Can we please leave the fear-mongering and spreading of disinformation to THEM?

[PeaceNikki]

The recent events with the TSA's new policies and scanners have caused a rash of ACTUAL stories of terrible treatment and legitimate concerns. In addition, we're also seeing a ton of watered down by lies and half-truths propagated by people who want to stir up anti-government hatred.

I'd like to think we can at least try to discuss the issue rationally, but more importantly, I expect us to make efforts to weed through the lies and propaganda and focus on the facts rather than telling tales of crazed outrage and events that SOUND plausible but have no salient facts.

Here's a hint: if you post a story of massive outrage that is sourced from a site unknown to you, look around the site. Google it. Search the site on http://mediamatters.org/">Media Matters or http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=SourceWatch">Source Watch. Look for Wiki entries that clearly state it's a "conservative blog" and lists the crazy RW talking heads as board members.

That's all. Just had to get that off my chest.

[classof56]

1. Good points, PeaceNikki, and thanks for the links.

While I think some of the TSA policies could be a bit over the top, I'm inclined to believe there must be some reason that is not being made public, something beyond the usual precautions that seem reasonable these days. Personally, I'll avoid the scanners and sometimes-invasive patdowns because I won't be taking to the friendly skies anytime in the foreseeable future--can't afford it and don't really have anyplace to go that's not within driving distance. But I agree with you--there are those, RWs mainly, who want to stir the anti-government pot because, well, Obama is, after all, the President. I'm sure if a repug were in office and these methods were in place, there would be nary a peep outa them. As has been stated before and often on this board and elsewhere, if the policies were relaxed and a terrorist bent on destruction made it through, it would of course be Obama's fault.

Okay--that's off my chest, too. Happy two days after Black Friday!

Blessings.

[PeaceNikki]

2. In fact, upon further reflection, I'd not like to leave the lies to them, I expect US to call them

out on the lies. There are enough true stories of abuse and real problems with the system that we don't need to manufacturer any and we certainly shouldn't be aligning with assholes when they lie just because we agree with them in principle on this topic. It's maddening.

I *get* that there's outrage, I don't agree with the invasive measures. I think the scatter machines are shit and don't help other than to line the pockets of those who sell and make them. I agree that it's theater. But, people need to recognize that some of what they read on the internets is *GASP* not true and should be questioned.

I'll be traveling in about 2 weeks. I am not sure yet if I will opt for the scanner or groping. But I WON'T be making a scene at the airport. That doesn't make me a "sheeple", it means I need to get where I am going. I certainly won't take my frustration with the current policies out on some underpaid schlub who is probably less enthused about it than I am. If one of them is a total douchebag to me or someone else, I will be sure to let as many people know as possible. Including all of you.

[kiva]

3. Agreed.

In one thread about an especially outrageous incident there were questions raised about the veracity of the story (think it may have been the Gladrags one) and one poster said it didn't really matter if this particular incident occurred, that if it could happen that was what mattered. No, what matters is whether or not it actually happened.

[PeaceNikki]

4. Yes, I read that, too.

People are frenzied and frazzled and read some of these outrageous accounts without an ounce of skepticism - even the source... and that bothers me.

[emulatorloo]

5. People seem willing to believe preposterous blog posts from Right Wing Birther Conspiracy Theorists

There is an "article" that has been posted several times on DU the last few days that makes outrageous (and completely unsubstantiated) claims about the TSA and DHS. The author has a long history of just making shit up.

Yet every time it is posted it gets lots and lots of recs before the mods lock it for the questionable nature of the source.

There is some drive here to believe the absolute worst even if it isn't true.

For example, People seem to still believe that the fake "porno scan" photos Drudge posted are true - even though it has been proven they were merely maniputlated photos of a nude photo shoot available from a stock photo website:

These TSA porn photos would be alarming — if they were real
http://trueslant.com/KashmirHill/2010/01/27/tsa-scanner-porn-hoax-fools-gizmodo-drudge-report

[PeaceNikki]

7. Exactly. They get caught up in the "IT COULD HAPPEN!!" idea.

Well, sure, it could. Let me know when and if it does, please. And include details, kthxbai.

[TheKentuckian]

13. Ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure. Zero tolerance for destruction of our civil liberties

[PeaceNikki]

14. So you think fabricated stories are OK if they support your stance?

:shrug:

[TheKentuckian]

17. Works for our opposition. Sauce for the goose, Nikki.

Though fabrication wasn't on my mind but rather what some would say is over reaction to the truth, under that line of thinking I could care less if the reaction is appropriate or not as long as our rights are preserved.

This isn't a game of Monopoly, the consequences are real and very hard to mitigate once the toothpaste is out of the tube.
We are also dealing with those in control of national megaphones and deep propaganda, they will not be "playing fair" and I don't have time to worry about being fair to them or the system.

[PeaceNikki]

18. Well, we very much disagree on this tactic.

The toothpaste was out of the tube by late AM on 9/11/2001.

It's not about "playing fair" - it's about focusing on the facts and truth rather than being distracted by lies and hyperbole and IT COULD HAPPEN stories.

[TheKentuckian]

19. I'm not distracted at all. Laws must account for "what could happen" or odds are they will be awful

[uppityperson]

22. This isn't a tube of toothpaste either. Myths and lies are ok if they support what you want?

Because "the opposition" lies, cheats, steals, manipulates it is ok for us to? i very much disagree. And while this isn't a board game it also isn't a tube of toothpaste. Things can change, back and forth and everything is not a slippery slope.

[uppityperson]

23. kick to mark since posting bug makes this not show on my du

[Historic NY]

6. Thank you, I got beat up trying to say that.....it became a circus act.

[PeaceNikki]

10. Lots of those here these days.

Circus acts, that is.

[blondeatlast]

8. Totally agree--and that's why I thank the powers that be

for the scroll wheel. I've gotten to the point that I don't believe anyone anymore; I'll make my mind up when I have to fly (which is a time or two a year).

[PeaceNikki]

9. I am with you, sister.

I will be flying in about 2 weeks and again in February. I'll let you all know if anything is amiss. ;)

[TreasonousBastard]

11. Isn't this pretty much the case with anything around here...

that there are too many people just waiting for the worst news possible to justify their own fears, battles, prejudices, or whatevers?

Millions of proper arrests, traffic tickets, or inquiries every year but when one person gets beaten to the floor one day all cops are Nazi goons.

A billion banking transactions flawlessly done every day, but an ATM goes down and we're all doomed to have our last penny stolen.

And it goes on, and on, and on...

[PeaceNikki]

12. Perhaps. It's just in this case there are so many "tales" of horror from sources that are not

credible being posted here as truth. I see that here sometimes, but it's gone stark raving mad recently.

[bluestate10]

16. Paranoia is the incapacity to see other possibilities. nt

[bluestate10]

15. I am disappointed by what I see DUer writing in regard to the TSA.

Some of the statements that have been made about workers that are just doing the job that are asked of them were crude and inhumane. There were some posters that held up the Israeli screening system as a potential alternative, when I saw posts like that I dismissed the person as being unknowing, I have gone through the Israeli screens numerous times, they are brutally invasive.

[EFerrari]

20. Good for TSA but not for Wikileaks?

lol

[PeaceNikki]

21. I never said or implied that.

As was stated upthread, it happens on all topics - I've just seen a lot of really crap sources posted here on the topic of the TSA and some very nasty replies when the sources were questioned.