New security technology? HOU
Aug 14, 2014 | 6:31 pm
#47
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 392
So, after going through Pre at the checkpoint I pointed to the foreign object and asked "What are those? Are they new?" And the lovely, pleasant TSA matron said, "I don't know what they are."
I just love added layers of security, don't you? They make me feel so safe.
Aug 14, 2014 | 7:03 pm
#48
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney (for now), GVA (only in my memories)
Programs: QF Lifetime Silver (big whoop)
Posts: 9,322
You and I, not being TSA employees, might foolishly assume that someone could just tell the checkpoint staff "we're installing these new wobulators to scan passengers for soylent green" and that would be that. But that just shows how naive we are.
Let us never forget that this is an organization that had to train its staff when they changed the rules from "shoes in the bin" to "shoes on the belt" (and back again) (and then round in circles for a while). This is an organization that trains (and retrains, and re-re-trains) its employees to recognize a Nexus card. An organization that is still re-re-re-training its staff (except for the person in your photo, apparently) that photography IS allowed at the checkpoint. Most importantly, this is an organization that delayed allowing little pointy things through the checkpoint because it had to allow weeks to train its staff to allow little pointy things through the checkpoint. (By which time the policy had been attacked and cancelled.)
So no doubt over the next 6 to 9 months, the staff in HOU will get the appropriate training on what the heck those things are.
And you will feel so much safer, because the next time you ask, she won't say "I don't know. " She'll say "I can't tell you."
Aug 14, 2014 | 9:15 pm
#49
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,430
Ah, well, she clearly hasn't been trained in the new technology yet. @:-)
You and I, not being TSA employees, might foolishly assume that someone could just tell the checkpoint staff "we're installing these new wobulators to scan passengers for soylent green" and that would be that. But that just shows how naive we are.
Let us never forget that this is an organization that had to train its staff when they changed the rules from "shoes in the bin" to "shoes on the belt" (and back again) (and then round in circles for a while). This is an organization that trains (and retrains, and re-re-trains) its employees to recognize a Nexus card. An organization that is still re-re-re-training its staff (except for the person in your photo, apparently) that photography IS allowed at the checkpoint. Most importantly, this is an organization that delayed allowing little pointy things through the checkpoint because it had to allow weeks to train its staff to allow little pointy things through the checkpoint. (By which time the policy had been attacked and cancelled.)
So no doubt over the next 6 to 9 months, the staff in HOU will get the appropriate training on what the heck those things are.
And you will feel so much safer, because the next time you ask, she won't say "I don't know. " She'll say "I can't tell you."
You and I, not being TSA employees, might foolishly assume that someone could just tell the checkpoint staff "we're installing these new wobulators to scan passengers for soylent green" and that would be that. But that just shows how naive we are.
Let us never forget that this is an organization that had to train its staff when they changed the rules from "shoes in the bin" to "shoes on the belt" (and back again) (and then round in circles for a while). This is an organization that trains (and retrains, and re-re-trains) its employees to recognize a Nexus card. An organization that is still re-re-re-training its staff (except for the person in your photo, apparently) that photography IS allowed at the checkpoint. Most importantly, this is an organization that delayed allowing little pointy things through the checkpoint because it had to allow weeks to train its staff to allow little pointy things through the checkpoint. (By which time the policy had been attacked and cancelled.)
So no doubt over the next 6 to 9 months, the staff in HOU will get the appropriate training on what the heck those things are.
And you will feel so much safer, because the next time you ask, she won't say "I don't know. " She'll say "I can't tell you."
"Abject stupidity is our most important layer of security. If WE don't know what the hell we're doing, The Terrorists will certainly never be able to guess what we're doing, and they'll NEVER be able to foil us!"
Aug 21, 2014 | 7:57 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 959
Thanks for your detective work, though. It will be nice to know that "Big Brother" is closely watching next time I go through the HOU Security Theatre Gauntlet!
Aug 21, 2014 | 6:40 pm
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 49,061
They'd find it even less funny if you looked up and announced (loudly): 'those must be the new radiation detectors I read about! Remember when they had to take out the BSX but they said the MMW was safe? Guess what!'
Oct 26, 2014 | 12:04 am
#55
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Rapids Reward
Posts: 40,109
Yeah, he will get a big trouble. He can't taking a pictures without TSA permission. No photography allowed! TSA will not like that. They won't let you to take a pictures. TSA had it right not to take a photos. Photography & fliming is prohibited.
Oct 26, 2014 | 9:35 am
#56
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 392
Oct 26, 2014 | 2:25 pm
#58
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: A3, AA. Plasticy things! That give me, y'know, Stuff!
Posts: 6,293
No they won't. Yes, they can. Yes, it is. It doesn't matter what TSA likes. They can't stop someone. No they didn't. No it isn't.
Oct 27, 2014 | 12:01 am
#59
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Rapids Reward
Posts: 40,109
Lucky! She didn't get arrested for that. She have stay away from TSA by approximately 500 feet.
Who cares? Back off! You can't be disrespecting at me. TSA had it right not to take a pictures. You had respect that. You don't want to get into trouble.
Who cares? Back off! You can't be disrespecting at me. TSA had it right not to take a pictures. You had respect that. You don't want to get into trouble.
Oct 27, 2014 | 6:58 am
#60
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Houston
Posts: 8,957
Section 2.7(a) of the last publicly available Screening Management SOP states, "TSA does not prohibit the public, passengers, or press from photographing, videotaping, or filming screening locations unless the activity interferes with a TSOs ability to perform his or her duties or prevents the orderly flow of individuals through the screening location."
Do you have any facts to back up your statements?