5 ms·

I'm one of those weirdos who opts out of the scanners because I'd rather avoid having people casually look inside of my body. Last time I flew out of Laguardia

by chaps 7mo ago

I'm one of those weirdos who opts out of the scanners because I'd rather avoid having people casually look inside of my body. Last time I flew out of Laguardia I opted out and while I was being patted down another TSA agent about twenty feet away kept making kissy faces at me. Very much felt like intimidation. What a time..

mindslight 7mo ago
Talk about l'esprit d'escalier. I'd like to think I would have held eye contact and pointed at my own crotch.
- rngfnby 7mo ago
  Hmm next time they go for a feel I'll tell them not to sexually harass me loud enough for the whole line to hear. They feed on folks wanting to avoid embarrassment, not wanting to miss their flights, etc.
  - BobaFloutist 7mo ago
    Also on folks not wanting to have their shit stolen, get beaten up, or get extra-judicially detained for days, weeks, or even months. They're smart enough to make compliance be the mostly rational decision.
rngfnby 7mo ago
We're not weirdos. The weirdos are the cattle walking into a microwave oven. They ask me "would you like a private screening?" Hell no! I need witnesses.
whatsupdog 7mo ago
I do that too. My reason is I don't want unneeded radiation. My experience is they make it as difficult as possible. They first ignore you couple of times, pretend they don't know what you are asking for, and finally they make you wait a long time, just standing there waiting for someone to show up to do the pat down. But I know their antics now and show up with plenty of time to spare.
- lobf 7mo ago
  Same. I have never gone through a microwave scanner on principle- I shouldn’t be strip searched for the crime of showing up to the airport. I always get there plenty early and request a pat down, because they always make you wait 10-15 minutes in the hope that you’re desperate to get to your gate.
  - rngfnby 7mo ago
    " I shouldn’t be strip searched for the crime of showing up to the airport." People have forgotten that the TSA got caught lying about the machines not taking pictures (its just a cartoon!) and their employees laughing at people's bodies. If the TSA wants to disrobe me they're going to have to do it the honest, old fashioned way. Not some sterilized make believe.
    - lobf 7mo ago
      I have never forgotten their lies and abuse with the scanners when they were rolled out. Same boat- you wanna see my body you gotta work for it.
    - whatsupdog 7mo ago
      > If the TSA wants to disrobe me they're going to have to do it the honest, old fashioned way. Not some sterilized make believe. Or at least take me out on a date first
- rngfnby 7mo ago
  Whistling loudly helps too.
- mindslight 7mo ago
  It's been a while since I've flown, but it always seemed to help to not stand completely out of the way lest they forget about you. A bunch of people will ask if you if you're waiting to use the scanner, or even start queuing up behind you until the thugs direct them to go around you. But all this keeps the incentives aligned much better.
- 7mo ago
Balgair 7mo ago
One trick with opt outs: suit and tie. The 'better' you look, the less they'll worry and faster they'll be. If you look like some business person that's 'important', they treat you like one too. Airline staff generally follows that principal too, especially if you wear a nice hat for some reason. Not a ballcap, fyi. Though once you sit down in coach, the game is off. Oh, also, squinting at the TSA nametag and saying 'Thank you/Excuse me, Officer John Doe', yeah, makes them feel big and respected. Gotta work the referees here. Like, just generally following and slimy salesman tactic and reading 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' will work very well with TSA (most people, really). Mostly treat that individual well, the same comes back. Now at small regional airports with a few flights a day, really nothing works, those folks are there for the power trip and couldn't break into the local PD good ol boys network and got rejected from the army. Not always, but mostly. They never get an opt out either, so they have to go really by the book as they mostly forgot what to do.

by chaps 7mo ago

mindslight 7mo ago

Talk about l'esprit d'escalier. I'd like to think I would have held eye contact and pointed at my own crotch.

rngfnby 7mo ago
Hmm next time they go for a feel I'll tell them not to sexually harass me loud enough for the whole line to hear. They feed on folks wanting to avoid embarrassment, not wanting to miss their flights, etc.
- BobaFloutist 7mo ago
  Also on folks not wanting to have their shit stolen, get beaten up, or get extra-judicially detained for days, weeks, or even months. They're smart enough to make compliance be the mostly rational decision.

rngfnby 7mo ago

We're not weirdos. The weirdos are the cattle walking into a microwave oven. They ask me "would you like a private screening?" Hell no! I need witnesses.

whatsupdog 7mo ago

I do that too. My reason is I don't want unneeded radiation. My experience is they make it as difficult as possible. They first ignore you couple of times, pretend they don't know what you are asking for, and finally they make you wait a long time, just standing there waiting for someone to show up to do the pat down. But I know their antics now and show up with plenty of time to spare.

lobf 7mo ago
Same. I have never gone through a microwave scanner on principle- I shouldn’t be strip searched for the crime of showing up to the airport. I always get there plenty early and request a pat down, because they always make you wait 10-15 minutes in the hope that you’re desperate to get to your gate.
- rngfnby 7mo ago
  " I shouldn’t be strip searched for the crime of showing up to the airport." People have forgotten that the TSA got caught lying about the machines not taking pictures (its just a cartoon!) and their employees laughing at people's bodies. If the TSA wants to disrobe me they're going to have to do it the honest, old fashioned way. Not some sterilized make believe.
  - lobf 7mo ago
    I have never forgotten their lies and abuse with the scanners when they were rolled out. Same boat- you wanna see my body you gotta work for it.
  - whatsupdog 7mo ago
    > If the TSA wants to disrobe me they're going to have to do it the honest, old fashioned way. Not some sterilized make believe. Or at least take me out on a date first
rngfnby 7mo ago
Whistling loudly helps too.
mindslight 7mo ago
It's been a while since I've flown, but it always seemed to help to not stand completely out of the way lest they forget about you. A bunch of people will ask if you if you're waiting to use the scanner, or even start queuing up behind you until the thugs direct them to go around you. But all this keeps the incentives aligned much better.
7mo ago

Balgair 7mo ago

One trick with opt outs: suit and tie. The 'better' you look, the less they'll worry and faster they'll be. If you look like some business person that's 'important', they treat you like one too. Airline staff generally follows that principal too, especially if you wear a nice hat for some reason. Not a ballcap, fyi. Though once you sit down in coach, the game is off. Oh, also, squinting at the TSA nametag and saying 'Thank you/Excuse me, Officer John Doe', yeah, makes them feel big and respected. Gotta work the referees here. Like, just generally following and slimy salesman tactic and reading 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' will work very well with TSA (most people, really). Mostly treat that individual well, the same comes back. Now at small regional airports with a few flights a day, really nothing works, those folks are there for the power trip and couldn't break into the local PD good ol boys network and got rejected from the army. Not always, but mostly. They never get an opt out either, so they have to go really by the book as they mostly forgot what to do.