So it's come up in other threads that the word "resistance" has something of an unclear definition. Unfortunately, the word was never really the exact topic of the thread itself and so extended discussion regarding it had a tendency to derail the thread.

I'm posting this so that we'll have a side thread dedicated to nailing down exactly what is meant by a TSO when speaking the word "resistance."

A few ground rules, though, so we can keep this going and finally get a definite answer:

Ground Rule 1: No flaming the TSOs. I know it's hard to resist (no pun intended) and there are those TSOs whose posts border on, or cross the line into, trolling and flamebait, but for the sake of getting answers let it go just this once. Use the report button if things get out of hand, the mods can tell the TSOs (or whoever else is flaming) to knock it off.

Ground Rule 2: No general TSA-bashing. Pointing out simple facts isn't bashing (e.g. "Your organization has failed to answer this question to the satisfaction of the public") but heated personal opinion is. I realize I'm basically throwing stones in a glass house here as I am far from innocent in this regard but there are more important goals at hand right now - namely, answering the "what is resistance" question.

Ground Rule 3: If something has been posted elsewhere, such as the answer to a question, either link directly to the post within the thread or copy and paste the post, verbatim, in this thread. That way we're not left to hunt down answers from a thread that's explicitly intended to provide them directly.

Ground Rule 4: No implications or insinuations. This means both implications of criminal misconduct on the part of TSOs (we have plenty of that in other threads - I do believe that in general, the heat should be kept on for the sake of the rights of the people but again, this thread has a different purpose) as well as implying the answer to a question rather than outright stating it. Questions here should be answered directly, explicitly, in terms a child could understand, and completely. Nothing should be left to inference. If there's any doubt about whether an answer is clear enough, err on the side of "too stupidly, explicitly, intelligence-insultingly clear" to ensure that we aren't leaving anyone in the dark.

Ground Rule 5: Questions will be numbered. Please pay attention to the numbering scheme and number your questions in ascending numerical order, picking up where the last poster left off. When answering a question (whether TSO or in-the-know pax) please reference the number of the question you're answering to avoid confusion.


Okay, that said:

Question 1: Knowing that there exists no anatomical component of the human body whose name is "resistance," would any of our resident TSOs, LTSOs, STSOs, FSDs or other TSA staff kindly clarify for us exactly what parts of the human anatomy are referred to when a screener says "until I meet resistance." Please provide answers with regard to:
--The adult male body
--The adult female body
--The body of a male child
--The body of a female child

Question 2: There have been anecdotal reports of pax squeezing their thighs together to create a point of physical resistance that exists lower than the genital region and would impede the hand of a TSO when moving up the leg. Given that such a motion would not be possible if the pax were concealing WEI in the groin area and thus is proof in and of itself that no WEI is present, are screeners expected to stop when meeting that physical resistance?


That's all I have for now. The next question posted should be numbered Question 3.