With so many people flying every day, a system that was thrown into place after a major catastrophe, and employees who are poorly paid, it is not a surprise that there are incidents on a daily basis.

I am not a road warrior, and I can sympathize with those of you who are and lose patience. I do fly both domestically and internationally several times per year. I am also not a shrinking violet, and have a reputation for standing up for myself, sometimes when it is probably not necessary.

That being said, I have never had a confrontation with a TSA employee. I go in with the attitude that they are doing a thankless but critical job. They do not need any grief from me. I pack carefully and try to follow the rules as I understand them. I make a big effort to try and not have anything that they could have a problem with.
I go out of my way to be polite and cooperative. I have encountered a variety of attitudes, but I set the tone with my good attitude, and therefore have never had any bad experiences.