Originally Posted by
BearX220
TSORon, TSA began life with enormous goodwill and support from the traveling public. Way back when, most of us thought it was a fine idea to upgrade the professionalism level we saw from random rent-a-cops at checkpoints -- especially post-9/11. You didn't start out hated; you made yourself hated -- by refusing to explain yourself; by tolerating an out-of-control workforce; by dodging all accountability; by perpetrating terrible abuses on innocent citizens; and by denying they occur.
I have said something similar a few times now. Most people didn't have anything against TSA; it was their own experiences which changed their opinion. I flew probably a hundred flights from the US with little issue, and used to think that a lot of the stories were embellished or simply not true.
Then I found FT TS&S, and it was primarily the posts from TSOs and the way that they spoke about and to the public which made me open my eyes. Combine that with some very bad experiences this year, and my opinion has changed completely.
I am surprised that a government agency does let TSOs continue to post in a way which continues to decrease public opinion. There have been some very helpful and respectful TSOs who did post here, but they seem to have disappeared, and I am not certain that they were just driven away by the anti-TSA crowd.
The continual cries of 'everybody lies', 'it didn't happen', 'SOP is....' does nothing to improve the relationship here, in my view. I don't agree with name-calling and hyperbole on either side, but it is the TSA which is being evaluated here and which should be trying to improve its reputation.