A brief real-life rant on why our government is freaking insane

[dangermousie]

This time, it's about those idiotic full-body 'see you nekkid' scanners TSA installed in the airports because they are absolute morons who couldn't catch a terrorist when his own father turned him in, and generally should go DIAF

Comments

[themadpoker]

Ugh yeah, I've been reading up on the TSA thing and the whole business is horrible. Like seriously, my chances of getting a pat down are high enough already by virtue of Flying While Muslim (uh huh airpost security, I'm sure it's a total coincidence that it's my mother and I who get singled out for random searches so often. Nothing to do with our choice of headwear at all). I'm liking the train as an alternative option for our yearly US family reunion trips.

[dangermousie]

Coincidence, my foot. My husband, who looks Middle Eastern, gets pulled aside for 'random screenings' about 10x times more than myself, who is a freckled redhead.

[astrothsknot]

this post has great links about the non-safety of the machine and the TSA screening procedures says she's going to insist on being searched in public with a witness and thinks everyone should spurn the scanner and insist on the grope, because it won't be long in changing when TSA staff have to constantly check genitals and they didn't sign up for that (On minimum wage, no less.)

she also makes a lot of other salient points and wants a signal boost.

[dangermousie]

Thank you for the link, this was a great post.

[anonymous]

Ok, I get that you're upset with these measures, and well within your rights to be so. But I kind of have a problem with your taking it out on the "minimum-wage TSA schmuck", basically insinuating that 1) all TSA workers are creepy pervs who signed up for this job to cop a cheap feel and 2) all low-income workers are in some way morally deficient. Sheesh, it's not like they make these decisions. They have to do their jobs to support themselves and their families just like everyone else. They already get enough flak from angry travelers who think their personal comfort should be everyone's number 1 priority. Yes, flying sucks, but that's not really news is it?

[dangermousie]

1. Presumably TSA workers signed up for their jobs for a wide variety of reasons, the way any members of any profession do. However, whatever the reason they signed up to be TSA agents, currently their job description includes looking at pictures of naked children and groping them (not to mention doing same to adults). Any person who does that to people who consent only because alternative is a huge civil fine, better reexamine his or her priorities. "I was following orders" is never a good excuse. (2) I have no problem with low-income workers, having been one myself in the past. However, someone getting a minimum wage job has probably not undergone extensive ethical and technical training. Not to mention someone making little money is more tempted to sell the pictures on the side if opportunity presents itself

[reema_patel]

Completely agree. It's ridiculous and scary and horrible. I have to get pulled to the side when going through security every time because of artificial joints, and I hate that screening enough. I had to get one of those full body scanners last time I was flying, and you're completely separated from all your belongings and everything. I'm certainly cutting down on my flying if these scanners are going to be the norm.

[dangermousie]

Yes. This is insane. I hope this gets repealed asap because there is no way I am flying much with this in place.

[uisceros]

I'm extremely angry with the new TSA guidelines as well. I think what the government need to understand is that flying is never going to be 100% terror-proof. Nothing will ever be. And, I mean, someone could just as easily bomb a building or area by using a car

[dangermousie]

Seriously. All one needs to do is lob an RPG at a landing plane, blow self up at airport check-in (or screening line) etc. This serves no purpose! The kind of searches they are doing are of the type that even cops can't do barring probable cause.

Plus, I tend to doubt good intentions of TSA screeners. I am sure some of them are nice people (who still grope others 'per orders') but there are enough sickos out there. I get plenty of comments as I go through the line on my looks (being v. busty and all) and you are telling me these same people won't take the time out to ogle naked pics of good-looking women etc? Yeah.