that is so stupid. she's going to knit, not stab people. my god. Im going to try to start knitting soon, I hope if I take my knitting out with me, I don't get soething like that. what is the world coming to.

That really doesn't surprise me... at all (unfortunately).

I'm worried if airports starting to adopt the same standards, which stinks because I'd love to be able to knit on my flight to Dragoncon in a month.

I've seen knitting needles get confiscated at airport security. I've also seen airport security (at US airports) confiscate the poppy lapel pins that Canadians wear for Remembrance Day (=Veterans' Day). Nothing surprises me anymore.

Maybe I grew up in the wrong world but knitting needles, ballpoint pens, pencils and your iPod earphones are all weapons of self defence.

The thing is so few people think outside the box that very few would actually consider using knitting neeldes as a weapon; me, if I'm knitting or have my knitting with me and someone is stupid enough not to back off when asked they may well get a pointed lesson.

In some ways I actaully applaud the guard; think about what damage you could do by leaning your body weight against a knitting needle positioned say between ribs 8 and 9. Can anyone say heart/lung puncture?

Mind you, my Junior (year 9/3rd form) high school form room master explained to us (way back when) about the fact that as young women we might end up in situations where we need to defend ourselve and that it is illegal to carry concealed knives etc. He then went on to point out that most of us would have pens and ot pencils on us and that a pen to the eye/groin/neck is going to slow someone down enough for you to RUN away.

So, knitting needles as weapons; hell, yes. But then the primary weapon of course is your brain.