USA Today on TSA's new badges
Jun 24, 2008, 12:12 pm
#106
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: DHS, TSA, HOU
Posts: 63
Whether you actually think my job commands respect or not is not the issue at hand. The poster was trying to say that a comparison to a McDonalds was not exactly an insult, when in fact it is given the sterotypical potrayal of a McDonald's employee.
Jun 24, 2008, 12:17 pm
#107
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, WN, US, Avis, AA
Posts: 662
Please, don't backpeddle as that's one of the oldest internet tricks in the book. It's right up there with Godwin's Law. "I didn't mean it THAT way. That was all YOU!"
Yes, whatever. Let me tell you something; whenever someone compares a job to Wal-Mart or McDonalds they are referencing the wage, the importance of the job (or lack thereof), and the supposed worth of the people working there. If not, you would have mentioned pilot or a job that actually commands respect, not a fast food joint.
Yes, whatever. Let me tell you something; whenever someone compares a job to Wal-Mart or McDonalds they are referencing the wage, the importance of the job (or lack thereof), and the supposed worth of the people working there. If not, you would have mentioned pilot or a job that actually commands respect, not a fast food joint.
I think that the pilot, TSA screener or McDonald's server have equal "worth" as human beings. That said, their jobs do not have equal value. I have respect for the pilot and the McDonald's server because they contribute something of value in my interactions with them. The best the TSA screener can hope for is to be only a minor nuisance. If TSA actually contributed to security in a meaningful way perhaps things would be otherwise, but as it is the whole agency is nothing but a leech on the air travel industry and business in general. While TSA employees may be great persons at individuals, their jobs are (in the literal sense of the word) worthless.
Jun 24, 2008, 12:22 pm
#108
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,704
Not wanting to be guilty of any internet trick, be it old or new, let me be clear about my perspective.
I think that the pilot, TSA screener or McDonald's server have equal "worth" as human beings. That said, their jobs do not have equal value. I have respect for the pilot and the McDonald's server because they contribute something of value in my interactions with them. The best the TSA screener can hope for is to be only a minor nuisance. If TSA actually contributed to security in a meaningful way perhaps things would be otherwise, but as it is the whole agency is nothing but a leech on the air travel industry and business in general. While TSA employees may be great persons at individuals, their jobs are (in the literal sense of the word) worthless.
I think that the pilot, TSA screener or McDonald's server have equal "worth" as human beings. That said, their jobs do not have equal value. I have respect for the pilot and the McDonald's server because they contribute something of value in my interactions with them. The best the TSA screener can hope for is to be only a minor nuisance. If TSA actually contributed to security in a meaningful way perhaps things would be otherwise, but as it is the whole agency is nothing but a leech on the air travel industry and business in general. While TSA employees may be great persons at individuals, their jobs are (in the literal sense of the word) worthless.
Jun 24, 2008, 12:31 pm
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Jun 24, 2008, 12:33 pm
#110
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: DHS, TSA, HOU
Posts: 63
Not wanting to be guilty of any internet trick, be it old or new, let me be clear about my perspective.
I think that the pilot, TSA screener or McDonald's server have equal "worth" as human beings. That said, their jobs do not have equal value. I have respect for the pilot and the McDonald's server because they contribute something of value in my interactions with them. The best the TSA screener can hope for is to be only a minor nuisance. If TSA actually contributed to security in a meaningful way perhaps things would be otherwise, but as it is the whole agency is nothing but a leech on the air travel industry and business in general. While TSA employees may be great persons at individuals, their jobs are (in the literal sense of the word) worthless.
I think that the pilot, TSA screener or McDonald's server have equal "worth" as human beings. That said, their jobs do not have equal value. I have respect for the pilot and the McDonald's server because they contribute something of value in my interactions with them. The best the TSA screener can hope for is to be only a minor nuisance. If TSA actually contributed to security in a meaningful way perhaps things would be otherwise, but as it is the whole agency is nothing but a leech on the air travel industry and business in general. While TSA employees may be great persons at individuals, their jobs are (in the literal sense of the word) worthless.
Jun 24, 2008, 12:45 pm
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Jun 24, 2008, 12:48 pm
#112
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,953
Jun 24, 2008, 12:52 pm
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Jun 24, 2008, 12:57 pm
#114
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,704
Worthless is defined as "of no use or value."
"No use" is quite specific. Not mostly useless, all the way. If someone wishes to articulate their argument they must be careful of their definitions. God knows I've had this pointed out to me a time or two on this very board...
Jun 24, 2008, 12:57 pm
#115
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,953
Jun 24, 2008, 9:48 pm
#117
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: DL, WN, US, Avis, AA
Posts: 662
No, but the level of screening could, and should, be greatly reduced.
The 3.2-1-1 nonsense and the shoe carnival could be replaced with swabs for traces of explosives and the nonsense over pointy objects could be eliminated entirely. The new reality is that if anyone tries to take over a flight the reinforced cockpit doors will present a sufficient barrier to allow the passengers to beat any would-be hijackers into submission. The old protocol of "just sit still and cooperate with the hijacker" didn't survive to the end of Sept. 11 as the crash in Pennsylvania demonstrates. Additionally, getting a bladed object past security is a trivial matter for anyone determined to do so. The only thing that TSA accomplishes is to disarm non-threatening passengers.
Perhaps TSA could divert some manpower and effort away from pointless activities and put a little thought to screening cargo.
The proof that TSA is engaged in security theater rather than security is that it pours more and more effort into public activities with little or no effectiveness at the expense of things like cargo screening which would be useful but out of the public eye.
The 3.2-1-1 nonsense and the shoe carnival could be replaced with swabs for traces of explosives and the nonsense over pointy objects could be eliminated entirely. The new reality is that if anyone tries to take over a flight the reinforced cockpit doors will present a sufficient barrier to allow the passengers to beat any would-be hijackers into submission. The old protocol of "just sit still and cooperate with the hijacker" didn't survive to the end of Sept. 11 as the crash in Pennsylvania demonstrates. Additionally, getting a bladed object past security is a trivial matter for anyone determined to do so. The only thing that TSA accomplishes is to disarm non-threatening passengers.
Perhaps TSA could divert some manpower and effort away from pointless activities and put a little thought to screening cargo.
The proof that TSA is engaged in security theater rather than security is that it pours more and more effort into public activities with little or no effectiveness at the expense of things like cargo screening which would be useful but out of the public eye.
Jun 24, 2008, 10:03 pm
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,788
Isn't no screening what we effectively have today? 
You know that, and I know that, so why pretend that anything else happens at the airport checkpoint?
It is a given that the TSA is incompatible with the freedoms granted us as American citizens. There has not been a single incident that justifies their existence post 9/11. @:-)
No TSA employee, nor FAM, has had a single interaction with a "terrorist" since their programs were formed.
You know that, and I know that, so why pretend that anything else happens at the airport checkpoint?
It is a given that the TSA is incompatible with the freedoms granted us as American citizens. There has not been a single incident that justifies their existence post 9/11. @:-)
No TSA employee, nor FAM, has had a single interaction with a "terrorist" since their programs were formed.
Last edited by birdstrike; Jun 24, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Jun 25, 2008, 8:47 am
#119
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,704
No, but the level of screening could, and should, be greatly reduced.
The 3.2-1-1 nonsense and the shoe carnival could be replaced with swabs for traces of explosives and the nonsense over pointy objects could be eliminated entirely. The new reality is that if anyone tries to take over a flight the reinforced cockpit doors will present a sufficient barrier to allow the passengers to beat any would-be hijackers into submission. The old protocol of "just sit still and cooperate with the hijacker" didn't survive to the end of Sept. 11 as the crash in Pennsylvania demonstrates. Additionally, getting a bladed object past security is a trivial matter for anyone determined to do so. The only thing that TSA accomplishes is to disarm non-threatening passengers.
Perhaps TSA could divert some manpower and effort away from pointless activities and put a little thought to screening cargo.
The proof that TSA is engaged in security theater rather than security is that it pours more and more effort into public activities with little or no effectiveness at the expense of things like cargo screening which would be useful but out of the public eye.
The 3.2-1-1 nonsense and the shoe carnival could be replaced with swabs for traces of explosives and the nonsense over pointy objects could be eliminated entirely. The new reality is that if anyone tries to take over a flight the reinforced cockpit doors will present a sufficient barrier to allow the passengers to beat any would-be hijackers into submission. The old protocol of "just sit still and cooperate with the hijacker" didn't survive to the end of Sept. 11 as the crash in Pennsylvania demonstrates. Additionally, getting a bladed object past security is a trivial matter for anyone determined to do so. The only thing that TSA accomplishes is to disarm non-threatening passengers.
Perhaps TSA could divert some manpower and effort away from pointless activities and put a little thought to screening cargo.
The proof that TSA is engaged in security theater rather than security is that it pours more and more effort into public activities with little or no effectiveness at the expense of things like cargo screening which would be useful but out of the public eye.
Still, I'll grant it all to you for the purposes of this discussion. That still means, per your statement, that the TSA isn't worthless, just not as efficient as you'd like.
Jun 25, 2008, 8:53 am
#120
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,704
It is a given that the TSA is incompatible with the freedoms granted us as American citizens. There has not been a single incident that justifies their existence post 9/11. @:-)
No TSA employee, nor FAM, has had a single interaction with a "terrorist" since their programs were formed.