Do you ever try to PSYOP TSA?
 

I'll admit it. I do.

Like many folks here, I travel with a lot of electronics. Many TSOs are inordinately fascinated by bags full of electronics, and I just plain got tired of the full monte bag search.

Now I have my own security theatre. I switched to a belt buckle that I know will set off the WTMD every time -- it's a brass military belt buckle, so I can remove just the buckle and leave the belt on. I put it in plain sight in a bin. Then I pull my old dogtags out of my shirt, so the TSO can see 'em. Next, I make sure the military nametape and wings on my briefcase show, gimp my way throough the WTMD, and PRESTO, no bag checks anymore.

I get lots of "thank you for your service" remarks, which is a heckuva lot better than all the DY...T I used to get, hahahaha!

After being tagged for Secondary Screenings twice in a row I thought back over why I could have been selected. I determined that I was stressed out, fumbling around with my stuff, and looking around way too much. And I had some work IDs on a lanyard tucked into my shirt.

The next time I flew I removed all the metal items, carefully folded up coat, etc long before I was within visual of the checkpoint. I calmy and slowly approached the ticket checker and presented my boarding pass and DoD ID card. Did the same thing with the WTMD boarding pass checker who waved me right through without any hassle. Though my laptop did get wiped down.

I do it all the time. Most recently, I had an encounter with what some call "The Crow" at Dulles. (Sorry -- I don't have time to pull up my post.) I've had a fair amount of exposure to the art of "tradecraft" used by intelligence agencies and have used the technique on several screeners and SPOTniks. It's scary how easy it is -- and I don't profess for a nanosecond to be particularly good at it.

I'm sure I could have gotten a copy of an SOP binder if I had worked a couple of encounters a little harder. (Not that this would have revealed anything surprising to any of us.)

I enjoy reversing these attempts.

Just yesterday a passenger tried to psych me out. He looked over and said, "you're not profiling now right?" He thought he was smart because he "made" me. Instead of making up some B.S. and pretending that I wasn't a BDO, I engaged him in a conversation about SPOT. He said that he thinks it is illegal because he believes that we are secretly profiling. I told him I was sorry he felt that way and I assured him that the work we do is cross-cultural and solely based on behavior. I sincerely enjoyed talking with him and wished him a good trip.

It was interesting to hear his voice pitch change and his words become shaky after I engaged him instead of backing down or looking away.

If a professional played mind games with you, you would never know it. Consider yourself very lucky.

So how would you deal with someone who refused to answer you at all, or just ignored your attempt to strike up a conversation? Do you have the legal authority to keep someone from flying, or will you just make their time at the airport miserable by calling over a police officer and possibly make them miss their flight?

On the same note, how would you deal with deaf or mute passengers, or those with speech impediments?

Nah: we don't try to psyop anybody. In fact, we transit the same stations so frequently, most of the TSOs recognize us, say hi, and send us on our merry way.

etch5895, I'm curious also! As I'm deaf, if a "BDO SPOTTER" tried to stop me and talk to me, it'd cause a long delay, because s/he would have to grab a paper and pen, then ask me the question(s). It'd be a big waste of time because s/he wouldn't be able to analyze my expressions, since I'd be writing it on paper, and cause a bottleneck in line.

I just hope I don't ever run into one of those zealous SPOTTERS who won't take no for an answer, and if I point my hands to my ears, I'll be SSSSed because I can't answer the SPOTTER. If that does happen, I swear I'm going to sue TSA. I don't give a damn if "we can't sue the federal government." I'd be discriminated against due to a disability, and that is illegal. If I need to, I'll bring ACLU and the media into it, and raise a huge stink.

Any TSA people in here who knows for sure how SPOTTERS deal with deaf, mute, and other speech-impaired folks? I'm willing to bet in about 95-98% of cases, I'll just be waved on and forgetten. How would I deal with a SPOTTER who tries to talk to me, and won't take the "deaf gesture" as an answer? Just walk on ahead?

Refusing to talk is your choice. I can't really speak to procedure beyond that.

I have had someone who is deaf. I happen to know some TSOs and BDOs who sign, so it made my life a lot easier.

Let the games begin! :cool:

Its a known fact that deaf people are high on the list of Terrowists...along with the blind...and double amputees....

Morons, Idiots and Thieves.

Which is a fine way to harass your foreign money-bringing visitors who don't happen to speak English.

I will exhaust all the resources I have in an attempt to communicate effectively with any passenger.

I speak some German and on our team (BDO-MSP) we have people who speak Spanish, Russian, Kazak, Polish, Ukrainian, Arabic, Amharic, Somali, French, German, and at least two people who can sign. ;)

If you tell us will you have to kill us? You wouldn't know Colonel Flagg, would you?

Remind me what a BDO is?

Behaviorial Detection Officer.
That comment really bothers me. It kind of has that thinly-veiled-threat feel to it. Some people can't help not being able to speak - will they be penalized for this?
Was this Deaf person being spotted, or was there a problem with his/her ID?

There is no threat implied, sorry if it could be perceived that way.

No one would be penalized for not being able to speak. As I stated earlier, I would exhaust all resources available to me to effectively communicate with someone.

I've forgotten, but I think the 'O' stands for orifice.

Not that I want to give anyone any ideas, :D but therein lies a flaw in the system. If old grannies in wheelchairs, infants with formula and tiny shoes can be treated as potential terrorists, so should you. What's to say that you've not been setting these people with all your travel through the same station and one of these days you won't carry on something that will go "boom" during midflight?

What is PSYOP ?

Military shorthand for Psychological Operations.

It's all in 49 CFR 1520, if you're curious, Colonel Mustard.

I didn't say they don't screen us; they say hi, (screen us), and send us on our merry way. I can't work my psyops magic on someone who sees me on a regular basis! :D




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I read part of it. It says if you tell us you have to inform DOT. Is that short for Dorothy?

No English?

This could explain the JFK employee who tried to order burgers in Spanish and kept on speaking Spanish even though the teenager behind the counter clearly didn't understand. It's funny that the DHS are so concerned about what I am up to and consider me a potential illegal immigrant but still illegal immigrants are employed in the sterile areas of major airports.

Yeah, I know airline employees are not DHS/TSA but anyway.

Of course, English. This list doesn't include checkpoint and baggage TSOs I know that, in addition to English, speak Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Farsi, Hmong, Lao, Thai....

The only time I have a problem is when someone speaks idiot. I have yet to find an interpretor. :D

Isn't it a problem when you can't talk to your colleagues and bosses?

I always think it's a problem the TSOs don't bother me more. I am waiting to pretend I don't speak English so I can claim I am being discriminated against. I will never cooperate by speaking my second language with a TSO. They will have to get an interpreter.

Also, it worries me enormously that you admit al-Qaida supporters are working for TSA. One particular nationality is so full of them I doubt even Afghanistan or Pakistan have had so many. Therefore it is unrealistic to believe that the one working for TSA is a good guy.

I don't recall mention al-Qaida or any particular nationality. :confused:

Just as English is your second language, others have English as a primary and have learned a second. Knowledge of a language isn't necessarily indication of any particular nationalilty.

One of the languages you mentioned. If any of your muslim colleagues have a beard or a hijab I don't trust them.

Well, it would be difficult for you if you ever met me. I wouldn't speak English at the checkpoint other than to point out that I don't understand what the TSO is saying. Something that is true for some sociolects.

Not understanding English is proof I have a different nationality than the TSO.

this entire board is nuts. people complain about spot picking out people based on skin color and nationality, and this person decides to do the same thing. i had a muslim roommate, who out of laziness, occasionally grew a beard. i guess he's a terrorist.

SPOT is, without question, the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. When I'm at an airport, I'm spending my time in the airline club room (do SPOTTERs get in there?) at the bar, maintaining the right degree of self-medication necessary for me to cope with my (now mild) flying phobia. I won't talk to anyone except, (1) my wife, if she's with me, or (2) someone who introduces themselves as an FTer (I have FT tags on my carryon). On the very rare occasion that I'll get into a conversation with a stranger, it's because they have some piece of computer hardware in which I'm interested and I may ask about it. If a BDO comes up to and tries to start a conversation, I will politely, but firmly, indicate that I'm not interested in anything more than the screwdriver sitting in front of me.

Does TSA really believe that a would-be terrorist wouldn't do exactly the same thing?

So what happens then? You call over LEO? You cause me to miss my flight? Searches at the WTMD may be considered Constitutional because of implied consent. Nothing in the Constitution compels me to talk to a BDO, and nothing in the Constitution allows you to detain me for refusing to do so.

Pure idiocy.

You might recall the outrage committed against a two deaf gentleman who were conversing in ISL at the gate a few weeks after 9/11. The racists (other passengers) seated in the area automatically assumed the gentlemen were terrorists signing secret information to one another. The authorities were called and of course once that happened, these fellows spent a few nights in jail and were interrogated mercilessly. Personally, it's not really the TSA I worry about - most of them are fair, follow their procedures well and are polite to their customers. It's the ignorance, lack of education and bigotry of the flying american public that I consider to be a threat.

I don't talk to TSA any more. Ever since last the 100% Shoe Carnival came to town, I've followed Mom's advice: "If you don't have anything nice to say to someone, say nothing."

I have nothing nice to say to anyone with a TSA clown suit on. Kind words do not exist for people who choose to harass others in exchange for a paycheck. Therefore, I say nothing.

OK. I understand that. Now, if someone chooses to exercise their right to not talk to strange people at the airport who strike up conversation, does the BDO have the legal authority to keep them from flying or to call an actual LEO over and compel them to speak? On another note, would the LEO have the authority to detain someone for refusing to answer the BDOs questions? I suppose the officers could legally do so citing Hiibal, but that is a pretty lousy way of treating people who just wish to be left the hell alone.

For me it is a personal choice. I am quite introverted and I just don't like talking to strangers if I don't have to. I especially don't like talking to nosy strangers who are asking me about my travel plans/habits and have the power to make my life miserable. I would hope that any LEO worth his/her salt would tell a BDO to go bugger off if they tried to get them to detain someone for merely not answering any questions. One reason I've never visited Israel is that I don't feel like being treated like a criminal just for showing up to a flight. God help us if this is what America is turning into. Maybe it is just a coincidence that the Secretary of Homeland Security holds Israeli citizenship, and he wants to turn all US airports into mini TLVs.

Lets hope someone challenges this nonsense in court, and that this ridiculous program gets dismembered and uncerimoniously flushed down the toilet.

I have happened upon a handful of people (especially lawyers) who choose not to say anything. As I said, this is your choice. The easy thing for both parties involved would be for you to explain to me the reason you don't want to talk. (I'm good at picking up on signals of deceit, so don't lie) :). This often explains to me why you may have been exhibiting signs of stress, in the first place.

As a side note, lawyers and people with a chip on their shoulder often exhibit more signs of stress and fear than most. I think it may be that they are trying too hard to hide their contempt and frustration and instead it is projected in involuntary, physical responses.

You have a point - but why should it even be your business? We're checked for dangerous items, and as long as we don't have anything dangerous on us, then why do you need to know our personal business? Especially for a domestic flight.

(Sorry if I seem rude or anything, just asking you for your perspective as you're from TSA.)

It is important to understand someone's story when they are being screened due to heightened behavioral cues, regardless of destination. Any plane can be brought down in the U.S., whether it is a domestic flight or not.

Even though dangerous item are not present, other items that don't fit the person or their story might be. Also, even if there are not explosives or other suspicious items, what is their intent? It has been long discussed that one person could easily create a diversion or they could be covertly traveling with someone who is carrying the dangerous items.

Finally, there is always a reason that they are feeling stressed, legitimate or not. As several FTers have told me, if you haven't done anything wrong then you have nothing to worry about. Give the TSO your story, be as brief as you want while still conveying your point, and be truthful. Simple, minimal effort, and it shouldn't take much longer than any other additional screening might take you.

I've got a great mental image of how that would play out:

Spotter: "Hello, total stranger. How are you today?"

Me: "I'm pretty stressed out. Having to put up with the sham they call security always aggravates me when I travel."

Spotter (whips out radio): "I need some backup here we've got another one who needs to be taught a lesson in proper respect."

The only thing missing would be the da-da-da-dum da-da-da-dum da-da-da-dum-dum-dum-da-dum "Barney Fife" theme music playing over the airport speakers.

On TV it would be funny; in real life not so much.

My mother instructed me to never speak to strangers. IMHO, these BDO's are definitely strange!

So now you seem to be implying that whilst no one would be "penalised" for being unable to speak, they would be "penalised" for exercising constitutionally protected rights by choosing not to speak even though they are capable of it.