Always great to see your contributions to the discussion, Bart.

Your knack for intelligent and well thought out responses greatly improves my confidence in your "profession."

You rang?

Actually, I would argue that you're quite predictable. You yourself reveal your algorithm:

That's not random at all. Randomness implied unpredictability. If I was observing you at the checkpoint, I'd be able to predict with certainty which people you select by doing exactly what you do: picking the next person through the WTMD when you're free to conduct another screening.

And it wouldn't be hard for another observer to figure that algorithm out. Back in the post-9/11 days, when gate-side screenings were in practice, this algorithm was also in use ... which meant that the first person in line at the gate was always selected for "random" (sic) screening. Experienced travelers learned not to rush up to the gate when the first boarding call happened for precisely that reason.

Now, I would argue, there's nothing wrong with your selection procedure. It is not random, but it is arbitrary. Moreover, the arbitrary criteria you are using to select the next screenee is non-discriminatory, as you don't take any personal characteristics like age, gender, race, etc., into account --- which is really the objective.

All I'm saying is that the word "random" has a very particular meaning; people sometimes use the word "random" when they really mean something else like "arbitrary".

In the words of Inigo Montoya: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

It's this sort of courteous, useful explanation that would make the checkpoint experience far less combative. It'd be nice if more TSOs would offer those sorts of explanations, more regularly. Thanks, Bart.

Just in a similar line to what the previous post says, I had a somewhat interesting experience at NRT with an extremely polite security screener (as they almost always are at NRT, I have to admit).

It was a bag search cause by their inability to identify on their X-ray equipment a pair of tweezers in my hand luggage as a pair of tweezers. The unusual thing was that the reaction in my head - I was not bothered about being delayed, and I was not bothered about having my bag rummaged through, all because the screener was so polite and apologetic about holding me up while they just wanted to identify what thy couldn't identify on the X-ray was.

I wasn't much help because I never thought that the issue was my pair of tweezers so I was utterly baffled (I have travelled a lot with those pair of tweezers so I assumed the could tell what it was), but something really struck me.

When a similar delay happened in Australia and the security officer was arrogant and irritating, I found it annoying although I showed no reaction as they were only doing there job, whereas at NRT, I almost felt bad about having this 'unidentifiable object' because she had a 'I am here to serve the passengers' attitude.

What a difference it makes when you are spoken to politely, and when the officers' general demeanour is that of a good attitude!

Aha! Except that what I didn't say was that I wait a non-pre-determined period of time between each one, too~ Sometimes I might pull two people in a row, then I'll wait five seconds and pull the next guy that comes through, and then wait 42 seconds and pull the next guy through after that, and then ten seconds the next time. Then, also, there are the pull-overs that aren't random at all, but necessitated by policy that I have to pull over - such as someone wearing something large and bulky that requires a pat-down. Once I'm done with them, the count resets to another number and the countdown resumes.

However, I'll agree with you, it's probably not considered 'random' in the most... correct sense of the term. So, yeah, we'll just go with arbitrary.

That about sums it up.

From what I've gleaned here, the 'Don't look at me' is optional.

Vein Bulges: Yes I've seen them. And red faces also.

Loud admonishments... yes.

I fly 45 weeks / year.

It's getting old.

If everyone had Dean's demeanor, my life would be easier.

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Perhaps he didn't wish to descend to your demonstrated level?

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Some view the "territory" as a wasteland.

And, sadly a job that few manage to do with dignity and courtesy. My hat is off to the people who can inject a bit of both and maintain a sense of humor.

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Due to the intelligence community having a "nanny nanny boo boo" attitude towards local assets who could keep them well informed.

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The quote was written by Kurt Vonnegut, who survived the incendiary carpet bombing of Dresden Germany, and the resulting firestorm. No irony intended.