Well, no. This isn't a positive story about the TSA. It is a positive story about a few individuals who defied the TSA to make a passengers travel more comfortable.

As you yourself observe, this act of kindness might well cost them their jobs.

There's a difference between being something and possessing/using something. I think our man falls squarely in the passive (being) camp and should probably answer some of those spam emails. Perhaps they can help him with his "deficiency". ;)

And I think the same is applicable, if not triply so, for TSA checkpoints. I'm well aware that the majority of people coming through the checkpoint are the doers, from business and science and all aspects that are so vital to our commerce and the way of life we enjoy. They certainly don't need to be held up by inefficiency or incompetence. I find it extremely vexing when passengers are left waiting for additional screening or an x-ray operator stops the belt to chat with another screener. All that aside, in my view the most courteous thing I can do for any individual passenger is to see to it that they, and perhaps more importantly the person in the front of them, gets through the screening process as quickly and efficiently as possible. But this never necessitates being impolite or even being abrupt.

Appreciate your sentiment here, but you're looney if you don't see the screening process itself whether I'm seconded or need to wait in line, as an impediment (and major at that for any Frequent traveller) to our lives.

I don't live my life with my toiletries travel size in a single quart plastic baggie. Do you?