Backscatter

[betenoire]

Perhaps if your government wants to make you "safe" from "terrorists" it should instead explore what, exactly, it does that pisses people off so much. And then fucking stop doing that.

[Nat]

http://consumerist.com/2010/09/pregn...body-scan.html

The two TSA agents asked me, "Why don't you want to go through this?" I said, "I don't trust it." They said, "Why don't you trust it?" I said, "I am pregnant and would rather be pat down." And they said, "Oh but you get ultrasounds, don't you?"

I answered yes and the TSA officer said, "Oh it is less than an ultrasound, and it's really easy so just go through."

The TSA officers are doctors now??

They repeated again for me to just go through the scanner and it would be done in 5 seconds. I was literally in tears because I wanted a pat-down instead of going through the machine, and I felt they declined me that option. No matter how much I pushed for a hand pat-down, they pushed harder for the machine.

Then, after I stood in the machine, the officer waiting on the other side of it patronized me by cooing, "There, that was easy, wasn't it?"

I mentioned that I was forced to do it and went to the belt to take my possessions, while tears ran from my eyes.

I really felt the TSA agents were just being lazy since a pat down obviously takes more time for them, but I also feel like when I specifically ask for something that is an option for me, I should be able to get it.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by Nat

http://consumerist.com/2010/09/pregn...body-scan.html

That's bullshit. And the many of the comments on the article are so sexist. I only had to reach the first page of comments to see a bunch of jackasses going on about how her pregnancy hormones were obviously making her unreasonable.

Gross.

[Gina]

I am thinking that I would rather be scanned/searched rather than having the guy/woman behind me get through with a bomb taped to their balls/vagina..

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by Gina

I am thinking that I would rather be scanned/searched rather than having the guy/woman behind me get through with a bomb taped to their balls/vagina..

Are you aware no terrorist has been caught as a result of the scans/searches and it has been admitted they probably would not have caught the underwear bomber using the scans/searches?

Andrea

[Nat]

Originally Posted by Gina

I am thinking that I would rather be scanned/searched rather than having the guy/woman behind me get through with a bomb taped to their balls/vagina..

My girlfriend said recently she'd be happy to just take off all her clothes and do a body cavity check too if it meant she got to fly down here for a month. But then she said she would never want to fly with kids under the current conditions - would never want to subject kids to it.

My feeling is that just because some individuals are fine with being handled this way, that doesn't really mean it's okay. I feel entitled to a certain amount of sovereignty over my body and I see the policies as extremely violative and anxiety-triggering. How long before junior highs and high schools begin using similar methods?

[Nat]

I am going to try to use another example here - maybe it will hold water.

It is a legal right in the u.s. to keep and bear arms.

I don't own a gun because I feel the personal risks of my owning a gun would outweigh the benefits of owning one.

However - just because I don't want a gun in my house, that wouldn't be a justifiable reason for me to advocate for repeal of the 2nd amendment.

Just because you personally would make the choice to be scanned or groped or both - that doesnt mean everybody else will or should be subjected to it.

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by Gina

I am thinking that I would rather be scanned/searched rather than having the guy/woman behind me get through with a bomb taped to their balls/vagina..

And did you miss my link? Where it was exposed that people are somewhat regularly getting through security with guns, very visible, in their carry on bags?

It kills me that people still blindly accept this because they *think* it must help.

[Waldo]

And here's another for you:

Airline pilot videotapes security flaws at SFO - http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/12/2...ecurity-flaws/