Generally speaking, SSSS happens when a security guard believes that there is a better-than-average chance that someone is about to violate the rules that TSA requires him to follow in order to pass their checkpoint, right? Don't you want people to follow the rules? Shouldn't we aim for a lack of the need for SSSS?

But wait -- can't we avoid all additional screening by doing what we're supposed to do (e.g., don't carry dangerous items through checkpoints, split up liquids into 3.4-ounce quantities, have our shoes searched, etc.)? I don't follow your reasoning. It's as if you have said that if TSA makes it clear what it requires of travelers, those travelers will know exactly how to do exactly what TSA wants them to do, and TSA will then lose the opportunity to find that travelers seem to be doing something wrong and spend extra time screening them.

Didn't you just tell us that TSA specifically avoids informing passengers of what the rules are?

We say we want to see such a list not because it doesn't seem to exist, but because we have yet to see it. We must assume that it exists, because it would be asinine of you to require us to follow rules that you will not show us, and we're giving you the benefit of the doubt when it comes to whether or not you would do something so ridiculous. Some of us suspect that there is no list of rules we're required to follow, but TSA keeps pretending like they will not infringe upon our rights if we simply follow the rules. We, in turn, ask to see the rules, and the TSA falls silent. *Repeat cycle*

Spotnik, can you get us an official response from TSA that says, "No, we, the TSA, will not show you a list of the rules you must follow in order to avoid having us restrict your right to travel"?


I don't want them to waste their time listing everything in the world that is not prohibited. I hope they'll focus on getting us an accurate list of what is prohibited. Ideally, I would like to see a big sign posted at every U.S. Government checkpoint that has been erected in our airports with a list of all the rules and regulations that TSA will subject someone to if that person wishes to cross that checkpoint en route to the gate from which his domestic flight will depart, not including laws that the person is required to abide by outside of the airport checkpoint (i.e., just those rules and regulations that apply only at the checkpoint).

Why is this so difficult? TSA: If you truly want us to follow your rules, then show us the damned rules! If you won't tell me what I'm required to do, then it's entirely unreasonable of you to stop me because I'm not doing it, so get out of my way and let me go about my business. (And if you really want to make a significant improvement to transportation safety, drop the anti-terrorism farce and go do something about the 3000 people who died last month in automobile accidents, and the 3000 who died in them the month before that, and the month before that...)

Does anyone not see how ridiculous it is to set up a "roadblock" at which people are required to follow certain rules in order to pass, but then to refuse to tell people what those rules are? It's un-American to stop all the honest people in hopes of finding the few criminals. What TSA is doing is nothing but conducting an enormously-expensive dragnet operation and facilitating DHS's intent to restrict people's freedom of movement based on blacklists.

No offense to you intended, Spotnik. I appreciate your attempt at improving communication. I hope that you see the unconstitutionality of what your agency does and that you are working from the inside to make it operate in a just and legal manner.