Dinner with the TSA
 

I met my cousin's husband for the first time this weekend. He seemed a nice, quiet chap.

As he became comfortable around me, he mentioned he worked at the airport, for TSA. He loves his job and is hoping to get picked up full-time.

He said he loves his job because he "gets to tell people what to do, and they have to listen to him." :eek:

I spent the rest of the dinner trying to ask nice, neutral questions about which gate he's at (so I can go to a different one tomorrow :D) and other subjects. In the back of my mind, I kept thinking, "Holy moley, what would Mr. Spiff say?"

What might have been a good rejoinder? Something like, "Oh! So you're not doing your job to secure the nation's airways?" Or was I right to not start provoking him (cause I'm flyin' tomorrow!)?

Sounds like it is best that you didn't provoke him. Hopefully, he'll get flushed out of the system soon, or figure out for himself the right reasons to be on the job (or any job)

You should have taken his drink away and made him eat with plasic utensils.

I was getting ready to post something like this guy has a bright future with quick promotions.... but with all my flying last week, I found the TSA folks to be friendly, professional, etc. I am finding fewer jerks at checkpoints as the years drag on.

Do you want to eat tonight? :D

Did you have to take your shoes off?? I'll take a guess that you used 3.4 oz glasses for drinks.

Did he take his leftovers home in a Kippe bag? :D

Did you just let him in your house, or did you hire a neighbor kid to check his ID at the door?

Lax 6 Tsa/leo
 

Sat morning, my husband, daughter and I flew into LAX (which we typically do each month and I have complained at length about TSA there). My daughter and I were in the PClub while waiting for Mr. bagladay to get the luggage and the car and then we went out. On our way out, she stopped to the LEO and ever TSA in sight. She's 3 1/2 and told each of them why she was there (to see her sister) and a few other bits of info that meant nothing to them. They all waved, smiled, and made nice comments back.

When we flew out last night, I went to go to the handicap area and she and her dad were going through the regular lines; she got upset I was going elsewhere (although we've done this many times, it'd been a long day, and well, she's 3 1/2) and the TSA lady told my daughter she could come with me. Kindness, compassion, I almost gave her a hug. She gave my daughter a quick pat down, a bit more for me, then helped my husband (along with another TSA) with all the bags, stroller, car seat, etc..

While I realize this was an act of kindness, for LAX, it was more an act of God. I was amazed and thrilled. Don't worry, I won't expect it again, but I give the TSA at Lax 6 a big ^ for this past weekend.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Superguy (Post 7922979)

Did he take his leftovers home in a Kippe bag? :D

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My aunt packed our leftovers in foam containers :D


GoGiants, we did take our shoes off, but that's because it's Hawaii and you always take off your shoes in someone's house.

Superguy Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottC
You should have taken his drink away and made him eat with plasic utensils.

Do you want to eat tonight?

:D

LMAO! ^

You should have dumped everyone from the house.

This is what I think every second of the day :p

A cousin I don't see very often and talk with less worked at LAS for awhile with TSA. I met her for lunch my last trip through Vegas. We spoke very briefly about the job (she was getting out at that point, just waiting for that bonus payout). She mentioned she had "stories" about her work. I indicated that it'd be better if we don't go there as I also had stories but from the other side.

Unless he was joking, I hope he moves on to another job soon. These are the wrong people for the job.

Sadly this is often the type of people who are attracted to jobs where they can "tell people what to do."

If (god forbid) I worked for the post office, I'd wake up happy every day knowing that that there is a more reprehensible public-facing trough feed out there.

But he couldn't see what's inside of them! :eek: :D

You should have a serious talk with your cousin. :eek:

I noticed the same thing that the TSA folks at LAX suddenly got professional! They explained to a 7 year old with a cast exactly what they were going to do and mentioned that if they wanted a private screening that was fine and within their rights.
They smile, ask the right questions etc. ^

Is there something in the water??? :D

The question posed when one discusses people in the LE/security field "going bad" is generally held to be - does the job attract them or does the job cause it?

My answer would be - yes.

Its always something we have to watch out for.

Probably something not in the bottled water they've been taking from people. :rolleyes:

You will both be receiving your WWSD t-shirts shortly. :D

Mike

They are also the jackasses that do not understand that having "authority" over people involves much more responsibility than the average job.

If you have to tell someone you're in charge, you aren't.

Unfortunately, too many of them don't get weeded out before they create a headache for the rest of us.

A wise old Sergeant of mine once told me:"The object of law enforcement is to interfere with people's everyday lives as little as possible".

I think he was right.

I attended a college with a large Criminal Justice program - there were two types of people trying to become cops, the ones who really believed in "too serve and protect" and the ones who could wait to get their baton and hit someone for the first time. I would guess the TSA draws the same two types.

True, but would you venture to say the TSA has more of the latter than law enforcement agencies? My basis for saying that is legitimate law enforcement agencies use more screening tools to eliminate candidates of such ilk. Some get through, but wouldn't TSA have a higher percentage due to limited candidate screening?

That's cause they get promoted... so far as I can tell - oh well, I graduate in three months and it's onto a real job, I do hope...

Agreed. The best LE work is done where its invisible. Its like good movie making - the best movies are those where you don't see the incredible amount of work done behind the scenes. You just enjoy your experience.

It depends. Most local LE agencies don't have the budget for thorough background checks. TSA checks are pretty thorough, much more so than most local LE agencies. They are not as thorough as many other federal agencies due to the nature of information handled. The higher the level of information handled, the higher level background.

A couple of distant family members work for the TSA as screeners; they too have said how much they enjoy giving orders to so many people. Orders that they realize are generally FINAL and completely without recourse, given that most passengers just want to get thru the checkpoint as uneventfully as possible.

I never hesitate to tell these family members exactly what I think of them. Most of you can probably guess how the conversation goes. ;)

Very nicely said ^...it takes a special person to do LE work really well, year after year, knowing that many of the rewards are private, and how easy it is to just go by the book in every situation rather than cultivate a keen sense of judgement that is a hallmark of every good LEO

You should split a bottle of wine with your cousin and ask her if there's anything that's, well,... coming up short in their marriage.

I dunno about that, I was working for two years when HR called me up and said, say... we never actually performed that background check on you... Meanwhile, my friend who was applying fo rthe S.O at the time had B.Is interviewing his neighbors, interviewing him at his house, etc... In California, the L.E agencies seem to be much more thorough...

:confused::confused::confused:

What is that based on??
Is that because all of the other bad apple TSAers get flushed out of the system as well?

:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I think it is a good thing that you let her know that you also had stories... I do not see it hurting when people who are close to TSA employees let them know that they are not really helping the security situation.

Actually that's the one thing he probably is good at.

BOHICA :eek:

True enough at times. Like I said, it depends.

I know the TSA got backlogged with backgrounds during the ramp up but I'd bet a Secret clearance with the feds is more thorough than most local LE checks. Just a guess though.

Heh!

TSO's are given Secret clearances???

No, they're cleared for SSI. Which, according to Bart, is about the equivalent of FOUO.

I thought they were secret. My bad. SSI it is.

<LD goes and sits in the corner for being wrong, wearing his neat little pointy cone hat>