|
[Previous entry: "The kindness of strangers"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Too old for the candles"]
"Laptop nightmare at airport security"
12/14/2002 Entry
After that happy story described in the previous entry, I’m afraid I also have a less fortunate one to tell. My laptop suffered some bruises in one of the airport security checks: the monitor is now completely dark although luckily the computer is otherwise functional and so I can use it with an external monitor. It could have been much worse, but I certainly could have done without this bit as well. I’m proud of myself for not having freaked out completely despite the fact that it took me about a week to fully confirm that the hard drive of the machine was okay.
Let me back up. These days at airport security you are required to remove your laptop from its bag and send it through in a bin. I have always been very careful about how I handle it and about keeping my eye on it (and all my other possessions as well). I make sure to send my laptop and my bag with my wallet and other valuables through when I am about to walk through the security check myself. Unfortunately, this one time around, I did not have the laptop in my sight throughout. And wouldn’t you know it that is when something happens to it.
A security officer at the other side of the belt picked up the laptop and said he would have to look at it a bit more. Wait, he didn’t say he would do it, he asked me if he could. Now what’s the point of phrasing it as a question? Can you imagine saying no to a question like that at airport security? What are the chances of being let through if you don’t let them do what they want? I certainly appreciate the polite tone, but let’s not forget the power dynamics. In any case, off he went as I was putting my boots back on and gathering all my belongings.
A few feet away, the officer was handling my laptop. Curiously, when he handed it back to me, he opened it up and handed it to me with the monitor facing me. I had no idea why he did that and in retrospect I really wish I had asked. No one before had ever bothered to open up my laptop. All this made me a bit alarmed though and so when I got to my gate I turned on the computer. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t go on. Eventually, I realized that it did go on but the monitor was extremely dark. That’s when I panicked and this panic was certainly different from the Swiss army knife panic. Here I was on my way to two job interviews and my computer with my presentation was no longer functioning the way it should. I tried to stay calm knowing that I had backups. Nonetheless, I was upset and started thinking about the various short and longer term ramifications of having my laptop lost forever.
I thought that in the least, I should find some contact information so once I did assess the damages, I would have someone to contact about them. I went to a counter with security officers and explained the situation. The young man who talked to me was polite and tried to be helpful, but it all made me realize how much damage could be done and how even if I were to receive a brand new replacement computer it wouldn’t solve most of my problems. The man suggested I take the machine to a computer store. Except I was two trips away from going home. Moreover, what if it cannot be fixed (remember, at this point I couldn’t tell if the hard drive was okay), I couldn’t imagine the amount of work that would be lost even though my hard drive is completely backed up on our university servers. I guess I must have looked upset enough because eventually the supervisor came over. He was very kind and gave me his card. So at least I had some contact information as I walked away which had considerable soothing effect. Later, he came by to tell me that I should let him know how things turn out because apparently there is some government program to compensate in such situations. That was interesting to know but also alarming because it makes you realize that such problems must not be that uncommon (and I distinctly recalled having read or heard about a case where someone’s laptop had been dropped in security).
In the end, I decided to stay calm. Thanks to my cell phone and various backup methods, I was able to make alternative arrangements for my presentation. I also decided not to think about what would happen if the laptop could not be accessed and was pretty successful in putting it out of my mind for the rest of my journey.
Lessons:
1. Don’t ever let your laptop out of your sight (this may entail thinking about the order in which you send your possessions through the security belt)
2. Always have different types of backups of your presentation (not to mention your entire hard drive contents)
3. Look for a local contact if something does happen
4. Try not to worry about a situation which you cannot confirm, in other words, cross that bridge when you get there (a very helpful piece of advice I have learned to follow after repeatedly hearing it from my advisor)
Replies: 2 Comments have been posted, click here to see them and add your own
re: laptop -- I would have been really mad. A nice option is one of those 'key chain' memory devices[64MB - 512MB] that plug into your USB port -- work on both Macs and PCs -- about $100. You use whatever laptop is already plugged in at the conference.
But then again, you can't change your presentation at the last minute!
Posted by Valdis Krebs @ 12/14/2002 03:03 PM CST
Always, always, always post whatever presentation you have somewhere online.
Cheap, simple insurance.
This has saved my ass more times than I can remember. While you won't always have internet access at least when you do you're safe -- and you can always get to it from a cybercafe or library somewhere.
Oh and happy birthday!
Posted by Scott Johnson @ 12/17/2002 01:31 PM CST
| 
