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The fact that it still exists indicates that it's likely to be the case, it's clearly frustrating for them and they would get rid of the option if they thought

by dijit 2y ago

The fact that it still exists indicates that it's likely to be the case, it's clearly frustrating for them and they would get rid of the option if they thought they could. People like me are probably padding the stats in favour of a small but consistent "preference". There's no way they're not watching the statistics and making decisions based on that. If they think a small enough minority opt out they will remove the option. > By participating in Global Entry and opting into CBP and DHS/TSA "one to many" credential and identity proofing (colloquially "facial recognition"), it makes my life much easier while traveling. If I have strong data security and privacy concerns along the lines of "this will eventually lead to dystopian government interaction outcomes," the only place that is solved is at the ballot box. That's not my concern, petty bureaucracy and trampling the dignity of people nonchalantly is. What I'm referring to is much larger than just the TSA, it's a global industry selling security theatre, imagining the techniques of tomorrows bomb threat are anything they've seen before, forcing you to throw your liquids away and then charging you through the nose for water on the other side. "But you can take an empty bottle, there are fountains!" That's the discretion of the security agent you happen to get, I've had bottles thrown out because they had "flOz" written on the side despite being empty. I travel a lot, so it's probably just the fact I want a consistent experience above else, and the rules are different depending on airport and very selectively enforced. Though they might argue that this is a feature to thwart terrorism.. (he says while rolling eyes)

toomuchtodo 2y ago
If it makes you feel better, carry on, just don't expect it to change outcomes. It clearly doesn't. Opt outs are not tracked [1]. TSA opt outs are the equivalent of a close door elevator button that does nothing [2]. [1] https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/tsa-opt-out-statistics-129121/#file-1020251 https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/tsa... [2] https://www.sciencealert.com/the-close-door-buttons-in-elevators-don-t-actually-do-anything https://www.sciencealert.com/the-close-door-buttons-in-eleva... And a very on topic quote from the above citation: "Perceived control is very important," Harvard psychologist Ellen J. Langer told Christopher Mele at The New York Times. "It diminishes stress and promotes well being."
- deleted 2y ago
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- stavros 2y ago
  Do you really think that if everyone opted out of the scan, and took five minutes to process instead of five seconds, nothing would change? Protest definitely does change something. The only problem is that not enough of us are doing it. If you're opposed to these scans, it is your moral duty to opt out, and to make everyone's life harder while doing it. That's exactly how things change.
  - toomuchtodo 2y ago
    Do you really think that everyone is going to opt out? If so, can you please provide evidence when and why they haven’t already? Or is it more likely that a small, vocal minority will continue to be vocal? And that vocal minority will remain perpetually upset that everyone else does not protest with them? I am using the entire existence of the TSA until now in evaluating. I am simply the messenger for the bad news, based on observations of the system at scale. “If the people would just rise up” is not an argument, unless you’re going to show evidence that there is a scenario in which a non insignificant amount of the traveling public opt out, which is…unlikely in my opinion. See y’all in the related thread 1-3 years from now when this is common practice.
    - laserlight 2y ago
      The fact is: defeatism is guaranteed failure, while activism is potentially a success.
    - simoncion 2y ago
      > Do you really think that everyone is going to opt out? You sure as shit don't need everyone to opt-out. You just need enough folks standing around in a queue for the supervisor to get uncomfortable with how long the line is getting for them to dispense with the theater and start waving everyone through only metal detectors.

by dijit 2y ago

toomuchtodo 2y ago

If it makes you feel better, carry on, just don't expect it to change outcomes. It clearly doesn't. Opt outs are not tracked [1]. TSA opt outs are the equivalent of a close door elevator button that does nothing [2]. [1] https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/tsa-opt-out-statistics-129121/#file-1020251 https://www.muckrock.com/foi/united-states-of-america-10/tsa... [2] https://www.sciencealert.com/the-close-door-buttons-in-elevators-don-t-actually-do-anything https://www.sciencealert.com/the-close-door-buttons-in-eleva... And a very on topic quote from the above citation: "Perceived control is very important," Harvard psychologist Ellen J. Langer told Christopher Mele at The New York Times. "It diminishes stress and promotes well being."

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
stavros 2y ago
Do you really think that if everyone opted out of the scan, and took five minutes to process instead of five seconds, nothing would change? Protest definitely does change something. The only problem is that not enough of us are doing it. If you're opposed to these scans, it is your moral duty to opt out, and to make everyone's life harder while doing it. That's exactly how things change.
- toomuchtodo 2y ago
  Do you really think that everyone is going to opt out? If so, can you please provide evidence when and why they haven’t already? Or is it more likely that a small, vocal minority will continue to be vocal? And that vocal minority will remain perpetually upset that everyone else does not protest with them? I am using the entire existence of the TSA until now in evaluating. I am simply the messenger for the bad news, based on observations of the system at scale. “If the people would just rise up” is not an argument, unless you’re going to show evidence that there is a scenario in which a non insignificant amount of the traveling public opt out, which is…unlikely in my opinion. See y’all in the related thread 1-3 years from now when this is common practice.
  - laserlight 2y ago
    The fact is: defeatism is guaranteed failure, while activism is potentially a success.
  - simoncion 2y ago
    > Do you really think that everyone is going to opt out? You sure as shit don't need everyone to opt-out. You just need enough folks standing around in a queue for the supervisor to get uncomfortable with how long the line is getting for them to dispense with the theater and start waving everyone through only metal detectors.