4 ms·
It is theatre if it is applied randomly. It is not if all devices are tested equally. The same goes for testing of people. Unless all are tested, random checks
by oldandtired 9y ago
It is theatre if it is applied randomly. It is not if all devices are tested equally. The same goes for testing of people. Unless all are tested, random checks are just about useless, since there will be a pattern to the selection of people for "random" testing.
- mikeash 9y agoIf the screening is being rendered ineffective by bad profiling, then it’s the profiling that’s theater, not the screening being profiled for.
- oldandtired 9y agoIf you are relying on "profiling" as a precursor to screening then you have made all of it theatre. You either screen everyone or screen no-one. To "randomly" choose someone to screen by the use of "profiling" makes nobody "safe", you may as well not screen anyone.
- mikeash 9y agoSure. But it can be done right (screening everyone, or using actual randomness), and if it’s not, that’s a problem with the profiling, not with the actual screening of actual potential bomb casings.