TSA conversations at the checkpoint
#18
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: CO PLT, HH DIA
Posts: 1,461
The same reason any good story includes descriptions of what people look like, sound like, etc. You wouldn't read a novel very far that said "the man walked up to the other man and, pointing at the man, said..."
Believe it or not, sometimes pointing out someone's race and/or size is just a way of helping you experience what the writer did. There's no evil agenda.
--PP
#19
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 728
#20
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 728
The same reason any good story includes descriptions of what people look like, sound like, etc. You wouldn't read a novel very far that said "the man walked up to the other man and, pointing at the man, said..."
Believe it or not, sometimes pointing out someone's race and/or size is just a way of helping you experience what the writer did. There's no evil agenda.
--PP
Believe it or not, sometimes pointing out someone's race and/or size is just a way of helping you experience what the writer did. There's no evil agenda.
--PP
Thank you. You beat me to it. Nicely done.
#21
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MSY
Programs: NW Gold and now Delta Gold
Posts: 3,072
There's plenty of evil agenda when someone is posting about "obese black chicks." In case you are naive enough to think "obese" and "black" are just descriptive, you have the word "chick" thrown in for good measure. At this point, you understand that while the poster knows he would get booted for using a hateful slang word about the woman's color, he figures he can get away with using a hateful slang word about her gender.
If that isn't evil, it is at least despicable.
If that isn't evil, it is at least despicable.
#22




Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS Titanium, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,583
There's plenty of evil agenda when someone is posting about "obese black chicks." In case you are naive enough to think "obese" and "black" are just descriptive, you have the word "chick" thrown in for good measure. At this point, you understand that while the poster knows he would get booted for using a hateful slang word about the woman's color, he figures he can get away with using a hateful slang word about her gender.
If that isn't evil, it is at least despicable.
If that isn't evil, it is at least despicable.
http://www.swinginchicks.com/
#23
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 364
My wife (who had a recent knee replacement) and I came through Tampa on February 6th and as we came to a halt at the end of a very long line a supervisory TSA person, who must have noticed my wife's slight limp, unhooked a maze rope and told us to follow her. She led us right up to the screening machine, made space for us in front of the line, and wished us well. I now am having trouble doing any TSA bashing.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Still going through ORD security when boarding has already started
Programs: AA EXP, UA Silver, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold, IHG Plat, Hyatt Disco, Reno Air MEGA Platinum
Posts: 10,321
#25
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: Delta, Marriott
Posts: 37
Professionalism is the issue
I personally don't care about a screeners gender (unless they're having to feel me up -- it's going to take some time to get over the gropings when business sent me flying during that lunacy on short notice ticketing), size (I'm not exactly svelte), or ethnicity.
Unfortunately, mentioning those attributes of the screener took away from that person's valid complaints about the behavior.
CNN has the backscatter technology all hyped as just being an outline -- but if a screener can't be professional about sexual items in carryons I certainly don't want to have to declare KY, or let them see me in a virtual stripsearch.
As for sleeping on the job, I know I could get away with it too at my workplace, and I've been tempted, but I've never done it. What can I say, if I can't do it (even if it's just because I feel like it's wrong), neither should they. Besides, it's my tax dollars and security fees going to pay their salary, and I don't think "Thousands Sleeping Around" is any better of a rep to have than "Thousands Standing Around".
I'm glad to see that there are TSA employees and supervisors here, since I know it must bite to have frustration about the bad behavior of others taken out on you. Thanks for incorporating our concerns into your practice.
Unfortunately, mentioning those attributes of the screener took away from that person's valid complaints about the behavior.
CNN has the backscatter technology all hyped as just being an outline -- but if a screener can't be professional about sexual items in carryons I certainly don't want to have to declare KY, or let them see me in a virtual stripsearch.
As for sleeping on the job, I know I could get away with it too at my workplace, and I've been tempted, but I've never done it. What can I say, if I can't do it (even if it's just because I feel like it's wrong), neither should they. Besides, it's my tax dollars and security fees going to pay their salary, and I don't think "Thousands Sleeping Around" is any better of a rep to have than "Thousands Standing Around".
I'm glad to see that there are TSA employees and supervisors here, since I know it must bite to have frustration about the bad behavior of others taken out on you. Thanks for incorporating our concerns into your practice.
#26




Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA1P
Posts: 614
#27




Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA1P
Posts: 614
How about we all are less sensitive? The poster painted an image. I think that some of you inferred something negative. ....And I live in the Republik of Kalifornia.
#28
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Flying Blue, easyJet Plus (!)
Posts: 1,762
Yup...you all hit it. Went through CVG last week and saw one screaming at a passenger over a little tube of anti-bac...like it was the highlight of his shining career at the TSA. Meanwhile, the chick watching the screen of the X-ray was more consumed talking about her boyfriend to the other workers...I could have passed a chainsaw through and she probably wouldn't have picked it up.
#29


Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,422
I don't think that TSA staff should be using foul language within earshot of passengers. The TSA has a bad enough image; throwing f-bombs around while watching the x-ray screen doesn't help. I've noticed this a few times in Atlanta and Houston.
I can have a filthy mouth sometimes, but I would never speak that way around patients.
The most recent conversation I overheard was at my favorite hometown checkpoint at CMH. A woman watching the x-ray (I won't mention her size) actually squealed, "That looks like a PLATIC BAG ITEM!" Oh the thrill of throwing away someone's 101 mL hand lotion! Will the thrills ever end?
I can have a filthy mouth sometimes, but I would never speak that way around patients.
The most recent conversation I overheard was at my favorite hometown checkpoint at CMH. A woman watching the x-ray (I won't mention her size) actually squealed, "That looks like a PLATIC BAG ITEM!" Oh the thrill of throwing away someone's 101 mL hand lotion! Will the thrills ever end?
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,389
Well, there does seem to be a pattern in that particular poster's comments. omascreener picked up on it, and I happen to agree. But the comments didn't really cross any lines. Then again, it's always a matter of subtlety.

