Superguy

BS it's 15 seconds. Don't know what airport you go thru, but I was shoeless for multiple minutes each at BWI and SLC this week.

My backyard isn't teaming with thousands of people's germs walking thru day in and day out with little cleaning or regard for people.

And of course, some of the diseases found at airport checkpoints were listed in here http://www.airportbusiness.com/artic...tion=5&id=7090

If you would eat food dropped on a floor in a public place, go right ahead. However, what germs I expose myself to should be MY choice and not some TSA bureaucrats who can't even prove that there have been any shoe attempts (in fact, the admit they didn't).

http://travelnewsblog.latimes.com/da...t_shoe_ch.html

The original article is still there, but it's archived on the LA Times' website. I'm not paying for it, but it's an interesting read. Though you can find snippets in this thread.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...e+bomb+attacks

Super

PatrickHenry1775

I do not eat any food that has fallen on the floor or ground, no matter how little time has passed between it hitting the surface and when it is picked up.

One's immune system is geared up for the germs in one's surroundings. Antigens/antibodies. People from all over the world pass through airport checkpoints. They bring exotic microbes with them. The risk of innocent people contracting illnesses increases dramatically when they are exposed to bacteria and viruses foreign to their immune systems. As stated before, the benefits of the shoe carnival (mandatory shoe/footwear removal for all) do not outweigh the risks of infection from this egregious breach of public hygiene.

Louie_LI

Food dropped on the floor gets contaminated pretty much straight away:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09curi.html

Michelle2385

I don't know where you've heard that food dropped on the floor for less than 45 seconds is safe to eat. There was actually a Mythbusters episode that tested "the five second rule" about food dropped on the floor. And even that was busted! They found that food became contaminated almost immediately.

The point that many of us are trying to make is that the TSA should be held accountable when its actions present a risk to public health, even if that risk is extremely small. If people want to eat off the floor, walk barefoot in an airplane lavatory, or pick their nose while driving, that's their choice. But a government agency should not force everyone to subject themselves to a security procedure that's unsanitary and undignified, especially when it's a total waste of time. An X-ray machine can't detect explosives hidden in shoes. And even if it could, there are many other articles of clothing (and body cavities) in which explosives could be concealed. "A small battery could also be used as a detonator" was one of Kip Hawley's reasons for lifting the ban on cigarette lighters. Why can't that same logic be applied to the Shoe Carnival?

gfunkdave

I have always thought it was gross to walk around on the airport floor in my socks - it's also why I never wear flip flops when I fly. The idea of walking around in bare feet is just nasty.

Still...it's important to have some perspective here. I mean, if it were that easy, we'd all be dead by now. And it's not like anyone's feet are ever close to being sterile. It's one thing if you have open cuts on your feet - quite another if not. Your skin, after all, is DESIGNED to keep nasties out of your body.

Even though I know walking around in socks or bare feet is probably fine, if I have any extra time I just refuse to take my shoes off and let them swab me.

Oh, and to the guy who implied that people in Afghanistan are shorter-lived because of hygiene - you're wrong. People in Afghanistan are shorter-lived because they're caught in the crossfire between the US Army and the Taliban.

Daringdoo

For a minute I thought I had a line of defense for the TSA in relation to people walking around the airport bathrooms then in stocking feet through the security area; one thing cancelling out the other, if you will. But if you read to the end, you see that there's just not enough 'contact time' for it to work

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/070330.html

DD

Michelle2385

Sadly, that is no longer an option. I guess you haven't flown since August 10th.

GoingAway

It's an option, but a painful and time consuming ending up with a full pat down and SSSS search of your baggage

doober

Not always; often just the swab.

GoingAway

are you just saying no or saying no due to a medical condition?

goalie

sop is if no alarm and shoes are not removed, you and not your bags are subject to secondary. do not let them tell you otherwise. if the screener at the x-ray machine "passed" your bags, then they better explain the probable cause to you in front of a leo before opening and inspecting your bags.

i say "no" because i wear orthotics and have never had my carry-ons inspected; only me (and it's 50/50 for a swab 'n go and full body maSSSSage).

JakiChan

I kinda have an issue with that - if you're not wearing orthopedic shoes or orthotics then you shouldn't lie and say that you are.

Me too. SFO and ORD did it wrong - full grope including folding over the top of my pants. I told them both times, but the screeners didn't seem to speak English. Only FLL did it correctly AND they were very polite about it. I went over and thanked the supervisor having his people do their job correctly...but also because he was way hot.

doober

I have absolutely no problem with being dishonest with an organization that is not honest with me. I also have no problem with being dishonest with an organization that "requires" shoe removal from babes in arms and elderly people.

Superguy

So it's really no different than the retalation pre 8/10 when you dared to question a TSO's authoritah.

jonesing

Re: flip flops...

A guy (white, mid 20's) in front of us at LAS D checkpoint refused to take off his flip-flops and they gave him a secondary. He was kinda loud and mouthy about it. When we were waiting for the train, I saw him being walked over to some side office by an airport cop. Musta got an attitude adjustment because we later saw him coming up the escalator while we were eating in the food area.