TSA - was this really necessary? UPDATED!

[pr surfer]

Three of a kind!

But I ain't drinking no Kool-Aid!

The secret is replacing the water with Vodka

 

[bavaria]

aha, thanks for the tip!

by the way, at the risk of appearing to be friendly, nice to see you!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I assume you are referring to the new backscatter x-ray machines. If so, I agree with you 100%; they are the most disgusting, invasive, and despicable use of new technology in the last decade.

If they are installed at BWI, which I believe they will be shortly, I will not be happy. However, if my only choices are A) backscatter, B) physical pat-down, or C) don't fly, I will most likely choose A, because C is not an option when I go to WDW solo (I have back trouble which prohibits drives longer than about 8 hours), and B is a far more revolting option to me than A.
QUOTE]

May I ask WHAT you find wrong with the backscatter machines?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

aha, thanks for the tip!

by the way, at the risk of appearing to be friendly, nice to see you!

We'll just assume it's the mini-bottle of Vodka typing...

 

[mgilmer]

May I ask WHAT you find wrong with the backscatter machines?

I guess nothing if you do not mind a stranger seeing you, your spouse, and your children naked.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2009/04/security_workers_at_mia_may_ge.php

They have banned their use in Great Britain on children for just this reason.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article6880806.ece

As for me, I am old, fat, disabled and ugly. If some TSAer wants to get their jollies by seeing me naked, I really do not care. However because I am not capable of walking thru their machine anyway, it does not matter.

 

[WillCAD]

I assume you are referring to the new backscatter x-ray machines. If so, I agree with you 100%; they are the most disgusting, invasive, and despicable use of new technology in the last decade.

If they are installed at BWI, which I believe they will be shortly, I will not be happy. However, if my only choices are A) backscatter, B) physical pat-down, or C) don't fly, I will most likely choose A, because C is not an option when I go to WDW solo (I have back trouble which prohibits drives longer than about 8 hours), and B is a far more revolting option to me than A.

May I ask WHAT you find wrong with the backscatter machines?

I guess nothing if you do not mind a stranger seeing you, your spouse, and your children naked.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2009/04/security_workers_at_mia_may_ge.php

They have banned their use in Great Britain on children for just this reason.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article6880806.ece

As for me, I am old, fat, disabled and ugly. If some TSAer wants to get their jollies by seeing me naked, I really do not care. However because I am not capable of walking thru their machine anyway, it does not matter.

I don't care how old, fat, and ugly I am, nobody has the right to see me naked without my permission, except in the course of life-saving procedures administered by vetted, licensed medical professionals (doctors, nurses, PAs, paramedics, etc).

But as I said above, if I am forced to choose between the backscatter or a physical pat-down, I'll probably cave and choose the backscatter. Under no circumstances will I allow TSOs to put their hands on my person. I will not be pawed and frisked like a common criminal.

And if the backscatter becomes a standard at all US airports, the next step will be "Well, the backscatter isn't 100% clear, so in some extreme cases we will require an actual strip search." Then it goes from some extreme cases to routine, random cases, then to any time there is a suspicion on the part of the TSO, then something else, then something else, then something else...

 

[kaytieeldr]

Three of a kind!

But I ain't drinking no Kool-Aid!

To all three of you - the pity of it is, you are reading it correctly. I make no further comment.

 

[aubriee]

making my 70 year old white as white can be mother take her shoes off. and then paying thru the nose for this are we all crazy have we all drank the kool aid what is wrong or im i just crazy....

Please tell me I didn't just read this!

edited: never mind, I should have read the posts after this, before I responded. However, I'm still sitting here bug eyed with coke spewed all over my computer screen. I just deleted the rest of this edit I'm doing because I was afraid the Mods might give me points, but it had to do with the fact that I am a RN at a psychiatric hospital and how I'd diagnose this poster with one of the Axis II diagnoses.

 

[mgilmer]

Please tell me I didn't just read this!

edited: never mind, I should have read the posts after this, before I responded. However, I'm still sitting here bug eyed with coke spewed all over my computer screen. I just deleted the rest of this edit I'm doing because I was afraid the Mods might give me points, but it had to do with the fact that I am a RN at a psychiatric hospital and how I'd diagnose this poster with one of the Axis II diagnoses.

I looked at the poster's other posts and it seems that English is possibly a second language for her. That would explain a lot. In any event, everybody deserves one mulligan.

 

[pr surfer]

May I ask WHAT you find wrong with the backscatter machines?

The only people I let see me nude are medical professionals that need to see me nude and my significant other(s).

And I've never dated, been married to, or even had anything resembling a good time with any TSA/DHS employee.

 

[crashbb]

I looked at the poster's other posts and it seems that English is possibly a second language for her. That would explain a lot. In any event, everybody deserves one mulligan.

You're a nice person that I am...

 

[pr surfer]

aha, thanks for the tip!

by the way, at the risk of appearing to be friendly, nice to see you!

likewise!

My travel patterns have changed, and I've been flying B6, 9K, and CM a lot. I lost my EXP status on AA (it's ok... I have lifetime PLT), but as a result of CM and 9K, I'm now a Onepass PLT/*Gold.

I recently booked my last Skyteam Itin using Onepass miles... First to NRT. I've never actually flown on the upper deck of a 747, so I'm excited!

 

[bavaria]

So explain me this.... why is German security so interested in my bag of Marks and Spencer Butter Mintoes? I have been restocking them every few weeks since January in my flight bag, and last night again (second time this week) they wanted another look inside my bag.

Since it is bigger on the inside, it takes some time to go through, and trying to be helpful I point out the spare Thermacare which is always in the inside pocket. Nope, yet again it was the Butter Mintoes which caused concern on the scan.

Are the Germans worried about me and the fact that I have a fondness for British candy?!!

 

[bavaria]

likewise!

My travel patterns have changed, and I've been flying B6, 9K, and CM a lot. I lost my EXP status on AA (it's ok... I have lifetime PLT), but as a result of CM and 9K, I'm now a Onepass PLT/*Gold.

I recently booked my last Skyteam Itin using Onepass miles... First to NRT. I've never actually flown on the upper deck of a 747, so I'm excited!

I changed travel patterns too - still *A, but managed to make UA 1K by flying only three shorthaul UA flights this year, and the rest on LH, AC, Thai, Air China, and various other partners.

Weird travel year for many of us I think!

Oh, and I did do upper deck 747 earlier this year; quite nice!

 

[CarolMN]

So explain me this.... why is German security so interested in my bag of Marks and Spencer Butter Mintoes? I have been restocking them every few weeks since January in my flight bag, and last night again (second time this week) they wanted another look inside my bag.

Since it is bigger on the inside, it takes some time to go through, and trying to be helpful I point out the spare Thermacare which is always in the inside pocket. Nope, yet again it was the Butter Mintoes which caused concern on the scan.

Are the Germans worried about me and the fact that I have a fondness for British candy?!!

No idea why, but since they held you up twice for them, why not just pull them out of the bag and let them fly "naked" through the scan. Might save you a bit of time/aggravation.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Actually,I had to when I went to Disney for Night of Joy weekend. I forgot to pack underwear!!

I had mine bagged and they had fallen out sight unseen at home. I just knew no one had stolen my "granma panties". But it was my first trip to Orlando's outlets.

Your outfit sounds lovely. According to many travelers it sounds like you were overdressed.

After one good sprint from security check to the gate (long story), I never will wear heels again.

OK, I realise that I do fly in a parallel universe, but why assume that it is always TSA at fault? I opened my bag tonight and two bottles have leaked quite badly, even though in a ziplock bag. MY FAULT, nobody else's fault. I don't think that TSA was in my bag today at all.

Accidents do happen, things do leak. TSA could inspect a bag, close it, and something could still leak later. Baggage is tossed and thrown about by humans and by machines.

While there may be a chance that TSA did cause a leak, there is also a chance that things leaked due to other reasons.

We had a can of sunscreen top pop off AND something was pressing against the spray. Ugg.

I learned very early when flying to follow the rules and keep my mouth shut when going through security. If it looks like you have an attitude believe me they pick up on it.

I prefer not to judge every TSA agent I pass. If they are doing their job without attitude is all I ask.

To say that all TSA agents are bad is not true. I think the flying public needs to check their attitudes also at the airport door before walking in.

I had to redo my attitude after 9/11. I'm a chatty Kathy and love to talk to people (I've got the Elementary report cards to prove it!). I've found most TSA agents are not personable, hence the "don't even JOKE about bringing a bomb" signs. Silence is not natural for some people (actually that would make a great tag for me but the tag fairy doesn't visit the land of no-pixie dust).

 

[crashbb]

I had to redo my attitude after 9/11. I'm a chatty Kathy and love to talk to people (I've got the Elementary report cards to prove it!). I've found most TSA agents are not personable, hence the "don't even JOKE about bringing a bomb" signs. Silence is not natural for some people (actually that would make a great tag for me but the tag fairy doesn't visit the land of no-pixie dust).

As someone who can "chat with a brick wall", I totally understand.

I, however, never had an agent (TSA/CATSA/whatever) respond rudely to a "Hello"/"Good Morning". They may not strike up a conversation, but I've never been told off for talking to them.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

If this isn't the best line for a tag fairy EVER I don't know what is...

And I've never dated, been married to, or even had anything resembling a good time with any TSA/DHS employee.

 

[needtogomore]

But they have been known to go through luggage without leaving a note which was my point.

the point is you dont know if it was tsa, or someonelse

 

[safetymom]

the point is you dont know if it was tsa, or someonelse

That is correct. Someone went through my luggage. That is why I don't travel with anything valuable. I have no way of knowing who went through it.