Newps wrote in message news:Jw0nb.28169$275.50566@attbi_s53...
The difference here is that the field you were flying to is reporting
good VFR and you had that weather. My guy either didn't bother to get
the ATIS, which is why I told him the field is IFR, or he got the
weather and either didn't understand or didn't care. Either way saying
"the field is IFR say intentions" covers it.

It does to someone who knows the drill. It doesn't to someone
who badly wants to land but can't remember whatcha ask for --
special something?

I can tell the difference between someone who is in over their head
and someone who isn't. It is obvious on the radio, just like you heard
with that other aircraft.

Well, I guess my point is, it was obvious to one controller -- but
not to the first controller, and not to me.

I don't know if you've been around long enough to read Greg Travis'
story of being hijacked, but one of his problems was, HE SOUNDED
SO CALM flying around with a shotgun pointed at him, that the
controllers didn't take him seriously at first and jeopardized
his safety by repeatedly questioning him.
(the story is here if anyone didn't see it and is interested:
http://www.prime-mover.org/Personal/travis.txt and btw Greg has
an awesome, informative site in general)

So clearly there's a margin of error in what's obvious and to whom,
even taking into account differences in personality and training.

Seems like cause for a bit of "benefit of the doubt" in the air,
to me.

YMMV.

Ciao,
Sydney