boiflyer

We will be flying in November for the first time since the Enhanced Grape™ started (and yes TSA this is Government rape under duress, IMO). We don't want cancer-causing X-rays or nudie/porn images, so we will opt out. However, after reading about some painful encounters and squeezing while the genital grapists go to work, we are legitimately concerned.

Mrs. Boiflyer is pregnant. She is very sensitive and won't want anyone squeezing anything, especially her breasts, uterus, or vagina. I don't want anybody graping my package (I sure wish Southpark would do a TSA episode).

So, can we armor ourselves with athletic supporters, cups, thick bras, huge penis extenders, etc to keep the genital graping to a minimum?

Disgusting that we have to talk about agents of the government either radiating us with ionizing radiation, viewing porn and child porn in a perv booth, and getting physically graped in order to fly. Disgusting.

eyecue

IF you put something "down there" That is not normal you risk being told to remove it and having it examined by x-ray or other means and then the patdown will be completed without it. You are then free to put it back on at the nearest restroom. I would just go about business as usual and dont worry about it. Chances are that nothing that you fear is going to happen. The grape that you so eloquently describe does not happen as you are describing it.

boiflyer

"Down there" is way too candy-coated. TSA is fondling penises, testicles, vaginas, breasts, and probably anuses. Sick, ain't it?

If I wore an athletic supporter and was told I had to remove it as a condition of flying, I would really seriously consider pulling a "Michael Roberts" and just throwing in the towel, be done with flying, and going to the media. The TSA is really crossing the line.

The Graping TSA is doing is really no different than a boss telling a subordinate they must give the boss some naked pics or let the boss feel them up. It's no different...at all. It's done with coercion under duress. Without "allowing" it, the employee gets fired or the traveler doesn't fly. Sick.

Finally, you mention the Grape doesn't happen as described. So, how exactly does it happen then? Oh that's right, it's SSI . I asked Andy Coose, the FSD of BOI, if the TSOs were going to touch my penis or my wife's breasts or vagina. His response is he could not tell me the procedure. I also received the same response from Chadwick Bash of the TSA home office: "With regard to your questions on pat down inspections, we cannot share specific details of our procedures for security reasons." Really you cannot tell me whether you are going to feel my penis?

While I appreciate the TSA input from some members on this board, IMO you are all working for an out of control agency that lost its common sense a long time ago if it ever had any to begin with.

FriendlySkies

I call total BS on your statement.

exbayern

So does this mean that women cannot choose to wear sanitary napkins?

BubbaLoop

What about incontinence products? Mastectomy bras? Absorbent bra pads for lactating women?

studentff

So much for SATTSO's (naive not malicious IMO; I honestly think he thinks it would work) claim that you could ask a TSA employee prior to consenting to screening what the screening would entail. If 2 executives refuse to answer such a question, why would a TDC or front-line TSO answer it?

essxjay

For the sake of anatomical clarity I think you mean vulva (external), not vagina (internal).

Unless you really do mean to say that you're worried about a cavity search on wife, in which case an actual rather than virtual strip search would have to take place first.

boiflyer

Yeah, you're probably technically correct. I'm not a physician, do not play one on TV, nor stayed at a Holiday Inn Express lately . No, not concerned about an actual cavity search. I was using a term that I thought was more appropriate than something like the Oregon State "Beavers", or worse.

What I am more concerned with is taking appropriate measures to prevent coerced rape on our persons. Which, is exactly what this is.

Eyecue said any mentioned clothing items of rape protection may need to be removed. If an ETD swab of clothing in proximity doesn't alarm, then I say it's unreasonable and not warranted. Maybe it's time to buy a box of thick padded depends to deal with this crap.

doober

I wouldn't put it past a zealous clerk to try a finger probe of the vagina.

ScatterX

According to TSA's rules, you are allowed to wear things down there. IMO, a "crotch enhancement device" (CED) is permitted. IMO, it is not reasonable for TSA to have you remove these items for inspection.

I would expect the TSA to insist that a woman remove a cosmetic boob (think post-mastectomy) or a man to remove a prosthetic leg. IMO, it would be completely appropriate to make sure everyone in the area heard about it as you refused to do so for medical and privacy reasons.

I'm not sure that Swedish cars are permitted through the checkpoint.

N965VJ

So we can expect stories about screeners playing doctor and telling people to remove prosthetic devices?

eyecue

An athletic cup is neither a prosthetic or a medical device. IT is not any of the other things like sanitary napkins, depends and the like. Crotch enhancers? Is there such a thing other that a roll of tube socks? This whole subject is bordering on hysteria without foundation. I perform these searches daily and you people are mistaken as to what it entails. I am willing to bet that none of you have had one done.

FlyingDiver

A cup could indeed be a medical device. If a man had surgery or some injury, a doctor could certainly recommend using a cup to prevent contact with the effected area.

joe

boiflyer

Eyecue, while I do appreciate the beating that you TSOs choose to take on this board by defending the TSA's actions, I wholeheartedly disagree that this is "hysteria without foundation".

Fondling "sensitive areas", as the TSA so casually likes to call fondling of any already mentioned private body parts is just plain disgusting and warrants the reactions expressed.

Some people just say, take the scan then. Well, some of us don't want X-rays. Even if that was done away with, we have the whole secrecy of the images and their true resolution and zoom capabilities. Then, even if that is finally published, we have things like the former FSD of BOI Doug Melvin to worry about:

http://www.kboi2.com/news/6121256.html

Now, the same agency who had a perv FSD in place wants people to believe that naked viewing in secret porn booths is acceptable? While this FSD's sex act was done in a hotel, I think any reasonable person could deduce its possible in fact that some sicko perv will eventually masturbate in a TSA nudie booth. It's really not far fetched nor unbelievable. That combined with X-rays is why we will always opt out. Given that, the "choice" of a grape session allows us to at least look into the eyes of the perpetrator of our grape session while they fondle our "sensitive areas" . It is the lesser of two distinct and disgusting evils.

With this being the only "choice" for us, that is reason I thought I'd check into what will happen if one chooses to wear something that puts a good layer between "sensitive areas" and the grapist.