Recently, the gentleman in front of me was of Thai decent and we started talking while waiting on-line in Term E. @ IAH about what a pain TSA is and how much is just a horse and pony show.

He said, since they started asking pax to say their name, he has started to come up with unusual last names for himself that are totally incorrect to prove a point, that saying ones name is totally useless. Since he has an Thai last name and I would wager that very few TSA employees are familiar with the Thai language, they have no idea if the name he provides is even remotely close to the name on the paper and I guess that is his point, that a name on a paper does not constitute security and simply saying that name out loud does not prove anything, other than one can read.

Dan

Clearly, in the TSA's minds, anyone with more than two syllables in their name is a potential terrorist.

You give some TDCs too much credit.

Really? You'll never make it as an ID checker at a bar lol.

There is no way 99% of TSA types know the correct pronunciation of my last name. That's because 99% of people out there don't know without being told and/or practicing for at least a while. I've even made that a point when faced with this.

TDC: State/Pronounce your name
N1120A: What's the point, you can't say it anyway?

Was this an older (probably in his 70s), white-haired 3 striper? If so, I know who you are talking about and agree that he was fantastic. Unfortunately, he retired about a year ago.

TSA (and most people) can botch the pronounciation of even a two-syllables name. Hotel clerks routinely use my name with the English pronunciation of the two syllables, none of which is right.

And if the former? Or worse, saying Thibideaux (as short i, long o) and having the TSA employee expect Thee-bee-docks?

A much more eloquent way of saying what I was going to: that the OP was behaving like a petulant child and was treated as such. Way to go!

Actually that characterizes the TSA not the OP.

I have a swedish name. It is spelt in swedish. It is pronounced in swedish.

Americans try a lot of times to make it their "version" of the name.

They try to make it spanish (live in Ca.) Or get a english version.

Both those names are totally names on their own.
Interesting next time I fly.

The voice of The Man.

No, the voice of reason.

What happens if you indicate to the TDC that you can't talk? If you have laryngitis, for example? Or think you have a case coming on, and don't want to risk it? ;)

joe

This is a good question deserving of an answer. I read somewhere that those who are mute are waved through. Although I am not mute, I do have a speech block that simply isn't predictable. Sometimes starting with hard sounds, like the first sound of my name, is extraordinarily difficult. I may speak to someone in the line, then not be able to say my name when asked.

If I have a difficult time saying my name, how long with TSA keep me there helplessly trying to make a sound?

OP here.

Went through MAF today on my way back to IAH. TDC was pleasant until she asked me where I was going. After I repeated three times, "It's on my boarding pass," she said, "I'm not trying to be difficult sir." Didn't once try to intimidate me with "policy" or "procedure" or DY...T?

We had a 15 second silent staredown, then she sighed and gave me gigantic red squiggles and handed me my docs back. I think I could see the steam coming out of her ears when I tossed the BP in the trash bin next to her.

Got to the Dragon, he asked for my BP. I started digging around in my bag for the second one I had printed. He just smiled and said, "Oh, that's OK sir."

The grope was pleasant and the groper was nice and polite.

Don't tell me this TDC nonsense isn't mostly just a power trip with the plastic badge.

Those who advocate surrender to authority, particularly when the authority is unreasonable, abusive, or illegal, often use that tired old line.

Although I don't have the guts to engage in these acts of civil disobedience myself, I applaud those who do. They are standing up for the rights and freedoms of all, at some risk to themselves. How is that "unreasonable"?