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Likewise, I have refused scanning in the US, England, and the Netherlands, for the last 8 years and don't have much to report. As much as I hate security theat
by ninjin 10y ago
Likewise, I have refused scanning in the US, England, and the Netherlands, for the last 8 years and don't have much to report. As much as I hate security theatre, I try to be polite and when asked for the reason I opt out I state that it is political, the devices don't make us safer, and I'd like them to hire more personnel instead ("just like you fine Sir"). In the US, apart from an occasional sigh, my worst experiences have been being insulted by an agent at SFO and an agent putting my shoes with the soles down on my laptop at ORD despite me asking him not to. I do however find that agents in the UK are much less cooperative with "nutcases" such as me, with one officer stating that I made her feel "uncomfortable" by standing as opposed to sitting while waiting since I insisted on seeing my belongings as they take no responsibility for them.
- viraptor 10y agoCan you opt out in England? I was under the impression you can't do that. Quick search confirms: http://www.civilrightsmovement.co.uk/consequences-for-refusing-full-airport-body-scan.html http://www.civilrightsmovement.co.uk/consequences-for-refusi...
- HappyTypist 10y agoLegally no. But if you say you opt out and insist, I've never had an issue
- d4rti 10y agoSame, request the pat down instead of the body scanner.
- kwhitefoot 10y ago> with one officer stating that I made her feel "uncomfortable" This is becoming a common reaction in the UK, not just at borders and not just with customs and immigration officers. I encountered a similar attitude once when I was accosted by a security guard in Tesco who demanded that I put shoes on. When I politely asked him why he immediately called his supervisor on the radio and told her that I was threatening him.
- BillinghamJ 10y agoUhh, why were you wandering around Tesco with no shoes on?
- cardiffspaceman 10y agoSeems like it's a statement being made about excessive hygiene norms. Personally I feel the soles of my feet afford some protection, but not enough for certain public places. I have no direct experience of Tesco, maybe they are especially clean.
- BillinghamJ 10y agoI think it may be more a question of how clean the patron is. If they tend to walk around public places with no shoes on, one might imagine that their overall hygiene may not be particularly good. Most likely though it's a health and safety policy - sharp things on the floor, etc.
- cardiffspaceman 10y agoI'm a fairly square, non-trouble-making, shower-positive individual who loves going around barefoot. I might think Tesco is the wrong place, but I wouldn't assume anything about a barefooted person.
- brokenmachine 10y agoWearing shoes in a public supermarket is an excessive hygiene norm?
- cardiffspaceman 10y agoNo. Sorry to have expressed myself poorly. Requiring people to wear shoes or else leave is the norm that I was thinking of. And to be clear I was trying to imagine what the reason would be for someone else to go barefoot.
- 10y ago
- ajmurmann 10y agoI used to refuse the scanner every time. I now have TSA Prime and don't have to anymore. When anyone asked me why I'm refusing I always made sure to give them as one of the reasons that I'm concerned about the TSA staff being exposed to radiation and the fact that they are prohibited to wear dosimeters. Makes it really hard for them to dislike you. Several got much friendlier after that.
- brokenmachine 10y agoWhat's TSA Prime? It sounds like a way to sidestep the security theatre somewhat.