Being "Literal" with TSA is fun
#46
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Programs: AA PLT, 1.8mm
Posts: 6,988
#47
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 642
And acting like a spoiled little brat to the TSA agents is somehow supposed to make the process better for all of us?
I'm not following the logic. If anything, it seems to me that the OP's behavior has a much greater potential to make life more difficult for both himself and other passengers who later have to deal with the agent(s) he's bullied.
I'm not following the logic. If anything, it seems to me that the OP's behavior has a much greater potential to make life more difficult for both himself and other passengers who later have to deal with the agent(s) he's bullied.
We didn't see or hear about this much before the TSA came along and started making a mockery of security with federal employees.
Everybody can show their displeasure with a government entity however they see fit. Some may go so far as civil disobedience due to the TSA going too far, others won't take it that far, as the OP has decided to do. I commend the OP for showing restraint.
+1 to the OP.
#49
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,331
Seems like a lot of FTers who don't frequent the TS&S forum don't really get the whole anti-TSA attitude.
Well, I do frequent the TS&S forum, so let me explain it to you: OP acted like a jerk.
I don't know why, but acting like a jerk when confronted with mindless government drones makes some people feel good. Kinda like torturing bugs, I guess. I imagine that, if confronted by the other type of TSO one often encounters, i.e. the overbearing power-tripping bully, such jerks usually fold like a road map.
I despise TSA as an organization. But no matter how disgusted I am with TSA and any individual TSO, I like to keep one thought firmly in mind whenever I deal with them:
I am BETTER than they are.
But I am only better, I am only a superior person ethically and morally, when I act better than they act, which means I am never abusive, condescending, confrontational, or insulting. I treat TSOs with far more respect than they deserve, because to do any less would make me just like them.
And I despise them.
Well, I do frequent the TS&S forum, so let me explain it to you: OP acted like a jerk.
I don't know why, but acting like a jerk when confronted with mindless government drones makes some people feel good. Kinda like torturing bugs, I guess. I imagine that, if confronted by the other type of TSO one often encounters, i.e. the overbearing power-tripping bully, such jerks usually fold like a road map.
I despise TSA as an organization. But no matter how disgusted I am with TSA and any individual TSO, I like to keep one thought firmly in mind whenever I deal with them:
I am BETTER than they are.
But I am only better, I am only a superior person ethically and morally, when I act better than they act, which means I am never abusive, condescending, confrontational, or insulting. I treat TSOs with far more respect than they deserve, because to do any less would make me just like them.
And I despise them.
#50
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Newport Coast, CA
Posts: 498
The TSA continues to offend and violate rights basically because of the attitude of so many like the posters here. So what, what can we do about it, blahblahblah. So the OP did apparently the only thing left to do, since so many people are willing to accept this disgrace of a government agency. He let them know what so many agree with but are afraid to speak out about. We don't respect them even a little bit.
#51
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,214
The TSA continues to offend and violate rights basically because of the attitude of so many like the posters here. So what, what can we do about it, blahblahblah. So the OP did apparently the only thing left to do, since so many people are willing to accept this disgrace of a government agency. He let them know what so many agree with but are afraid to speak out about. We don't respect them even a little bit.
And please don't confuse having manners with being afraid to speak out about something.
#52
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Newport Coast, CA
Posts: 498
Well we can argue effectiveness, but emailing or calling your House or Senate reps, writing the President or the people in charge of TSA is at least better than doing nothing at all. Some people are jerks to flight attendants and the like because they don't like their attitude, which seems to me not that different than how some people act toward employees of the TSA.
And please don't confuse having manners with being afraid to speak out about something.
And please don't confuse having manners with being afraid to speak out about something.
#53
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
But this clerk did none of those things. The clerk in question was professional and didn't take the bait, even though the OP was clearly taunting him.
Sounds like he "stuck to the rules" to me.
Oh good gawd, please stop it with the "liberty" stuff. I think most people agree it's totally fair game to criticize the TSA, comment on their tactics, and point out where the system can be improved. There are lots of threads here about legitimate misconduct by the TSA: that should absolutely be taken seriously.
But the OP's childish behavior isn't about "speaking out" or trying to enact positive change to the system. Hell, it isn't even an effective step towards the goal some people have of abolishing the whole thing entirely. It's just childish behavior, plain and simple. Like what my 7-year-old does what she doesn't get what she wants...
Sounds like he "stuck to the rules" to me.
Oh good gawd, please stop it with the "liberty" stuff. I think most people agree it's totally fair game to criticize the TSA, comment on their tactics, and point out where the system can be improved. There are lots of threads here about legitimate misconduct by the TSA: that should absolutely be taken seriously.
But the OP's childish behavior isn't about "speaking out" or trying to enact positive change to the system. Hell, it isn't even an effective step towards the goal some people have of abolishing the whole thing entirely. It's just childish behavior, plain and simple. Like what my 7-year-old does what she doesn't get what she wants...
It's one thing for the TSA to try and waste your time and hassle you, but it sounds like the TSA person was trying to get you out as fast as possible. If you would have just shrugged it off for what it was (a random check), it would have taken probably 20 seconds.
#54
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Had all of us stood up to the TSA, especially in November of 2010, we could have put an end to the theater of the absurd called "security." Instead, most just put their tails between their legs, looked down and marched through the gauntlet of scans and gropes.
I applaud anyone who stands up to the TSA in any way whatsoever.
I applaud anyone who stands up to the TSA in any way whatsoever.
#55
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA
Programs: AA Plat, HHonors Gold, Marriot Silver
Posts: 952
TSO comes over and confirms my bags; apparently I'm to get a "random" bag check. He grabs my laptop bag and says , "grab your stuff and follow me." I replied, "that is my 'stuff' that you have." He stopped, thought for a moment, then said, "grab the rest of your stuff and follow me."
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,333
Seems like a lot of FTers who don't frequent the TS&S forum don't really get the whole anti-TSA attitude.
Well, I do frequent the TS&S forum, so let me explain it to you: OP acted like a jerk.
I don't know why, but acting like a jerk when confronted with mindless government drones makes some people feel good. Kinda like torturing bugs, I guess. I imagine that, if confronted by the other type of TSO one often encounters, i.e. the overbearing power-tripping bully, such jerks usually fold like a road map.
I despise TSA as an organization. But no matter how disgusted I am with TSA and any individual TSO, I like to keep one thought firmly in mind whenever I deal with them:
I am BETTER than they are.
But I am only better, I am only a superior person ethically and morally, when I act better than they act, which means I am never abusive, condescending, confrontational, or insulting. I treat TSOs with far more respect than they deserve, because to do any less would make me just like them.
And I despise them.
Well, I do frequent the TS&S forum, so let me explain it to you: OP acted like a jerk.
I don't know why, but acting like a jerk when confronted with mindless government drones makes some people feel good. Kinda like torturing bugs, I guess. I imagine that, if confronted by the other type of TSO one often encounters, i.e. the overbearing power-tripping bully, such jerks usually fold like a road map.
I despise TSA as an organization. But no matter how disgusted I am with TSA and any individual TSO, I like to keep one thought firmly in mind whenever I deal with them:
I am BETTER than they are.
But I am only better, I am only a superior person ethically and morally, when I act better than they act, which means I am never abusive, condescending, confrontational, or insulting. I treat TSOs with far more respect than they deserve, because to do any less would make me just like them.
And I despise them.
#57
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lincoln, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 1,262
Came through FNT this morning. Got the "random 'you've been randomly identified for screening'" beep from PreCheck WTMD. I sighed audibly and said something loud enough to hear.
TSO comes over and confirms my bags; apparently I'm to get a "random" bag check. He grabs my laptop bag and says , "grab your stuff and follow me." I replied, "that is my 'stuff' that you have." He stopped, thought for a moment, then said, "grab the rest of your stuff and follow me."
He says he's going to swab my bag and check it (doesn't say what he's checking for, of course). I said, "yeah, yeah, more stupid pet tricks."
He says, "the metal detector selected you for this screening, not us." I replied, "the metal detector is an inanimate object; it is incapable of selecting anything." He says, "didn't you hear that beep when you walked through?" I repeated my statement. He got a bit testy, but then left me alone.
When he came back and said all was ok, I replied, "wow, that really made a difference, didn't it." He walked away and we ended our encounter.
Another pax was in front of me in the PreCheck line; while checking his ID, the TSO said that "KDS" is behind you so the lane is definitely open (??). Guy turns to me and says, "it must be interesting that they know you by name." I replied, you should hear the stories as to why they know me; they're memorable ones.
Just another day of traveling under the bootheel of the blue-gloved agents of "freedom."
TSO comes over and confirms my bags; apparently I'm to get a "random" bag check. He grabs my laptop bag and says , "grab your stuff and follow me." I replied, "that is my 'stuff' that you have." He stopped, thought for a moment, then said, "grab the rest of your stuff and follow me."
He says he's going to swab my bag and check it (doesn't say what he's checking for, of course). I said, "yeah, yeah, more stupid pet tricks."
He says, "the metal detector selected you for this screening, not us." I replied, "the metal detector is an inanimate object; it is incapable of selecting anything." He says, "didn't you hear that beep when you walked through?" I repeated my statement. He got a bit testy, but then left me alone.
When he came back and said all was ok, I replied, "wow, that really made a difference, didn't it." He walked away and we ended our encounter.
Another pax was in front of me in the PreCheck line; while checking his ID, the TSO said that "KDS" is behind you so the lane is definitely open (??). Guy turns to me and says, "it must be interesting that they know you by name." I replied, you should hear the stories as to why they know me; they're memorable ones.
Just another day of traveling under the bootheel of the blue-gloved agents of "freedom."
You have lost the war.
Get over it!
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,047
Just be good sheeple and don't concern yourselves with abusive governments.
Had partisans throughout history taken this avenue our world would be a very different place.
#59
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,279
It seems you are being intentionally snotty for the fun of it. Belittling someone about silly semantics about the machine selecting or not selecting you (which that person had nothing to do with) seems rude and petty. Your argument is not more literal or more proper. It's just petty. This reminds me of a story where somebody yelled "you're fat and stupid" at a little girl that stuttered, causing her to cry and suffer long-term issues.
You aren't making a little girl cry. What you are most likely doing is making an adult clerk mad. If he is better than you (think about that for a second), then he will shake it off and be a professional with everyone else. Many clerks will take out their frustration with you on the next person. Did you stop to think that you are likely instigating and perpetuating the behaviors you are complaining about?
I politely stand up for my rights at checkpoints with facts and sound logic. I do what I can to try and influence the people at higher levels of TSA that actually make the decisions as well as Congress and the public at large. If everyone focus on doing the right things the right way, we would be much better off.
So, please tell me. How is belittling a clerk going to improve anything? Do you even care that your behavior may be the cause of that clerk being more abusive to someone else?
Seems like a lot of FTers who don't frequent the TS&S forum don't really get the whole anti-TSA attitude.
Well, I do frequent the TS&S forum, so let me explain it to you: OP acted like a jerk.
I don't know why, but acting like a jerk when confronted with mindless government drones makes some people feel good. Kinda like torturing bugs, I guess. I imagine that, if confronted by the other type of TSO one often encounters, i.e. the overbearing power-tripping bully, such jerks usually fold like a road map.
I despise TSA as an organization. But no matter how disgusted I am with TSA and any individual TSO, I like to keep one thought firmly in mind whenever I deal with them:
I am BETTER than they are.
But I am only better, I am only a superior person ethically and morally, when I act better than they act, which means I am never abusive, condescending, confrontational, or insulting. I treat TSOs with far more respect than they deserve, because to do any less would make me just like them.
And I despise them.
Well, I do frequent the TS&S forum, so let me explain it to you: OP acted like a jerk.
I don't know why, but acting like a jerk when confronted with mindless government drones makes some people feel good. Kinda like torturing bugs, I guess. I imagine that, if confronted by the other type of TSO one often encounters, i.e. the overbearing power-tripping bully, such jerks usually fold like a road map.
I despise TSA as an organization. But no matter how disgusted I am with TSA and any individual TSO, I like to keep one thought firmly in mind whenever I deal with them:
I am BETTER than they are.
But I am only better, I am only a superior person ethically and morally, when I act better than they act, which means I am never abusive, condescending, confrontational, or insulting. I treat TSOs with far more respect than they deserve, because to do any less would make me just like them.
And I despise them.
#60
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lincoln, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 1,262
To retort...
Well, for a start the Middle East would be a far more stable place.
There wouldn't be a bunch of people running amok beheading innocent people.
Has it ever occured to anyone that if you demonstrated one iota of respect to the poor TSA agents, they may just replicate that? I think the TSA folk are great - never had a problem. But then I take time to talk to them like they are human beings. Ascede to their resonable requests and thank them for their time. You should try it - they are nice people.
They are doing an impossible job. Dammed if they do. Dammed if they don't. You should remember that and if you think you can do better, put your money where your opinions are!