Hey all,

I need to do a 10 minute persuasive presentation next week for a class I'm taking at work.

I decided to do it on educating folks on what they can do to help make TSA less annoying.

I'm definitely going to talk about shoe carnivals, and the pat downs. Also mention how complaints from people being patted down (especially women) helped get TSA to back off. Are there any other issues I can use?

I've seen a few threads, and I'm going to use what's in them. However, are there any links to show numbers: ie complaints on the rise, patdowns increase, etc?

Also, I've seen what some people can do: fill out the complaint form, call the FSD, and the obvious writing to Congress. Any other things?

Also, if there are things that they are doing right, I'd appreciate knowing those as well. I don't want to sound too negative.

Thanks,

Super

Is this for real?

Yes, this is for real.

I'm tired of the hassle everytime I go to the airport. I think more people should speak up with the inconsistent BS that happens at security, so this is a good chance to do it.

I know you may not agree with this. So please try to be constructive if you must criticize.

Thanks!

* Baggage theft by TSA screeners.
* TSA finding it acceptable to search checked luggage without giving the owner an option to be present. Personally, I feel violated. (I'm going to try to challenge this in EWR and DTW this weekend and grab the names of the GSC, FSD, and airline head of airport operations in the event they don't give me the option or tell me that I don't have one.) Enough is enough of putting up with such poor customer service in this aspect. (Personally, I could care less about domestic flights, but I wish to be present always for international flights.)

- Pat

Good stuff.

So with theft, do you mean stuff missing out of the baggage, or outright missing baggage? In the latter, I'd imagine that the airline would get stuck with the responsibility for the missing bag.

Secondly, could you elaborate? Are you referring to checks between the counter and the plane, where you just get the "notice" that your bag was searched?

Thanks.

Super

What I don't agree with is YET another thread for bashing TSA while keeping on topic....and as far as being "constructive" if I must criticize...does that apply to those who feed your bashing thread againist TSA? or is the standard double here.... :rolleyes

Just curious, who are you presenting to?: Other than the hating horde who post here�

Like thats going to happen here.... Anybody who posts a positive will surely come under attack....

Does not sound like a postive request for input to me by the OP

Wanna buy a bridge?

Seriously, Superguy, read the posts here and on NewsStand and TravelBuzz. You'll get piles of real-life anecdotes for your presentation.

Don't forget the Sharp and Pointy Object search. No knitting needles, manicure scissors, corkscrews, metal nail files, knives (even blunt kitchen knives).. what am I missing, guys? Help me here! Then there was the true story of the WW 2 hero who was taking his Congressional Medal of Honor with him on a trip to West Point and the drones at "security" tried to confiscate it because it had sharp edges.

I'm a Toastmasters member and if I had this topic I'd have them rolling in the aisles or calling their Congressperson- or both.

And if you want a good laugh at the end, point out that flying naked will make it far easier for them to pass through "security".

If TSA's built up enough hatred, maybe that says something.

Come on, even amongst the casual flyers, are there any that think it isn't a pain, shoe carnivals, etc, or not? Whether or not they think TSA is doing a good job is irrelevant to that point.

I just take a look at my wife who wouldn't necessarily mind traveling more, but finds air travel just not worth the hassle for the most part.

A class of 10 people. Government employees, but not part of TSA or DHS.

I'm open to positive evidence as well as negative. If I can be shown otherwise, I'll reconsider my position.

I'll admit my outlook is negative, but my experiences have been negative.

If I hear more more negative experiences than positive, I'm more likely to think that there actually IS a problem. Imagine that.

Likewise, if I hear more positive experiences, I'm more likely to believe that the negative is the exception to the rule.

I'm not just interested in experiences, I'm intersted in articles. Newspapers, travel mags, etc. Especially if there's any numerical data.

Keep in mind that my presentation is a persuasive one, and not an informative one. I already did those.

Super

I think the general consensus is that the uniforms are nice.

At least they look good when they misinterpret the rules and try to make us take off our shoes.

Good points.

That reminds me that my wife ended up getting a pocket knife comphiscated at BWI. It was one her mom gave her, and it was a small, pink pen knife. Her mom gave it to her because she didn't want it taken. As dumb as it might sound, it was special to her.

Well, they told her to dump it or let them take it. Then she found out later that she could have mailed it home. Wasn't happy about that.

Thanks for the tip on NewsStand. I'm relatively new here and still finding all the sections to the forums. I just found this one the other night.

Well see as you picked this forum..my guess is you don't want the positive and my point is supported here.... :-:

Well, you're right, my outlook is negative. But as I said, I'm also open minded. Feel free to support your claim they're not as bad.

FYI, knitting needles, corkscrews as long as they aren't the ones with a blade, nail files and butter knifes are no longer prohibited items. As for the medal with sharp points if someone said that wasn't allowed on that's pretty stupid. It still needs to be revamped but the prohibited items list is getting better.

Pretty amusing how you disguise your biased view towards TSA with this cute little presentation you intend to give with the illusion of fairness and unbias. The type of comments your post provoked should not be a surprise seeing as how this is a predominantly frequent flyer passenger website. You have a couple of options, and this is a matter of personal integrity on how you wish to pursue it:

He did say it's a persuasive presentation. If there were no opinion, there'd be nothing to persuade. The whole point is to perusade the viewers to agree with his view.

Similarly, I'm sure the higher ups at TSA have to do their share of persuasion that they're actually doing someting, so as to ensure the agency receives continued funding...