Sigh. You know it's truly the silly season...

[Rath Darkblade]

...when this happens: Calgary International Airport Shut Down Because Someone Thought that a Kid's Clarinet was a Rifle.

Now I know that the arts generally are held in disdain by those in power, but...

Just as well that it wasn't a saxophone. Or a bassoon... ("It's a bazooka!")

This isn't a new phenomenon, sadly. I heard of one cellist who was stopped at the airport and not allowed to fly, because he had extra strings for his bow. The security officer's justification? "You can use those strings to garrote people!" Yeah, and I can also bash people over the head with my cello, but I ain't gonna.

This reminds me of a story I read once... in 1988, I think, the IRS asked the New York Metropolitan Opera Company (known as "The Met") to explain why a man associated with them - a certain J. S. Bach - didn't lodge a tax return.

And someone, somewhere, actually creates these masterpieces of meaningless drivel. FFS.

[Jules]

Well you know what that means... flood the airports with more music!!

[Rath Darkblade]

I'm sorry? I'm not sure what that would achieve. *confused*

[Tawmis]

I'm sorry? I'm not sure what that would achieve. *confused*

Sarcasm, I am sure it was sarcasm. The fact that they reacted to a musical instrument as a weapon.

[MusicallyInspired]

Emotes = joke

[Jules]

Haha, well on the positive side, seeing more instruments will get them used to the fact that people indeed *do* like to play music with these things called instruments, so in the future it wouldn't be quite a shock to bring musical instruments to an airport if more and more people bring instruments with them. Second, these security types need a lil more music in their lives.

[Rath Darkblade]

Heh. Yes, I understand that emotes indicate a joke of some kind. I just didn't get it.

Ha! Yep, it's a good idea to get people used to seeing instruments at airports. As for the security types ... one: install some common sense, and two: geez, lighten up!

[Tawmis]

I searched the forum, because I could have sworn I shared the story before... But apparently not here.
Along the lines of airport security - this was a few years back, when I went to DragonCon in Atlanta to surprise my friend Lindsay (who was vending there) because she had traveled down to San Diego Comic Con several times before; I purchased a lightsaber there from UltraSabers. When it came time to leave, I figured I could just bring it onboard with me. Nope. Security stopped me - and first - asked me, "What is this?" I thought he was kidding (because it still had the tube attached to the hilt), and when it became clear he wasn't joking, I explained it was a lightsaber. That led to him calling over two other people - who then classified it as a weapon. Now, right before me - a guy had brought his electric guitar through, with no problem.

Now, if I had a choice between being hit with a lightsaber or an electric guitar - I am going to take the lightsaber every time, because unless I get REALLY lucky, I am not going to give anyone a concussion if I tried; where as an electric guitar, you don't even need to put a lot of swing into it to knock someone out. This enraged my wife, who yelled, "Yes, it's a weapon - from the future!" Long story short (too late!), I had to get out of line, run out, get a box and put it in as baggage

When it arrives at the airport in San Diego, the hilt got dinged...

[BBP]

A friend of mine's a concert viola player, and one of the most awesome people I ever had the opportunity to meet. She told me she once missed a flight (with a company that shall go nameless but they're Irish) because her instrument case was too big.

Turned out the people there didn't know the difference between violins and violas.

[Jules]

A weapon from the future!!

So sorry it got dinged!

Silly airport people!

I'm about to fly in two days and I'm hoping I don't have any dumb hold ups. >_>

[Rath Darkblade]

I'm so sorry about your light sabre, Tawmis. How stupid of the security people! But yes - a weapon from the future...

Seriously, though... aren't replica light-sabres made of plastic? You can't HURT anyone with them, surely? Umm, and just for the sake of argument... even if you could - and did - hit someone with it, then I think the other person will say something along the lines of "Um, stop that! What do you think you're doing?"

BBP, I'm not surprised that the security people don't know the difference between violins and violas. I've been performing with orchestras for years, and all I know is that violas are slightly bigger, and have a bigger bow and a lower pitch (i.e. alto clef, as opposed to the treble clef for violins). I'm afraid that's all I know. At least your friend doesn't play a double bass - those are seriously massive.

I also hope you won't have any dumb hold-ups, Jules! *crosses fingers for Jules*