TSA offers a visual experience for everyone from pedophiles to foot fetishists.

I am going to take it one step further. I am really curious what Replys I do get.

What if your "sensitive" aread are so "sensitve" that you do react on them?

Will you then be arrested for doing someting in public?

And I also want to ad that it doesnt matter to me how gentle you are if you touch my "sensitive" areas.
The reason is because they are a part of my body and my private areas. Not for you to touch.
If you do I do what my mom always told me to . Kick and scream and report it.

And it dosesnt matter what TSA and CO. tells me ,I will still react in a manner that you dont want.

Cause they smell so good, why else?

Because they're stupid.

Sorry, joking, but in my experience I'll always ask the passenger if he has any sensitive areas, as required, then inform him I'll use extra care in stated area.

I'll use extra care but I still need to clear the area. Otherwise what the hell is the point of the whole screening process.

Super Happy TSO- Do you have any sensitive areas sir?
Mr. J - My whole body is extra sensitive
Super Happy TSO- Oh thanks for letting me know Mr. J, please proceed. I'm too afraid I'll cause you pain if I touch you, enjoy your 29" pitch!

Here's the thing, either you've alarmed the metal detector or you didn't go through it in the first place. So how do I know what you possibly have on you.

The position I'm in requires I make sure no weapons or explosives are strapped to you. You must be cleared.

So what are the other options?

A "naked" body scanner. But apparently everybody hates those because all TSO are just dying to save/print/facebook upload an Avatar cat man image of Jim the 55 year old timeshare salesman.

Look, it's not an easy position to be in but the job dictates you clear each passenger so that's what I have to respectfully do.

I went through the WTMD.

I did not alarm the WTMD.

I was sent to the holding pen and another TSO even asked 'why?'

I was asked if I had any sensitive areas and although I have several I clearly indicated (and it was apparent to the TSO) the most sensitive area.

That still prompted what I would define as far more than a 'pat' ie no extra care was taken in that area, causing me significant pain for an extended period.

No, not 'everybody' hates them. Some people are involuntary opt-outs who will now undergo a frisk every time they fly (wheelchair pax, infants, people who are medically incapable of assuming and holding the position).

Here's the thing. My 82-yr-old mother (who flies several times a year) really doesn't care about the nudie machine. She'd cooperatively go through it. Except that she has a rotator cuff issue. She's physically incapable of of raising her arm more than about 20� from vertical.

So, she has no options. She will be subject to your invasive groping, whether she is cooperative or not. And even though she managed to fly four months ago without blowing up the plane AND without being groped.

Because -- let's face the facts -- there is no way to "respectfully" grope an 82-yr-old woman with a bad shoulder, simply because she has a bad shoulder.

The very concept is oxymoronic.

~~ Irish

Thanks everyone for their opinions. I've just had elbow surgery a few weeks ago and also have enough scapula/rotator cuff damage (from the same accident which injured my elbow) that I am not able to lift my arms above my head. Even if I could, I would still refuse the nude-o-scope.

You know, careful or not, it definitely ticks me off that a screening officer might have to pat down my elbow because it is still very sore and will be for a few months to come. This kind of screening mentality is just insane.

It's not an "avatar cat image". Quit repeating the lies.

TSA has indicated publicly that the technology that turns the images into stick figures does not meet their needs and continues to be developed. TSA's bid specifications specifically require that the machines be capable of storing images. Roland Negrin's diminutive "junk" would not have been visible on a stick figure. And last but not least, the US Marshals Service would not be in trouble for saving 32,000 stick figures in a Florida courthouse; I trust the US Marshals Service far more than I trust TSA, and the US Marshals Service has managed to flunk royally.

& did I mention that the sample photos that Thousands Standing Around posted on their own web site showed an awful lot of detail?

This just addresses the modesty aspect of the devices. On the health side, we are faced with either being bombarded by ionizing radiation which causes cancer & cataracts or being cooked with microwaves derived from Raytheon's Pain Ray. TSA has refused FOIA requests for test reports regarding radiation levels & safety analysis.

Thanks, but I will decline either, and I have absolutely no respect for those who lie to me.

Display some sense of integrity and get a respectable job.

Unfortunately I see a conflict here between these two statements. I suspect that the first comes from prior knowledge and training, and the realization that even slight pressure can cause additional pain or injury.

gsoltso, if you were to place pressure on an injury it could cause significant pain to that passenger.

TSASuper, is there training for the TSOs to learn how to handle those with medical conditions? It was clear that the woman doing my 'pat down' had no idea that she was causing pain and physical reactions until her supervisor told her that she was the direct cause of the reaction, and that she needed to stop what she was doing immediately. And this was in the 'medical liquids' lane in which I somehow found myself per the direction of the document checker.

OP, I hope that you are feeling better soon, and I hope that you have a painless experience, but sadly not every TSO is as aware or as careful as TSASuper seems to be.

Your job is an absurd, pathetic farce that makes no one safer and advances the aims of the very terrorists your agency fancies itself to be defending the country from. You can't do that "respectfully."

This rampant stupidity is mind boggling.....

Remarks about highlighted text above.

That is exactly what the public is asking.

I would suggest you find work that does not make you an enemy of the public.

Nice leap of logic there Mike, but I was discussing a situation where someone indicated they had surgery or a sensitive are because of stitches, staples, etc. I answered the question of the OP only, anything else you read into what I wrote is entirely your speculation.

I have had training on how to screen folks with many forms of disabilities, whether they are permanent or temporary.

I understand how frustrating and maddening it can be, but NOR hit the nail on the head with their earlier comments - the job dictates that we will screen each person that comes through to the best of our ability. My commentary above was not really as clear as it could have been, so let me elaborate some based on previous experiences. In some cases it just hurts the passenger too much to really "pat down" an area, in those situations, it is best to talk to the passenger, explain that you simply need to clear that area of threats and find the best solution for that individual passenger. I have done visual inspections as well as physical (touching) inspections based on that passengers needs.

We have to screen everyone that comes through, because as soon as we let all passengers with a cast go with no additional screening or someone that has had surgery with no screening, or people in a wheelchair go with no screening, or "Granny" go with no screening - someone with bad intentions will notice and try to use it to their advantage.

I elaborated better above for you as well Ex.