TSA's New Body Scanners

[SamIAm21]

Well would you enter a body scanner or not? I believe that despite differences in body sizes or the difference due to a physical disability, we mostly all have the same equipment and most adults know what these differences are. Some of us are bigger, some of us smaller, but overall, I think that if it is going to make us safer I wouldn't be totally opposed to going through the scanner.

However, I do understand there are far more modest people out there and people who are more focused and vigilant about their civil liberties than I am.

So, would you or won't you?

For more information:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-06-05-bodyscan_N.htm

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I would - I don't care. I'm certainly no skinny minnie but if it makes us all safer, that's fine with me. I am interested, though, to know exactly what is seen on the monitor. It sounds pretty detailed "...you can actually see the sweat on someone's back"? Is it a color coded type of thing like with a thermal imaging camera? I guess I'm haivng a hard time conceptualizing the image of what is seen. But either way, I would still do it.

 

[SamSam]

Personally I would prefer the scan to a pat down.

 

[robind]

No way, and not so much for the reasons that it is humiliating and is against my civil liberties, but I do not believe that this will make anyone safer. It may give the illusion of safety but it is just a false sense of security. Just like the limits of 3oz of liquids per container per person. If the terrorists that took down the planes on 9/11 had wanted to bring on liquid explosives - there were @ least 6 of them per plane - if they each brought 2 containers of 3 ounces each - thats 32 oz - which I think would be sufficient to do serious damage.


As someone who averages over 100K flight miles per year, I personally think we need to look at how security is handled at Israel's airports. They have one of (if not the) safest airports in the world. However, since this would involve some sort of "profiling" - it will never happen here. The ACLU and others would be all over it.

 

[Fredd's Girl]

I would do it and I'm positive no minimum wage earning security agent wants to see my body! I think Julie had an excellent point about OCD and not liking to be touched. Plus, if they could just snap a picture, it might help speed things up!

The only thing I don't believe is that they will delete them right away. I would imagine for legal purposes if they decided someone was a threat, they would have to be able to provide the body scan image for evidence. Just my thought.

 

[safetymom]

No thank you!!! I have done the one with puffs of air and I don't have a problem with that one.

There are so many problems with security at airports that need to be taken care of. This will scare a lot of people away from flying.

 

[TXYankee]

Scan me!! I hate the pat down! Just done touch me.

That is my choice. Others can pick a pat down. Give me a choice.

Regina, I am with you.

 

[JCandKT]

If it makes the plane safer, than I'm for it.

I did the air-puff thing when I brought my nephew to the airport when he flew home to Boston, and I didn't mind that.

Whatever it takes, in my opinion. I've got nothing to hide.

Anyways... I don't think they're ready for this jelly.

 

[exwdwcm]

i would.

and in the end i think if someone wants to do something, they will find a way, scanners, security guards or not. But it is another step to help at least negate some issues, but not all. I think we all know nothing is 100%.

i have in fact been through one of the body machines in Vegas before that blows air. The company i used to work for has a division that builds them as well as the x-ray scanning technology.

 

[SamIAm21]

I do however plan on working out quite vigorously before my next flight!!

If I'm going to be on the Internet for all to see, I want to look my best!

 

[cslittle999]

Here's a link to an article on TSA's site.

I think if these machines are used very often it is going to slow down screening significantly. Here's a quote:

This is an important point as ALL items must be removed from passenger's pockets prior to entering the millimeter wave machine because they will show up and must be removed to ensure they are not threat items.

As well although the TSA article says that the operator will be hidden away but this article shows the machines out in the open in the Denver airport.

This is just an overly invasive technology. There is going to be a slippery slope where it gets deployed everywhere in the name of security.

 

[jaurban]

What technology does it use, x-ray, or something different? Just wondering, as I am pregnant, (won't affect me really, as I think flying is just about done for me) but, is this something potentially harmful?

 

[froggy5657]

What is disturbing is that they can tell a person's gender from the scan

I would feel EXTREMELY VIOLATED.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

What is disturbing is that they can tell a person's gender from the scan

I would feel EXTREMELY VIOLATED.

I'd feel more violated if they couldn't!

 

[checkwriter]

No way, and not so much for the reasons that it is humiliating and is against my civil liberties, but I do not believe that this will make anyone safer. It may give the illusion of safety but it is just a false sense of security. Just like the limits of 3oz of liquids per container per person. If the terrorists that took down the planes on 9/11 had wanted to bring on liquid explosives - there were @ least 6 of them per plane - if they each brought 2 containers of 3 ounces each - thats 32 oz - which I think would be sufficient to do serious damage.


As someone who averages over 100K flight miles per year, I personally think we need to look at how security is handled at Israel's airports. They have one of (if not the) safest airports in the world. However, since this would involve some sort of "profiling" - it will never happen here. The ACLU and others would be all over it.

You may enjoy reading Bruce Schneier's blog at http://www.schneier.com/blog/. He thinks carefully about security issues, and would agree with a number of your points.

Much of the airport (and other) security is what he terms "security theater." It is there for appearances sake, and does little to actually enhance security. Yet we continue to line up like sheep, and are happy to cede little bits of our personal liberty for the illusion of a more secure flight.

 

[disneyholic family]

No thank you!!! I have done the one with puffs of air and I don't have a problem with that one.

There are so many problems with security at airports that need to be taken care of. This will scare a lot of people away from flying.

i've done the air puff one too - they've had that at the airport in Detroit for a long time....when i first was told to step into it i was wondering if it was that xray machine one.....since they didn't say what the machine was....
and then came the puffs....but i still wasn't sure....

 

[WriteDisney]

I think this type of technology is going to become more and more prevalent until the old "pat down" is no more.

Personally, I don't care at all. I think another poster was talking about how everyone is going to look.. pretty much.. the same. Thousands of people (probably millions eventually) will go through it. I don't think anyone will really stand out. But like they said in the podcast, if you were a celebrity, I don't know.. I would be a little more cautious. I could see others points about not wanting to do it though, just personally I would do it if I had to.

I still don't know if I would choose to do it over the pat down. I hate being touched, and I say now that I don't care about being scanned, but I might change my mind when I get to the airport.

 

[Wild4Walt]

I have no problem being scanned even as detailed as it is.

Although, I do agree with pp's who have said is this really going to make us any safer? But, not knowing what the government knows, maybe it will be.

Just get me on the plane so I can go to my happy place!

 

[burberryplaid]

If someone wants to see my blubber, be my guest..I just hope it doesn't end up on the internet!

 

[tinkbutt]

I DON"T LIKE IT!!!

it just seems wrong! I don't want strange people looking at me naked!!!!