Inflammatory Language towards a TSO
 

Could an answer to a TSO question involving swearing get you in hot water?

Example:
TSO: Where are you going today?
You: None of your G-D business.

Could this keep you grounded as a rule, or would this be more of a regional issue? I'm not implying that one should go around randomly swearing at TSOs, but if your tolerance level for BS pegs and you let slip a naughty word, is it possible for you to be kept from flying over it?

I prefer to simply ignore the stupid questions or otherwise toy with them. If ignoring them fails to send the message, I choose to respond to them in a foreign language. They really love that.

Even in the face of profound stupidity, I don't resort to using words that would have landed me in trouble in elementary school.

Of course it is preferred not to use such words, but humans being imperfect might let one slip (in the case of flatulence in front of a nosy TSO, this might not be a bad thing). The question is, can this land you in any sort of legal trouble, or trigger a law enforcement response?

I would guess that most lawyers would tell you that you have a constitutional right to use profanity. I wouldn't doubt it.

I think it can (and does) does trigger law enforcement response. Disorderly Conduct is the charge I've heard of (though I havent heard of any airport cases). Wouldnt surprise me if you were cited (If LE was present), and it wouldnt surprise me if you beat it in court.

Can it result in some sort of legal trouble? Yes. Should it result in such trouble? No. As long as they aren't "fighting words", it shouldn't be an insurmountable legal problem most of the time in the US since any prosecutor with a brain and real work load shouldn't be interested in picking a fight over this in court.

In the eyes of an atheist, those words whose shorthand you provided above wouldn't have much if any weight to them; and so unless the court decides to enforce religious ideas upon people, it shouldn't result in an actual legal stink with prosecutors coming after a person for mere use of such a phrase in the face of TSA/TSA-approved questioning.

If you are not accustomed to thinking before you make a response a quick apology might ward off retaliation.

Why use profanity, just tell them it's none of their business.

unlike some who would have jumped at it, I am not making any comment about your English, but at first I was wondering, until I had read the example, if the question involved swearing or the answer did. :D
The answer you cited is impolite, and most certain to invite full VIP level retaliation from most TSO's, Whether it should is a different issue. It's never a good idea to use "G** D***" kind of phrases with anyone. What if the answer was simply "None of your business".
Do the TSO's or any other TSA employee have a reason/right to ask you that question?

Then it should be regarded as such, a slip. Bad language is not against the law., nor is it a threat to any thing. It simply means the person had a bad day, or is just surly in demeanor. The truth is that it's none of TSA's business to know where I am going. If they think they are going to catch a terrorist by catching some one off guard, they are deluding themselves. If someone says they are going to SEA b ut their BP says SO, so what? I can sea someone who was originally going to SEA but their plans changed at the last minute and now they are going to SFO.

That's the approach that I tend to use. "Why are you asking me that question?" "Am I required to answer your questions?" And so on. They get tired pretty quickly. But always appear to be merely inquisitive, not uncooperative. When the police arrive (and TSA has called the police on me several times), you can tell them that you were merely seeking clarification, not refusing to answer. Then, of course, you go through the same routine with the police. Round and round and round we go.

Bruce

Have you been forced to answer that question, or else threatened with being denied to fly that day?

I've had the police demand to see my boarding pass, which I provided. I told them that the boarding pass, which TSA saw already (see the little squigglies on it?), answered the question. Why should I be questioned about this repeatedly?

Bruce

How did the police respond to your query about whether you are required to asnwer the question about where you were going?

Good. Keep your dignity, your temper, and as much of your privacy as possible. Dirty words don't enhance your stature.

absolutely correct ^ as it will only make things worse. even if you are in the right and you have copies of the rules with you (i.e. me with my orthopedic shoes), escalating it with profanity (and yelling and/or screaming for that matter) is not gonna help-stay calm, be professional & polite and it will work to your benefit