Monday chat, short work week, we can get through it

Flying is a choice. If you don't want to get a pat down, and you don't want to go through the machine, there are trains or you can take your car. I think every adult boarding a plane should have to go through one of these new machines. Honestly, for fat Americans who eat junk and don't exercise nearly enough, and I count myself among this group, to panic about the x-ray machine, I find it silly. Your everyday behavior is far more dangerous and likely to kill you than this nonsense. It's not the TSA's fault they now have to feel your crotch, its the fault of the wacko who tried to bring a plane down with an underwear bomb. I'm willing to bet that if an underwear bomber gets on a plane again, the people on it won't need to worry about the x-ray killing them or causing cancer. The true problem with these things is that we need to be one step ahead of the idiots with underwear bombs, shoe bombs, and shampoo bombs, and we're not. They're figuring out ways around these things, and we're just barely getting them up and running.

Speaking of the TSA though, I flew to Boston on Thursday. On my way up from Philly, I got a pat down, which I was told was required because I wore cargo pants. I went into the area, which I think should have been private, or at least not clear and in the middle of the security area, and did it without hassling the poor woman who had a look on her face like she clearly expected me to hassle her. I did wear those pants back though because I had left some clothes in my locker at school, washed some stuff, and brought back only those to avoid having as much to bring home. Anyway, on the way home, in Logan, no pat down. Same pants, and I walked right through.

 I don't have to fly for a bit, but I can say that the patting down thing probably wouldn't cause me much stress. I'm sure I've been patted down just as thoroughly going to a concert

I see all points of view regarding the TSA.  Personally, do whatever you want to me.  I don't fly more than 2 - 3 times a year so I am not worried about the radiation.  I killed more brain cells in college that I should probably be more worried about.  I would rather be x-rayed than blown up, that's for sure.

However, when it comes to Riley that's another ball game together.  I don't want anyone looking at her or touching her.  In fact, I challenge someone to give her an effective pat down, she should squirm so bad it would be a total failure.  I think that's my issue. 

I know we aren't supposed to profile, but geesh, a three year old or an elderly person that can barely walk...really!!  I remember being told I had to take her shoes when she was 6 months old.  I just looked at the guy, like seriously??  I did it without complaining.  But really???  Could you profile just a little bit, sticking with adults at least. 

rwbeagles

Cita

Karen, I don't disagree that people need to be more polite with TSA, but when you're in a customer service job you need to be polite with customers anyway.

There is NO way those people are trained well. The DOGS are trained better and likely more money spent on them...adding more dogs makes a lot more sense than adding more people.

I don't think the TSA sees themselves in any sort of Customer Service position - their models are the other security personnel who are supposed to be respected and left unquestioned.  The problem seems to be that the training invested in these TSA agents does not WARRANT the kind of unconditional respect and obedience it would in other parts of the world.  The policies and procedures they operate under need serious work.  They haven't gotten much better from when they were established exactly 9 years ago last week.

Glenda, hope your interview gets some good response quickly so you don't have to wait for weeks on end.  I started my new job today and it's good to be back among the folks who really, really like working with me.

Been working on a cross-stitch project as a baby gift... I thought I could get it done in a night.  I've invested 11 hours in it, and it's only maybe 1/3 done.  Oye!

mrstjohnson

  I did it without complaining.  But really???  Could you profile just a little bit, sticking with adults at least. 

I think that's part of the problem -- we're dealing with terrorists who are people who have NO respect for human life at all.  AND we're dealing with people making regulations who are post Vietnam war where people used to put grenades in a baby's wrap and then some woman would stop among GIs begging and try and take 10 of them out with the grenade hidden in her baby's blanket. 

So there IS no respect because they suspect a confirmed terrorist is going to not blink an eye at using kids.  But I think this is where intent runs amok with fear and no sensibility.  Sure such a thing COULD happen -- but how likely is it?  Is it worth pursuing?  The child would be *with* adults or an adult who should be giving off some sort of signals ...

Unfortunately, we lose sense of reason here -- anytime ANYTHING bad happens to anyone, everyone lines up to say "well that should NEVER have happened -- why didn't someone stop that!"  Unfortunately we're all really good at screaming that but at the same time we're not very good at helping sensibility be accomplished because everyone's too busy assessing blame.

griffinej5

Flying is a choice. If you don't want to get a pat down, and you don't want to go through the machine, there are trains or you can take your car. I think every adult boarding a plane should have to go through one of these new machines.

That's right.  The idea that these TSA people are all out to get their jollies from groping people is absurd.  The media again has managed to convince the masses that they are going to be subjected to nothing less than an almost lethal dose of radiation or be practically sexually assaulted by a leering TSA employee.  If I had a child I wouldn't hesitate to allow that child to be scanned and if the need arose for a body pat down, I would allow that also, without making a fuss.   A parent can either frighten a child by transmitting their fear and or outrage about the experience or they can explain to the child the reasons and treat the entire thing as a brief inconvenience.  I would think most children take their cue from the adult traveling with them and to act as though the child is going to be assaulted and traumatized for life, is doing much greater harm, mentally, than the actual very brief pat down children receive. 

great post Jackie - Really you don't have to fly if you feel that a momentary scan is unacceptable, thereby choosing to be pat down which you construe as a violation. No on individual has a greater right than another to be outside the rules/law/operating procedures.

here's an article from our paper today that shows that a whole lot of people are very OK with the inconvenience if it increases safety.  One woman has metal in her body and her response is I've been pat down every flight for years so I'm use to it.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/23/820791/those-hands-may-get-up-close-and.html

Interestingly DH - who as I said has oodles of experience and training in anti-terrorism told me last night that the new location to place explosives is in breast implants.

I will Courtney.

It isn't ALWAYS a choice to fly.  There are situations where you have to be where you have to be immediately.  And Todd was groped.  His package was carefully maniupulated to be sure it was all "package".

All I'm saying is hire and train people who can treat others with respect.