Re: filmscanners: X-ray and digital camera

["Anthony Atkielski" <atkielski.anthony@wanadoo.fr>]

Austin writes:

> Not necessarily.  That does not mean that other
> airlines did not use magnetic trays.

This is another fallacy in your technique.  There is no reason to assume that
any airline has ever used magnetic trays, unless some airline comes forward and
actually says so.  I don't know of any airline that has done this.

It would appear that you did not visit the URL suggested by Tom.  Incidentally,
I believe the IATA press release mentioned in the article was prompted by my own
inquiries at the IATA a day or two before.

> The source for the report I had were far and
> above any Internet folklore.

No, it was not.  I've seen Internet hoaxes cloaked in all sorts of
official-looking forms, particularly within corporate environments, where a hoax
looks more and more real and official as it circulates through the company.

It is surprising how many people will repeat unverified rumor as fact in order
to seem informed and knowledgeable, rather than verify and debunk the rumor and
remain silent.  The urge to build one's ego is often stronger than the need to
preserve the truth and eliminate baseless rumors.  This is why gossip and rumor
mills are so amazingly effective at spreading misinformation and making it seem
real.

> The issue may have been cured since the issue
> was first discovered.

No such tray tables have ever been used, so no discovery has ever been possible.

> That report says something about "circulating
> since late last year" but fails to mention any date.

You'll find that the date correlates with the appearance of the hoax on the
Internet.  "Circulating since late last year" is a fairly classic phrase in
repeats of Internet hoaxes.

A lack of verifiable details in any report always renders it highly suspect.