Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Defeated

orenhazi.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

131–140 of 445 posts

Re: Defeated

#131

Post by rayiner »

I just don't get the deal with the millimeter wave scanners. Did everyone raise a fuss like this when airports had you walk through metal detectors? How is a millimeter wave scanner different than a high-tech metal detector? Aren't we always talking about how the law needs to "catch up to technology?"

Don't get me wrong, I think the TSA is a huge waste of money and I hate being ordered around by flunkies who can't get any other job every time I go to the airport. But I don't see anyone raise a fuss when you have to walk through a metal detector to get into the local Barnes and Noble...

Re: Defeated

#132

Post by [deleted] »

jkhaxxe wrote: post #128
jballanc wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, so maybe "extremely" was a bit much. In my defense I think leaving is much simpler at this point than hoping that the current course of politics and public sentiment in the US will change. > 1) Barriers to work and emigration While real, they can be overcome. Also, I'd wager there will be something of a domino effect -- once other countries begin to catch on that well educated, highly trained Americans are lookin…

"well educated, highly trained American's" ironic...

[deleted]

Re: Defeated

#133

Post by rorrr2 »

jballanc wrote: post #32

There is an extremely simple solution: leave. I've not lived in the US for almost two years now. I've only had to travel back twice in that time. Meanwhile, in the same time I've visited France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany multiple times. None of those travel experiences were nearly as unpleasant or stressful as my two trips to the US. Furthermore, the technology communities that are growing up in these pla…

How is that a solution? If you're about to take a flight, you already spent a bunch of money, which usually means you really want or need to get to your destination.

Leaving doesn't solve anything. You think TSA gives a crap? No, they get paid either way. You think airlines give a crap? No, they already got your money, and now they have an empty seat that they can resell (via the overbooking process).

The real solution is to sue.

Re: Defeated

#134

Post by coldpie »

kghose wrote: post #100

Sorry, but I'm going to be the token "sheeple" here. Did you make such a fuss when you had to go through metal detectors? Did you make such a fuss when you were wanded? Did you make a fuss when you were carded (at the bar, or at the airport?) I think we should protest when the TSA is unprofessional and does not monitor their people and they do unprofessional things, (like circulate photos or make fun of people) but p…

The people operating the naked scanners are literally ex-pizza-delivery-dudes:

http://www.loweringthebar.net/2010/07/tsa-advertising-job-op...

Highly trained professionals, these are not. They're just people working their nine-to-five to get a paycheck. We pass dumb customer support tickets around the office all the time; why shouldn't they pass around hot chick photos, etc?

Re: Defeated

#135

Post by eloisius »

You probably put to much stock in the whole "I've never been through the imaging machines" bit. It's not about remaining opt-out puritan or something. Fight when you can.

I hope op reads this, buried in all the other comments. Please, for the sake of everyone, dust yourself off and opt out again. It doesn't matter if you do it every time.

I opt out every time I can, but there have been plenty of times when I don't. There's been times when I didn't have time to catch my flight, or my stress levels were bordering on unmanageable, or I didn't want to miss that wedding at any cost. One time, I felt like I had to pee too bad to risk waiting for a screening.

So kick off your shoes, empty your pockets, and take the freedom stance on the mat of defiance. Hold your arms out with pride and hope that someone on the other side of the security barrier sees you and decides to opt out as well.

Re: Defeated

#136

Post by Karunamon »

reaganite wrote: post #84

Just sign up for Global Enrollment (GOES) and you automatically get TSA Pre and don't have to go thru the regular security lines: no Millimeter back scatter scanner, no taking off your shoes or taking your laptop out of your bag. Australia, the Netherlands and Canada have similar programs and at present all recognize each others program enrollees, so it also gets you thru Customs in those countries faster too. https:…

Even if you get signed up for TSA Pre, you're not guaranteed to get the benefits of it every time. Lot's of "if"s and "may"s and other weasel-ey language.

If TSA determines a passenger is eligible for expedited screening, information is embedded in the barcode of the passenger’s boarding pass. TSA scans the barcode at designated checkpoints and the passenger may be able to receive expedited screening.

http://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/tsa-precheck-how-it-works

Re: Defeated

#137

Post by coldpie »

bluedino wrote: post #115

Isn't being felt up much more of a violation of your rights than going through an x-ray machine? My nutso-girlfriend refuses to go through them because of OMG CANCER, so instead I end up sitting around for a half hour while they manually search her. It's such a pain in the ass.

I agree. Wouldn't it be nice if every single person opted out, so they became so overloaded with groping that they had to change their policies?

Re: Defeated

#138

Post by colkassad »

rorrr2 wrote: post #133
jballanc wrote: post #32

There is an extremely simple solution: leave. I've not lived in the US for almost two years now. I've only had to travel back twice in that time. Meanwhile, in the same time I've visited France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany multiple times. None of those travel experiences were nearly as unpleasant or stressful as my two trips to the US. Furthermore, the technology communities that are growing up in these pla…

How is that a solution? If you're about to take a flight, you already spent a bunch of money, which usually means you really want or need to get to your destination. Leaving doesn't solve anything. You think TSA gives a crap? No, they get paid either way. You think airlines give a crap? No, they already got your money, and now they have an empty seat that they can resell (via the overbooking process). The real soluti…

I think he meant moving out of the US, not leaving the airport and going home.

Re: Defeated

#140

Post by eagsalazar2 »

coldpie wrote: post #130
eagsalazar2 wrote: post #125

"I won't be opting out again"? What? Give me a break. I fly weekly for work so I know the routine. 99% of the time the TSA agents are perfectly happy to do the pat down. I have had a few that have given me a hard time but then I've also had others come and apologize and emphasize that it is my right to opt-out. Keep opting out and next time someone gives you a hard time calmly ask for (1) a manager and (2) a comment…

I agree with you, though the longest wait I've had was about 15 minutes. My girlfriend has had about the same length, since they didn't have any women clowns at that station and had to call one from another station. The TSA clowns aren't there to make your life hell, they're there to do their useless jobs. Like any other position, sometimes the employees are bad at their jobs. I am confused about this, though: > ALSO…

Yeah just tell the agent when you first walk up then hold your stuff aside as needed. Mostly they totally get it but once I had a guy tell me to send it through. I told him no way because I always travel with an instrument and he backed down so I guess my situation is a little different.

Honestly I've never been made to wait more than 5 minutes and in the last couple years I've probably been on 100 flights but I have had asshats try and tell me that I'm wrong for wanting to opt out. I ask that person for the manager and the comment card every time and I've been profusely apologized to by the manager every time.

Post reply on HN