Originally Posted by
studentff
Would you be OK with a random adult (not in a uniform or any real for faux authority position) coming up and asking your 12-year-old child why she was upset? Asking you to step aside while they asked the question? In an airport? Shopping mall? On the street?
What about a 10-year old? 6-year old? 2-year old? Where do you draw the line? Kids cry. Adults cry too. Big difference between a kid crying and a kid screaming/kicking/resisting/attempting-to-escape.
I don't seem much difference between a TSO and a random adult on the street. (I think based on recent "isolated incidents" the random adult on the street may be less likely to be a criminal than a TSO.)
4 strangers in uniform ganging up on and interrogating a child is unquestionably overbearing IMO. Interrogating the parent when she questions the process may well have been overbearing and abusive.
And I doubt the mom felt she could have regained control at any time with at least 4 uniformed TSOs in position to stand between her and her daughter.
If a mall security employee saw an adult escorting a crying 11 year old out of the mall would you hope they might stop them and ask questions much as the TSA representative did? What about a hotel or apartment concierge saw an adult escorting a crying 11 year old into a taxi? A bus driver? It might depend on the circumstances, the extent of the crying, the demeanor of the child - might it not? All would be in "uniform", but would you describe them as "jackboots" as one poster did? I would not.
Same scenario with a 2, 6 or 10 year old, but with the 2 and 6 year old most of us have repeatedly seen misbehaving urchins - not so with 10, 11 and 12 year olds. When would you interfere? Would you interfere? One whack on the bottom would not concern me. A belt being taken to a child would probably result in my interfering - how about you? I have had a hearing problem since before my school days - it was discovered when I was repeatedly being hit with a ruler by a female teacher in the 3rd grade who said I had "selective" hearing issues. My hearing was in high tones and virtually all grammer school teachers then were femaloss les - simple explanation for the "selective" hearing. It might have been nice if someone had decided not to "mind their own business" in my case.
Whether or not the TSA has authority beyond inspecting luggage, there is a
perception of authority and responsibility for "security" issues. The TSA representative accomplished what a private citizen may have thought right but was hesitant to pursue - is this good or bad? I guess it is up to the individual. Some would respond "I hope if my child was being abducted, someone would do this" and others would respond "Who do they think they are doing this to my child". As I understand child trafficing is a significant problem - would you rather a TSA step up or no one step up?
What I really like about this is the "ganging up" and similar hyperbole.