Whole Body Scanners Opt Out Stories [merged]
Feb 7, 2011, 2:24 pm
#916
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 177
It was basically making conversation. Talked about how great the BBQ is in Memphis, etc.
Aside from the finger in the waistband thing, my experience was not all that different from a bouncer at the door of a nightclub. My main fear was getting some power trip type guy that likes having temporary power over other people. Which does happen especially if a job involves a uniform.
And it was back of the hand on my ..., not forward hand squeezing.
I agree that we shouldn't have to deal with NoS and pat downs, but at least for me the pat down was just annoying and didn't cross the line. Whereas I'd take the train across the country over going through a NoS.
When I was waiting to board, I asked this attractive girl in her 20's who was behind me in the check in line earlier to print tickets if she'd gone through the NoS. She said yes and that it bothered her. She didn't realize you could opt out.
Aside from the finger in the waistband thing, my experience was not all that different from a bouncer at the door of a nightclub. My main fear was getting some power trip type guy that likes having temporary power over other people. Which does happen especially if a job involves a uniform.
And it was back of the hand on my ..., not forward hand squeezing.
I agree that we shouldn't have to deal with NoS and pat downs, but at least for me the pat down was just annoying and didn't cross the line. Whereas I'd take the train across the country over going through a NoS.
When I was waiting to board, I asked this attractive girl in her 20's who was behind me in the check in line earlier to print tickets if she'd gone through the NoS. She said yes and that it bothered her. She didn't realize you could opt out.
Feb 7, 2011, 2:29 pm
#917
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,728
HOW DO THEY NOT KNOW!? Seriously, how can there still be so many people that haven't heard about the controversy, opt out day, etc. And how can the TSOs and Pissy's of the world claim that the American people prefer the scanner when they don't know they have a choice, or don't even know what the scanner is?
Feb 7, 2011, 2:41 pm
#918
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
HOW DO THEY NOT KNOW!? Seriously, how can there still be so many people that haven't heard about the controversy, opt out day, etc. And how can the TSOs and Pissy's of the world claim that the American people prefer the scanner when they don't know they have a choice, or don't even know what the scanner is?
Feb 7, 2011, 2:58 pm
#919
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 299
Most pax arent frequent flyers and don't spend all day on the internet so have no idea what their rights are in regard to the scanners and even the sex assault rubdowns. Remember the Bay Watch Babe who said she had no idea she could refuse. And of course the male TSO taking her by the arm and leading her to the scanner gave the appearance she had to go along. Worse than the scanners are the pax who don't know their rights regarding the rubdowns. A woman posted here awhile back that after she refused the scanner a male TSO said he wanted to do the rubdown, when she asked for a woman he wouldn't take no for an answer and came at her, only backing off when she threatened to scream. How many women, especially young women and teenage girls would be that assertive, especially when TSA promotes arrest and fines for non-cooperation.
Feb 7, 2011, 7:02 pm
#920
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 331
Most pax arent frequent flyers and don't spend all day on the internet so have no idea what their rights are in regard to the scanners and even the sex assault rubdowns. Remember the Bay Watch Babe who said she had no idea she could refuse. And of course the male TSO taking her by the arm and leading her to the scanner gave the appearance she had to go along. Worse than the scanners are the pax who don't know their rights regarding the rubdowns. A woman posted here awhile back that after she refused the scanner a male TSO said he wanted to do the rubdown, when she asked for a woman he wouldn't take no for an answer and came at her, only backing off when she threatened to scream. How many women, especially young women and teenage girls would be that assertive, especially when TSA promotes arrest and fines for non-cooperation.
It's unfortunately that there are still people who are unaware of the right to opt out, that they are entitled to a same sexy TSO, etc but they are out there. There should be no question as to informing people of their rights during screening, as questionable as those rights are. It's dishonest and maddening that the TSA is not making this information readily available and accessible to everyone as they enter the screening area.
Feb 7, 2011, 8:36 pm
#921
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Yes, he was quite specific and accurate. Hit everything he said he would and hit nothing he did not. I think they may have stepped up training a notch or two and it may be the reason it is sometimes hard to get a frisker. I suspect there may be a limited number with the newest training.
Feb 7, 2011, 8:43 pm
#922
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
Yes, he was quite specific and accurate. Hit everything he said he would and hit nothing he did not. I think they may have stepped up training a notch or two and it may be the reason it is sometimes hard to get a frisker. I suspect there may be a limited number with the newest training.
Feb 7, 2011, 11:09 pm
#924
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 453
Feb 8, 2011, 12:29 am
#925
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
This is as medieval as Torquemada's rack. It would make a great Monty Python skit:
TSA1: hmm...our scanner isn't working too well. we can't determine whether there's something between your legs or not.
Pax1: Oh No!
TSA2: We need to feel your groin!
[Off they go to the dark hut]
TSA1, again: hmm...these swabs aren't working too well. Half the people set off the alarm. Oh, well, better safe than sorry.
Pax2: uh oh!
TSA2, again: We need to feel your groin!
[Off they go to the dark hut]
endlessly looping.....
Feb 8, 2011, 6:24 am
#926
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,728
Feb 8, 2011, 6:04 pm
#927
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: PEK/LAX
Programs: UA 1P, GlobalEntry, StarwoodPlat
Posts: 55
I just went through PDX security check at gates D/E and was surprised to see that there were zero NoSs for the entire area. I had psyched myself up for my free, pre-flight massage.
Feb 8, 2011, 10:14 pm
#928
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 733
This is seriously not my week.
Today at ATL they had managed to make every lane feeding a NoS the only option available. Period. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. At 5p, it was all NoS, all the time.
So, I opted out.
No retaliatory wait like at SAN 2 days prior. My groper was suited up and retrieved me before the person behind had even put her arms up in surrender.
So he began his spiel:
TSA: I'll then place my hands on your upper leg and slide them up until I meet resistance"
barbell: I don't understand what you mean. What, exactly, are you going to touch.
TSA: I will slide my hand up your thigh until it meets resistance.
barbell: I assure you that there is nothing on the human body called "resistance."
TSA: It's the area where your leg meets your body.
barbell: You mean my crotch?
TSA: No, sir. The area where your leg meets your body.
barbell: That's what is known as my crotch. It is the area that includes my genitals. Are you telling me that you are going to rub my crotch?
TSA: I need to involve my supervisor... I've explained the procedure and he is questioning it.
3 Stripe: Do you have a problem?
barbell: No. I don't understand what you mean by resistance.
3 Stripe: He's going to put one hand on your outside leg and then run the other up your inner thigh until it meets resistance.
barbell: What do you mean be resistance?
3 Stripe: It's where his hand will stop. When it meets resistance.
barbell: I have advanced training in anatomy. There is nothing on the human body called "resistance."
3 Stripe: Since you're so smart, what's it called.
barbell: My crotch. Apparently you are obsessed with rubbing my crotch.
3 Stripe: There is no rubbing. You're welcome to leave right now.
barbell: Why must you touch my crotch.
3 Stripe: He isn't going to touch your crotch.
barbell: That's the resistance one would meet when rubbing the upper thigh to where it meets the body.
3 Stripe: Call it whatever you want. You get screened or leave.
So we began.
I asked that he change his gloves, to which he replied he already had new ones on. I protested that I didn't see it, and since a false positive was a one-way ticket to a private screening I needed to see him put on new gloves.
And then I asked that he swab them first. There wasn't the argument there was in SAN.
The 3 Stripe observed the whole thing and then walked away.
Following the screening I approached 3 Stripe and said, "May I provide feedback on the pat down?" To which he responded, "Of course."
"My father used to sexually abuse me. He would rub his hands on my upper thigh until he, too, met resistance. You are supervising the unprovoked genital manipulation of innocent people for a living. You are accepting pay to watch the sexual abuse and molestation of innocent people."
His response: "Have a nice day and enjoy your secure facility."
Mine: "You mean the same secure facility where one of your own abducted and then raped a woman? The same secure facility that leaves 10's of thousands of people unscreened as they are driven by the busload onto the tarmac? Rubbing my testicles isn't going to make this airport secure."
His: "Have a nice day."
I'd like to think I got a little under his skin. If nothing else I clearly made him uncomfortable.
So, datum point of one. When you have the nerve to file a complaint with a supervisor, it isn't reported. One of many reasons, I'm sure, that the complaints are so low.
Too bad for him, my flight was long enough to write a personal note to His Grace John Pistole. It awaits only a proofreading for tone from the spouse.
Today at ATL they had managed to make every lane feeding a NoS the only option available. Period. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. At 5p, it was all NoS, all the time.
So, I opted out.
No retaliatory wait like at SAN 2 days prior. My groper was suited up and retrieved me before the person behind had even put her arms up in surrender.
So he began his spiel:
TSA: I'll then place my hands on your upper leg and slide them up until I meet resistance"
barbell: I don't understand what you mean. What, exactly, are you going to touch.
TSA: I will slide my hand up your thigh until it meets resistance.
barbell: I assure you that there is nothing on the human body called "resistance."
TSA: It's the area where your leg meets your body.
barbell: You mean my crotch?
TSA: No, sir. The area where your leg meets your body.
barbell: That's what is known as my crotch. It is the area that includes my genitals. Are you telling me that you are going to rub my crotch?
TSA: I need to involve my supervisor... I've explained the procedure and he is questioning it.
3 Stripe: Do you have a problem?
barbell: No. I don't understand what you mean by resistance.
3 Stripe: He's going to put one hand on your outside leg and then run the other up your inner thigh until it meets resistance.
barbell: What do you mean be resistance?
3 Stripe: It's where his hand will stop. When it meets resistance.
barbell: I have advanced training in anatomy. There is nothing on the human body called "resistance."
3 Stripe: Since you're so smart, what's it called.
barbell: My crotch. Apparently you are obsessed with rubbing my crotch.
3 Stripe: There is no rubbing. You're welcome to leave right now.
barbell: Why must you touch my crotch.
3 Stripe: He isn't going to touch your crotch.
barbell: That's the resistance one would meet when rubbing the upper thigh to where it meets the body.
3 Stripe: Call it whatever you want. You get screened or leave.
So we began.
I asked that he change his gloves, to which he replied he already had new ones on. I protested that I didn't see it, and since a false positive was a one-way ticket to a private screening I needed to see him put on new gloves.
And then I asked that he swab them first. There wasn't the argument there was in SAN.
The 3 Stripe observed the whole thing and then walked away.
Following the screening I approached 3 Stripe and said, "May I provide feedback on the pat down?" To which he responded, "Of course."
"My father used to sexually abuse me. He would rub his hands on my upper thigh until he, too, met resistance. You are supervising the unprovoked genital manipulation of innocent people for a living. You are accepting pay to watch the sexual abuse and molestation of innocent people."
His response: "Have a nice day and enjoy your secure facility."
Mine: "You mean the same secure facility where one of your own abducted and then raped a woman? The same secure facility that leaves 10's of thousands of people unscreened as they are driven by the busload onto the tarmac? Rubbing my testicles isn't going to make this airport secure."
His: "Have a nice day."
I'd like to think I got a little under his skin. If nothing else I clearly made him uncomfortable.
So, datum point of one. When you have the nerve to file a complaint with a supervisor, it isn't reported. One of many reasons, I'm sure, that the complaints are so low.
Too bad for him, my flight was long enough to write a personal note to His Grace John Pistole. It awaits only a proofreading for tone from the spouse.
Feb 8, 2011, 10:18 pm
#929
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Northeast Kansas | Colorado Native
Programs: Amex Gold/Plat, UA *G, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Gold, NEXUS, TSA Disparager Unobtanium
Posts: 21,607
This is seriously not my week.
Today at ATL they had managed to make every lane feeding a NoS the only option available. Period. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. At 5p, it was all NoS, all the time.
So, I opted out.
Too bad for him, my flight was long enough to write a personal note to His Grace John Pistole. It awaits only a proofreading for tone from the spouse.
Today at ATL they had managed to make every lane feeding a NoS the only option available. Period. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. At 5p, it was all NoS, all the time.
So, I opted out.
Too bad for him, my flight was long enough to write a personal note to His Grace John Pistole. It awaits only a proofreading for tone from the spouse.
Feb 8, 2011, 10:24 pm
#930
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 733