I got this going through JFK a few weeks ago. I just laughed because I thought it was ridiculous and said my name.

I have used both Throat Warbler Mangrove and I have said "pronunciation of my name is SSI". Neither were met with appreciation, but I flew both times with no TSA obstruction.

I've experienced this "name game" just twice, both at same airport.

First time, I refused to say my name. TDC called LTSO, who finally let me through without saying my name.

Second time, I again refused to say my name. TDC said, "ok" and let me continue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ima_Hogg

This is actually a valid concern. If your name is unique enough, it does provide information to those in earshot that you aren't going to be at home. How hard is it to get an address if you know the name and relative location?

I actually started that other long thread...

Have to say that agree with others here, it's much more fun to just mock the TDC than to get huffy about it. Now I usually just giggle and very deliberately read my name off my boarding pass. Haven't had a TDC get Cartman on me yet for doing it, but I'm sure it's coming.

I state my name as I hand them my BP. When finished, I hand them a card with the address & number for a Learn to Read class. I don't know reactions, because I never look back.

There are at least three different pronunciations of my last name, dependent on which of the official languages of my home country you are speaking. Which pronunciation should I use? :confused:

Wow, my first post here, I really didn't expect such a response! Excellent!

Thanks! A friend of mine suggested I should join!

That's pretty bad, since it happens at almost every airport I go to, mostly on the east coast but TX, KY and CA as well.

It's depressing how true this is.

The first time this happened to me was at JFK. It was late, I was annoyed and I had the line shut down by answering them in the most obnoxious way I could. Loudly: This is my name JUST LIKE IT SAYS ON THE DRIVERS LICENSE! The TSO actually said "Oh no you didn't" and shut down the line & got an LTSO. He comes over and gives me a speech about how important what they're doing is & how I should cooperate. The whole time I'm telling him that he should stop talking. When he gets done with his speech he asks me why I'm not answering his question. I asked him "What part of my answering your question is not answering your question?"

I'll try this next time!

That's just brilliant!

Oh, an anti-Semite!

this is what I do, as my name is completely unique and mostly unpronounceable (of Dutch ancestry). The name game usually goes something like this:

TSA: state your name
Me: it's right there in your hand on my BP and ID, are you having trouble reading ?
TSA: state your name
Me: I would, but I don't know you or any of these people around me, and stating my name would be unsafe as they would know I'm leaving town. If I absolutely must "state my name", we'll have to do it in a private room, with your supervisor, a LEO and your FSD as witnesses.

So far, it has never gone beyond that, and I'm free to go.

Have you ever gotten retaliatory "extra screening" as a result?

Have any of you been through Israeli security? I've been asked far more intrusive questions, like what synagogue I go to, to list the names of my relatives in Israel, and what the translation of my girlfriend's last name is! They obviously don't care about the answer, but they want to see if I get flustered or nervous about all the questions. I imagine it's a similar idea with this question. I'm all for calling TSA security theater, but why anyone thinks it's a good idea to be intentionally extremely obnoxious to people who are just doing their jobs is beyond me. 95% of TSA personnel I have ever interacted with are professional and show a basic level of courtesy. Maybe it's because I don't go out of my way to antagonize them and make their jobs more difficult??? :rolleyes:

As has been pointed out many times ... the equivalent of Israeli BDOs go through far more training than US TSA BDOs. US TSA is trying to do something similar, but much more cheaply.

Because "just doing their job" ceased to be an excused for breaking the law years ago.