TSA was security theater from the beginning. All those confiscated liquids, all thos stolen Apple electronics, all those confiscated tchotchkes, all those nude scans [shared between agens in the crew forums] for a safer vibe
Though it did condition me away from air travel, and eventually from long-distance travel entirely.
The inconsistency is the worst but, at least outside America, most customs teams are polite and informative about what is required.
When I travelled to the US, they were constantly annoyed that you didn’t have their exact workflow memorized. That still happened when 2 machines, side by side, had different rules!
Oh, and FYI, some places, like Amsterdam, have it FAR more efficient. No emptying bags, no 100ml limits. Bag and jackets go through the x-ray scanner, you go through the nudity scanner. You’re done in less than 30 seconds.
And then there is Copenhagen, where they are extra picky.
TSA has never made travel safer.
It’s always been a jobs program.
Security theater to assuage the public’s (scared, rich, white people) fears after hyping up the threat of foreign terrorism.
Essentially, the establishment made a booboo and hurt the airline industry’s bottom line in their efforts to destabilize the Middle East. So, they devised a sideshow circus to get people flying again.
It isn’t even about jobs. They never gave a shit about jobs. It’s always about the money.
Yes because clearly people don’t travel to countries with darker skinned people or simply because despite them not affording it their business sent them on a trip.
You know, you don’t have to work in the rich white people schtick into every conversation.
my dude did you not speak to any person of Arab descent between 2001 and 2021? You couldn’t even be Sikh without getting accused of being an Islamic terrorist
The point being- were there no rich black men taking flights? Rich women? or did they somehow not have to fear terrorist attacks on planes?
There was no point in inserting that and it’s not only not true but also prejudiced assuming of course there could only be rich white men taking flights. Certainly couldn’t be minorities taking flights right?
It was stupid to insert, out of place, and deserved to be called out.
Has nothing to do with the profiling done on Arab/Sikh/etc. people done by TSA.
No, I don’t have to but, considering the topic, it was relevant to the situation.
TSA exists the way it does in the USA specifically to assuage the fears of rich white people who travel for pleasure and getting them to fly again after the events of 9/11 which had a significant impact on the airline industry, seeing a significant decline in passengers, thus a decline in industry revenue.
You also don’t have to keep your head in the sand about the way the world works with every conversation you find yourself in.
Now, piss off.
Eh, maybe go fuck yourself too.
Security theatre.
I haven’t traveled in 12 years, and I’m dreading my trip coming up in two weeks.
Are you bummed that you’re no longer going to see all those feet?
No. Just hated dealing with the TSA idiots then, and I know I’m gonna hate it now.
Suggestion: don’t glare at them, be courteous and smile. They hate their jobs too.
What a dumb post. Or is this coming from the generation that never heard of “Richard shoe bomber” who is the reason some have to scan their shoes.
So, this happened one time. Is that it?
Literally one example and I’m supposed to live in fear of a copycat for the rest of eternity?
Fuck no.
I’ve never been afraid of a copycat. Not once.
I will let you take a second. And think about why it only happened once.
And you must think you’re smart and clever. 🙄
I don’t see how it wouldn’t come up being scanned with the person the same if it come up going through the scanner. If my balls are to warm they set off the machine. Metal components in my shoes should detect as well, which you’d then have to take them off and have them scanned. It’s probably much easier to work the electronics into a handheld game console, laptop, camera or other electronic devices and let it go through the machine and have them not be able to recognize it
I’m sorry but I cannot understand what you’re trying to say. The xray they use to scan your bags are not the same as the one you go through.
In case you were unaware. “Richard shoe bomber” did not have metal or electronics in his shoe. He had simply put explosives in the sole of the shoe with a fuse attached.
He was caught and restrained when he tried to light the fuse on the airplane.
So what your saying is scanning the shoes would have made no difference?
I’m saying the exact opposite.
The scanner you put your bags, electronics, jackets, and shoes on. Are different than the scanner you walk through.
That’s why they ask you to put your shoes there.
They are… But not really. The machine will flag you if you are going through with your shoes on and something is off about them. The only thing that’s different is it is easier to swab them if they think something may be off about them.
Which if you went through the body scanner and they thought something was off, they are going to ask you to step aside and remove them to be swabbed.
(Hence why anyone who applies for TSA pre check, could already keep their shoes on)
The thing you walk through detects metal.
The thing your personal items go through is an x-ray machine.
The little metal detector wands are to find a more precise hit on what is setting the first metal detector off, in case you are trying to hide something on your person.
Both are x-ray machines
Edit. Sorry not always x-rays. Millimeter waves that can even see tumors… It isn’t just metal
My guy. The type of xray they scan your bags with are not what they scan you with.
The reason they swab shoes is not to detect explosives. It’s to detect drugs. If you take hard drugs, or swallow bags, they can often see traces of it in your sweat. And shoes are a fantastic source of sweat.
This is contrary to every article you can find online. They swab shoes, hands, laptops, etc. It’s for glycerin and other substances found from explosives. They couldn’t give a shit if you were on drugs. You can’t get a DUI for being drunk/high and going through a TSA check point obviously. And they aren’t arresting people for being on anything at the airport unless they are harassing someone else.
