quote:

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CNN) -- American Airlines is investigating reports that a pilot asked passengers to identify themselves as Christians so non-Christians on board could talk to them about their faith, a spokesman has said.

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Not a comfortable flight, I would think, for Muslims, Jews, agnostics, atheists, pagans and other non-Christians. And, come to think of it, probably not too comfortable for a lot of the Christians on the flight, either.

[ February 08, 2004, 11:42 PM: Message edited by: sndrake ]
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
Umm...speaking as a conservtive, evangelical Christian - I would find that very uncomfortable.

That's not exactly the way I see witnessing and sharing testimony to go.

"well, since we're stuck on this flight and the pilot has practically ordered me to talk to you about my faith - let's start out the conversation wtih me telling you how bad it sucks in hell."


 

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Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
 
at pilot. Of course, maybe it's a publicity stunt. Scandal works wonders.
 

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Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
 


Repent or perish?

Wow, how totally uncomfortable that would be.

Or you could just reply, "Hey, this plane looks an awful lot like a handbasket..."
 

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Posted by Argèn†~ (Member # 4528) on :
 
Didn't we have enough trouble with religious fanatics in the fall of 2001?
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
The whole conversion thing might have been more effective if he had told them that he was aiming the plane at the ground.
 

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Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
 
This is a great way to single out the non-Christians so they can be identified as possible terrorist threats.
 

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Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
 
The pilot sounds like a new Christian to me.
 

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Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
 
"Hello, and welcome to American Airlines non-stop flight to heaven...."
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 

quote:

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The pilot sounds like a new Christian to me.

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Maybe. Or maybe he did some heavy recreating during his weeklong mission in Costa Rica and went for something stronger than coffee.

Seriously, I suspect that followup may have entailed blood and urine samples.
 

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Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
Sounds like something was different on this particular day, or this pilot would be doing this on all his flights.
 

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Posted by sndrake (Member # 4941) on :
 
My guess is that the absolute maximum flights a pilot could do this on would be three (depending on personnel policies).

He probably won't get fired for this first time incident, but there will be a discipline plan, that would allow for maybe one more chance or immediate termination if he repeats the behavior.
 

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Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
 
"Well, folks, I hope you've all lived a life without regret, cause I haven't slept in a while and my wife just left me."
 

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Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
 

quote:

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Now, where did I put my ritalin?

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quote:

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*I* can't stand it when people see a glimpse of something that might possibly be able to offend them and then run with it.

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It's not that I'm offended, I just don't like it when people don't say what it's really for.

Maybe something better would have been: "Where is my Prozac?"

EDIT: I also didn't realize that it wasn't responding to the topic. That's what most repies do though. Can you blame me for thinking that?

[ February 09, 2004, 08:06 PM: Message edited by: Nick ]
 

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Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
 
Okay.

Ritalin doesn't work well for the joke--it's an ADD medication, big deal if the pilot has ADD.

Prozaz...another not big deal if you miss one dose.

RISPERDAL, however, is an atypical antipsychotic. Which means, had said pilot not taken his risperdal and had a fairly unstable psychosis, you'd be in trouble.

For good joke telling purposes, option number three would work out the best.

But the audience would have to know what Risperdal is.
 

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Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
Oh for God's sake!

There was an old "Charlie" comic stip (single panel) that had Charlie on an elevator that was stuck between floors. The only other passenger was this completely wacky looking guy with vaguely religious garb on. The caption read:

"Well, since we're going to be stuck here awhile, let me tell you about my religion."

We have a local judge who reads scripture to prospective jurors. There's the guy at the Eckerd's pharmacy refusing to give RU-486 to a rape victim. Now this pilot. What is going on? Did someone slip mescaline into the holy water?

(note--proper joke set up. Drug-appropriate usage -- mescaline is used to heighten religious experiences by certain shamanistic groups in America. Some might take issue with the holy water aspect of it, since you aren't supposed to DRINK the holy water, but, when you think about it, that just makes it funnier.)
 

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Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
Oh, and you can make it even funnier by replying in an exasperated tone:

Again???
 

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Posted by shadowmaker (Member # 6155) on :
 
Maybe the pilot's a missionary, and that's what he calls a "missions trip"
 

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Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
 
heh... I win!

[derail]Bob, what's the background on the RU-486 story? Is he refusing it simply because it's an abortifacient, or because of the medical risks involved with that specific drug? I know that one woman at least died during the Canadian clinical trials...[/derail]
 

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Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
 
RU-486 is an incredibly dangerous drug, and I didn't think it was supposed to be administered except under the direct care of a physician. In other words, in most places it's given out in the doctor's office. (then again, my information is old, I haven't looked into this for awhile so Alucard or another pharmacist would know more than me)

The risks of hemorrhage are pretty high, and it's not a "morning after" pill. It's an abortifacient. It's meant to be used when a pregnancy has already been established and dated as being first trimester.

For "morning after" birth control the easiest way to do it is with regular old birth control pills, prescribed in a certain dosage. You don't need RU-486 if you're a rape victim who is trying to PREVENT conception from taking place. You would only need it after you've confirmed that you are pregnant.

[/my own derail]
 

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Posted by Nick (Member # 4311) on :
 

quote:

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For "morning after" birth control the easiest way to do it is with regular old birth control pills, prescribed in a certain dosage.

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So you're saying birth control pills in the right dosage destroy the embryo?

What about regualar dosage, and you're taking it for preventative purposes only. I've been told it stops a woman from ovulating.
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Actually, the high dosage pills merely prevent implantation. They do nothing to the embryo itself.
 

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Posted by Nick (Member # 4311) on :
 
What about regular-dose birth control? Do they also prevent implantation in the uterus?
 

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Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
 
Among other things.
 

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Posted by Nick (Member # 4311) on :
 
I thought for a second that it didn't prevent a woman from ovulating.
 

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Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
 
I rechecked the sources I could find easily through Google and they mentioned a "morning after pill" and "emergency contraceptives," not specifically RU-486.

They did say that the pharmacist refused to fill the prescription for "moral reasons" so that would tend to rule out his concerns over the rape victim's safety.
 

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Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
 
I am obviously tired as I have now laughed my way through this entire thread.

Or perhaps it's time to take my ativan . . .









Yeeeep - must be time for beddie-bye.
 

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