Philosophy Now Forum

http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,591279,00.html

in Pilot, der sein Taschenmesser abgeben musste, marschierte wütend zu seinem Flugzeug, holte die Not-Axt aus dem Cockpit und knallte sie dem Sicherheitskontrolleur auf den Tisch.

[translation]A pilot who had to hand over his pocket knife, angrily marched to his plane, took the emergency axe out of the cockpit and banged it onto the table of the security guard.[/translation]

To prevent hijackings, a pilot is not allowed to have any item that could be used to threaten or incapacitate a pilot.

a pilot may need the emergency axe while flying, but does he need his pocket knife?

If we are willing to risk an axe being on board, then why not risk a knife?

As blame said, the rationale behind the regulation is to prevent 'someone' (the pilot) from threatening or incapacitating the pilot.

Given that he is the pilot, I think that should work out fine.

Nowadays we are introducing all manner of sick regulations for the diminishment of our freedom, supposedly for our own safety.

In the 50s all kids carried knives, and played with them.

This was not that dangerous, because the kids were mature and capable enough to deal with knives. Why? Because they had been exposed to them.

By swaddling people with regulations we are turning everyone into a bunch of immature morons who have never developed the capability to think for themselves.

Benjamin Franklin wrote:Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both

Also, I can think of plenty more uses for a pocket knife than I can an Axe.