32 am
New Phrases for the Ann Coulter Talking Doll?
In the spirit of Dan Solove’s recent posting on the airport security playset, I would like to recommend the Ann Coulter talking doll. Check out the link and you can hear sample phrases. My favorite is the one about…
Concurring Opinions - November 7, 2005 at 10:40 am
New Phrases for the Ann Coulter Talking Doll?
In the spirit of Dan Solove’s recent posting on the airport security playset, I would like to recommend the Ann Coulter talking doll. Check out the link and you can hear sample phrases. My favorite is the one about…
Concurring Opinions - November 7, 2005 at 10:41 am
New Phrases for the Ann Coulter Talking Doll?
In the spirit of Dan Solove’s recent posting on the airport security playset, I would like to recommend the Ann Coulter talking doll. Check out the link and you can hear sample phrases. My favorite is the one about…
HLS Federalist Society | Ex Parte - November 8, 2005 at 6:01 pm
Deviant Behavior Items of Interest to Federalists
This year I’ve been writing an arts & culture column for the Record entitled Deviant Behavior. My This year I’ve been writing an arts & culture column for the Record entitled Deviant Behavior. My
Secondary Screening - November 14, 2005 at 12:53 am
All I need is a badge and a cell phone
I almost hesitate to mention this, after what Daniel Solove did the last time I mentioned a TSA toy, but an outfit called Water Cooler Games has released a game for Nokia cell phones called Airport Insecurity. The developeres call…
MeMo - November 14, 2005 at 10:08 am
Latest holiday ritual: The TSA screening
In honor of the upcoming holiday season, here’s a touching — sometimes literally touching — ritual: TSA screening at the airport. Actually, as rituals go, I prefer it to carolers. MeMo featured this cute TSA playset a while ago. Some…
Concurring Opinions - November 14, 2005 at 11:18 pm
The Power of the Blog: My Most Widely Read Work
This is a navel-gazing post, but it is self-deprecating, so please read on. What is my most widely read work? Is it one of the articles I wrote? Nope. My book, The Digital Person? Nope. My casebook, Information Privacy Law?…
My Blog - November 20, 2005 at 9:12 pm
Flughafensicherheit bei Playmobil
Von Playmobil gibt es jetzt einen Airport Security Check-in. Daniel Solove hat damit rumgespielt.
…
The Old New Thing - November 30, 2005 at 10:54 am
The Airline Screening Playset
And the gun fits into the suitcase.
A Canadian in ... - November 30, 2005 at 11:24 am
Airline screening playset
Too funny not to link to.
[link]
tdaxp - November 30, 2005 at 4:02 pm
Breaking Airline Security Scandal
Brendan of I Hate Linux informed me of this masterpiece (hat-tip One New Thing):
Is it any good? The blogs think so…
Gaze into the face of madness…
Read the Post
Who am I and what am I doing here? - November 30, 2005 at 5:57 pm
Airline Screening Playset
Cute toy. SO here is an interesting story. OK maybe not but I’m going to tell it anyway. I flew out of Freeport International Airport the other day. Much smaller than Manchester airport BTW. Anyway. I went through security. Then…
Michelle Malkin - December 1, 2005 at 1:01 pm
QUICK LINKS
Got places to go, non-blog things to do, and kids’ noses to wipe this afternoon. Meantime, here are some good reads: - Who’s behind the ” rel=”nofollow”>
Random Yak - December 1, 2005 at 2:45 pm
(Christmas Resistance: Day 7)
On the seventh day of Resistance the culture gave to me:
Toys Reflecting Culture:
Culturally-sensitive toys for all your Moonbat giving needs:
1. 1.
Right Wing News - December 1, 2005 at 10:58 pm
Daily News For December 2, 2005
Foreign Ariel Sharon: Israel Will Not Accept Iran Nuclear Weapons The White House Called Irresponsible On Thursday Those Democrats Who…
Right Wing News - December 2, 2005 at 12:18 am
Daily News For December 2, 2005
Foreign Ariel Sharon: Israel Will Not Accept Iran Nuclear Weapons The White House Called Irresponsible On Thursday Those Democrats Who…
telescreen.org - December 2, 2005 at 10:31 am
Actually, There *Is* A No-Fly List, But You’re Not Allowed To See It
Did you know that there is a Playmobil set depicting a TSA checkpoint? Daniel Solove test-drives it, but finds it wanting:I was a bit disappointed in the toy’s lack of realism. There was only one passenger to be screened. Where
Peenie Wallie - December 2, 2005 at 11:16 am
The Perfect Christmas Gift - TSA Action Figures
Haven’t decided what to get your little rug rats, curtain climbers, and ankle biters for Christmas? Look no further. The TSA action figures are now available. Your children practice being illegally searched in the comfort of their own homes. Currently…
Peenie Wallie - December 2, 2005 at 11:26 am
The Perfect Christmas Gift - TSA Action Figures
Haven’t decided what to get your little rug rats, curtain climbers, and ankle biters for Christmas? Look no further. The TSA action figures are now available. Your children practice being illegally searched in the comfort of their own homes….
Mark Nicodemo - December 4, 2005 at 3:40 pm
Screening Passengers a la Lego
Concurring Opinions: The Airline Screening Playset: Hours of Fun! posted by Daniel J. Solove…
Musings from Two-Sheds Gomer - December 4, 2005 at 10:18 pm
not on my christmas list
Yes, you are seeing that correctly. Playmobil sells an Airport Screening toy set.
I really don’t have any comment on this — what could do it justice — but I’ll link to the article where I first found out about it. It’…
Red Monkey - December 5, 2005 at 12:09 pm
Airport Security
I love toys … and Playmobil consistently makes some of the best toys ever. To that end, I give you: The Airport Screening Playset. And yes, you can truly order this magnificent piece of semi-reality and stage your own scenes…
Red Monkey - December 5, 2005 at 12:10 pm
Airport Security
I love toys … and Playmobil consistently makes some of the best toys ever. To that end, I give you: The Airport Screening Playset. And yes, you can truly order this magnificent piece of semi-reality and stage your own scenes…
Red Monkey - December 5, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Airport Security
I love toys … and Playmobil consistently makes some of the best toys ever. To that end, I give you: The Airport Screening Playset. And yes, you can truly order this magnificent piece of semi-reality and stage your own scenes…
View From the Wing - December 6, 2005 at 6:26 pm
Now I Know What I Want for Christmas
The Airport Security Screening Playset — unfortunately, it’s out of stock. They’re supposed to email me when it’s available again. Concurring Opinions already has one, and reports that it’s not very realistic: There was only one passenger to be screen…
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