Originally Posted by
Bart
SATTSO,
Kudos for attempting to start an intelligent discussion on this innovation. I'm afraid you picked the wrong audience; some of these folks will whine no matter what TSA does. You already know that.
The biggest criticism against TSA is how an elderly person in a wheelchair has to undergo the exact same type of screening as a younger, more able-bodied passenger. Or how a young child is patted down in the same manner as an adult would be screened. The other complaint, which is nothing more than thinly disguised racism, is the old "Norwegian terrorist" argument: since none of the 9/11 terrorists were Norwegian, dark skinned passengers should undergo more intense screening. (Yeah, some in here will deny this, but what it boils down to is that white, Anglo-Saxon "Americans" should not have to undergo screening.) The implied complaint is that TSA ought to adjust its screening methodology according to the situation. In other words, apply common sense. The folks who advocate this usually do so because they believe they will fall in the exception category and that everyone else will have to undergo regular screening.
I think RBS is a long overdue step in the right direction. But it's going to require a massive culture change on both sides of the X-ray machine, and I don't think the public nor TSA workforce is prepared to make that change. The very first complaint I see coming is "why her and not me?" immediately followed by a demand that EVERYONE undergo the EXACT SAME screening methodology in order to be FAIR to everyone. And the other argument that will surface is whenever prohibited items are discovered after a low-risk passenger was screened how the program is "obviously" a "failure." I hope TSA sticks to its guns and continues to develop RBS because it is the right thing to do. Eventually, the traveling public will understand and accept it with the exception of the minority few knuckleheads who just live to piss in the pool no matter who's swimming in it.
Bottom line: focus on those who need the extra attention instead of those who truly do not pose a threat to commercial aviation.
It's a huge step. I don't think folks understand everything that comes with it.
Again, thanks for introducing the topic.
No reasonable person will object to having some people scrutinized less than others, as most of these choices will be obvious and the others should be defendable. But no reasonable person will assent to strip searches and groping over their private areas, touching breasts, feeling up to and sometimes into the genitals, massaging your whole body, basically a prison custodial search, WITHOUT CAUSE, as you are doing now. RBA will not give you the green light to do that, ever.
Intelligent RBA and a functioning ATR (with rare false positives, proven safeguards against nude image rendering and data transmission or storage) provide a way forward. Given TSA's track record, we are not entirely confident in the prospects.
The biggest change will have to occurr on TSA's side. The "passengers are perps" mindset of management, the mindset of rank and file, and a massive sifting through the ranks. The job market is such that if you change the agency's rep by stop doing these terrible things to people, you would have lots of good people applying. Get rid of the employees who have poor customer skills and who are incapable of making good judgements.