Originally Posted by chgoeditor (Post 18696918)

Two possible solutions for you:
* Perhaps your family would be interested in meeting you in Canada. Assuming you live someplace relative close and could drive or take the train across the border, you could both avoid TSA.
* Transatlantic cruises are supposed to be wonderful! And repositioning cruises are apparently very cost-effective. What I would give to be on a boat for 5 or 6 days without stopping in any ports. Ah, heaven! I could spend hours just staring at the sea.

Originally Posted by exbayern (Post 18696654)

Based on your posts and threads (which is the only way most readers can get to 'know' someone online), I do think that it would be helpful to aid you best understand relative risk and the outcome of certain actions. Your posts to me do have a certain message and hence my suggestion that if this really is such a concern to you as it appears, it may be useful to have assistance so that you can see your family again.

It's not about being 'a sheep'. It's about realising that we all can have some control over outcomes, and if we go looking for certain experiences, we may find them.

Again, the vast majority of people (Americans and foreigners) travel every single day in the US without lasting impact. Some of them choose to use the scanner, some of them opt out, some are unable to use the scanner. The stories we read here and hear about are the exceptions to the rule. Of course there are more such stories which go unreported, but the risk of something very negative occuring is still relatively low. Every person needs to assess that risk, and if it worries them, then they need to do what they can to minimize the chances of something occurring.

My advice to anyone would be to remain civil and calm, avoid becoming defensive or argumentative, even whilst standing up for oneself. That generally had a better impact on the outcome, even if it requires escalating the issue. In reality, behaviours at the checkpoint most likely have a greater impact on the outcome than citizenship or age. (I am certainly not stating that everyone who had a bad checkpoint experience brought it on themselves, but I have read enough over the years and seen enough in person to realise that some people look for conflict and find just what they expected to find)

Originally Posted by chgoeditor (Post 18696918)

Two possible solutions for you:
* Perhaps your family would be interested in meeting you in Canada. Assuming you live someplace relative close and could drive or take the train across the border, you could both avoid TSA.
* Transatlantic cruises are supposed to be wonderful! And repositioning cruises are apparently very cost-effective. What I would give to be on a boat for 5 or 6 days without stopping in any ports. Ah, heaven! I could spend hours just staring at the sea.

Originally Posted by exbayern (Post 18649872)

IAD, gateway to the American capital, is special.

Originally Posted by tanja (Post 18686780)

I said that I have not travelled for some time. Not since I got groped and smacked.

Originally Posted by ironmanjt (Post 18702140)

Wow, sorry to hear about that. I assume because you got "smacked" that you've filed assault and battery charges against them? If not, why not, and if so, you probably shouldn't be putting your case out there on FT if it's still pending.

Originally Posted by tanja (Post 18697871)

Also I need help to travel? When my family will not travel here?so I need counseling because of that?
I really dont understand that part.

I am very nice and calm. A peace keeper.

BUT any one pushes my limit I will get back at that person.

If I get treated at the last time I travelled. I will be very loud.

so what is the problem with that?

Originally Posted by tanja (Post 18702393)

If I knew then what I know now. Yes I should have filed assult charges.

Originally Posted by ironmanjt (Post 18702436)

Well, it's likely still under the statute of limitations. I'm a bit surprised you felt in the U.S. that government officials could assault people and that was legal? How long have you lived here from SWEDEN?