Have they started those horrible x-ray body scan things yet?

[Virtucomp]

But will still get ignored. "Naked" pictures will be the next thing brought up as the "radiation" gets squished. Cant have "naked" pictures of my wife / mother / brother / sister / daughter / neighbor posted all over the internet!!!

If the TSA gets their jollys out of looking at me naked they can go for it. I don't mind the security checks if it adds any level of extra security no matter how small. I'm sure there are many more pictures of naked people already on the internet so they don't need to add us disney travelers to the list. hmm.. alt.binaries.erotica.disneytravelers

I would prefer that they keep their searches to the outside of my body if you know what I mean.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ha! My FaceBook picture is WAY worse* than seeing 'nekkid' pictures of me in which I'm not identifiable on the Internet!

*worse = more embarrassing

 

[Uncleromulus]

All of this is why we'll probably be driving down this upcoming trip---

 

[eliza61]

All of this is why we'll probably be driving down this upcoming trip---

Which is pretty ironic considering waaaay more people die in car accidents than any type of airline disaster.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) there are just far too many magnificient places in the world that I want to see. If I decided to stop flying then the wackadoodles really win.

 

[bavaria]

Agreed.

I think that there is the reality and the perception around this topic (just like with so many others)

The reality is that airport security in US airports has a long way to go, but the perception is that it is quite good with the introduction of body scanners.

The reality is that risk of death by airline terrorism is very low, but the perception is that travel by automobile is safer.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I read a statistic once that in any given year 1200 people who chose to drive over flying die in car crashes each year.

"based on the accident rate over the last few years, you would have to fly on average once a day every day for 22,000 years before you would perish in a U.S. commercial aviation accident"

Here are some other modes of transportation that are way more dangerous than flying - yet most would not think twice about

Average Deaths Per Year:
1,000 on a bicycle
5,000 by drowning
8,000 as pedestrians
46,000 in auto accidents

 

[bavaria]

I put less than 5,000km on my car last year, but flew 200,000 miles (and did many more miles on trains)

I'm more cranky than normal at the moment as the pain from one of my many car accidents is worse today. (None caused by me)

Anecdotal perhaps, but the facts are there to back up relative safety by mode of transportation.

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

If I were to die in an auto it would be my fault, if you are hit in your car by another it is your fault as you didnt get out of the way, I cannot swerve the airplane, my 04 prius has just over 170,500 miles on it without a scratch and I drive very very fast (yes prius's are can scoot right along)

I refuse to fly as I have zero input with regard to my own safety, maybe I'm a bit of a control freak, a wandering goose can take down a plane, let alone a terrorist and I cannot do anything about it, No thanks... I will drive to world, thankfully its only 12hours away.

 

[dburg30]

If I were to die in an auto it would be my fault, if you are hit in your car by another it is your fault as you didnt get out of the way, I cannot swerve the airplane, my 04 prius has just over 170,500 miles on it without a scratch and I drive very very fast (yes prius's are can scoot right along)

I refuse to fly as I have zero input with regard to my own safety, maybe I'm a bit of a control freak, a wandering goose can take down a plane, let alone a terrorist and I cannot do anything about it, No thanks... I will drive to world, thankfully its only 12hours away.

If you are shot by someone that just feels like taking pot shots at cars driving by, is that your fault also? Hey, that's happened. We had a freeway shooter in central ohio some years back..

 

[bicker]

Or if you have a mechanical failure that causes a crash (more likely in a car than an airplane, right?)

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, I obviously have more control over my own car than over an airplane in which I'm traveling. BUT....there are many, many accidents in which people die, whilst in their automobiles, that were not in any way, shape or form, their fault. It's a wonderful thing that someone is 100% in control of all situations and is a good enough driver to be able to avoid all situations in which bodily harm could occur.
But, the average person does not have that skill or luck. I consider myself to be an excellent driver. I prefer a smaller car simply because I can manuver it better and avoid others idiocy. But, there are times when you just can't control the situation. Not even when you are an excellent driver.
The problem is that airline accidents are so much more spectacular. Much more so than the thousands of car accidents that happen every day.

Are we safer, in the air, due to the increased security nowadays? Probably not. Others are absolutely correct when they state the Americans have a perception of safety. But that doesn't make us any safer. It may, in fact, make us less safe. We let our guard down, we don't watch what is going on around us. We are less than ready to react to a 'situation'. We get conplacent for the most part. So, are these new scanners making a difference? Probably. But nothing is 100%.There is a very long way to go. Above all...we need to remember that we will, most likely, never be completely safe. Not when there are those who are happy to give their lives to further someone's agenda.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

If I were to die in an auto it would be my fault, if you are hit in your car by another it is your fault as you didnt get out of the way, I cannot swerve the airplane, my 04 prius has just over 170,500 miles on it without a scratch and I drive very very fast (yes prius's are can scoot right along)

I refuse to fly as I have zero input with regard to my own safety, maybe I'm a bit of a control freak, a wandering goose can take down a plane, let alone a terrorist and I cannot do anything about it, No thanks... I will drive to world, thankfully its only 12hours away.

Control is an illusion.

 

[robinb]

Control is an illusion.

So is "security".

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

If you are shot by someone that just feels like taking pot shots at cars driving by, is that your fault also? Hey, that's happened. We had a freeway shooter in central ohio some years back..

No, cant avoid that one! or those throwing large stones off over passes, but I do look before zooming under them , my point is I have "avoided" many accidents I am a "Uber commuter" I cannot "avoid" anything when sitting in the back of a airliner...I flew shortly after 911 (a couple of weeks) I envy those who like to fly, my wife will never fly again so therefore nor will I. I wish nothing but safe travels to EVERYONE!!!

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

Control is an illusion.

Could not disagree more....nor is security, if you leave either up to anyone else you are putting your life in their hands, my security and my safety are in my hands therefore I "control" what happens to me and my family.

 

[Anjelica]

I think one of the things we yanks, suffer from is lack of patience. We like to fix thing instanteously and unfortunately this along with our other problems aren't so easy to fix and it's going to take a number of "tools" to fight back.

My take is simple: full body X rays are simply one layer of ways to fight terrorism. It is not the magic silver bullet and it shouldn't' be portrayed as one. In 5 years we may find out that some thing else is needed and hopefully we'll adapted. If it helps once, I'm cool with it.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Could not disagree more....nor is security, if you leave either up to anyone else you are putting your life in their hands, my security and my safety are in my hands therefore I "control" what happens to me and my family.

The fact that you think you control the life around you is an illusion.

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

The fact that you think you control the life around you is an illusion.

If a car is coming at me....I side step it...I control it...where is the illusion..do you think everything is "pre-planned" I do not, sorry

 

[bavaria]

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) there are just far too many magnificient places in the world that I want to see. If I decided to stop flying then the wackadoodles really win.

And limiting ones life experiences to a 12 hour driving radius most likely limits ones outlook on the world.

It may, in fact, make us less safe. We let our guard down, we don't watch what is going on around us.

I wrote how last week I investigated an unattended package which turned out to be an unattended package of toilet paper (and was very out of place, but unnoticed by those who were not used to being aware of unattended packages)

Over on FT there was a very animated discussion about unattended luggage, where many Americans resented those of us who are uncomfortable about unattended packages.

We however who know the reality that unattended packages can contain nail bombs or other deadly items are much more aware and much more concerned about such items. I do think that living through such a reality does stay with one throughout ones life.

 

[bavaria]

If a car is coming at me....I side step it...I control it...where is the illusion..do you think everything is "pre-planned" I do not, sorry

Well I suppose that makes all those people who have been injured or died in car accidents inferior in ability to you?