8 ms·

It's amazing the kind of shit people put up with in the US. I'll remember to stare them in the face the next time a TSA agent touches my genitalia as a precurs

• tylermac1 13y ago
  I've flown quite a few times in the last few months and have never had a TSA agent overstep their boundaries when doing a pat-down. I've had nothing but pleasant experiences going through security.
  • JamesArgo 13y ago
    >I've had nothing but pleasant experiences going through security. Surely "pleasant" is too strong an adjective.
    • jlgreco 13y ago
      Maybe he enjoys being manhandled. Some people appreciate physical contact anywhere they can get it.
      • tylermac1 13y ago
        I've never been "manhandled" by the TSA.
        • jlgreco 13y ago
          Well that certainly sheds some light on your "nothing but pleasant experiences", doesn't it? If you've never had a pat down, then it should not be surprising that they have never overstepped any boundaries during a pat down...
          • tylermac1 13y ago
            I have had pat-downs. Where did you get that I've never had a pat down? Pat down != "manhandling"
        • kin3tic 13y ago
          I fly less than twice a year and I've had it happen several times.
    • tylermac1 13y ago
      I've never had an experience with a TSA agent that registered one iota of anger or frustration in my mind. However, the long-ish lines do get to me sometimes.
  • mikeash 13y ago
    That depends on what you define as "their boundaries". If you define it as staying within TSA guidelines, yeah, they're good about that. But TSA guidelines are far over what I would consider reasonable boundaries.
  • enraged_camel 13y ago
    It certainly helps if you're white. I have darker complexion (born in Middle East) and my experiences have been anything but "pleasant."
    • rayiner 13y ago
      I'm pretty dark, Bengali, and I never have a problem.
      • jlgreco 13y ago
        That's good for you. That doesn't mean that he doesn't have problems, nor does it make the problems he experiences any less important.
    • theorique 13y ago
      Anecdote: I'm white, speak English as a first language, and smile and look everybody in the eye. I also go through TSA Precheck. My experiences have been generally excellent.
  • misiti3780 13y ago
    i agree - the only time i see an issue with other travelers is when they are being assholes and then the TSA does seem to go on a power trip. its hilarious people still dont know what to take off in those lines, i dont blame them for getting pissed. disclaimer: i do think the TSA is useless
    • icambron 13y ago
      > its hilarious people still dont know what to take off in those lines, i dont blame them for getting pissed. Why is that hilarious? The simplest explanation is that they simply don't know; why do the people running the show get to be angry? Because they know something experienced travelers don't? Isn't informing people of the crazy rules part of the TSA's job? Maybe they should do it professionally? The next simplest explanation is that the arbitrary security rules are unimportant to those travelers. Which makes sense, because they are unimportant. Again, I'm not sure what's funny or angering here.
      • misiti3780 13y ago
        "The simplest explanation is that they simply don't know" come on now .... 1) There are videos and signs everywhere saying what is and is not allowed 2) TSA officers are verbally telling you what is and is not allowed 3) You need to walk through a metal detector, so figuring that out requires zero intelligence 4) If you cant get 1-3, watch the person ahead of you take off his/her shoes, watch, belt etc. and do the same thing. In my experience, the people running the show (TSA) get angry when they tell the "inexperienced travelers" they are not following procedures, after which the traveler becomes rude. It sounds like I am defending the TSA here, but that is not what I am trying to do. I am just saying that I can see how they could get frustrated with the public.
        • jlgreco 13y ago
          The last time I went through TSA (three days ago, Sunday afternoon), I got barked at for having my boarding pass in my pocket. That was a new one for me.
        • 13y ago
• chez17 13y ago
  I'm sorry, but how does "staring them in the face" do anything?
  • jlgreco 13y ago
    Presumably the hope is that it will make their job more uncomfortable for them. Its a small gesture that has the potential to lower their job satisfaction. If it became a trend for passengers to do anything reasonably within their power to make the lives of TSA agents more uncomfortable, we could hopefully influence the TSAs retention rates. It's a long shot, but in the individual case at least you get the momentary satisfaction of making them squirm. (And they do.)
    • Zergy 13y ago
      > we could hopefully influence the TSAs retention rates. Good luck with that. Most people at TSA would have quit if they could find a better job to work at.
      • jlgreco 13y ago
        Make their job miserable enough and the bar for "better job" becomes lower. Right now their jobs are pretty cushy; they get to sit around in AC, are not held accountable for how they treat "customers", and get to steal cool gadgets on the side. However we have a limited ability to give their jobs more downsides. I assert that we should exercise that ability where possible. It absolutely is a long shot of course. The personal satisfaction is sufficient though.
        • res0nat0r 13y ago
          I've been flying dozens of times over the last few years. Never groped. Never patted down in some molesting way. Never been a victim of all of these overblown statistically small events being made into huge life changing altercations. Every interaction I've had with everyone has been normal. Even the few times I've forgotten and left a full can of spray deodorant or liquid in my bag, they've pulled me to the side, opened my luggage in front of me, asked if I'd like to check my bag or toss the item and that is that. No harassment of any kind. Acting like a dick to TSA employees just makes them treat you with even more contempt, thus the vicious cycle continues since they now have disdain for you as a customer. Do you treat all car salesmen like crap, or people at the BMV, just because they have a general "bad" reputation? Also do you object to a pat down when you go to a sporting event or concert? What about a courthouse?
• dntrkv 13y ago
  Yes, because if this happened in any other country you guys would have none of it and totally overthrow the government. But we Americans, we are just a bunch of pussies.
  • bmelton 13y ago
    Whether or not another populace would allow it is entirely irrelevant, but just so that there's at least a native data point... yes, allowing our government to extend "reasonable search" provisions en masse to the fondling of our genitals makes us, in my opinion at least, a bunch of pussies.
    • dntrkv 13y ago
      It is relevant because the parent poster implied that in other/his/her countries, they wouldn't put up with it: "It's amazing the kind of shit people put up with in the US." My problem is whenever we have any issues with our government here in the states, you see all of these comments from other countries about how we are such pussies and that it would never fly in their countries. Yet whenever those same countries follow in the USs steps or the US totally shits on another countries rights (grounding planes, imposing their own laws, etc...) all they can do is bitch and moan about it on the internet. It doesn't make any of us pussies, the people wanted security, and they got security. We let these NSA/TSA beasts grow to such ridiculous sizes. Now if we don't like it, we have to start taking steps to defund/remove all of these privacy invading programs. And from what I have seen in the last couple years, it really seems like we are slowly starting to get somewhere. But maybe I'm wrong, maybe this is the beginning of the Brave New World.
      • bmelton 13y ago
        The reason I consider it irrelevant is that generally, the United States is so vastly different from any other country. I don't know of any other country in which I could be a citizen, oppose national health care, and consider myself right for doing so. In this unique land we hold though, that is exactly how I feel. Aside from that, it should be second nature for us as Americans to forego being offended at insults levied out of others' national pride, and instead move straight away into doing exactly what you've suggested. The reason I consider us pussies isn't because we let the government fondle our privates, but because depending on the poll, more than half the population considers that to be just fine. While each of us as individuals might not be pussies, collectively, we tend to be. And yes, obviously, I do sincerely hope that we are making progress, and I don't disagree that we are at least getting more people to give a damn. And yes, that is a good thing. But that we've had such draconian policies in place for so long, and been so content to let it be that way? There's the problem, exactly.
• astrodust 13y ago
  I've had the TSA full-body massage twice now and in both cases the agent was very respectful, communicated in advance what they were going to do, and went about the procedure exactly by the book. I can't really begrudge them for doing their job, but I can find the job itself objectionable. The sad thing is that in many airports you have the choice between putting yourself in a useless, but possibly carcinogenic x-ray device, or being groped. It's really infuriating that elevators are subject to stricter inspections than these backscatter machines are. Would anyone know if it was throwing out 1000x the usual dose of radiation? Probably not.
  • ecspike 13y ago
    I almost 100% do the patdown. Usually they are courteous and polite. I've only been manhandled once.
  • coldpie 13y ago
    > I've had the TSA full-body massage twice now I've had it a dozen times. I opt-out of the naked scanner every time I fly. As you say, I've never been harassed by the gropers. And if everybody in line opted out, they'd be overwhelmed and forced to change their policies. Just say No.
• kaonashi 13y ago
  That's been standard procedure for concert security as far as I remember (started going to them mid-90's).
  • jlgreco 13y ago
    What sort of venues, stadiums? I never get grouped at small venues.
    • kaonashi 13y ago
      Hockey stadiums/large outdoor stadiums; clubs were less severe.
      • jlgreco 13y ago
        Ah gotcha. My last experience with a stadium was several years ago, 2006 or so. I managed to get a 6-pack through security by approaching security without it and having my back checked, then realizing I had to go to will-call (outside of security). On the way back in they recognized me and waved me through security with my ticket and "already checked" bag (now with beer). No idea how reproducible that is, and it was during a sports event instead of a concert (I think both probably contract the same venue security though?)
• cik 13y ago
  I'm with you. Every time I travel to the US it's like being in a strangely authoritarian regime - and I've been to several. I make it a point to smile during my pat downs, ask if they'd like me to bend over, and shift my privates. When they invariably mention that they use the "back of their gloved hand". I ask if they wouldn't mind using the front of their hand - a shocking number of TSA agents are homophobic, and whilst straight, I play into that. There's nothing I enjoy more than making agents of the security theatre uncomfortable. It brightens up the traveling experience.
  • rthomas6 13y ago
    Meh. To me this is like getting mad at a cop for writing a parking ticket, or harassing a hostess for long waits in a restaurant. Sure, they have power over you, and their actions are making your life inconvenient, but they are not the ones making the decision-- they're just doing their job. Be mad at the people that created the policies, not the people who are just following orders.
  • chiph 13y ago
    Look straight at their eyes, then roll your eyes back and say "oh.... yes. Like that."