[Dat]

Yes of course. Everyone in the world who reads FR is bigotted and is trying to get Muslims. I'm sure someone, somewhere thought Atta and crew were suspicious but were disuade from calling someone because their collegue/son/family member thought they were just joking around.
Perhaps people shouldn't say stupid things in a public restaurant where other people can here them. If they wanted to get a rise out of her then they succeeded. What if someone you didn't know talked about mugging you after you left the restaurant? Would you automatically assume they were joking?

[DentsRun]

What if someone you didn't know talked about mugging you after you left the restaurant? Would you automatically assume they were joking?

No, I'd use my common sense, like the informant's son did.