Its about time. @:-)

I think that Bob has many constraints on his information dissemination process. He is in the buffer zone between what HQ wants to put out, and what some members of the public ask - the problem is the difference between the two that causes him to seem like he doesn't want to answer questions. It is the basic PR/communication quandry, you guys want information A, Bob can give information U and everything in between can't be put out or (in some cases) even be addressed. I think that Bob would like to share some more info, but due to the SSI and guidance from those above him, it is rarely going to be the same information (not really commenting on whether that is a good or bad thing, just how it boils down). Personally, there are some things that I think that could be answered without damaging the system or effectiveness, but I am also a frontliner and am not privvy to all the reasoning that HQ would use.

I think that some questions are asked and answered over at TSA Blog, but some of the questions asked over and over, are just not going to get a straight up answer because of the nature of the question, or the SSI regs. What other .Gov site will allow as many disparaging remarks in an open forum? Seriously, what other site have you seen that posts that type of open commentary? It is not perfect, but it sure is a lot more honest and open than any other .Gov site I have seen (and quite a few private sites). I know it is not perfect and we have room for improvement, but I actually think that keeping commentary on topic is a natural course. It allows for more focused discussion on the primary subject (and even you have to admit that some of the threads are about inflammatory subjects). I reiterate that I think the OTP thread will be fairly hot and have some pretty serious discussions, and I think that the postings will be even more open season than before. I guarantee you that HQ will watch that thread and you may even see new blog posts generated from the thread (at least, I would think that if we got 200+ posts about the same subject from unique users, I would want to put out as much info on it as I could, or at least let you know that it can't be disclosed). I am interested to see how it works out, I ask you gang to give it a chance to see what we can do with it.

That's not an opinion, that's a fact.

No one from TSA ever responds to a topic off the first page. (Seldom does any one from TSA ever respond to a topic, period.)

Now BB defines the subject for the discussion to be focused upon, and that "OT" threat descends, in a few days, into the limbo of the back pages. Meanwhile, we'll all focus on not carrying fireworks and hand grenades and on "Tips for Travelers" rehashes of the TSA website.

Well, I'm all a-flutter.

~~ Irish

Be careful now, that getting all a-flutter can lead to a case of the vapors!

The OT thread is listed on the right hand side, right under "meet our bloggers". It may fall out of the main feed, but unlike other topics, it will always be on the main page. I still go back and comment on past posts once they fall off the page (admittedly, not as much as the top of the list, but that is because the traffic falls off and most aren't that motivated to go back and post on them).

The name matters though. It's not "Unrelated Questions", it's "Off-Topic Posts". The latter name conjures up images of an OT board here or on any other message board -- general banter, and no substantive discussion. It's going to be prevented as such, and traffic will be very light among anyone but the "regulars", and it's going to be easily ignored by Bob.

If a question cannot be answered for whatever reason then BB should just say so. Ignoring, or appearing to ignore questions creates a lot of tension.

I consider all discussion on the PV blog to be of a political nature and there is no reason to censor comments, even the Supreme Court has ruled that political speech is fully protected. If PV was a privately owned sight maintained with private funds then no such constraints would be in play.

The Off Topic thread is a giant step backwards for the TSA blog. But since backwards is the general direction the whole of TSA is headed it fits with the rest of the agency.

I get it; I got it when Comrade Curtis introduced it. Keep controversy off the front page. How very Orwellian-ly typical of TSA.

~~ Irish

PREFACE: I am NOT a fan of the TSA, in fact they generally raise my blood pressure to unhealthy levels.

However, I am not sure what anybody expects from a Gov't administered website where clearly the person in charge of public contact is constrained in what they can say and has virtually no power to effect change in their organization.

Honestly, if TSA.gov and their official posters were open, honest and answered every question posed to them I would be shocked.

I will put it out there, I do NOT like the TSA and feel that as a group there are more rotten egs than good ones, but BOB is not the problem, it is the organization that he works for.

Dan

So it was kind of like adding an OMNI thread here. Gotcha. I can see where that impression comes from. Maybe in the future we can get some set of links or running threads that include "ask your questions here", specific questions about flying, or maybe even an open thread for general discussion. Nothing like that is planned at this point, but maybe it is something that the blog group can look into in the future.

I just posted the following on PV's first entry:

What do you think are the chances it will be posted??

I think they will post it........they just won't answer it. I have seen a few posts regarding the article in Nature, but can't remember seeing it replied to. The TSA not answering questions makes us safer so I have no problem with it. ROFL

I had 3-4 posts regarding that Nature article not show up, with the excuse that they were off topic. The anonymous post above was just as off topic as mine, but obviously less important to cover up. By now, I really don�t expect an answer to the Nature article at all (although I cannot believe the level of cowardice of these people in ignoring it), but I will continue to question them on it. The TSA does many ridiculous things, but completely ignoring criticism from the major scientific publication in the World is of a magnitude that cannot left to be.

Surprise, surprise! My post was not approved. It is no way less on topic than the post it cites, which was approved. Censorship at its best!

I will give Bob credit for one thing at this point. For now, the post and its replies seem to be pinned permanently as the second story on the board, so it's not falling off. I'm not sure how long I expect that will happen though.