Originally Posted by copwriter (Post 8279715)

While I agree with the sentiment that security personnel and other people in authority positions (no matter what level) should not abuse their powers, it goes against human nature to expect this will never happen. This is especially true if you are trying to do an unpopular job and are constantly being criticized, ridiculed, and belittled for trying to do it.

A friend of mine was a traffic (police) officer. He was and is a consummate professional. I never saw him lose his temper, even in situations where it required saintlike patience not to do so. One day I was covering him (providing stand-by assistance) on a traffic stop. The violator had been stopped for speeding, but had a number of other non-moving violations with regard to his vehicle, driver's license, insurance, etc. The officer handling the stop had considerable discretion as to whether warn the violator for these, or issue citations. Each violation required a separate citation form. While my friend was preparing the citations, the violator delivered a running stream of invective on our personal, professional, and organizational incompetence, capriciousness, lack of ethics, immorality, inferior intelligence, etc. My friend merely nodded and kept writing. After several minutes, the light bulb went on, and the violator asked my friend, "You're just going to keep writing as long as I talk, aren't you?" My friend nodded. The violator shut up, my friend completed the citation he was working on, documents were signed and returned, and everyone was on their way.

Yes, these people (traffic cops, ID checkers, TSOs, etc.) can be petty and officious, but so can the passengers they are dealing with. Most of the workers are just doing the job that they are paid to do. The way that they do it is largely determined by someone higher up in the pecking order, and they can't do anything about it. They want to get to the end of the day and pick up their paycheck, much like most of the rest of us. If you want to change the system, complaining to or about the working stiff is unlikely to do much except make both of your lives more difficult.

The same traffic officer I spoke of had a little sticker on the back of his citation book: "Do not [expletive] with the alligator until after you have negotiated the swamp."

Originally Posted by runarut (Post 8285300)

Would You Rather Be Happy Or Right?
I'm amazed by the number of people who just don't get this concept.

Originally Posted by Wally Bird (Post 8287263)

Right.

I gave up on happy years ago ;)

Originally Posted by notmypetunia (Post 8284743)

You know what? I'm not all about TSA enforcing punishment. However, what we have here is a person who blatantly disregards the rules.

The TSA employee advised of the rules, the passenger chose to disregard. If you've been told the rules ad choose to ignore them, well, in the Agent's eyes, perhaps the passenger is trying to pull or get away with something, and action that comes with consequences. I say thank you TSA agent.

Originally Posted by chrisny2 (Post 8287476)

I agree with this. The TSA usually annoys me, but at least here this person was clearly not following requests to enter the proper line, which would seem to provide reasonable cause for additional screening.

Originally Posted by vassilipan (Post 8287503)

While I don't have huge heartburn with the TSO's actions, I question the efficacy of directing a passenger to SSSS because she was in the wrong line. If the pax could not follow directions or didn't understand the procedures, what is beneficial about special screening? If the goal is to effect a behavior change and have the pax use the proper lanes, going to the pen is not going to achieve that goal. I seriously doubt the passenger made any connection between the two.

Originally Posted by chrisny2 (Post 8287512)

I don't think it's intended to punish the person...

Originally Posted by notmypetunia (Post 8284743)

You know what? I'm not all about TSA enforcing punishment. However, what we have here is a person who blatantly disregards the rules.

The TSA employee advised of the rules, the passenger chose to disregard. If you've been told the rules ad choose to ignore them, well, in the Agent's eyes, perhaps the passenger is trying to pull or get away with something, and action that comes with consequences. I say thank you TSA agent.

Originally Posted by vassilipan (Post 8287503)

While I don't have huge heartburn with the TSO's actions,

Originally Posted by ralfp (Post 8288200)

Was it a TSO? If so, he/she should not be enforcing an elite line.