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-   Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues-686/)
-   -   A Kinder, Gentler Screening (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues/807025-kinder-gentler-screening.html)

bzbdewd Mar 30, 2008 9:23 pm

A Kinder, Gentler Screening
 
TSA tries soothing screening process. All I can say is GACK..... gee why don't we have a little puking icon for occasions such as these??

sbm12 Mar 30, 2008 9:30 pm


The checkpoint to be tested in May at one terminal in Baltimore is based on a simple premise: serenity adds security. Mauve lights glow softly, soothing music hums, and smiling employees offer quiet greetings and assistance.
No more "barkers?" Where will they be transferred to?


The test will include a machine that uses harmless radio waves to scan passengers under their clothes for hidden weapons. Passengers will be selected randomly for the scanning after they go through a metal detector. Screeners will view images of passengers' bodies in a remote room and delete them.
Harmless, huh? Will the screener have to delete the image, or will going to the next victim automatically effect that process?

I'm glad I don't fly from BWI.

DevilDog438 Mar 30, 2008 9:33 pm

No way in hell will I walk through that damn scanner, random selection or not. Not enough long-term data for me to feel comfortable with needlessly exposing myself to unnecessary doses of radiation.

bzbdewd Mar 30, 2008 9:37 pm

"Hawley has sought to "calm the passenger" "

How about he starts with reasonable goals... like not p!ss!ng them off for starters??

amejr999 Mar 30, 2008 9:38 pm

They have got to be kidding me. Mood lighting? TSO biographies in the queues? Don't they have anything better to spend their money on?

:td::td::td:

Cee Mar 30, 2008 9:41 pm


... Mauve lights glow softly, soothing music hums, and smiling employees offer quiet greetings and assistance.
Burn some candles, maybe have the TSO's offer massages...
Oooh...maybe they will allow me to sip on a good glass of wine too!

mkt Mar 30, 2008 9:50 pm

I would rather not fly than walk through that scanner.

"Do you want to fly today?"

Not anymore.

amejr999 Mar 30, 2008 9:52 pm


Originally Posted by mkt (Post 9492463)
I would rather not fly than walk through that scanner.

"Do you want to fly today?"

Not anymore.

I assume the pat-down/grope option is available for those who don't want to go through.

MrAndy1369 Mar 31, 2008 12:01 am

I think this can be a good idea.

However, there's something about this whole idea that unsettles me. I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's because Kip keeps saying the words "hostile intent" and "terrorist" over and over again - I'm so unbelievably sick of hearing the word terrorist. It's getting really old. If this was set up just to calm passengers, then I'd feel good about this, but they just had to bring up terrorists and those with hostile intent.

Plus, this kind of eeriely reminds me of someone's vision of future screenings - being given "drowsy" medications before going through security. While this definitely isn't even close to that, it does seem like a tenative step towards that direction.

I don't know - maybe I'm just being cynical. Let's discuss this further.

MrAndy1369 Mar 31, 2008 12:20 am

And, how would this make security go faster?

Global_Hi_Flyer Mar 31, 2008 7:09 am

At BWI, no less. Guarantee that with the staff there it will turn out to be unpleasant and a problem.

Whole body scanner? That was supposed to be optional. I'm betting that the arrogant screeners at BWI make it MANDATORY.

I'll also bet that this gets installed on the line that has the new carry-on baggage screener that doesn't require that you take stuff out of your bag. :td:

bocastephen Mar 31, 2008 7:23 am

Why does this nitwit agency have to do everything in the extreme??

Mood lighting? Biographies? Soothing music?

How about some good, plain, old fashioned customer service acumen, good manners, and respect of the flying public - just that alone would go miles to make screening less stressful and wouldn't cost the US taxpayer a dime.

Ironically, this is being tested at a checkpoint at BWI - a classic example of the worst behaved screeners in the country. If they want this to work, they better inject their staff with some type of happy+smart drug before they start each shift.

Global_Hi_Flyer Mar 31, 2008 7:26 am


Originally Posted by bocastephen (Post 9493843)
Ironically, this is being tested at a checkpoint at BWI - a classic example of the worst behaved screeners in the country. If they want this to work, they better inject their staff with some type of happy+smart drug before they start each shift.

Correct...

And this comment in the comment section of the article (assuming it's a real screener from BWI - I'll say the attitude lends credibility to that assumption) clearly demonstrates what you're saying:


Dedication25 wrote: 4h 3m ago
I am a TSA Officer at BWI Airport. Of course in this country, you can never please anyone, and that is ok, but I am always glad to read such negative comments about our agency, cause it only drives us. Everyone on here who has left negative comments, I hope you all realize that you are aonly making yourselves look like the insignificant unimportant beings that you are. You may not believe in this agency, but GET READY!!! HA HA, I am laughing at all of you clowns. GET READY!!! TSA IS HERE TO STAY, DEAL WITH IT. GET READY!!! GET READY!!!! GET READY!!!!

FliesWay2Much Mar 31, 2008 7:26 am

I have an idea -- mayby Kippie can use some of those mood panels to display poster-size versions of the Bill of Rights -- both the original and the DHS/TSA "redacted" versions...

goalie Mar 31, 2008 7:32 am

and this is being piloted at bwi???? excuse me while i laugh......:rolleyes:


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