Grancey

Okay, I know there are a lot of air travel savvy TFPers around here, so what do you think about the new security measures by the Transportation Security Administration? I won't quote an article because unless you've been trapped in a mine for 38 days you have been blasted by these reports everytime you go online just as I have. Have you been through the image screening machines? Do you opt out and go for the enhanced pat-down? If so, is the enhanced pat-down really that invasive? Personally, I want to get through an airport as quickly as possible, so I would go through the image screening machine and be on my way. But I've been reading about unpleasant experiences for some travelers and I feel for these people with unique circumstances who have had real issues. For those of you who travel often or know someone who does, what is it really like out there?

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Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

Plan9

I'm looking forward to getting my nuts fondled by a minimum wage employee.

Gonna fight the man and avoid the scanner.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

levite

It is fucking ridiculous.

I went through security at O'Hare recently, and got pulled out for a "random screening pat-down." You would think that the bigass Jewy-looking sonofabitch with Hebrew on his t-shirt and a Star of David earring would not be the guy who apparently rings terrorist bells for TSA employees...but apparently you would be wrong.

Let me just say that I have had dates that didn't get as far with me as that TSA guy got. Nobody has ever touched me in those places without buying me dinner first, or at least a drink.

I actually had to warn the guy, "Hey, those are not explosives, and they are fragile!"

I admit that I find it a little ironic that we teach our kindergarteners and first-graders that if an adult does that to you, it's "bad touch," and you should run and tell your parents or a policeman; but now, apparently, if the TSA does it to you, you got nobody to run and tell about the bad touch, because apparently it's been sanctioned by Congress or Jesus or some fuck....

I am really pretty sure that if we've gotten to the point where we think national security's going to improve by pulling random travelers out of line in the airport and molesting them in public, we are in trouble. And I'm not even saying how much more so that's true when our travel cops are profiling rabbis to yank over and gate-rape them.... Seriously, you woulda thought that bastard was checking my circumcision scar....

Somewhere inside me, I truly believe that if, today, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were told that national security depended on their willingness to let some jamoke in a polyester uniform tug on their joystick and shoot craps with their nads for dice, they would cordially invite the person who told them so to take a flying fuck at a rolling tankard of nut-brown ale.

/rant

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Dull sublunary lovers love,
Whose soul is sense, cannot admit
Absence, because it doth remove
That thing which elemented it.

(From "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne)

Xerxys

I have been "randomly" pulled for EVERY search I have ever had the grace of being in the same vicinity as.

I'll go with the x-ray thinga-majig. I'm more gung-ho about security than your average jesus freak. If there is a 0.000000000000000000000000000001% chance you want to blow yourself up so you can be united with your deserving 72 virgins, then I'm going to insist you be searched. I don't mind practicing what I preach and I'm no technophobe. That and I have never had a problem flashing random strangers so by all means, broadcast pictures of my penis to the internet.

dlish

i havent gone through the screening machine yet, and im unsure if i will.

ive got to weigh up whether id rather have my testicles fondled vs having my balls scanned in a machine.

either way its not enticing to me and id rather just avoid those airports altogether. The issue is that the US will lose valuable tourism dollars in an economy already suffering. Ive thought twice about coming to the states for these reasons, even though ive got nothing to hide.

ive travelled to nearly every continent, and ive travelled extensively in the middle east and parts of africa, and im yet to be subjected to such gross violations of my personal self that id get if i did fly to the states. it really would make me weigh up my options about whether i should be there or not.

I think the US needs to re-look at its aggresive border protection formula before the regular joe decides its not worth spending his hard earned money in a place where he's not welcome.

i read about some guy the otehr day that didnt want to be subjected to the search so he stripped down to his undies, and got arrested in the process.

either way, its a loss-loss to the USA if they go down this road.

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An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere

I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
- Filthy

mixedmedia

Whether it is effective notwithstanding, I have a hard time getting all worked up over this issue. I'm not particularly bothered by the prospect of the scanners or the pat-downs.

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Plan9

Agreed. A big fuzzy placebo blanket of security and some high school graduate taking a picture of your tits is nothing to be worried about.

Apathy is the slow death of freedom.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

dlish

should i look forward to seeing a picture of your balls in my inbox tomorrow morning then?

..you too xeryxs.

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An injustice anywhere, is an injustice everywhere

I always sign my facebook comments with ()()===========(}. Does that make me gay?
- Filthy

dogzilla

A co-worker of mine travels fairly frequently. She says the security patdown has gotten worse in the past year. She got the patdown treatment last week.

I fly maybe once or twice a year. If I have to travel for work, I'd do the scan if I had to. I do make it a point to make sure I have no metal on my person when I go thru the metal detector, so maybe that gets me out of the scan.

If I decide to go somewhere for vacation, I might decide to go somewhere that doesn't involve flying.

Nobody gets to grope me besides my wife

The new procedures are just more feel good nonsense. As far as I know, there is no security in the airport anywhere before the TSA checkpoint. So I've written to all my Congressmen and to Obama stating the TSA needs to fix their procedures.

mixedmedia

Oh, I'm apathetic?

Rather, I think I'm not apt to jump on board the latest 'viral' issue of the moment.

And I said, 'whether it's effective notwithstanding.' Which means if it isn't effective that's one thing. Getting my panties in a bind over the scannings or the pat downs themselves, for me, is a waste of time.

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Lucifer

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I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
- Job 30:29

1123, 6536, 5321

Redlemon

I thought that the TSA was excessive before these new steps. I hope the backlash, which is now making front-page news, causes some effect.

If I have to choose today, I'd go with the junk touching, because I'm waiting for an independent test of the radiation levels from the scanners. If it turns out that the radiation levels are acceptable, I'll go with the nudie pix in the future.

Fortunately, I have no plans to fly until May 2011.

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I can't read your signature. Sorry.

ObieX

I think all businesses should adopt this. If you wanna buy a soda at the supermarket you must do one of two things: have naked pictures taken of you or get molested by a complete stranger. Wanna buy a tank of gas? Naked pictures or molestation. Case of beer = naked pictures or molestation please!

Of course you'd still have to pay for your product of choice, but at least you'll know you're not a terrorist.

Does anyone know if you can request and get a female to inspect you if you're male?

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We Must Dissent.

genuinegirly

When I first heard about the scanners, my thought: "hmm, if the data from these scanswere collected, there might be some interesting scientific studies that could be done with these huge sample sizes." Yeah, I guess that would classify me as a twisted scientist.

My father travels a lot for work, he goes from one airport to the next all over the US, in and out of a different airport every few days, if not multiple times each day. I'm more concerned with people like him and the potential long-term effects of these scans on their health. Though I'm even more concerned about pilots and flight attendants who have to cope with these measures in order to get to work each day.

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"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

Jinn

Health concerns about backstatter are essentially nonsense; you get more background radiation from the sun at the altitude of flight then you do in a 1000 scans.

That said, I've hired a lawyer through my work to see just what the legal ramifications of refusing the backscatter and then refusing the patdown, and then attempting to continue through the area to the planes. It's a Fourth Amendment concern for me, that we're allowing other citizens to violate our rights against unreasonable search and seizure, especially without warrant. I've seen people advance the argument that flying is a privilege and not a right, and that airlines are free to refuse me access since they are private companies. That'd be true, if it was a private company doing these invasive scans as part of the deal. But it's not - it's a FEDERAL ORGANIZATION (e.g. the Government) violating my rights. The argument from free enterprise does not stand.

These patdowns go past the (what I already consider somewhat extreme) "Terry stop" allowed to actual officers of the law.

So far he agrees with me, that because TSA agents are not comissioned law enforcement officers they don't really have the same authority to detain or arrest. Likewise, if they tried to physically restrain me, they'd expose themselves to litigation for assault or unlawfully detaining me. If I'm not "free to go", I am detained. There have been a few cases already where people have refused both, local PD has arrived and stated that they essentially don't have the authority to arrest you either.

Worst case scenario they escort me out of the airport and fully refund my ticket (they have to fully refund). I'd really like someone to challenge the authority of the TSA - after all, none of their 'regulations' are actually laws, they are regulations decided by an unelected undersecretary. I'm not comfortable with a citizens without checks and balances deciding how federal organizations like the TSA can violate our rights. I'm not sure I'd let them 'escort me out', because it would require force on their part to physically move me. Using force to move me would be assault, and it'd only be permissible if an actual officer of the law was arresting me for a crime. What crime, I don't know.

I'm still considering (with his counsel) whether I really want to be the guinea pig. I'd hope someone with deeper pockets and more free time does it first, but I'm considering doing the above for my Christmas flight back to Colorado if things aren't changed by then.

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"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

Jove

I am uncomfortable with the entire situation, but if I had to choose, it would be the full body scanner.

jadangel

Hell, if it would get me through the airport and to my plane in 10 minutes I would consent to a full body cavity search.....lol....If performed by a Medical Professional that is....That being said I will go through the scan, just makes my life easier.

StanT

I just want to get through promptly, I'm fine with radiation, pictures, or groping. If there was a strip down naked, no wait line, I'd be in it.

Fotzlid

I had heard the former head of Homeland Security (why do I get images of goose stepping soldiers every time I write that?) Micheal Chertoff has some sort of stake in the company that manufactures the scanners.
Has anyone heard anything more on that?

Baraka_Guru

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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

dksuddeth

but guess who's exempt from these searches

so always remember, it's not about security, it's about control.......of YOU.

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"no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything. You cannot conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him."

StanT

I think Tully said it best in the other thread.

Another successful terrorist attack involving air travel and we'll be up in arms that we didn't do more. I just want to get through the airport quickly. Minimal radiation and a faceless picture of my dick just aren't a big deal to me.

Plan9

I didn't stutter.

When is it a cool time to bring up something that exposes the increasingly retarded state of our government?

DK-style hyperbole: Is it before or after the 3rd Amendment is overrun?

Putting everybody that rides a plane is a hospital gown after a cavity search would work, too.

I'm perfectly calm. Look at me. See me being calm? I'm so calm. Hell, I get paid to be calm. And I'm not wearing any panties.

I'm simply going to opt for the crotch-grope because it slows everything down. If a large enough amount of air travelers choose to go for the grope and it slows down the system enough, TSA might just have to reexamine their dog and pony show security measures and come up with something that isn't just a feel good safety dance. That's the Will of the People in action. And you may call me a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

Acquiesce is an ugly word.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

snowy

I think this whole thing is a win for taking the train.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Plan9

I looked and it doesn't go to Hawaii.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

snowy

No, but cruise ships do.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Plan9

Can a cruise ship get me there and back for $600? If so, I gotta try to refund my ticket.

...

I wonder why The Bad Guys haven't blown up a cruise ship yet. I was really hoping to get groped as I went aboard a Carnival boat.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

dksuddeth

great, but what gives you the right to determine the 'reasonableness' of others sense of privacy and dignity?

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 AM ----------

and what plans do you have when big sis takes these policies to trains and buses?

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"no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything. You cannot conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him."

roachboy

security theater.
it's idiocy.

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a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite

snowy

Probably because they all saw Speed 2 and realized how lame that idea was. Same goes for a train--hijacking a train just doesn't work so well. See: Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Plan9

...did you just reference a friggin' Steven Seagal movie as a pop culture joke in a serious thread?



My god, marry me.

...

I probably won't surprise you that I applied for jobs at TSA, huh? They'll take anybody.

...

I'm hoping to emulate a little When Harry Met Sally diner orgasm action when I get groped. Anybody else in?

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

SecretMethod70

It does seem that way: Like Pizza? Maybe You Should Work For The TSA - The Consumerist

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Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

dksuddeth

I applied as well. did they hire you?

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"no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything. You cannot conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him."

mixedmedia

I am motivated, outraged, vocal about a lot of issues. I reject ideas and events on an almost daily basis. So you can get off your high horse, there.

There are many things that people could care about deeply as far as I'm concerned, but none of them, apparently, quite as compelling as someone maybe, sort of seeing you virtually naked. Sorry, but that and the viral bandwagon nature of this issue annoy me. Oh boy, people care about something. woo-hoo.

If the screenings are not effective, which I think I've heard, then fine. But personally I am not terribly motivated by this issue.

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Plan9

I'm totally going to save this one for later.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

mixedmedia

I can't imagine having anything more to say on the matter.

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce

Grancey

What about those of you who have children and travel by air. How do you feel about your child getting a pat-down from a TSA agent? Is there an age limit for kids to avoid scanners and pat-downs? There is no way I would allow my young niece to get a pat-down. That just seems so extreme.

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Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

SecretMethod70

Children under 12 reportedly receive "modified" pat-downs.

And here's yet another example of how all this invasion of privacy is worthless (skip ahead to the 1 minute mark)...

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Le temps détruit tout

"Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

Jetée

My TSA Horror Story

+ bonus
—

The official TSA line on the controversial YouTube video allegedly showing the strip searching of a young boy by a TSA agent.

Luke Tait, who shot the video, claims in the video’s description that the boy’s father was “enraged” and pulled his son’s shirt off after becoming flustered by a prolonged pat down. The TSA says no complaints were filed.

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As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world (that is the myth of the Atomic Age) as in being able to remake ourselves.

—Mohandas K. Gandhi

Zeraph

I look forward to having someone have to fondle me. I'll just smile and nod the whole time.