[turtle777]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

Do you not get it? This isn't hard at all. I've always greeted TSA agents with a smile. I'm always super happy to be flying anywhere anyway. I respect them. They don't give me shit. I haven't had any crap from TSA, and I travel once a month generally.

Yes, I DO GET IT.

I greeted them with a smile in the past. That's history. The rules of the game have changed.

-t

[imitchellg5]

So what are you going to do now? Is a smile and respect suddenly completely ineffective?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

So what are you going to do now? Is a smile and respect suddenly completely ineffective?

I'm gonna bitch and complain until things change.

And I might tell the TSA agent with a smile that I think what's happening now is f*cked up.

-t

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

Sorry, when it's your job, just following orders is an excuse for the paycheck.

Being the recipient of deserved abuse is part of the paycheck too. If they don't like it, they should direct their anger towards your "rich white republicans" (wtf, btw), not misdirecting it at justified angry innocent-but-treated-guilty citizens.

[andi*pandi]

Planning your wardrobe choice for the airport just got easier:

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

"rich white republicans" (wtf, btw)

Have you seen the leadership of the new TSA congressional committee (or whatever it's called)?

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

Have you seen the leadership of the new TSA congressional committee (or whatever it's called)?

We can't blame them because they're just doing their jobs for the paycheck

[imitchellg5]

A Congressman can walk out and have any job he wants, or a blowjob from his secretary.

[Railroader]

The kids in our grouphome fly home every couple months or so and having 8 kids I am at the airport a lot. Probably go through TSA a couple times a month or more. The last time I escorted one of our kid through I watched an eldery Indian woman, maybe 80-90 years old, get searched by pat-down between her breasts and between her legs while she sat in a wheel chair with husband, adult children, and grandchildren (maybe grandchildren) surrounding her. They went over her breasts about five times. She was flooded with tears. Her family stood in a state of shock. I felt deeply ashamed. DEEPLY ashamed for her and her family. It was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen.

I don't want that to happen to my grandmother, mom, wife, or daughter ever. I will have a VERY difficult time sitting idly by and smiling. I'll probably have fists clenched and a face of pure rage.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

I guess I just find it ridiculous that my request to not take out anger on TSA agents seems so over the top.

Let's get this straight here. Neither I nor the TSA goon is enjoying themselves. But they are being paid to be there, while I am paying to be there. You're not going to ever make me feel guilty for hurting the feelings of someone who (A) is the aggressor and (B) is taking my money for the privilege. You're damned right it's ridiculous, but not in the way you seem to think.

And no, it's not a vital service they're performing. It's a blatant abuse of people's fear and vulnerability. It's a scam, so that they can get paid, at our expense. No, I don't feel bad for them, not one bit.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

And no, it's not a vital service they're performing. It's a blatant abuse of people's fear and vulnerability. It's a scam, so that they can get paid, at our expense. No, I don't feel bad for them, not one bit.

I never said TSA was vital. Personally I think the administration is a complete farce. But the scam isn't so that people can get paid, it's so that fliers have the illusion of being safe. And now consequently that the TSA is making people feel unsafe, suddenly everyone universally hates it.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

But the scam isn't so that people can get paid, it's so that fliers have the illusion of being safe.

It's clearly not, because as already noted in this thread, they don't do the new procedures in airports where there's no insanely expensive unnecessary scanners to be sold.

And now consequently that the TSA is making people feel unsafe, suddenly everyone universally hates it.

No, they were always hated, it has simply been the path of least resistance (until now) to hide our hatred in the interests of not sticking one's neck out.

[lpkmckenna]

In case anyone missed it, Whoopi Goldberg thinks opt-outers are terrorists. Barbara Walters notes, however, that the protest is "in the great American spirit.”

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

It's clearly not, because as already noted in this thread, they don't do the new procedures in airports where there's no insanely expensive unnecessary scanners to be sold.

I don't think it has anything to do with cost, DEN is way under water and has plenty. (When I went yesterday, BTW, they were all roped off)

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

I don't think it has anything to do with cost, DEN is way under water and has plenty. (When I went yesterday, BTW, they were all roped off)

And how's Rapiscan's balance sheet look?

[Laminar]

I've been through security at DEN a couple times in the past couple months, I'm just glad they have a priority security line (1K, bitches).

Fortunately most of the time I'm going through security in smaller airports and don't have to deal with this. The biggest problem is people who never travel and have no idea how to listen to instructions.

[Laminar]

A woman on my flight tonight had to be asked several times to turn her cell phone off before the flight, turned it back on immediately after takeoff, and was generally a bitch. We were met at the gate by three TSA officers. I wanted to stick around to see what happened but I figured that'd be rude. I heard her trying to minimize what she'd done and she said something about being a neuro-surgeon.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

And how's Rapiscan's balance sheet look?

If you live in the Denver area, everybody knows the money hole that the airport is.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

A woman on my flight tonight had to be asked several times to turn her cell phone off before the flight, turned it back on immediately after takeoff, and was generally a bitch. We were met at the gate by three TSA officers. I wanted to stick around to see what happened but I figured that'd be rude. I heard her trying to minimize what she'd done and she said something about being a neuro-surgeon.

I've had that happen several times LAX-ASE. Rich dudes thinking that because they paid $1,200 for an economy ticket that they can talk on their phone during taxi and don't have to listen to the FAs. My dad has taken a plane back to the gate before due to a man shouting on the phone at his wife/girlfriend/whatever during taxi and refusing to hang up.

[Wiskedjak]

On the other hand, I've always found the no-electronics-during-taxi and no-cell-phones-in-flight rules to be rather silly.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

On the other hand, I've always found the no-electronics-during-taxi and no-cell-phones-in-flight rules to be rather silly.

My right to not die in a flaming ball of Jet A-1 on take-off trumps your right to check your FaceSpace. End of story.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

My right to not die in a flaming ball of Jet A-1 on take-off trumps your right to check your FaceSpace. End of story.

Meh. Why bother with bombs if a cell phone could *really* take down an airplane?

[The Final Dakar]

It's got nothing to do with safety and everything to do with not turning the cabin into a den of cacophony.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

It's got nothing to do with safety and everything to do with not turning the cabin into a den of cacophony.

And, fair enough. But, if that's the case, then it should be presented as such. People would probably be more likely to respect that than the obvious lie of "safety".

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

It's got nothing to do with safety and everything to do with not turning the cabin into a den of cacophony.

Yep, nobody wants a MacBook flying across the cabin at 150 mph. OTOH though, older GSM phones can still cause interference with the cheap David Clark headsets that many airlines throw in their planes (most pilots provide their own though).

[hyteckit]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

My right to not die in a flaming ball of Jet A-1 on take-off trumps your right to check your FaceSpace. End of story.

No it doesn't. Who says?

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

And, fair enough. But, if that's the case, then it should be presented as such. People would probably be more likely to respect that than the obvious lie of "safety".

Have you met "people"?

If they're not switching off when the safety reason is given, they're hardly likely to switch off in order to not annoy their fellow man, are they?

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

And, fair enough. But, if that's the case, then it should be presented as such. People would probably be more likely to respect that than the obvious lie of "safety".

I don't know. My experience is that people obey the safety lie in planes all the time, and a violation is extremely rare. On the other hand, people are incredibly annoying with their gadgets on buses, where the only prohibition/moderation impulse is based on courtesy.

Short version: people are idiots.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by hyteckit 

No it doesn't. Who says?

I say. And I've got the three inch punch to back it up if you ever want to try to prove otherwise when you're sitting next to me on a plane.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

And, fair enough. But, if that's the case, then it should be presented as such. People would probably be more likely to respect that than the obvious lie of "safety".

They generally say "for your personal safety and those around you" or something of the like. And it is indeed for your safety. People just always think that your device is gonna make the plane fall out of the sky. During flight, they ask you to have your phone on airplane mode for several reasons. First, again it can sometimes interfere with cheap headsets. And also if you have your phone on you're going to be switching from tower to tower incredibly rapidly, increasing load on cell networks handing over from each tower. There is actually some evidence (searching for the link now) that AT&T was a force behind the airplane mode rule.

[The Final Dakar]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey 

I don't know. My experience is that people obey the safety lie in planes all the time, and a violation is extremely rare. On the other hand, people are incredibly annoying with their gadgets on buses, where the only prohibition/moderation impulse is based on courtesy.

Short version: people are idiots.

Essentially. But would it kill the airlines to just make it a rule and say "Airline policy" rather than pretend its a legitimate threat?

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

If you live in the Denver area, everybody knows the money hole that the airport is.

What does that have to do with anything?

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton 

What does that have to do with anything?

It's hard to tell what your response to me was, sarcasm about knowledge of DEN's finances or something else, so sorry if I mistook your useless post for something else.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

Essentially. But would it kill the airlines to just make it a rule and say "Airline policy" rather than pretend its a legitimate threat?

Well, nobody can ever follow simple "airline policy" such as carry on baggage size or amount, so maybe

[The Final Dakar]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

Well, nobody can ever follow simple "airline policy" such as carry on baggage size or amount, so maybe

Good call.

[OAW]

Well the next time I fly I hopefully I'll only have to deal with the standard metal detectors. If not and I'm faced with a choice of the body scanner or the pat down I'll likely choose the pat down. I'd rather deal with some TSA agent touching my junk than risk the so-called "safe" radiation of the scanner ... thank you very much.

The bottom line here is that the number of people looking to commit a terrorist act in the US is infinitesimally small. That's not to say that the threat doesn't exist ... but things need to be kept in perspective.

Originally Posted by Turtle777

The marginal higher safety gained from those stupid scanners and TSA groping is not worth it.

OAW

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by OAW 

The bottom line here is that the number of people looking to commit a terrorist act in the US is infinitesimally small. That's not to say that the threat doesn't exist ... but things need to be kept in perspective.

And the most ironic part is that the last threat preceding these new measures came from cargo flying on a cargo plane. TSA will save us from that!

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by OAW 

The bottom line here is that the number of people looking to commit a terrorist act in the US is infinitesimally small. That's not to say that the threat doesn't exist ... but things need to be kept in perspective.

Yep. Far more likely to be killed on a car accident or random shooting than by terrorist.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

It's hard to tell what your response to me was, sarcasm about knowledge of DEN's finances or something else, so sorry if I mistook your useless post for something else.

My point was to say who cares about DEN's finances. Who cares? Airports aren't the cons, they're the marks. For all we know the reason they're broke is because of x-ray scanners and similar methods of getting fleeced.

[andi*pandi]

I thought this was a good idea:

4thamendmentwear

[subego]

Via Gruber:

[turtle777]

This is how you do it: How to get through TSA w/o scanning and searching

My TSA Encounter – NO BLASTERS!

-t

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

This is how you do it: How to get through TSA w/o scanning and searching

My TSA Encounter – NO BLASTERS!

-t

Nice. Makes it apparent that the TSA is taking advantage of the rush that people are usually in at airports. You can beat them if you can out wait then (and have a better understanding of your rights than the average person).

[Dork.]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

This is how you do it: How to get through TSA w/o scanning and searching

My TSA Encounter – NO BLASTERS!

-t

I read about this back when it first hit teh intarnets. (It may even be in this thread, I can't remember). The key thing in this post is that this screening was NOT to get on a plane: the blogger had just finished an international flight (with all the screening that entails), just went through US customs (with all the screening that entails), and was subjected to this screening right before leaving the International terminal (which, presumably, connected to the Domestic terminal). Since he was not meeting a connecting flight, he was essentially being screened just for the privilege of walking through the airport to get to his car.

You'd think that the TSA would not want to screen anyone they didn't have to (like, people who no longer needed to get on any plane). I'm surprised they could even let him through that line, since he didn't have a boarding pass for another flight.

[turtle777]

You are right, having infinite time is definitely the key ingredient.

-t

[Uncle Skeleton]

No the key ingredient in this case was not wanting to fly. They only acquiesced to ferrying him from one insecure area to another. If he wanted to fly, no amount of time would have let him on, I suspect.

[andi*pandi]

If he wanted to fly he would have given in. What would be a good test is someone trying it on their way to the flight, someone with lots of time on their hands.

(Psst, posted it on page 3)

[Shaddim]

I always accept the pat-down when I go through, instead of the backscatter. It helps to make moaning noises and say things like, "yeah, right there, baby". They love that stuff.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

I've been through security at DEN a couple times in the past couple months, I'm just glad they have a priority security line (1K, bitches).

Make that Global Services, bitches.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Global Bitches Service

Fixinated.

-t