Let's rename this thread the Blue Glove Panic Attack.

Wrong! On August 20, 2004, I was randomly selected for gate-screening before boarding Delta flight 132 from JFK to Athens. The screener did the usual wanding, then told me that he was going to touch my groin with the back of his hand. I said, "You're going to touch me there?" He said that he was. (Note that I have no metal there and his wand didn't beep. It was totally at his own initiative.)

I stared at him in disbelief, then asked his two coworkers if this guy makes a habit of touching men there. I walked a very fine line but pretty clearly let everybody know that he was apparently homosexual and getting his jollies out of screening passengers. He was fuming, but I made my point. He also touched me there, just as he said he would. I wasn't too happy about it.

Bruce

You complain to the FSD or TSA contact center?

Ha! ^ Well just as long as he didn't "touch your junk liberally" (bonus points for the reference). :-:

would it be walking the same line if the screener said something similar if someone insists that they want to keep their shoes and set off the metal detector?

Sorry, I couldn't help but giggle

TSA's words, not mine.

I think this is really discrimination against the overweight. It's almost the definition of obese: has larger-than-normal bulges.

Bruce, is this your way of telling everyone how well endowed you are that you attracted this guy?

What about the person that has such a roll in front that they could hide something in it? We have people that are too wide to fit through the metal detectors. It is a very fine line in the sand. Subject to being blown away by the wind.

Question:

Anyone been to ORD the last couple of days? At the AA gates (I don't remember about the UA gates), they have the little shoe box device that you can put your shoe on that rings to alert you that you should take off your shoes because of the metal content.

Do they still have them there? Are they making you take off your shoes no matter what? ORD has been one of the best airports as far as domectic security is concerned - just want a report before I head out there on Thursday.

Didnt see them at UA last week. Dont know about AA

Traveling out of Eugene, Oregon this past Saturday the 26th I went through security without setting off any alarms but was pulled over for secondary due to not taking off my shoes.

A female screener was called over and proceeded to wand my shoes and then myself, brushing over my clothes with her wand, causing it to go off from touching the rivets in my jeans, zipper, etc. I asked for a supervisor as I was fairly certain that the wand shouldn't be touching the clothing or person and was told it was alright because it enhanced security. Glancing over at another woman who was being wanded I noticed the screener to be taking great pains to stay away from the woman's body with the wand. Hmm. Asked for a complaint form and was told I would get one after the screening was completed. The pat down commenced, was not with the back of the screener's hand and I can assure all TSA agents, no matter what the official line and policy may be, the sides and undersides of a woman's breasts are most definitely private areas and it is highly embarassing to be felt up by a stranger in front of strangers in the name of "safety."

I live in Alaska and quite often my only option available is via flying and I am so sick and tired of being treated like a criminal in my own country and feeling victimized for daring to want to board an aircraft. I have already written to my senators and congressman, the TSA and everywhere else that I can think of and it saddens me to believe all I will get out of it is a form letter stating what a great job was done in the name of protecting the flying public.

The issue about the wand touching the body has been covered in other posts so I wont beat a dead horse. The difference that you describe in pat down of areas is symantics at best but here we go again. The only area that has to be touched with the back of the hand is a nipple area. That leaves the top, bottom and sides to be palmed. So what do you propose that should be done?

Wrong wrong wrong. We are not to get anywhere near the nipple area for any reason whatsoever. The only contact with the breast area is to be a sweep with the back/side of the hand from the cleavage area, underneath and up to the underarm. That's how I explain it and demonstrate it before I do it. Every single time.

I propose that you keep your filthy hands off my private parts. How much clearer can we make it? This perverted little feel-up game is twisted and serves no purpose.

It's a blatantly sexist policy to exempt a man's private parts from being touched while allowing a woman's private parts to be touched.

Like GradGirl said, how about first ceasing the fondling of travelers' breasts and nipples?

Problem is, you are but one in a sea of 45,000 potential fondlers.

But I certainly appreciate your efforts to reign in your co-workers. Especially those who can't bother to follow your agency's rules.