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TSA: Fail

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Re: TSA: Fail

#101

Post by einhverfr »

verelo wrote: post #28
gareim wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having a customer service page is not synonymous with being accountable. The thing is, whether or not we are satisfied with them, we still have to deal with them until the government changes it. So they aren't held directly accountable. Instead, we have to effect change in the government in a way that will then effect change in the TSA. That extra layer makes things much harder.

You know, i totally agree...i just ask myself "would it hurt if they were friendly" and i don't see why not. They are citizen facing, treat others as you would like to be treated. It just feels like common sense to me.

This varies a great deal airport to airport. In Sea-Tac, I think they are pretty professional and friendly. In LAX this is not so much the case.

Re: TSA: Fail

#102

Post by einhverfr »

dawson wrote: post #30
verelo wrote: post #9

As someone who travels regularly and is not an American, I've had nothing but frustrations generated by the "TSA". Initially it caused me to unfairly assume all Americans are like TSA agents (i know this isn't true, but i guess its just my human bias). A few things that frustrate me: - They are not friendly, have a real attitude problem and treat you as if you are guilty before proven innocent. You are the face of th…

Just to balance things, I just returned (literally an hour ago) from SF, having flown in to SF for a week, then to Seattle and back to SF before flying back to the UK, and the TSA were all very welcoming, greeted me and made conversations, jokes and all engaged in a very pleasant manner. I was very impressed!

In SF, I believe they are private screeners. In SEA, they are unbelievably friendly and professional. Same goes for customs enforcement btw. Plus there is nothing to make you feel safe than having security that is obviously more competent than average, however low a bar that may be!

Re: TSA: Fail

#103

Post by tmcdonald »

glenra wrote: post #70
nagrom wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are body scanners in Europe. I went through one at Schiphol on the way to Washington last week. And I didn't see any sign there to tell me that I could opt for a pat-down, whereas there are screens to tell you that in Washington on the way back.

The scanners we have in the US are using radiation. Some of the scanners used in Europe are using sound waves instead. (I noticed this because I always opt out of the radiation ones.)

I'd recommend not travelling through Manchester Airport then, which have backscatter machines in place and do not allow for opt-out (although this is as-per DfT guidelines). They do only test a random sample, however.

    The Department for Transport has full confidence in the independent assessment 
    undertaken by the Health Protection Agency. We are confident with their assessment
    that the dose from being scanned is far below the allowed levels in the UK and
    does not constitute any unacceptable risks to health

Re: TSA: Fail

#104

Post by einhverfr »

smsm42 wrote: post #62
verelo wrote: post #9

As someone who travels regularly and is not an American, I've had nothing but frustrations generated by the "TSA". Initially it caused me to unfairly assume all Americans are like TSA agents (i know this isn't true, but i guess its just my human bias). A few things that frustrate me: - They are not friendly, have a real attitude problem and treat you as if you are guilty before proven innocent. You are the face of th…

Actually, it is a fact that as a visitor you have almost no rights towards US border agents. Well, of course they could not murder you or anything like that, but they can search any of your belongings and your person without any reason and any suspicion of actual crime, can refuse your entry on their sole discretion, can detain you if something looks wrong to them, etc. etc. I'm pretty sure though it's the same in ot…

I was discussing the congressional report with my TSA agent friend. My reading is that while it makes some good points, it is overly partisan and ultimately shows Congress fails to grasp the necessity for a systematic view of airport security. This agent and I have argue many, many times about AIT machines ets and I think was surprised to see me sticking to my guns on that issue while noting that the report largely as off the wall. I am worried about the growth of DHS, but until Congress gets realistic, they are the problem and that goes for both parties.

Re: TSA: Fail

#105

Post by X-Istence »

verelo wrote: post #66
[deleted] wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

I appreciate your assumption that Americans are everywhere and impossible to avoid, but it wasn't the case for me. I'm Australian, my first ever encounter with an American in real life (aka not CNN or the Simpsons) was during a flight from Sydney Australia to LAX in 2005. The 30 second interruption you referenced was not the case for me, i was held up for about 20 minutes while they searched my everything and quizzed…

The Aussie border guys are awesome! I went there with my family and they were friendly, joking with us and in general were absolutely awesome. American border guys are hardass assholes. I just can't stand how they make me feel bad for coming back home (green card holder working in America at a startup) from my vacation. It is frustrating.

Re: TSA: Fail

#106

Post by gcb »

verelo wrote: post #9

As someone who travels regularly and is not an American, I've had nothing but frustrations generated by the "TSA". Initially it caused me to unfairly assume all Americans are like TSA agents (i know this isn't true, but i guess its just my human bias). A few things that frustrate me: - They are not friendly, have a real attitude problem and treat you as if you are guilty before proven innocent. You are the face of th…

Forgot: they fuck up your luggage.

even at fascist regimens they would have the decency of opening the bags in front of you and not spilling powders all over your stuff

Re: TSA: Fail

#107

Post by InclinedPlane »

richardlblair wrote: post #89
InclinedPlane wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This happens ALL THE TIME. I accidentally boarded a plane (through SEATAC) in 2007 with this knife in my pocket: http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-45860-Ranger-Serrated-Knife/dp/...

With an item like that there is no real excuse for them to miss it. There is no mistaking that as something else. It is clearly a knife. It just proves the whole thing is "Security Theatre".

It was in my pocket. I walked through a metal detector. It was just a matter of the detector not being calibrated correctly or not being set to an adequately high sensitivity setting. That such things are possible is a testament to the uselessness of the system, if they can't manage to promulgate standards and procedures sufficient for the proper operation of a metal detector what hope is there that any other equipment is being operated correctly?

Re: TSA: Fail

#108

Post by newman314 »

btn wrote: post #79
swombat wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me tell you about this new product of mine. It's called Rhinoceros powder, and it does - you guessed it! It scares away Rhinos. As long as you spread Rhino powder everywhere, you will not be attacked by a Rhino. It works particularly well in urban areas. It clearly works, too! I've been using it for decades, as have many of my customers, and wouldn't you know it! None of them have ever been attacked by a Rhino. $…

I'm not sure if it's intentional, but there was a Simpsons parallel in "Much Apu About Nothing": [Later, a full-force Bear Patrol is on watch. Homer watches proudly.] Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm. Lisa: That's spacious reasoning, Dad. Homer: Thank you, dear. Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away. Homer: Oh, how does it work? Lisa: It doesn't wor…

specious not spacious. FTFY.

Re: TSA: Fail

#109

Post by donw »

mahyarm wrote: post #5
tnuc wrote: post #3

I disagree, he missed a vital point. TSA: Success The worlds most expensive security theater. Making you feel safer for your troubles.

Before the TSA, didn't you have to wait in a similar luggage screening line anyway? Other than the addition of the backscatter machine, checking your id before you enter the line and some other procedural changes what is different?

Having to dig my laptop and iPad out and put them in a separate bin than the rest of my things.

Not being able to bring an expensive bottle of wine on the plane.

Re: TSA: Fail

#110

Post by swombat »

btn wrote: post #79
swombat wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me tell you about this new product of mine. It's called Rhinoceros powder, and it does - you guessed it! It scares away Rhinos. As long as you spread Rhino powder everywhere, you will not be attacked by a Rhino. It works particularly well in urban areas. It clearly works, too! I've been using it for decades, as have many of my customers, and wouldn't you know it! None of them have ever been attacked by a Rhino. $…

I'm not sure if it's intentional, but there was a Simpsons parallel in "Much Apu About Nothing": [Later, a full-force Bear Patrol is on watch. Homer watches proudly.] Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm. Lisa: That's spacious reasoning, Dad. Homer: Thank you, dear. Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away. Homer: Oh, how does it work? Lisa: It doesn't wor…

This story archetype is centuries old.
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