4 ms·

As much as I hate to agree with him ( http://reason.com/blog/2010/01/19/tsa-pays-blogger-to-mock-peopl http://reason.com/blog/2010/01/19/tsa-pays-blogger-to-moc

As much as I hate to agree with him ( http://reason.com/blog/2010/01/19/tsa-pays-blogger-to-mock-peopl http://reason.com/blog/2010/01/19/tsa-pays-blogger-to-mock-p... ), in this case "Blogger Bob" has a point. It was customs, and not DHS who actually searched the laptop. The court case: http://fourthamendment.com/blog/index.php?blog=1&title=s_d_tex_border_search_of_computer_for_ch http://fourthamendment.com/blog/index.php?blog=1&title=s...

Sukotto 17y ago
Speaking as a fairly frequent traveler here... In my mind, there are two sets of uniformed people at the airport. "Airline worker" (gate agent, skycap, pilots, etc) who are there to help me.... and "TSA" (Anyone with a badge, possibly a gun, and the ability to basically do whatever the hell they want) who are there to make life demeaning. It doesn't matter to me that the dark blue person is Homeland Security, the pale blue person is Customs, and the in-between blue one is Immigration. They are all equally "the man" and equally capable putting me on the "fuck that guy" list. Intellectually I understand that many of them perform a valuable service. Emotionally I fear (and by extension: hate) them and have grown to dread traveling.
- potatolicious 17y ago
  CBP is a different sort of dickheadedness than TSA. TSA: Undertrained goons hopped up on terrorism paranoia. Will make your life absolutely miserable if given the prompt to do so (e.g., a tiny contraband item in your carry-on). Can't do too much to make your life miserable outside of missing your flight. CBP: Will. Fuck. You. Up. As a non-American working in the US, I fear the CBP like the motherfucking gestapo. Each agent wields an insane amount of power to alter one's legal status in the USA, and they never hesitate to express this power to you. Unlike the TSA agents, who get no respect from even their employer, CBP goons are given a huge amount of unquestionable leeway in their jobs. I've seen TSA workers cite regulation after regulation to make a traveler's life hell - but they've always been professional at least on the surface. I've seen CBP agents be blatantly racist, insulting, and grossly unprofessional and conduct themselves in ways unbecoming of a human being, much less a government representative. And there's not a damn thing that can be done.
  - nfnaaron 17y ago
    I used to drive from Seattle to Vancouver for the weekend a few times a year, in the eighties, back when terrorism was something that happened on page six. Driving in to Canada, their border guards were always pleasant, smiling and welcoming. They made me feel like they wanted me to visit. Driving back to the US, our border guards seemed to feel like I was a criminal. I felt unwelcome in my own country. I felt "wanted." I actually had to sit on the Group W bench once. The guard asked me a question, and I didn't hear him correctly. So I said "what?" I was polite (knowing who I was talking to). "Out of the car." And they searched my car. Because I said "what?"
  - jrockway 17y ago
    I'm a US citizen, and my experience has been the opposite. Of course, US Immigration/Customs is not nearly as nice as immigration in other countries, but that's to be expected. (When I visit Norway and Denmark, the immigration people actually smile at you. When I visited Germany, the immigration officer actually laughed at something I said. It's like they are real people or something!)
    - ugh 17y ago
      Why is that to be expected?
      - dedward 17y ago
        Because when something happens over and over and over again, you tend to expect it to keep happening.
        jrockway 17y ago
        Because the US takes immigration and police in general too seriously. Everyone is a criminal. Nobody is to be trusted. Compare this to Europe (minus the UK and France), where people in positions of authority treat you nicely until they have a solid reason to do otherwise. "Cultural difference" or whatever.
    - 17y ago
wtn 17y ago
Customs is part of DHS.
- milkshakes 17y ago
  Touché. Well, at least I can go back to hating blogger bob again
  - jrockway 17y ago
    Blogger Bob works for the TSA, which is a sibling of Customs. The common parent is the DHS.
rit 17y ago
I was more mortified at the tone in which this was posted. Something about it seemed far too carefree and nonchalant, as if the most important thing is quibbling over the subtle shade of blue in their uniforms. These being the people who complained so much people didn't take them seriously that they now get fake cop badges and uniforms.
- Vivtek 17y ago
  You haven't read the TSA's blog much, I take it? It's all carefree and nonchalant. Nothing to see here, move along. The comment section can be entertaining, though.

Sukotto 17y ago

Speaking as a fairly frequent traveler here... In my mind, there are two sets of uniformed people at the airport. "Airline worker" (gate agent, skycap, pilots, etc) who are there to help me.... and "TSA" (Anyone with a badge, possibly a gun, and the ability to basically do whatever the hell they want) who are there to make life demeaning. It doesn't matter to me that the dark blue person is Homeland Security, the pale blue person is Customs, and the in-between blue one is Immigration. They are all equally "the man" and equally capable putting me on the "fuck that guy" list. Intellectually I understand that many of them perform a valuable service. Emotionally I fear (and by extension: hate) them and have grown to dread traveling.

potatolicious 17y ago
CBP is a different sort of dickheadedness than TSA. TSA: Undertrained goons hopped up on terrorism paranoia. Will make your life absolutely miserable if given the prompt to do so (e.g., a tiny contraband item in your carry-on). Can't do too much to make your life miserable outside of missing your flight. CBP: Will. Fuck. You. Up. As a non-American working in the US, I fear the CBP like the motherfucking gestapo. Each agent wields an insane amount of power to alter one's legal status in the USA, and they never hesitate to express this power to you. Unlike the TSA agents, who get no respect from even their employer, CBP goons are given a huge amount of unquestionable leeway in their jobs. I've seen TSA workers cite regulation after regulation to make a traveler's life hell - but they've always been professional at least on the surface. I've seen CBP agents be blatantly racist, insulting, and grossly unprofessional and conduct themselves in ways unbecoming of a human being, much less a government representative. And there's not a damn thing that can be done.
- nfnaaron 17y ago
  I used to drive from Seattle to Vancouver for the weekend a few times a year, in the eighties, back when terrorism was something that happened on page six. Driving in to Canada, their border guards were always pleasant, smiling and welcoming. They made me feel like they wanted me to visit. Driving back to the US, our border guards seemed to feel like I was a criminal. I felt unwelcome in my own country. I felt "wanted." I actually had to sit on the Group W bench once. The guard asked me a question, and I didn't hear him correctly. So I said "what?" I was polite (knowing who I was talking to). "Out of the car." And they searched my car. Because I said "what?"
- jrockway 17y ago
  I'm a US citizen, and my experience has been the opposite. Of course, US Immigration/Customs is not nearly as nice as immigration in other countries, but that's to be expected. (When I visit Norway and Denmark, the immigration people actually smile at you. When I visited Germany, the immigration officer actually laughed at something I said. It's like they are real people or something!)
  - ugh 17y ago
    Why is that to be expected?
    - dedward 17y ago
      Because when something happens over and over and over again, you tend to expect it to keep happening.
      - jrockway 17y ago
        Because the US takes immigration and police in general too seriously. Everyone is a criminal. Nobody is to be trusted. Compare this to Europe (minus the UK and France), where people in positions of authority treat you nicely until they have a solid reason to do otherwise. "Cultural difference" or whatever.
  - 17y ago

wtn 17y ago

Customs is part of DHS.

milkshakes 17y ago
Touché. Well, at least I can go back to hating blogger bob again
- jrockway 17y ago
  Blogger Bob works for the TSA, which is a sibling of Customs. The common parent is the DHS.

rit 17y ago

I was more mortified at the tone in which this was posted. Something about it seemed far too carefree and nonchalant, as if the most important thing is quibbling over the subtle shade of blue in their uniforms. These being the people who complained so much people didn't take them seriously that they now get fake cop badges and uniforms.

Vivtek 17y ago
You haven't read the TSA's blog much, I take it? It's all carefree and nonchalant. Nothing to see here, move along. The comment section can be entertaining, though.