NYTimes Article: Less Than Positive Opt-Out Experience
Nov 3, 2010, 2:10 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SFO/SJC/SQL
Posts: 1,412
NYTimes Article: Less Than Positive Opt-Out Experience
Joe Sharkey recounts his opt-out at ORD
The standard negative reaction received by many:
- Barkers yelling as if they are speaking to unruly school children
- Opt-out leads to a public shaming much like a bully ridicules others
- Prison style grope plus verbal abuse
His also addresses his concerns on the health consequences of WBIs as well as privacy issues.
He also documents the changes noticed by another traveler who's observations mirror mine:
- The new but "we've always done this" policy of removing everything from your person even if going through the WTMD.
- Inconsistent screening with the assurances of things being the same at every airport.
- The suggestion that rules are arbitrary and made up on the spot.
I hope to see more articles detailing true experiences of how the TSA is a horribly run government bureaucracy more concern with putting on a good show rather than ensure public safety.
The standard negative reaction received by many:
- Barkers yelling as if they are speaking to unruly school children
- Opt-out leads to a public shaming much like a bully ridicules others
- Prison style grope plus verbal abuse
His also addresses his concerns on the health consequences of WBIs as well as privacy issues.
He also documents the changes noticed by another traveler who's observations mirror mine:
- The new but "we've always done this" policy of removing everything from your person even if going through the WTMD.
- Inconsistent screening with the assurances of things being the same at every airport.
- The suggestion that rules are arbitrary and made up on the spot.
I hope to see more articles detailing true experiences of how the TSA is a horribly run government bureaucracy more concern with putting on a good show rather than ensure public safety.
Nov 3, 2010, 3:58 am
#2
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Damning passage:
Bruce Delahorne, a marketing executive who flies frequently, said he was also recently going through a standard metal detector at O’Hare — no body imager in sight — when the old rules abruptly changed.
Mr. Delahorne said: “They had one of the T.S.A. staff announcing loudly: ‘Take everything out of your pockets. If you have a wallet, take it out. A handkerchief, out.’ I asked the guy, ‘Can you explain the reason for the new process?’ He said there was nothing new. ‘We have always done this.’ ”
Well, no they haven’t, as you and I and Mr. Delahorne all know. Mr. Delahorne said he thought, “O.K., I get it. This guy is reading from the card, not talking to me.”
Mr. Delahorne said: “They had one of the T.S.A. staff announcing loudly: ‘Take everything out of your pockets. If you have a wallet, take it out. A handkerchief, out.’ I asked the guy, ‘Can you explain the reason for the new process?’ He said there was nothing new. ‘We have always done this.’ ”
Well, no they haven’t, as you and I and Mr. Delahorne all know. Mr. Delahorne said he thought, “O.K., I get it. This guy is reading from the card, not talking to me.”
Nov 3, 2010, 4:35 am
#3
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It's all damning IMHO. In passing, it's bitterly ironic yet unsurprising that the Nanny State would demand fast-food drive-throughs and vending machines to post nutritional information while not requiring themselves to post warning signs adjacent to their own machines.
Please Nanny, give us barker warning signs too.
Please Nanny, give us barker warning signs too.
Nov 3, 2010, 7:11 am
#4
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Nov 3, 2010, 9:05 am
#8
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Nov 3, 2010, 2:38 pm
#12
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Sadly many people will not get that reference and gladly go along with ridiculous policy under the guise of "security." The article even uses the oldspeak term "Whole-body imager" as opposes to the newspeak and more marketable "Advanced imaging technology."
When I opt-out out, I always choose to be searched publicly as opposed to being sent to Room 101.
When I opt-out out, I always choose to be searched publicly as opposed to being sent to Room 101.
Nov 5, 2010, 3:44 am
#15
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