Cholula

You're right about that, at least in the early days of this forum. I remember going in and deleting all posts for some panic-stricken TSA'ers who said they didn't realize they would be fired for posting here.

Maybe I'm imagining it but there doesn’t seem to be as many barriers for TSA folks to post on IBB's any longer.

But I wouldn't wade in here and post if I were a TSO. Why deal with the anger and hostility?

And, hey, as a very frequent flier myself, I'm as angry and hostile toward the TSA as anybody else on this board. But I can also make the distinction between the big, bad TSA/DHS bureaucracy and FT'ers who are also TSO's and who want to contribute here.

lostinthewash

+1000 It's not passenger screening that gives me any sense of safety.

BearX220

The key word being "feel." TSA theater fools some of the people, some of the time. Please think critically about how safe you really are, and whether taking off your shoes, having your naked body scrutinized by strangers, etc. really results in a more secure aircraft... or just a vague, illusory "feeling" of safety.

N965VJ

It's also possible that some have also gone on to other employment. I know one that has recently expressed disgust at having to do enhanced patdowns, and is thinking about (or has) quit the TSA.

Cholula

Of the at least 200 TSO's who used to post here, trust me, the great majority were run out of town. The number who stopped posting due to a fear of losing their job was much smaller. At least where we know the actual reason they stopped posting.

And, BTW, let's not name any names here. This is just for general discussion. We had to delete a post a few minutes ago where a member was specifically naming other members. We don't allow calling out other members, TSA'ers or not.

ScatterX

Maybe your first post shouldn't have called most of the board ignorant. The first ugly bantered in this thread was by you.

Hostile, as in calling people ignorant?

Care to clarify what exactly is ignorant? What would you say about somebody that claims THE CONSTITUTION DOESN'T APPLY TO TSA or that we don't have the right to freedom of movement?

Care to elaborate or are you going back to lurking? FT'ers thrive on the debate. Bring it on.

You might want to rub the crap off your crystal ball. We are already complaining that TSA isn't improving security. What we have now is very expensive, very ineffective security theater at the expense of our personal liberties. You can bet our screams are not (and will not be) for an encore of security theater.

LessO2

I share the same concerns and disgust about the TSA that most others here do. The difference is that some (and only some) here, I feel, take the conversation and overall theme right into the toilet sometimes, and that's a shame.

Because I think there is potential for this forum to be a conduit, whether official or unofficial, to DHS/TSA headquarters. I hold out hope someday that some of us can speak directly to someone at TSA (and not just a spokesperson or public affairs person), and express our concerns and let us give them some constructive feedback.


I think that's partially due to the one-sided nature of things at checkpoints. Some front-liners just have this "talk to the LEO" attitude if anything is said out of the ordinary. For that, I can completely understand this being a place to vent.

However, that feeling and mentality is not just a by-product of this board, it's what drives this board. Revert back to the previous reply.

ScatterX

^Constructive debate would be ideal.

The OP, on the other hand, in her first volley into this forum, chose to label everyone ignorant.

Boggie Dog

I don't see TSA showing any desire to engage in dialogue. With TSA information only flows in one direction if it flows at all.

It was the hope of many that PV would be a true place of discussion but that hope was short lived.

I too would like to see real discussion but TSA has to open the door first.

barbell

Welcome to FT.

Would you still feel safe if you knew that loaded guns are ending up planes and in airports today, brought on by people not otherwise authorized to have them in these areas, precisely because of TSA security screening procedures in place today?

Would you still be thankful if you knew that the 9/11 hijackers used weapons placed on planes by people who today are still not screened per TSA policy?

How do you, JoiseyGirl, being electronically strip searched, patted down, frisked, scrutinized, and otherwise restricted in free travel within the borders of your own country feel any safer today knowing that loaded guns, knifes, and terrorists get on planes not in spite of TSA procedure and TSO behavior, but because of it?

And I take exception to your statement that we will be among the first to cry foul against TSA if something happens. I am crying foul today because exactly the things TSA is doing today puts us, our infrastructure, and our values at risk. Today.

essxjay

You are not alone.

I think there's significant difference between 'constructive feedback' and 'constructive debate'. The intent behind many threads is the former but the discussion too often skips even a pretense of the latter quickly sliding into 'destructive debate'.

It's hard not to take the bait, no question, but in the interest of 'constructiveness' we must resist the urge to return fire.

I disagree. I think the Flyertalk community is a powerful voice in the travel industry and the TS/S subforum is an ideal place for public discussion but only if we commit to a higher level of discourse for the long haul. Not that the TSA will in fact come if we open the door first, but without prior demonstration of extended civility I don't them even sniffing the welcome mat. Maybe we could achieve this by initiating a lounge thread for venting or moving some threads to OMNI/OMNI PR. (I don't have a solution off the top of my head.)

LessO2

Part of my dismay is kind of what you said in reply to the OP. That's kind of the heart of the problem here. So what if she said what she said? I've heard a LOT worse, MUCH worse, dished out from people directed at GAs or FAs, and they just let it slide.

I think if we were able to do that here, the mood here would change for the better. I mean, this is an internet discussion board, not life or death.


I think they have opened the door into FT. However, they clearly do not like what they see in here. And I can't really say I blame them.

But you're right, as a whole, they don't really seem to care about us in general. My hope is that constructive dialogue in here might get some people at HQ thinking about listening to what we have to say.....whether it's culling ideas from discussions on the board or actively soliciting our ideas, it doesn't matter.

Frankly, when things like "Nappy," "Pissy" and "Skeletor" come onto this board, I don't blame them for dismissing us. To some (but not me) it's fun and/or funny to call them names, but the end result is a lumping of everyone who contributes in this forum to being in the third grade.


Well said.

Boggie Dog

FT could be an excellent platform if TSA HQ wanted to participate.

The front line TSA folks that have come here give good information that is helpful but have little pull to change things.

I agree that TSA types get a full ration of BS here, I am as guilty as anyone, but I have attempted to dial back the comments in an attempt to share thoughts instead of anger.

I would still like to see some discussion from TSA instead of telling the public how it will be. TSA truly seems to have zero customer service skills.

I pledge to attempt constructive discussions from here out.

Cholula

That's a start. Thanks.

Anybody else willing to take The Pledge™??

LessO2

I'm definitely in.