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Not really. I'm saying that it's one of many factors, some typically benign (like "gun owner"), and some not benign ("has a brother fighting for IS in Syria").

Not really. I'm saying that it's one of many factors, some typically benign (like "gun owner"), and some not benign ("has a brother fighting for IS in Syria"). To do a better job at intelligence, our government needs to look at these holistically. My argument also extends to things like the TSA. We all like to complain about having to wait in line for security at the airport. Why can't they do better threat assessment? Well, it needs a holistic approach. Why should I, chrissnell, an officer in the Army Reserve, with no criminal record whatsoever, be subjected anything more than a magnetometer at the airport? If the TSA would look at my profile holistically, they would see that I am not a significant threat and that should mean that I would be able to go on my way without interference.

maxerickson 10y ago
Why should anybody be subject to anything more than a magnetometer? Locked doors stop boxcutters.
digler999 10y ago
> chrissnell, an officer in the Army Reserve, thats a red flag. you've got specialized training in weapons and tactics. maybe they should "keep an eye on you" ?
- TeMPOraL 10y ago
  That depends entirely on their estimate of whether "specialized training in weapons and tactics" is a signal for or against being a potential person of interest. This is a domain of probability, there are rigorous ways to deal with that. Bringing up "nothing to hide" isn't a rational response. Whether or not something constitutes a good signal does not depend on rhetorics! Math doesn't care about what some celebrity said at some point.
- squozzer 10y ago
  Especially in light of the fact that George Washington was a colonel in the VA Militia before renouncing his allegiance to the king and joining the Continental Army.
ska 10y ago
This program exists, it's called "Trusted Traveler". The most important thing is that it is opt in. If you want to trade some of your privacy for a more efficient time at the airport, you are free to apply. The elephant in this particular room is that if the government has enough information about you to make these sort of decisions holistically, it also has enough information to effect many, many abuses. History teaches us that trusting an organization like this to "do the right thing" is a fools game.

maxerickson 10y ago

Why should anybody be subject to anything more than a magnetometer? Locked doors stop boxcutters.

digler999 10y ago

> chrissnell, an officer in the Army Reserve, thats a red flag. you've got specialized training in weapons and tactics. maybe they should "keep an eye on you" ?

TeMPOraL 10y ago
That depends entirely on their estimate of whether "specialized training in weapons and tactics" is a signal for or against being a potential person of interest. This is a domain of probability, there are rigorous ways to deal with that. Bringing up "nothing to hide" isn't a rational response. Whether or not something constitutes a good signal does not depend on rhetorics! Math doesn't care about what some celebrity said at some point.
squozzer 10y ago
Especially in light of the fact that George Washington was a colonel in the VA Militia before renouncing his allegiance to the king and joining the Continental Army.

ska 10y ago

This program exists, it's called "Trusted Traveler". The most important thing is that it is opt in. If you want to trade some of your privacy for a more efficient time at the airport, you are free to apply. The elephant in this particular room is that if the government has enough information about you to make these sort of decisions holistically, it also has enough information to effect many, many abuses. History teaches us that trusting an organization like this to "do the right thing" is a fools game.