[quote]There goes another punch line.
The Department of Homeland Security is planning to get rid of the color-coded terrorism alert system. Known officially as the Homeland Security Advisory System, the five-color scheme was introduced by the Bush administration in March 2002.
Red, the highest level, meant “severe risk of terrorist attacks.” The lowest level, green, meant “low risk of terrorist attacks.” Between those were blue (guarded risk), yellow (significant) and orange (high).
The nation has generally lived in the yellow and orange range. The threat level has never been green, or even blue.
In an interview on “The Daily Show” last year, the homeland security chief, Janet Napolitano, said the department was “revisiting the whole issue of color codes and schemes as to whether, you know, these things really communicate anything to the American people any more.”
The answer, apparently, is no.
The color-coded threat levels were doomed to fail because “they don’t tell people what they can do — they just make people afraid,” said Bruce Schneier, an author on security issues. He said the system was “a relic of our panic after 9/11” that “never served any security purpose.”
The Homeland Security Department said the colors would be replaced with a new system — recommendations are still under review — that should provide more clarity and guidance. The change was first reported by The Associated Press.
“The goal is to replace a system that communicates nothing,” the agency said, “with a partnership approach with law enforcement, the private sector and the American public that provides specific, actionable information based on the latest intelligence.”
The department has already begun working toward the goal of providing more specific alerts.
After a Nigerian citizen, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was accused of trying to bring down a Detroit-bound plane last Christmas with explosives, the department issued new guidelines to airports and airlines without raising the threat level.
While the system may have had limited usefulness for the American people, it proved to be comedy gold for late-night shows.
Conan O’Brien joked, “Champagne-fuchsia means we’re being attacked by Martha Stewart.” Jay Leno said, “They added a plaid in case we were ever attacked by Scotland.”
Meanwhile, critics of the Bush administration argued that the system was a political tool.
And even Tom Ridge, the secretary of homeland security under President George W. Bush, has raised questions. In his memoir, “The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege ... And How We Can Be Safe Again,” Mr. Ridge said Attorney General John Ashcroft and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, pushed for an elevated terrorism level in October 2004 after a threatening tape from Osama bin Laden was revealed.
Mr. Ridge wrote that after “a vigorous, some might say dramatic, debate, I wondered, ‘Is this about security, or politics?’ ” While the security level ultimately was not raised, he said the incident helped him decide that it was time to leave the government in February 2005.
Amy Wax, president of the International Association of Color Consultants North America, said — perhaps not surprisingly — colors could be an effective part of a warning system if tied to specific action. “How are we going to take those instructions and apply it to our lives?” she said. “Are we going to go to the airport, or not go to the airport?”
She said the agency’s use of “childish” primary colors like red, yellow and blue might have diluted the impact. “Purple, orange and magenta might create a sense of something that would get attention,” she said.[/quote]
[url]http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/25/us/25colors.html?_r=2&src=twrhp[/url]
About fucking time!
I wonder what we used before the color system, if anything.
[quote]International Association of Color Consultants[/quote]
Colors are serious business apparently.
I didn't even know there was a terror alert system..
Of course it was about politics. Everything regarding the war on terror is about politics.
I like the two coded idea.
Alert 1: get a helmet
Alert 2: put on the helmet
Sound-based alerts.
Alert level zero: No sound
Alert level one: Toaster oven beeping
Alert level two: Vehicle backing up
Alert level three: Smoke alarm
Alert level four: Air raid siren
Alert level five: Justin Beiber music
[QUOTE=wuzzimu;26302099]I wonder what we used before the color system, if anything.[/QUOTE]
A series of words that explained a situation in a concise and factual manner.
What the fuck was the point of it anyway?
If there was a imminent terrorist attack, how bad could it be if it's not on the news, but still worrisome enough that it needed a chart?
[QUOTE=Zeke129;26302359]Sound-based alerts.
Alert level zero: No sound
Alert level one: Toaster oven beeping
Alert level two: Vehicle backing up
Alert level three: Smoke alarm
Alert level four: Air raid siren
Alert level five: Justin Beiber music[/QUOTE]
At least a level five would be rare as hell. Sounds like a good idea.
[QUOTE=Baldr;26302512]At least a level five would be rare as hell. Sounds like a good idea.[/QUOTE]
Level Five would deter the terrorists from attacking as well.
Finally
[QUOTE=ScoutKing;26302142]I like the two coded idea.
Alert 1: get a helmet
Alert 2: put on the helmet[/QUOTE]
Ah, the "Splinter Cell" system.
In defense of the color code system, it wasn't really for civilians. Each level had specific instructions facilities like nuclear power plants and federal buildings were supposed to follow based on how much of a threat was perceived. Things like how many guards are kept on duty, shift length, response protocols, etc etc.
The system was very much designed for use by the government for the government. I have no idea why it was ever made public.
Orange alert is the most useless, if its imminent by the time you set the alert to orange its already going to have happened.
My school had a code yellow yesterday. Some idiot said dumb things to the admins.
[QUOTE=Zeke129;26302359]
Alert level one: Toaster oven beeping
[/QUOTE]
The fuck is a toaster oven? One of those small ovens that you put a bagel in or something? A full blown oven that you can put a turkey in? Or a toaster that doesn't beep, just scares you by metal noises?
Well if it's always on "high alert", of course it's going to lose it's meaning.
[editline]25th November 2010[/editline]
[QUOTE=Second-gear-of-mgear;26302976]The fuck is a toaster oven? One of those small ovens that you put a bagel in or something? A full blown oven that you can put a turkey in? Or a toaster that doesn't beep, just scares you by metal noises?[/QUOTE][img]http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00cCOtPFbWLfon/Toaster-Oven-20l-TB730-.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=Second-gear-of-mgear;26302976]The fuck is a toaster oven? One of those small ovens that you put a bagel in or something? A full blown oven that you can put a turkey in? Or a toaster that doesn't beep, just scares you by metal noises?[/QUOTE]
[img]http://www.deerso.com/images/products/Large/Convection-Toaster-Oven654795.jpg[/img]
are you fucking kidding me
I propose Bush's other system, the Ducky Alert system
Little rubber ducky has a high pitch quack, so the threat level is silly
Big rubber ducky has a very low and scary pitched quack, meaning the threat level is scary
[editline]25th November 2010[/editline]
[QUOTE=Second-gear-of-mgear;26302976]The fuck is a toaster oven? One of those small ovens that you put a bagel in or something? A full blown oven that you can put a turkey in? Or a toaster that doesn't beep, just scares you by metal noises?[/QUOTE]
Welcome to 1910
i think they should be jelly-bean flavoured
"Sir, we are going to butterscotch alert!"
"My god..."
[QUOTE=GunFox;26302622]
The system was very much designed for use by the government for the government. I have no idea why it was ever made public.[/QUOTE]
To keep people afraid of something that won't happen
[editline]25th November 2010[/editline]
Oh yeah almost forgot
[IMG]http://www.cubeupload.com/files/d8581fss20101125220943.png[/IMG]
code grey
[quote]"[b]Purple[/b], orange and magenta might create a sense of something that would get attention,”[/quote]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rENdZ4dk6BI[/media]
?
[QUOTE=ScoutKing;26302142]I like the two coded idea.
Alert 1: get a helmet
Alert 2: put on the helmet[/QUOTE]
I forget the comedian's name who said that, but it made me laugh hard.
[QUOTE=MercZ;26303509][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rENdZ4dk6BI[/media]
?[/QUOTE]
Man that would get annoying
[QUOTE=ScoutKing;26302142]I like the two coded idea.
Alert 1: get a helmet
Alert 2: put on the helmet[/QUOTE]
Ron White!
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueTfihcVJlI[/media]
[QUOTE=thisispain;26303214]i think they should be jelly-bean flavoured
"Sir, we are going to butterscotch alert!"
"My god..."[/QUOTE]
Oh my god. I'm in tears right now
The color coded system was racist. Danger level red? Terrorism =/= Native Americans.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.