Originally Posted by sbrower

Maybe we should just suggest some different messages to place on baggies. Hopefully one of you is much funnier than I am.

"TSA Stupidity Container"

"SSSSS"

"Caution: Contents are SSI"

Originally Posted by ColKurtz

I think what you did is ridiculous and stupid. I think detaining you for about 25 minutes is about what you deserve. Maybe a little too short. I would have preferred they annoy you for a good 45 minutes or so - hopefully making you miss your flight.

First, you obviously were looking for a confrontation. Either the screeners will not notice what you wrote, or not care - what's the point in that case -- or they will notice and confront you. And the point of your desired confrontation is... to express your opinion that their boss is an idiot? What does that accomplish? Are you just an attention whore, or do you think you're planting some kind of seed of discontent that will spread and lead to Hawley's resignation.

Second, and more serious, your sophomoric little stunt distracted the people who are responsible for our security. If someone bent on harming travellers was behind you in line that day, their odds of getting through security were probably much higher than normal -- for the simple fact that you were consuming the attention of several security and police officers.

You should be ashamed of yourself. Grow up.

Originally Posted by Bart

This thread is beginning to remind me of a bunch of kids playing "pretend." However, this thread has prompted me to brief my team to remain professional. I periodically remind my team to deal with the frustrations that passengers sometimes take out on us. Goes something like this:

"You aren't being paid to get insulted. So don't get insulted. Many people are frustrated at these security measures and may take it out on you. Stay professional and don't let it get to you. Usually, all they want to do is just spout off. If you don't give in, this will usually defuse the situation and all is forgotten. However, if they remain irrate or even get abusive, I still want you to remain calm and professional. You are not paid to deal with jerks. I am. Call me, and I'll deal with it."

Originally Posted by Buster CT1K

I love the Kip Hawley protest idea too, but we should instead either do it for a whole week, or just all the time. The First Amendment is not merely effective occassionally or when Kip Hawley feels like it - it operates all the time, regardless of what the TSA claims.

Originally Posted by Bart

This thread is beginning to remind me of a bunch of kids playing "pretend." However, this thread has prompted me to brief my team to remain professional. I periodically remind my team to deal with the frustrations that passengers sometimes take out on us. Goes something like this:

"You aren't being paid to get insulted. So don't get insulted. Many people are frustrated at these security measures and may take it out on you. Stay professional and don't let it get to you. Usually, all they want to do is just spout off. If you don't give in, this will usually defuse the situation and all is forgotten. However, if they remain irrate or even get abusive, I still want you to remain calm and professional. You are not paid to deal with jerks. I am. Call me, and I'll deal with it."

Originally Posted by Spiff

Greek: Kip Hawley είναι ηλίθιος.

Dutch: Kip Hawley is een idiot. (This one is great - Kip is Dutch for Chicken)

Japanese: キップHawley は馬鹿である。

(Thank you Babelfish!)

I'll let my fellow FTers have some fun with other translations.

Originally Posted by Bsteinhardt

I read a copy of your posting on the IP listserve.

This is classic TSA silliness. Your First Amendment rights were indeed violated. You cannot be detained or subjected to an additional search based on an expression of your point of view.

It is sad and dispiriting that security professionas cannot the tell the difference between a true threat to the public and an act of free expression -- and not to see every expression of dissent as a personal challenge to their authority. Screeners are not first grade teachers. I don't feel safer knowing our airline screeners are so easily distracted from their real jobs.

If you are interested in following up on this. Please contact me at [email protected].

Barry Steinhardt
Director
Technology and Liberty Project
ACLU

Originally Posted by Bsteinhardt

I read a copy of your posting on the IP listserve.

This is classic TSA silliness. Your First Amendment rights were indeed violated. You cannot be detained or subjected to an additional search based on an expression of your point of view.

It is sad and dispiriting that security professionas cannot the tell the difference between a true threat to the public and an act of free expression -- and not to see every expression of dissent as a personal challenge to their authority. Screeners are not first grade teachers. I don't feel safer knowing our airline screeners are so easily distracted from their real jobs.

If you are interested in following up on this. Please contact me at [email protected].

Barry Steinhardt
Director
Technology and Liberty Project
ACLU

Originally Posted by Scifience

That is so wrong (the Japanese one, that is).

It should be:

ハルーリキップさんは馬鹿です。

I learned a long time ago that Babelfish is terrible for Japanese.

Originally Posted by Bsteinhardt

I read a copy of your posting on the IP listserve.

This is classic TSA silliness. Your First Amendment rights were indeed violated. You cannot be detained or subjected to an additional search based on an expression of your point of view.

It is sad and dispiriting that security professionas cannot the tell the difference between a true threat to the public and an act of free expression -- and not to see every expression of dissent as a personal challenge to their authority. Screeners are not first grade teachers. I don't feel safer knowing our airline screeners are so easily distracted from their real jobs.

If you are interested in following up on this. Please contact me at [email protected].

Barry Steinhardt
Director
Technology and Liberty Project
ACLU

Originally Posted by Bart

But scrawling a childish little playground taunt on a plastic bag? C'mon.