Did you do a "No ID" screening procedure? At least that way it would have been worth your while.

No, I used my Passport Card.

Patiently waiting for GSOLTSO's response to my earlier post.

I want to know if he would be ok with someone sticking their hands down the pants/touching the genitals of his own kids/elderly parents. Especially since it is possible that the search would be done by someone of the opposite gender.

My biggest issue isn't necessarily the screening, although I still believe it is a horrible violation of individual rights.

My problem with the process is that TSA SOP is SSI, there is virtually no recourse for TSO's who do not follow SOP, the public has no way of knowing what the TSO can and can't do and most of the time the TSA doesn't inform people of the rights that the TSA has decided that they have that day.

The DYWFT doesn't help either.

Related historical headline: Auschwitz SS ask "What about our feelings?"

+ 1,000,000...love it!

Actually, I have. I was the only one in my office to leave...the only one with the guts. I found another job, a better job, that led to the fabulous career I now have. Karma, my friend.

I have, too. I was working when my business went through a corporate merger that destroyed employee morale and resulted in the loss of some of the most knowledgeable people in my department. I gave two weeks notice and worked as a temp for the next several months until I found new, permanent employment. FWIW, this was one of the businesses that was bailed out by the government last year to avoid a financial catastrophe.

You have no sympathy here, my friend.

All these reports of people sticking up for what they believe in, is restoring my faith in humanity just a little bit.

Thanks for the good news folks ... Better than a dram of the good stuff on a cold wintry day

While I haven't actually left a job, I did explain to my supervisor that I was prepared to do so if he insisted I follow a directive from the company that I considered to be unethical. After a short period the directive was rescinded.

I am self employed so the question does not quite apply. However, I did turn down an offer on a consulting contract worth $12000 per year (12 days at $1000 per day) because I had ethical objections with the business where I would have been working.

TSA workers have a choice. Resign. Today.

"Feel bad when you put your hands down a strange mans pants?" That's whats left of your humanity begging your conscious to reconsider your poor decision.

The fact that they choose to continue to grope the genitalia of strangers all day long for $20 an hour, tell us everything about their lack of character, and lack of concern for the people they terrorize.

I would live homeless in the street before I work work a single day as a TSA molester.

Pistole says we need to get used a new social norm.

So no, I don't think they are reigned in by any mores at all.

Naomi Wolf stated here that sexual intrusion and sexual humiliation by the state is the last step a county takes becoming a full fledged fascist state. In many ways it is the step when it crosses the line.

These acts are done to keep the population cowed and submissive.

I honestly think that almost all passengers dislike the screening in any format, even if they understand the reasoning and the need. I agree that the balance between the security and personal comfort is going to be an ongoing range of adjustments - that is the rub, it is hard to achieve that balance.

An ink pen can be one of the most dangerous items on this planet with someone that knows how to use it - and this is one of the bigger problems. The threats to people and aviation is only limited to the creativity of the people trying to do bad things. It is one of the reasons we have hired so many EOD personnel and technicians over the last few years, to give us better training and resources for prevention. Knowing and pinpointing what is going to be the next attack (not just at aviation, but anywhere) is like nailing jello to a tree. Even Mr. Pistole has stated that preventing everything is an impossibility and that he is open to changes in the policies - but that it will be done with consultation and expert input from many sources (external and internal).

I agree with much of what you are saying, but I also have to put a disclaimer out, I work at a smaller airport where some of the problems you mention will most likely not occur here. Stuff like you mention above - a passenger with breast prosthetics will have little problem here because we seem to have a pretty decent crew that has dealt with situations like that before. Getting the passengers carryon bags and other gear is usually placed near them in the screening areas so they are able to observe them.

A huge problem for any organization is going to be communication (it has been everywhere I have worked, and is here). The message from the headshed all the way to Joe TSO is not what it should be - that is not a knock on the agency, just a fact that happens everywhere. There is also the differing interpretations from one location to another and it makes for the normal mixture of information - the difference is this is a Fed organization and as such is held to a higher accountability. There are a lot of things this organization does well, there are many thigns we do not. I wish we had more communication between the individual TSOs and the passengers as they come through, it would resolve many issues and situations that turn into situations before they even started.

The PR issue is not going to change regardless of what we do for a couple of reasons -

1. All people do not see things the same way, if I get a patdown and you get the same patdown, we may interpret what happened completely different. I may be offended by what happened and it may not be so bad for you. That is a simplistic way to interpret it, but it is what we will continue to deal with. Add in rogue knuckleheads that do things wrong and we will have a neverending line of complaints to draw from.

2. We are an easy target - noone likes going through screening of any kind at this point, so taking shots at TSA is easy.

I agree that stories about us will continue to hurt us, but it will also give us the chance to evaluate what we are doing right and wrong in many instances. It also helps us to find rogue knuckleheads in some cases and I personally would welcome the chance to remove folks that are not doing what they are supposed to.

Not a BDO thing, just simple logic. The BDO thing is secret squirrel stuff and I can't use it away from work.... I am also certain that your hair is a wonderful style and frames your face quite lovely!

Nexus and TWIC have been on the lists for ages. I can understand having to check the book or get an STSO to verify if you have never seen one, but this info has been in our lists for at least a year and a half.... since the inception of the programs.

I will answer you with the following statement. If I had an 8 and 14 year old daughters, and an 80 year old mother that could not stand for any length of time, and any of them were patted down against the SOP, I would ask the TSO be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If the patdowns are done according to the SOP, then I would be just fine with it. It is simply a procedure used to clear a passenger of possible threats, not a game. I would add my voice to the chorus calling for proper prosecution of any TSA employee that is caught doing things outside the SOP. Is that the kind of answer you were looking for?

The difference between you and the rest of us is that you know the SOP.

NEXUS has been around longer than 18 months. I'm into my third year in the program myself.