New Security Program Causes Major Logan Jam
- Thread starter Don
- Start date
I just flew across the country a couple of times last week. I swear TSA does this invasive, search-without-cause stuff just to assert its authority. I've said it before; it is no different from when I make my dog wait for his food. It's all about reminding us who's in charge by forcing us to act like good little sheeple.
We are not any safer. It's all window dressing.
Flying has become such a PITA that I now drive to most of the places I'd have flown to in the past. Chicago? Louisville? Forget it, I'm driving.
This reminds me of Jeff Foxworthy's routine about going through security at Paducah International Airport.
Security official: "Y'all got any bombs, or guns, or nail files, or stuff like that?"
"No, sir."
Security official: "Well, y'all get on in there then. Enjoy ya trip on that there flying machine."
Security official: "Y'all got any bombs, or guns, or nail files, or stuff like that?"
"No, sir."
Security official: "Well, y'all get on in there then. Enjoy ya trip on that there flying machine."
Although I think this is stupid, I have to admit that I've never had huge issues with TSA and the security procedure. I travel quite often and have never felt violated in any way nor been held up unnecessarily.
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2011
- Messages
- 7,212
- Reaction score
- 974
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
- Website
- www.facebook.com
One of the things I like best about being dead broke is that I have an unassailable excuse for not flying around the country to visit people. I hate flying nowadays. It's just another pointless, soul-sucking nightmare of modern incompetence.
So you haven't come home to find the little note in your suitcase informing you that TSA has riffled through your dirty laundry?
Because I have. And you know what? I may having nothing to hide but what's in my suitcase is none of their goddamnmotherfuckingbusiness. It's bullshit, and we've put up with it for too long and for what? For what? Are we any safer? No. We've been forced to give up our privacy for no reason at all.
Actually, I love flying, and think it takes tremendous competence to throw huge hunks of metal filled with people through the sky on a schedule. I find looking down at the planet from great heights elevates my soul, makes me appreciate the fragility of the planet and the chutzpah it's taken to tame it. It's as soul-stirring an experience as a mountain peak at sunrise or the desert at new moon to me.
It's the crap on either end of the flight that makes it intolerable, IMO.
Of course not, and Don, you know I don't think there should be a TSA in the first place.
But, since they exist, this actually is closer to what I think they should be doing than the body scans and pat downs. If they were to get rid of the body scans and pat downs and replace it with this, I'd be pretty happy about it.
(course, that's not what they're doing.)
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2011
- Messages
- 7,212
- Reaction score
- 974
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
- Website
- www.facebook.com
For the next TSA upgrade there's just going to be a line marked "Suspicious-looking brown people".
God I'm so glad I don't live in America.
No offence America, but there it is.
God I'm so glad I don't live in America.
No offence America, but there it is.
None taken. I'm starting to wish I didn't but...sorry...Europe's got it's problems too.
Gah! You just had to drag me back inside the plane, didn't you?
I haven't flown commercial in over 10 years, but I always got a window seat and tuned out the cabin. That said, I'd rather be in a small plane any time.
What I really hate is when they cut off my TSA approved lock instead of using their key to unlock it.
Sure you can fill out a 3 or 4 page form requesting a refund, but you need the original sales receipt and a bunch of other stuff - they suggest sending a photo of the lost/damaged item. If it's lost how can I take a picture of it - or do they expect me to take a photo of everything I pack, including the lock?
Sure you can fill out a 3 or 4 page form requesting a refund, but you need the original sales receipt and a bunch of other stuff - they suggest sending a photo of the lost/damaged item. If it's lost how can I take a picture of it - or do they expect me to take a photo of everything I pack, including the lock?
These stories seem to be getting worse and worse rather than going back to a state of "normality" (which some folks believed when thee things were introduced), so for someone who is planning a journey to the states it is very disturbing to see just how bad it seems to be. As for the profiling which is going on... Oh man, I am so screwed.
No offence taken, here anyway. It's not about "brown" people. I don't know where you're getting that from. It's all about power and paranoia. And no, nobody "brown" is going to have an exclusive problem in America. Americans of every color are going to have a problem in America. . .
Sure, but some of us will get a greater proportion of that paranoia directed at us than others.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2006
- Messages
- 17,873
- Reaction score
- 4,664
- Location
- dunking doughnuts at Dunkin' Donuts
Nope. The worst that's happened to me is the last time I flew out to LA, I'd forgotten my Bag O' Liquids in my carry-on and was detained an extra 2.5 minutes as they questioned me and ran a testing swab through my bag.
And that's me on the right in my avatar. From what everybody's been saying, I'd be the first one they'd target based on my appearance.
I have you beat there - dark long hair? Check. Beard? Check. Nervous about flying? Check. The extended stay (6 months, so I probably won't have my return flight booked) would be the added push they need to take me off to a little room and question me.
It must be select airports only that have this issue. I've never seen 4 hour lines. I've never gotten to the airport early enough to deal with that kind of thing either, so I'd probably end up missing my flight if I had to.
I get one of those little cards from Customs telling me that they've fingered my skivvies every time though. I sure hope the dildos give them a chuckle. (srsly, start carrying bizarre sex toys around with you, they'll be so distracted, they'll let you right through... )
I get one of those little cards from Customs telling me that they've fingered my skivvies every time though. I sure hope the dildos give them a chuckle. (srsly, start carrying bizarre sex toys around with you, they'll be so distracted, they'll let you right through... )