Do some people actually enjoy being groped?
Dec 3, 2011, 3:30 am
#1
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,578
Do some people actually enjoy being groped?
At SFO international terminal recently, I was in line behind a guy who loudly and proudly declared "I opt out" and seemed quite happy about it. He obviously knew what he was doing.
He could have easily chosen the WTMD lane, as I did, but he chose the AIT lane of his own free will.
I've never met anyone like that before. What do you think his motivation was?
He could have easily chosen the WTMD lane, as I did, but he chose the AIT lane of his own free will.
I've never met anyone like that before. What do you think his motivation was?
Dec 3, 2011, 3:33 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Menlo Park, CA, USA
Programs: UA: 1K, HH: Diamond
Posts: 1,330
As a rape survivor, I don't enjoy being groped, but I always opt out and I'm happy to do so. Why? Because I have health concerns and privacy concerns about the equipment, and I'd rather go with what seems more predictable.
Dec 3, 2011, 5:02 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
At SFO international terminal recently, I was in line behind a guy who loudly and proudly declared "I opt out" and seemed quite happy about it. He obviously knew what he was doing.
He could have easily chosen the WTMD lane, as I did, but he chose the AIT lane of his own free will.
I've never met anyone like that before. What do you think his motivation was?
He could have easily chosen the WTMD lane, as I did, but he chose the AIT lane of his own free will.
I've never met anyone like that before. What do you think his motivation was?
deirdre, I hate it that we are forced only with a choice between two unpleasant and invasive options just to get on a plane.
Dec 6, 2011, 6:07 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: in the sky
Posts: 490
Apparently some do! (it makes 'em feeel safer)
Not at an airport, but... here's an illustration of the mind-set:
http://www2.tbo.com/news/bucs/2011/d...-ja-ar-330803/
sadly:
"I'm all for the security of it. If it takes a little longer to get in, I'm OK with that," said Kris Hearn, who came with her son from New Jersey to see the game and opted for the wanding line.
"I would prefer to be wanded than patted down. … It's kind of weird, and I don't know where their hands have been."
Meggan Wright, of Orlando, went through the pat-down line before heading in to see her first NFL game, saying she worried that someone might be able to sneak something through the metal detectors.
"I feel like it's safer if everyone does it ... for my safety and everyone else's safety," she said.
"You can miss people when you do the wand ... But the pat-down ... I feel like it's more secure."
"I would prefer to be wanded than patted down. … It's kind of weird, and I don't know where their hands have been."
Meggan Wright, of Orlando, went through the pat-down line before heading in to see her first NFL game, saying she worried that someone might be able to sneak something through the metal detectors.
"I feel like it's safer if everyone does it ... for my safety and everyone else's safety," she said.
"You can miss people when you do the wand ... But the pat-down ... I feel like it's more secure."
http://www2.tbo.com/news/bucs/2011/d...-ja-ar-330803/
sadly:
The NFL started requiring pat-down searches in August 2005. Gordon Johnston, a Buccaneers season-ticket holder, filed a court challenge, saying the searches violated his constitutional rights. The pat-downs were halted for three years until Johnston eventually lost his legal battle.
Dec 6, 2011, 8:23 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 627
There are plenty of people who think TSA gropes are the Only Reason we don't have airplane debris raining out of the sky on a daily basis from suicide bombings.
Of course, this means that we must still be experiencing airplane-debris rain from all the flights between Canada and Mexico, which have not been blessed by the TSA, and are therefore loaded with suicide bombers intent on raining airplane debris on the USA.
Of course, this means that we must still be experiencing airplane-debris rain from all the flights between Canada and Mexico, which have not been blessed by the TSA, and are therefore loaded with suicide bombers intent on raining airplane debris on the USA.
Dec 6, 2011, 8:26 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
The NFL started requiring pat-down searches in August 2005. Gordon Johnston, a Buccaneers season-ticket holder, filed a court challenge, saying the searches violated his constitutional rights. The pat-downs were halted for three years until Johnston eventually lost his legal battle.
Dec 6, 2011, 9:13 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS and vicinity
Programs: Former UA 1P
Posts: 3,723
At SFO international terminal recently, I was in line behind a guy who loudly and proudly declared "I opt out" and seemed quite happy about it. He obviously knew what he was doing.
He could have easily chosen the WTMD lane, as I did, but he chose the AIT lane of his own free will.
I've never met anyone like that before. What do you think his motivation was?
He could have easily chosen the WTMD lane, as I did, but he chose the AIT lane of his own free will.
I've never met anyone like that before. What do you think his motivation was?
Some people may be aware of the ability to opt-out but less aware of the potential for self-directed-opt-out (SDOO). They also may not realize that once the id-checker "clears" them, they pretty much can choose any lane they want.
Some people may not know exactly when is the best time to opt out. The "novice" example would be opting out at the TDC vs. at the x-ray machine. But there's even debate here among experts as to if you should opt out before or after your carry-on goes into the x-ray, etc.
Another option, some people of activists leaning may want the grope, not because they like it, but because it ties up TSA resources. "Taking one for the team" by opting out is sometimes quite effective at keeping the people behind you for getting selected for the NoS, as it is easier for TSA to direct people through the WTMD while they work out where to find someone to do the group, argue with the opt-out who wants to keep his belongings in sight, etc.
And finally, opting out loudly in front of a crowd is actually a great education technique given how many passengers seem completely unaware of the ability to opt out. It's not my own style to educate that way--I'd rather have individual conversations with those around me. But it is a viable technique.
Dec 6, 2011, 1:35 pm
#10
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Dec 6, 2011, 2:06 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Up in the air far too often.
Programs: Star Gold
Posts: 354
Another option, some people of activists leaning may want the grope, not because they like it, but because it ties up TSA resources. "Taking one for the team" by opting out is sometimes quite effective at keeping the people behind you for getting selected for the NoS, as it is easier for TSA to direct people through the WTMD while they work out where to find someone to do the group, argue with the opt-out who wants to keep his belongings in sight, etc.
And finally, opting out loudly in front of a crowd is actually a great education technique given how many passengers seem completely unaware of the ability to opt out. It's not my own style to educate that way--I'd rather have individual conversations with those around me. But it is a viable technique.
And finally, opting out loudly in front of a crowd is actually a great education technique given how many passengers seem completely unaware of the ability to opt out. It's not my own style to educate that way--I'd rather have individual conversations with those around me. But it is a viable technique.
I'd be appalled if anybody hearing me doesn't realize why I would opt out, but I guess I am often surprised by how uninformed the populace is.
Taking up resources definitely works. Stand in front of the BKSX and take up the while machine lane, and don't hear the person the first few times they ask you to go through, then just ignore for awhile, then finally wait until they offer you the opt-out.
I've gotten four or five people through the WTMD this way. (Only do this if there is a competing WTMD.)
Dec 6, 2011, 2:10 pm
#12
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Opting out is making no difference whatsoever. Not even the teensy-weensiest of ripples in a reconsideration of the policy. Does it sometimes hold other people up? Of course. Does it make a difference? Not a jot. You might get some self-satisfaction out of it but most people are thinking "idiot".
Dec 6, 2011, 2:23 pm
#13
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Up in the air far too often.
Programs: Star Gold
Posts: 354
Opting out is making no difference whatsoever. Not even the teensy-weensiest of ripples in a reconsideration of the policy. Does it sometimes hold other people up? Of course. Does it make a difference? Not a jot. You might get some self-satisfaction out of it but most people are thinking "idiot".
Are you joking regarding holding people up? If you have a dual-lane setup the operators prevent backup by pushing through WTMD which takes a very small fraction of the time of BKSX. The overall time is the same but many more people go through WTMD. This is part of the reason that the TSA has not removed WTMDs.
The relative time it takes for the two tests is probably about 5:1, possibly more, so when lines get long they shove people through the other without an overall holdup.
Dec 6, 2011, 3:40 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: *wood Gold
Posts: 1,781
I had my first opt out Sunday evening at DCA, terminal C.
Made sure to block up the porn-o-tron while loudly shouting that I couldn't see my belongings. Two TSOs came to block the WTMD and (presumably) my view of my belongings while pointing me over to the glass area reserved for those who could only be terrorists.
It's amazing how quickly some folks come running when you don't bother to wait for the TSOs to react and take the matter into your own hands by shouting "Supervisor!". As soon as the supervisor came, she immediately escorted me through the WTMD and over to the X-ray belt where I identified my carry ons.
The rest of the process was thorough, but professional. The TSO who patted me down was pleasant and friendly, and even chuckled a bit after I winked and asked "Are you gonna touch my penis?" when he asked if I had any questions. I notice that they're still calling it "resistance"... After he said that I chuckled... I informed him that I'm an EMT, and didn't recall ever hearing that term in class.
When I asked him to specifically point to where one could locate the "resistance" on one's body, he sheepishly grinned and suggested that I knew what he meant. My reply - "Of course I do. But you all shouldn't be ashamed to use the medical term for it. If you're gonna touch my penis, please be adult enough to acknowledge that. We're both men here." The result - no touching at all of areas within about a foot of my legs going down the torso. So I guess the strategy of calling Mr. Winkey by his proper name did work after all.
I really think the only way we get TSA to stop this nonsense is by making it completely ineffective to do it. The way that happens is simple - get TSOs to stop doing it by making them feel uncomfortable and "icky" about their actions. I'd urge everyone in this forum to use as many anatomically correct terms for body parts as possible when talking to TSOs about touching your "private areas". Don't let them get away with touching your "resistance" when you can force them to acknowledge at some level that it's really something else.
Made sure to block up the porn-o-tron while loudly shouting that I couldn't see my belongings. Two TSOs came to block the WTMD and (presumably) my view of my belongings while pointing me over to the glass area reserved for those who could only be terrorists.
It's amazing how quickly some folks come running when you don't bother to wait for the TSOs to react and take the matter into your own hands by shouting "Supervisor!". As soon as the supervisor came, she immediately escorted me through the WTMD and over to the X-ray belt where I identified my carry ons.
The rest of the process was thorough, but professional. The TSO who patted me down was pleasant and friendly, and even chuckled a bit after I winked and asked "Are you gonna touch my penis?" when he asked if I had any questions. I notice that they're still calling it "resistance"... After he said that I chuckled... I informed him that I'm an EMT, and didn't recall ever hearing that term in class.
When I asked him to specifically point to where one could locate the "resistance" on one's body, he sheepishly grinned and suggested that I knew what he meant. My reply - "Of course I do. But you all shouldn't be ashamed to use the medical term for it. If you're gonna touch my penis, please be adult enough to acknowledge that. We're both men here." The result - no touching at all of areas within about a foot of my legs going down the torso. So I guess the strategy of calling Mr. Winkey by his proper name did work after all.
I really think the only way we get TSA to stop this nonsense is by making it completely ineffective to do it. The way that happens is simple - get TSOs to stop doing it by making them feel uncomfortable and "icky" about their actions. I'd urge everyone in this forum to use as many anatomically correct terms for body parts as possible when talking to TSOs about touching your "private areas". Don't let them get away with touching your "resistance" when you can force them to acknowledge at some level that it's really something else.