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Originally Posted by petaluma1
(Post 22780464)
So are you saying they are being used as clearing procedure in extra-normal cases?
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ... HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening. If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T. GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result. But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free. |
Originally Posted by jkhuggins
(Post 22783116)
*sigh*
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ... HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening. If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T. GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result. But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free. I don't know for certain what the specific orders were regarding HHMDs once their use was officially discontinued (store them, sell them, or destroy them), but apparently a few folks at various airports had sense enough to keep one or two of them handy in case a need arose to quickly and effectively resolve a WTMD alarm. I can't help but wonder, though, if this isn't the sort of logical, practical thinking that might get a TSO in trouble with higher-ups because the use of HHMDs is no longer officially sanctioned despite their obvious benefits of time-savings and concise resolution, not to mention their minimal invasiveness in use. |
Originally Posted by Majuki
(Post 22779850)
I will take a get out of opt-out patdown free card. :o
Originally Posted by Majuki
(Post 22780189)
Well, he did by saying that they weren't part of normal clearing procedures at this time, so in that sense he provided you with a straight answer that had new information. Anecdotally, HHMDs appear to be making their way back into the mix recently, but until they're almost universal we don't know if/when they'll [once again] be a part of the SOP to clear a WTMD alarm.
Originally Posted by petaluma1
(Post 22780464)
So are you saying they are being used as clearing procedure in extra-normal cases?
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Originally Posted by jkhuggins
(Post 22783116)
*sigh*
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ... HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening. If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T. GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result. But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free. |
Originally Posted by jkhuggins
(Post 22783116)
*sigh*
I'm not GSOLTSO, but since you seem to be unable to understand what he is saying ... HHMDs are not part of current documented TSA screening procedures. Now, GSOLTSO is not omniscient, so he can't say "I know with 100% certainty that there are no HHMDs in use at any TSA checkpoint anywhere in the country, in any and every screening situation." If he did say that, everyone here would jump all over him for reporting incorrect information, based on the largely unsourced and unverified reports referenced at the beginning of this thread. So, instead, GSOLTSO gives a completely accurate and precise statement: as far as he knows, HHMDs aren't currently approved for use in screening. If you're asking him to testify regarding "facts" stated here that have not been sourced, and for which he has no access to information to verify them, of course he's not going to answer the question directly --- BECAUSE HE CAN'T. GSOLTSO is one of the few TSOs participating here in FT who will state clearly what he knows and what he doesn't know, and what he can and cannot discuss. He has earned the respect of many FT participants as a result. But if you want to focus on playing word games instead of discussing the matter at hand, feel free. |
Originally Posted by petaluma1
(Post 22784519)
I know full well what he is saying. He was being smug and coy, as usual.
We may all disagree with the preposterous limits on SSI imposed by the TSA on its employees, but our disagreement with them does not change the fact that they are there. There are limits on what GSOLTSO is allowed to say publicly without losing his job. And while some TSOs have chosen to forfeit their jobs in order to speak publicly, or only speak off-the-record in private messages, GSOLTSO chooses to work within those limits in order to bring us whatever public information he can on an ongoing basis. There are many TSA employees whose public statements I would characterize as "smug and coy". (Some of them have posted in this forum.) GSOLTSO is not one of them. |
Maybe you should lighten up a bit? I thought his comment was pretty funny. I've seen many high-heel-wearing downfalls myself! |
OK, kids, quit fighting!
Did ANYONE see my earlier post? "These days, I've seen them used to inspect religious headwear for concealed metal objects." Period. |
Originally Posted by gsoltso
(Post 22773391)
Ok, here you go:
HHMDs are not part of the normal clearing procedures as of this time... but you already knew that, so I had nothing substantive to add to the information stream, therefore, I jumped in with a touch of humor, which is a normal thing for me. By the way, the US GAO is annoyed that the TSA doesn't know how to count and/or TSA doesn't care to keep consistent count. It's one of the biggest problems when it comes to GAO's attempted studies of the TSA strip-search machine use and various other things TSA-screening related. I'm used to hearing GAO off-the-record gripes with various parts of the government, but from what I hear TSA is in a league of its own when it comes to even that.
Originally Posted by jkhuggins
(Post 22785111)
No. He was answering your question within the limits imposed upon him by the TSA.
Some people consider the use of word games to be a sign of smug and coy play. Whether or not such thing was being done -- and let's not assume it was -- there is no limit imposed by the TSA upon TSA employees that prohibits mention of the following phrase: alternative screening procedures. |
Originally Posted by xooz
(Post 22765394)
Ohhh... I was wondering where High Heels of Mass Destruction were coming from... I see I was mistaken
and geez, people are sure touchy (er, no pun intended when it comes to a TSA screening thread!) 'round these here parts. |
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