The Terrorist
I sat in JFK airport, New York with my then girlfriend waiting to board a flight. A man sat down across from us. He looked of middle eastern background and everything he wore was black, clean and neat. His hand even tapped nervously on a black wheeliecase. He looked at his watch anxiously.

I laughed to myself and contemplated joking with my ex about this suspcious man when he leaned in and asked,"Excuse me, will you please mind my bag?" in the thickest eastern accent i had ever heard.

I mumbled a feeble "yes" and my ex and i shared a moment's awkward silence as we watched him run away which was only broken by her loudly exclaiming she had to go to the bathroom.

For the convenient 40 minutes that she was away i proceeded to shit bricks until the bag's owner returned to graciously thank me and leave me in a confusing state of relief mix guilt.
(jimmyhoffascorpse, Sat 3 Apr 2010, 1:15, 6 replies)

This is a joke, right?
If you'd really done that I'd have no words to describe the idiocy.
( Ungersven would support SpankyHanky's patreon, Sat 3 Apr 2010, 3:03, closed)

Why is it so stupid? I mean, the bag would be sitting there regardless of whether the other guy was there or not. All he had to do was make sure no one tampered with it. I'd say it was more idiotic of the middle eastern guy to leave his bag unattended for any reason.
(Tarana, Sat 3 Apr 2010, 15:54, closed)

no, i totally agree with redalien on this
it's your responsibility to say "no" when this situation arises.

the man leaving the bag might have been a bit foolish in requesting a total stranger to look after his stuff, but if jimmyhoffascorpse actually accepted some total unknown's belongings (especially after the shady way he already viewed this man) then he is the greater imbecile in this scenario by far.
(zenmeban thinks the weather could be better, Sat 3 Apr 2010, 16:27, closed)

i should add
this isn't even prejudice, it's just common sense. your bags, your worry. others' bags, their worry. i'd make an exception for a travel companion if i actually knew them and they were (say) going to the toilet or buying some food and coming back, but you could be the queen and i wouldn't watch your bags or allow you to leave them unattended with me.
(zenmeban thinks the weather could be better, Sat 3 Apr 2010, 16:30, closed)

Yeah, that makes sense. I hadn't really thought it through all the way, I suppose!
(Tarana, Sat 3 Apr 2010, 16:41, closed)

If I saw unattended bags in an airport
I'd march over to a security guard and tell them. I've done this in the Bullring in brum before, scares the fuck out of them but they go and check it out. By saying no to looking after them you reduce the chances of this wasted effort being needed.
( Ungersven would support SpankyHanky's patreon, Mon 5 Apr 2010, 3:23, closed)