Is hair pat down always gender specific?
Apr 7, 2012, 1:46 pm
#1
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Is hair pat down always gender specific?
I've stated before here on FT that (to me) the most disgusting part of opting out is the way the screener strokes my short, straight hair. It makes my skin crawl.
So, this week Mr. CavePearl and I were waiting for our flight and we were discussing his most intense feel-up to date that had just happened at HOU. He said they checked every possible nook & cranny more than once. He never mentioned his hair, and it suddenly occurred to me that he has never mentioned his hair when describing his patdowns. I asked him if he has ever had his hair stoked in a pat down, and he said no. I couldn't believe it. He has long, very thick and wavy hair, sometimes in a pony tail, sometimes not. His hair is much fuller and considerably longer than mine, so I was surprised that he has never in probably 50 opt-outs had his hair touched.
Now I am wondering. Is this gender specific? Are women the only ones who have to endure this?
So, this week Mr. CavePearl and I were waiting for our flight and we were discussing his most intense feel-up to date that had just happened at HOU. He said they checked every possible nook & cranny more than once. He never mentioned his hair, and it suddenly occurred to me that he has never mentioned his hair when describing his patdowns. I asked him if he has ever had his hair stoked in a pat down, and he said no. I couldn't believe it. He has long, very thick and wavy hair, sometimes in a pony tail, sometimes not. His hair is much fuller and considerably longer than mine, so I was surprised that he has never in probably 50 opt-outs had his hair touched.
Now I am wondering. Is this gender specific? Are women the only ones who have to endure this?
Apr 7, 2012, 2:24 pm
#2
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Apr 7, 2012, 7:51 pm
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Last edited by scott523; Apr 7, 2012 at 8:21 pm
Apr 7, 2012, 9:13 pm
#7
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Bolded the operative words for ya.
I've had my ~0.25-inch long hair fondled like I was getting a scalp massage and my bare legs rubbed (I was wearing shorts) twice. I've had my bare arms rubbed with both hands several times. Apparently TSA thinks I'm hiding a soda inside a prosthetic head. 
The TSA clerk is trying to get a good rub so he can check his gloves for explosive residue. The fact they get 99.9999999999999999999% false positives doesn't really concern them.
The TSA clerk is trying to get a good rub so he can check his gloves for explosive residue. The fact they get 99.9999999999999999999% false positives doesn't really concern them.
Apr 7, 2012, 11:03 pm
#8
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I no longer believe that "explosive residue detection" is really the point of the exercise.
Apr 7, 2012, 11:56 pm
#9
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Actually, I'm not sure the TSA has ever caught an explosive or terrorist via ETD, so that's 100.000000000000% false positive. 
--Jon
--Jon
Apr 8, 2012, 9:36 am
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Apr 8, 2012, 10:30 am
#12
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Apr 8, 2012, 4:08 pm
#14
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Interesting. I'm going to start watching more closely now when I see anyone getting patted down.
I've had bare skin patted down several times, but still the weirdest thing for me is looking under my wedding band. Yeah, yeah. I know. Who knows what could be hiding under there.
I don't like them touching my skin at all, but it is better than the creepy touching of my hair. Maybe Mr. CavePearl has just been lucky.
I've had bare skin patted down several times, but still the weirdest thing for me is looking under my wedding band. Yeah, yeah. I know. Who knows what could be hiding under there.
I don't like them touching my skin at all, but it is better than the creepy touching of my hair. Maybe Mr. CavePearl has just been lucky.
