Being "Literal" with TSA is fun
#61
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lincoln, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 1,266
It's interesting about life choices and attitides to risk. After 9/11, many Americans stopped flying domestically and drive instead. While not a single person lost their life to a terrorist related incident on an aircraft, an additional 1,600 lost their lives in traffic accidents through their choice to drive rather than fly.
#62
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 416
#63
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Maryland, near DC
Programs: UA 1k MM, AA EXP MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, HHonors Diamond, Avis First (oh boy)
Posts: 539
#64
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: LAS
Posts: 1,279
Of course you have a choice: Don't travel. Walk. Drive. Coach. Train.
It's interesting about life choices and attitides to risk. After 9/11, many Americans stopped flying domestically and drive instead. While not a single person lost their life to a terrorist related incident on an aircraft, an additional 1,600 lost their lives in traffic accidents through their choice to drive rather than fly.
It's interesting about life choices and attitides to risk. After 9/11, many Americans stopped flying domestically and drive instead. While not a single person lost their life to a terrorist related incident on an aircraft, an additional 1,600 lost their lives in traffic accidents through their choice to drive rather than fly.
You seem to have a "anything for security" and an "if you don't like it, don't do ___" outlook. I'm curious, is there anything the TSA could do that crosses YOUR Constitutionally-not-acceptable line? Do you even have a line?
If the federal government imposed a "NOS with a groping secondary" requirement for every possible means of crossing state lines, would you be OK with that? Why or why not?
#65
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Maryland, near DC
Programs: UA 1k MM, AA EXP MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, HHonors Diamond, Avis First (oh boy)
Posts: 539
Well, I do frequent the TS&S forum, so let me explain it to you: OP acted like a jerk.
...
I despise TSA as an organization. But no matter how disgusted I am with TSA and any individual TSO, I like to keep one thought firmly in mind whenever I deal with them:
I am BETTER than they are.
But I am only better, I am only a superior person ethically and morally, when I act better than they act, which means I am never abusive, condescending, confrontational, or insulting. I treat TSOs with far more respect than they deserve, because to do any less would make me just like them.
And I despise them.
...
I despise TSA as an organization. But no matter how disgusted I am with TSA and any individual TSO, I like to keep one thought firmly in mind whenever I deal with them:
I am BETTER than they are.
But I am only better, I am only a superior person ethically and morally, when I act better than they act, which means I am never abusive, condescending, confrontational, or insulting. I treat TSOs with far more respect than they deserve, because to do any less would make me just like them.
And I despise them.
OP was not, IMHO, abusive or insulting. He was simply pointing out the lunacy in a polite way, and when provided with canned responses, he replied in a way that made it clear he wasn't accepting said canned responses.
#66
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lincoln, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 1,266
#67
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,507
#68
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lincoln, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 1,266
You seem to have a "anything for security" and an "if you don't like it, don't do ___" outlook. I'm curious, is there anything the TSA could do that crosses YOUR Constitutionally-not-acceptable line? Do you even have a line?
If the federal government imposed a "NOS with a groping secondary" requirement for every possible means of crossing state lines, would you be OK with that? Why or why not?
If the federal government imposed a "NOS with a groping secondary" requirement for every possible means of crossing state lines, would you be OK with that? Why or why not?
Seeing people going in, all wound up and looking for an argument makes me smile too. I have never seen anyone win an argument in security. I have seen the occasional person walk away with a smug grin after acting all high and mighty.
But they still have the same net result as me, just with elevated stress levels. Arguing with the agents is not going to change anything on the ground, apart from making your own, and the life of those behind you, less pleasant. Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may struggle to tell the difference.
And is there anything that I would feel crosses the line? No, not with all those cameras around. Let them have their fun if that is what they want, because it makes zero difference to the way I enjoy my life.
Last edited by HarryHolden68; Apr 24, 2015 at 8:46 am
#69
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 416
I meant from America, which is what the person I quoted was on about.
#70
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Beijing, Paris, Edinburgh
Programs: Marco Polo Diamond, Flying Blue Platinum for Life, GHA Black, IHG Platinum
Posts: 450
Just discovered this thread.....The OP sounds like a really unpleasant character, I pity everyone that has to deal with him.
#71
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,574
I have my point of focus, OP has his. OP's, I think, is weighted more strongly toward the idea that the TSA is a total waste (which it is) and everything they do is an intrusion (which it is).
Well, we have here people calling the OP "childish" and a "brat," and using other content-free words to disparage him. And we have in this relatively short thread had "do you want there to be no security at all?"
Well, we have here people calling the OP "childish" and a "brat," and using other content-free words to disparage him. And we have in this relatively short thread had "do you want there to be no security at all?"
Try using words with meaning, rather than "childish" (which says nothing about what is being talked about, only about your feelings), to explain to the OP what's wrong with his views and actions.
The TSA continues to offend and violate rights basically because of the attitude of so many like the posters here. So what, what can we do about it, blahblahblah. So the OP did apparently the only thing left to do, since so many people are willing to accept this disgrace of a government agency. He let them know what so many agree with but are afraid to speak out about. We don't respect them even a little bit.
Had all of us stood up to the TSA, especially in November of 2010, we could have put an end to the theater of the absurd called "security." Instead, most just put their tails between their legs, looked down and marched through the gauntlet of scans and gropes.
I applaud anyone who stands up to the TSA in any way whatsoever.
I applaud anyone who stands up to the TSA in any way whatsoever.
The irony is that this particular tantrum was over the least-invasive and least-controversial of random security checks - the little bag-swab thing that takes 5 seconds and doesn't entail any groping or (real or perceived) loss of privacy.
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,111
Oh that's right. Revolution. Works every time doesn't it. Even better if good old Uncle Sam can kick it off.
To retort...
Well, for a start the Middle East would be a far more stable place.
There wouldn't be a bunch of people running amok beheading innocent people.
Has it ever occured to anyone that if you demonstrated one iota of respect to the poor TSA agents, they may just replicate that? I think the TSA folk are great - never had a problem. But then I take time to talk to them like they are human beings. Ascede to their resonable requests and thank them for their time. You should try it - they are nice people.
They are doing an impossible job. Dammed if they do. Dammed if they don't. You should remember that and if you think you can do better, put your money where your opinions are!
To retort...
Well, for a start the Middle East would be a far more stable place.
There wouldn't be a bunch of people running amok beheading innocent people.
Has it ever occured to anyone that if you demonstrated one iota of respect to the poor TSA agents, they may just replicate that? I think the TSA folk are great - never had a problem. But then I take time to talk to them like they are human beings. Ascede to their resonable requests and thank them for their time. You should try it - they are nice people.
They are doing an impossible job. Dammed if they do. Dammed if they don't. You should remember that and if you think you can do better, put your money where your opinions are!
It's not the people that screwed up TSA's reputation but TSA and its employees.
Not my responsibility to fix TSA's problems.
#73
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 471
#74
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
Folks in the TS&S forums know his position, because he states it pretty consistently in other threads. If you're not a frequent reader of TS&S, I'm sure he'd be happy to explain it.
If you ask, of course. If you'd rather just attack, well, then, carry on ...
#75
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,332
Oh that's right. Revolution. Works every time doesn't it. Even better if good old Uncle Sam can kick it off.
To retort...
Well, for a start the Middle East would be a far more stable place.
There wouldn't be a bunch of people running amok beheading innocent people.
Has it ever occured to anyone that if you demonstrated one iota of respect to the poor TSA agents, they may just replicate that? I think the TSA folk are great - never had a problem. But then I take time to talk to them like they are human beings. Ascede to their resonable requests and thank them for their time. You should try it - they are nice people.
They are doing an impossible job. Dammed if they do. Dammed if they don't. You should remember that and if you think you can do better, put your money where your opinions are!
To retort...
Well, for a start the Middle East would be a far more stable place.
There wouldn't be a bunch of people running amok beheading innocent people.
Has it ever occured to anyone that if you demonstrated one iota of respect to the poor TSA agents, they may just replicate that? I think the TSA folk are great - never had a problem. But then I take time to talk to them like they are human beings. Ascede to their resonable requests and thank them for their time. You should try it - they are nice people.
They are doing an impossible job. Dammed if they do. Dammed if they don't. You should remember that and if you think you can do better, put your money where your opinions are!
However, I have enough respect for myself not to sink to the level of childish antics demonstrated by both OP and, in many cases, by the petulant TSOs who retaliate against travelers whom they believe have "disrespected" them or not shown proper obeisance to their shiny plastic badges.
You may despise them, but you hide it because I would suggest you are afraid of the risk of confrontation.
OP was not, IMHO, abusive or insulting. He was simply pointing out the lunacy in a polite way, and when provided with canned responses, he replied in a way that made it clear he wasn't accepting said canned responses.
OP was not, IMHO, abusive or insulting. He was simply pointing out the lunacy in a polite way, and when provided with canned responses, he replied in a way that made it clear he wasn't accepting said canned responses.
What OP did was legal, but it was in no way polite, nor did it have anything to do with refusal to "accept canned responses." What he did was to act like a jerk, because he wanted to act like a jerk.
No matter how much your target may deserve to be treated badly, each of us is responsible for our own behavior. Acting like a jerk makes you a jerk, and if you think it's acceptable to act like a jerk just because you have a low opinion of someone else's personal or professional choices, you're wrong. Acting like a jerk is acting like a jerk, no matter the reason.
I don't act like a jerk, because I am BETTER than that. I am not a jerk, even when I am confronted by jerks.