Originally Posted by Doppy
Sounds like they're starting the behavioral profiling program there: SPOT. The questions don't have to make sense, they're just supposed to elicit a reaction. Though ones that are so imprecise as to confuse everyone seem unhelpful in this regards.
What was he writing on his clipboard? It's one thing to be questioning people for behavioral profiling purposes (which has its own issues), but quite another to be recording passengers' responses. Should have asked him if he was in compliance with the Privacy Act.
If he was writing the answers down on a clipboard, he wasn't paying very good attention to the body language, so I'd say if that is behavioral profiling, it is way off.
Can they deny you access to the secure area if you just remain mute, don't answer any questions at all, and take a secondary? Or will it be a case of 'Do you want to fly today'?