Your post and supposed interest to "actually get back to the purpose of this thread" is belied by your actual response. Almost a week later and still no direct response to the following, which is the proffered reason why you insisted on continuing any discussion in this forum in a new thread:

I served. I directly answer your questions; are you unable to reciprocate?

Since you keep pleading ignorance or something, I'll post the link again:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/check...n-weapons.html

That's twice in this thread I've posted it, plus 11 pages in the original. Why do you refuse to answer my very simple question? If you are the security expert that you claim to be, I'm sure it's not a difficult answer, right?

ClerkRon:

1. There are substantial lines between the TDC and the checkpoint exits. Those are within the checkpoint. The slovenliness, laziness, and inefficiency of the clerks makes those lines longer (and thus more vulnerable) than they need to be.

2. It is the TSA's responsibility to minimize the security risks it creates. Conducting screening efficiently so as to avoid the assembly of concentrated, vulnerable groups of passengers does not constitute "being responsible for areas outside of the sterile area and checkpoint." The inefficiency of the clerks increases hazards. It is the TSA's responsibility to operate efficiently; pointing out that its failure to operate efficiently presents a hazard is not a call for the TSA to extend its responsibilities.

ClerkRon, your job is similar in complexity to that of a Wal-mart greeter (with the only difference being that Wal-mart greeters understand and follow the rules of their jobs). The fact that we understand how to do a Wal-mart greeter's job doesn't mean that we, too, need to become Wal-mart greeters.

Over a month later and TSORon is unable to answer the questions posed for a thread he wanted started.

Answer me this while you are at it, Ron
 

Tell me, Ron. Why was I pulled off the jetway and made to miss my flight for sitting in chairs at the end of the checkpoint?

I had already been groped, my bags had been screened. What possible threat could I have been to my flight?

I still need answers!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/check...my-flight.html

The only thing he can tell you is how to put it in a sock, or how to put a sock in it.

I have not flown in over 2 years now, but the war stories and lunatic ravings of the resident government clerk are still equal parts amusing and depressing.

I'm gettin' kinda interested in the answers to these things, too. Here, for clarity, I'll repeat NDSol's original questions, but I'll simplify them slightly to make them really, really easy to answer with a simple yes or no:

1. Has the TSA trained you to detect non-prohibited items, such as illegal drugs, large amounts of cash, kiddie porn, or checks from a two-person checking account with only one signature on them?

2. Are you aware of any TSO being reprimanded or worse for failing to report any of the things I just listed? (Edited to add: Not counting those TSOs who have been fired and arrested for accepting bribes to allow those things to be smuggled through, or for actively participating in the smuggling of those things).

I'll add a third on on my own:

3. Irrespective of officially conducted training, does TSA post any memos, bulletins, newsletters, breakroom posters, or any other printed or electronic material of any kind, which encourages TSA personnel to look for non-prohibited items like those I listed above? NOTE: I don't mean the generic "See Something Say Something" posters which now pollute all American cities with their disgusting Stasi-like paranoia, but I do mean any SSSS posters which list or specify any of those non-prohibited items with pictures or descriptions.

I won't hold my breath waiting for a straight-up, non-sarcastic, simple response.

It was never going to happen. The answers will either be SSI, or any child can see it's a trap.

Chris Christie refused to answer questions about Twinkies. No TSO is going to answer a question about mission creep.

Same thing about the jetway incident. An intelligent and articulate TSO won't attempt to defend the indefensible.

A waste of everybody's time to think it was going to go down ANY OTHER WAY.