Do you think people who get a full inspection by TSA each time they fly are doing something wrong?

[CreekDog]

Poll question: Do you think people who get a full inspection by TSA each time they fly are doing something wrong?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Other: Getting their jollies

[Jackpine Radical]

2. I wanted to vote Yes but you put too many qualifiers on it.

This one works for me:

Do you think people who get a full inspection by TSA each time they fly are doing something wrong?

Yes--They're flying.

[CreekDog]

11. often it's the most practical and most safe method of travel

the "problem" is not people who fly, but what they must deal with in order to do so.

[Jackpine Radical]

12. Serves me right for trying to be funny.

[hlthe2b]

3. Like the humiliated grandma that they caused to expose her breasts?

I've told this story before, but I will NEVER forget it. Nor will anyone there that day.

Several years ago I was directly behind as a very brusque TSA agent pulled an older (probably late 60s) and overweight woman out of line directly in front of me... She was loaded down with her carry-ons and a bit flustered and confused by the commotion. Apparently the under wire of her bra set off the detector as she squeezed through. Two TSA males came up and loudly demanded that she take off her cardigan, yelling commands to "get it off" and for her to "hurry up..." The woman was large breasted and you could tell she was reticent to take off her cardigan to expose only the shell top underneath... While there was a woman TSA agent a couple of agents away, the security lines were not unusually long, and they could easily have either called her over or let the woman go behind a screen, these two kept yelling at her to hurry up, grabbing her arm to pull her toward the front. As she struggled to get her sweater off with one agent yelling and the other grabbing at her arm, the connector to her bra caught and popped open. Her shell top drooped down-- exposing her breasts in front of these two agents and the entire line behind her. Her wail of embarrassed agony, followed by a release of tears, was met by snickering by the male agents.... It was so devastating and so unnecessary that the line behind fell silent in shared agony, while I and several other women wiped away tears of sympathy of our own.

I wanted nothing more in my life right then but to get involved and take on these asshole excuse for security officers, but was just as powerless as the woman to these arrogant bastards... Sadly, my flight was close to leaving and I couldn't even wait behind to try to comfort the woman. I have always hoped that some kind stranger was able to do so. That act of absolute and unnecessary cruelty is one I will never forget.

There may be some, especially younger males who don't see what the big deal is in terms of this woman's treatment. If so, I challenge them to think how they would feel seeing this happen to their mother--or their grandmother-- as they stood by powerless to intervene. I know there were some older men in line mumbling "what they'd like to do to these insolent kids," but like me, were unable to do anything.


So, I call out those DUers who have become blanket apologists for TSA. While I don't doubt there are some professionals, the entire construct-- policies, procedures, methods, training, and employee screening, is so lacking and has few controls. It is a recipe for abuse, IMO. Whether or not it is "effective" remains to be seen.

[JackRiddler]

4. Sure, many walk in acting like citizens of a republic, instead of docile cattle.

[HopeHoops]

5. Full screening selection is beyond their control - usually their skin color, language, etc.

[hlthe2b]

7. like the 3 year old (caucasian) child subjected to genital groping?

Or the myriad of complaining (and reporting) media, who are nearly all white males?

I don't doubt some TSA are focusing on race, ethnicity, etc. But, there is no consistency from airport to airport and no apparent method to the madness.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Other...

IF and that is a big IF... they are doing profiling, as what the Israelis do... then it is part of the job.

Given we are NOT doing that kind of PROACTIVE profiling...

[KamaAina]

8. No.

Certainly not if they're wheelchair users. They get the Full Monty, every time, no matter what.

It's reached the point where one friend refuses to fly any longer -- which sucks, because she lives on Maui, where you can't even get up to Honolulu without flying. :banghead:

[seabeyond]

9. if you submit, allow disrespect in subjugation, i imagine it does not matter what happen, tsa will

be right. it wont matter how you are treated, you will still defend saying.... i have had no problem. because for you, it is not a problem.

[sally cat]

10. TSA would surely claim that doesn't happen, same person, every time.