For about a year after 9/11, I was pulled aside for extra special attention at the airport EVERY time I flew. The profile must have been men traveling alone.
Have You Ever Been Profiled?
- Thread starter Jack Flash
- Start date
blues7
Member
Here's a funny one.
In 1994 I took my wife to Hawaii for a couple of weeks as it was someplace she always wanted to go.
On the return, we had to go through the agricultural inspection area to ensure that certain plants / fruits etc would not be departing along with us.
I don't recall now if the agricultural official saw my firearm or noticed the paperwork accompanying my airline ticket but he questioned whether I was armed. I told him I was, showed my ID and he had already seen the authorization for me to board the aircraft with a weapon.
A few minutes later, I'm sitting in the boarding area with the missus and I see a couple of Honolulu's finest walking around, obviously looking for someone. I wait a couple minutes then walk over and ask them if they are looking for a man with a gun. They look at me like how did I know that? I tell them that I'm the one they're looking for and go through the process of showing ID etc. They laughed it off saying that the agricultural guy just had too much time on his hands and wanted to feel important.
You gotta wonder about some folks.
In 1994 I took my wife to Hawaii for a couple of weeks as it was someplace she always wanted to go.
On the return, we had to go through the agricultural inspection area to ensure that certain plants / fruits etc would not be departing along with us.
I don't recall now if the agricultural official saw my firearm or noticed the paperwork accompanying my airline ticket but he questioned whether I was armed. I told him I was, showed my ID and he had already seen the authorization for me to board the aircraft with a weapon.
A few minutes later, I'm sitting in the boarding area with the missus and I see a couple of Honolulu's finest walking around, obviously looking for someone. I wait a couple minutes then walk over and ask them if they are looking for a man with a gun. They look at me like how did I know that? I tell them that I'm the one they're looking for and go through the process of showing ID etc. They laughed it off saying that the agricultural guy just had too much time on his hands and wanted to feel important.
You gotta wonder about some folks.
chaparrito
Member
One time back in the 70s my buddy and I and our girlfriends were crossing the border back into the U.S. from an extended beach exploration trip in Sonora. Driving an old 59 split window VW van that had been spray-can painted all sorts of purty colors. We were due to be back in Tempe AZ by evening to go to work in the local pub we were all employed by.
Humorless Border Person stuck his head in the window, looked at the scruffy, sunburnt early 20s bums and said "pull over to that space and get out of the vehicle and bring your bags and personal belongings with you, lay them out on that table." So we did. All polite like yes sir no sir.
We were normally fastidious on these trips. Whatever naughty plant materials went INTO Mexico on our way south did not come back north. Everything was emptied and scoured. This time though, my buddy had saved a little roach and put it into an empty pill bottle and stuck it in his pack. When the drug dog was run by his pack the alarms went off. Three hours later they were still grilling us and threatening to strip search and taking apart my poor old VW.
I finally realized that past a certain point it was just a slow day and they'd have already arrested us if they were ever going to. So I politely said to Agent Mirrorglasses "please officer, with all due respect, my pal here has fessed up. It's pretty clear you're not finding any more naughty things in my vehicle. We aren't intoxicated and we aren't high. We ARE however going to be late to work to jobs we all need, so would you kindly now arrest some or all of us so that we can make necessary phone calls and be on our way?" He never cracked a smile. Just turned and walked back to the kiosk whereupon an underling came and told us to pack up our stuff and get going. Given the law, we probably deserved that profiling.
Now for a modern case. Although I have a spanish surname, I am as white as the next fellow. I'm also greying. Just another older guy. My son however is quite dark, being not only latino but half native American. I have an old ranch truck that is only used every few weeks to go to town to get loads of hay. I forget to renew the license plate tags and it spends a couple of months each year in violation of MVD laws. I cannot count how many times I have driven that truck right in front of a sheriff or town cop with expired tags and NEVER been stopped. Not once. My son over the years has gotten three tickets in that vehicle when I needed him to go get some hay on a moment's notice and forgot the tags were bad. He has a perfect driving record, drives like his grandma. Never a ticket in almost 8 years of driving. These are no-points tickets and since it's my fault I've paid them for him. After the second one he said "what gives dad? You never get tickets in that old truck do you?"
I'd like to defer to the better nature of our local law enforcement and say this is a coincidence and nothing more, but I'm not that dumb.
Humorless Border Person stuck his head in the window, looked at the scruffy, sunburnt early 20s bums and said "pull over to that space and get out of the vehicle and bring your bags and personal belongings with you, lay them out on that table." So we did. All polite like yes sir no sir.
We were normally fastidious on these trips. Whatever naughty plant materials went INTO Mexico on our way south did not come back north. Everything was emptied and scoured. This time though, my buddy had saved a little roach and put it into an empty pill bottle and stuck it in his pack. When the drug dog was run by his pack the alarms went off. Three hours later they were still grilling us and threatening to strip search and taking apart my poor old VW.
I finally realized that past a certain point it was just a slow day and they'd have already arrested us if they were ever going to. So I politely said to Agent Mirrorglasses "please officer, with all due respect, my pal here has fessed up. It's pretty clear you're not finding any more naughty things in my vehicle. We aren't intoxicated and we aren't high. We ARE however going to be late to work to jobs we all need, so would you kindly now arrest some or all of us so that we can make necessary phone calls and be on our way?" He never cracked a smile. Just turned and walked back to the kiosk whereupon an underling came and told us to pack up our stuff and get going. Given the law, we probably deserved that profiling.
Now for a modern case. Although I have a spanish surname, I am as white as the next fellow. I'm also greying. Just another older guy. My son however is quite dark, being not only latino but half native American. I have an old ranch truck that is only used every few weeks to go to town to get loads of hay. I forget to renew the license plate tags and it spends a couple of months each year in violation of MVD laws. I cannot count how many times I have driven that truck right in front of a sheriff or town cop with expired tags and NEVER been stopped. Not once. My son over the years has gotten three tickets in that vehicle when I needed him to go get some hay on a moment's notice and forgot the tags were bad. He has a perfect driving record, drives like his grandma. Never a ticket in almost 8 years of driving. These are no-points tickets and since it's my fault I've paid them for him. After the second one he said "what gives dad? You never get tickets in that old truck do you?"
I'd like to defer to the better nature of our local law enforcement and say this is a coincidence and nothing more, but I'm not that dumb.
Me, Profiled? Don't rightly know. But if any one ever starts profiling old, short, fat, bald hedaded, absent minded men then I'm in BIG trouble.
But if you stop and think about it you might realize that EVERYONE profiles in one way or another. Another way to express social profiling would be forming and opinion.
Great insight from the man in Deer Park. I think everybody is judging, i.e. profiling all the time. It's what happens when we take action upon that opinion that's formed is where trouble may start. Like it or not LE's take on a situation is one of the very few times opinions matter. To try to change their mind via arguing is just going to make their job easier and the hole I'm in deeper.
Learned this a very long time ago the hard way from some hard case cops.
Stick to the truth, remain reasonable and once their BS meter stops ticking we're probably good to go. Of course if one is caught screwing up just take it like an adult.
You betcha.
Early on in my career as a hippie musician, I was often patted down like a can of salmon.
Early on in my career as a hippie musician, I was often patted down like a can of salmon.
"Why did you pull me over?"
"Because you fit a description."
"Cool cat in a cool car?"
-Daniel Woodrell's character Sonny Barlach.
I have been profiled many times:
Driving while young. These often resulted in a ticket.
Riding a motorcycle in excess of the speed limit. These rarely got me a ticket.
Being an American. Entering Sweden in a Land Rover in 1970. Asked if we were British, we said, no, Americans. The cordial atmosphere suddenly cooled off. We got a vehicle search, a brief interrogation, and a trip into a chilly customs shed. "Subjected to indignities" would be the family-friendly phrase for what transpired.
We were not in the least worried, since none of us had drugs, were interested in drugs, or had even used them (much). There was one tense moment where they were about to cut open the stuffed fox that Alison had bought in Amsterdam. Her near-hysterical reaction only made them more suspicious, but our disgusted reaction to her histrionics finally persuaded them that we were harmless dorks.
"Because you fit a description."
"Cool cat in a cool car?"
-Daniel Woodrell's character Sonny Barlach.
I have been profiled many times:
Driving while young. These often resulted in a ticket.
Riding a motorcycle in excess of the speed limit. These rarely got me a ticket.
Being an American. Entering Sweden in a Land Rover in 1970. Asked if we were British, we said, no, Americans. The cordial atmosphere suddenly cooled off. We got a vehicle search, a brief interrogation, and a trip into a chilly customs shed. "Subjected to indignities" would be the family-friendly phrase for what transpired.
We were not in the least worried, since none of us had drugs, were interested in drugs, or had even used them (much). There was one tense moment where they were about to cut open the stuffed fox that Alison had bought in Amsterdam. Her near-hysterical reaction only made them more suspicious, but our disgusted reaction to her histrionics finally persuaded them that we were harmless dorks.
Profiled in a sense, more like sexually harassed by a couple of county deputies. Went on for several months, then my mother rented a house to the actual county sheriff, then it stopped. They could have had many legit reasons to stop me, loud muffler, speeding, drag racing, drinking under age, but none of that was ever brought into play.
It was more like "what are you doing out so late? (I got off work at midnight) Why are you on this lonely gravel road? (I lived down that road)
It was more like "what are you doing out so late? (I got off work at midnight) Why are you on this lonely gravel road? (I lived down that road)
I've been profiled many times, never got all butthurt about it.
gregintenn
Member
Sure. When I was a teenager, I had a really nice red 67 Chevy II, and my father had a Corvette which I drove some as well. I could rarely go anywhere without a police escort. You look like trouble, I guess the police will be more apt to keep an eye on you. Makes sense, but I never cared for it as a kid.
Also, I've yet to go through airport security without being the one guy pulled out of lined for my own private search. I've never quite figured that one out.
Also, I've yet to go through airport security without being the one guy pulled out of lined for my own private search. I've never quite figured that one out.
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From the time I was 18 until just shy of 20 (almost 40 years ago-mid 70s) I was a long haired Harley rider who wore fairly dirty/ratty jeans and jackets. After the first time I got stopped and warned about going too fast, uh huh, I learned to take it easy on the city streets.
After getting stopped (expired tag on the bike, a paycheck away from taking care of it) and the city cop realized he knew my dad and had heard all kinds of stories about me-trust me, they were regarding my accomplishments and how I never got in to trouble-he told me there were some "issues" between a couple of rival "clubs" so not to be surprised if I got stopped now and then lol. I did
.
After getting stopped (expired tag on the bike, a paycheck away from taking care of it) and the city cop realized he knew my dad and had heard all kinds of stories about me-trust me, they were regarding my accomplishments and how I never got in to trouble-he told me there were some "issues" between a couple of rival "clubs" so not to be surprised if I got stopped now and then lol. I did
.
Old TexMex
Member
Here's one I forgot: some eons ago, I was living in Vera Cruz, Mexico. The bus from the TX border was cheap. The authorities would stop the bus and walk the aisle, and after two occasions of being taken off the bus, searched, questioned, held until I gave them money, I woke up.
When I started wearing peasant clothes and a Veracruzano straw hat, all I had to do was not make eye contact (my eyes are real light blue) and the policia walked right past me.
And another from the past:
In 1935, my grandfather and grandmother came to the little town where I live. They were both off the reservation (literally) and grandpaw Mack couldn't get a job, 'cause he was "an indin" even though a skilled carpenter and WWI veteran. Finally a real gentleman from San Antonio had him build 11 houses here. They used the money to open a pool hall. It's still open to this day, known as "The islands oldest and friendliest" That's sort of ironic, huh?
When I started wearing peasant clothes and a Veracruzano straw hat, all I had to do was not make eye contact (my eyes are real light blue) and the policia walked right past me.
And another from the past:
In 1935, my grandfather and grandmother came to the little town where I live. They were both off the reservation (literally) and grandpaw Mack couldn't get a job, 'cause he was "an indin" even though a skilled carpenter and WWI veteran. Finally a real gentleman from San Antonio had him build 11 houses here. They used the money to open a pool hall. It's still open to this day, known as "The islands oldest and friendliest" That's sort of ironic, huh?
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Yes, I have been profiled. I am told my left profile is better than my right. On a serious note, I always get the extended search at airports. I have gotten to the point of asking airport personnel if I am on the "search" list and that I would like to get it over with so that I do not miss my flight. I always get arched eyebrows and then they check their list and show me I am on the list. None of us know why I am on the list. During my last flight to Tucson, I got checked at the Columbus airport and then checked again after a layover in Oklahoma City. When I came home it was the same thing but in reverse order. I don't get upset, but it is a little embarrassing walking around in the airport in your socks while holding your pants up. I always wear new socks for fear of having a hole in one while doing the walk of shame.
jimbo728
Member
The SS 396 emblems on my 66 Chevelle made me feel profiled.
The SS 427 emblems that appeared later justified it.
The 67 `Vette kinda gave me a pass, surprising because that was a Big Block too!
Jim
The SS 427 emblems that appeared later justified it.
The 67 `Vette kinda gave me a pass, surprising because that was a Big Block too!
Jim
Rockrivr1
Member
Yes! I was profiled as a very stupid white guy who was asking to get mugged/car jacked when he accidentally made a wrong turn in Boston with his brand new Cadillac and ended up driving through the projects. Luckily it was still daytime for I would have probably ended up sleeping with the fishes.....
We've all been profiled by someone or something; all life forms with the ability to move profile other life forms with the intent of assessing threat and increasing survival odds. It really shouldn't be a dirty word.
jimbo728
Member
Its definition is politically correctly defined these days and has become flexible depending on an agenda or 2.
Jim
Jim
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model70hunter
Member
Years ago after my divorce, the only thing she wanted was the broom which had just been overhauled, I went thru the I'm not dating, don't want a woman thing.
A couple I dated profiled my car, furniture and wanted to know all about my job, salary et. I did not date them a 2nd time, afraid they might water board me into a quick marriage......
A couple I dated profiled my car, furniture and wanted to know all about my job, salary et. I did not date them a 2nd time, afraid they might water board me into a quick marriage......
muddocktor
Member
I can remember being profiled one time in the mid 90's while driving. I was going west on I-10, driving from the Lafayette, LA area to Aransas Pass, TX, which is close to Corpus Christi to go offshore to work. Right after passing through Beaumont, TX I was pulled over for no apparent reason while driving with the traffic flow about 2:00 AM. The DPS officers were polite and when they walked up they saw my offshore bags in the back seat and asked where I was going. I told them Aransas Pass and they then told me to be careful on the highway and pull over if I started getting sleepy and then sent me on my way. I just kind of scratched my head a bit about the whole incident until I thought about the drug traffic that goes up and down I-10 between LA and TX and then the stop made sense. Back then, getting drugs across the Mexico border was getting hot and the druggies were shipping it in by boat into the La. coast and shipping from there. So I figure they saw a lone, older white guy in a small, nondescript car and decided to check it out. The whole incident didn't bother me in the least and actually broke up the monotony of the trip.
And about 6 months before this incident, a Company Rep I worked with had the same basic thing happen with him when driving from Texas where he lived to a port in Louisiana where he was catching out of. He was pulled over somewhere in Texas too, from what I remember.
And about 6 months before this incident, a Company Rep I worked with had the same basic thing happen with him when driving from Texas where he lived to a port in Louisiana where he was catching out of. He was pulled over somewhere in Texas too, from what I remember.
686_was_my_first
Member
Profiled in Canada
Made several trips to Halifax, Nova Scotia from Atlanta.
Second trip to Halifax, I was the first person off the plane. Made wrong turn and was in the general area of the airport. But my luggage was in customs.
Wander to customs and told them what I did.
Every trip after that incident, I was sent to customs before stamping my passport.
Oh well, I never had a sense of directions anyway.
Later,
Glen
Made several trips to Halifax, Nova Scotia from Atlanta.
Second trip to Halifax, I was the first person off the plane. Made wrong turn and was in the general area of the airport. But my luggage was in customs.
Wander to customs and told them what I did.
Every trip after that incident, I was sent to customs before stamping my passport.
Oh well, I never had a sense of directions anyway.
Later,
Glen
