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New TSA regs: "Think of the children!" or "Meh"?
Let me be clear. I'm no fan of the new TSA screening processes. Inconvenient, invasive, expensive, and probably not terribly effective (if I'm not mistaken, the underwear bomber boarded his plane in Nigeria, not a United States hub). Not only that, but the company that makes full body scanners is a client of former homeland security chief Michael Chertoff's consulting group. Oh the humanity.
So, yes, I think it sucks. But I'm still going to fly, and I'm still going to bring my children. That means I'll have to subject them to full-body scans, which produce a naked image and expose the subject to a relatively low dose of radiation. If you opt out of the scan, or if the scan reveals something suspicious, you get a rather inclusive pat down.
I don't like it. But the hand-wringing "think of the children" rhetoric isn't helping, either. I know people who are cancelling their holiday travel plans over this. But I think the chances of some perv singling us out for the express purpose of inapproriate groping are pretty slim, as are the chances of our full-body scanner pics showing up on the Internet. As for the radiation exposure, it seems pretty minimal if you only fly two or three times a year:
From NPR:
| Screening at an airport X-ray scanner | .02 microsieverts |
| Negligible risk | 10 microsieverts/year |
| Transcontinental flight | 20 microsieverts |
| Average yearly radiation exposure from the environment | 3000 microsieverts |
| Chest X-ray radiation exposure | 100 microsieverts |
| Mammogram | 700 microsieverts |
| Abdominal CT scan | 10,000 microsieverts |
| Enough to cause radiation sickness | 1,000,000 microsieverts |
| Enough to cause death | 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 microsieverts |
I'm just trying to reassure myself. I'm already so prone to fear, I really just don't want to have to be afraid of this, too.
Maybe it will go away. The funny thing is, now that the pro-"safety" public that pushed for this sees how inconvenient and icky it all is, they don't like it anymore. And they're (of course) blaming Obama. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
What do you think?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by mcglory13 on -
On the reassurance part, I flew this past weekend and was not subjected to either the full body scanner or the pat downs.
On the abstract issue, I think it's invasive and essentially assault. I think there are better options to it. There are already reports of TSA agents posting the full body scans on the internet, so while it is unlikely any particular person will have their scan saved and shared, it is happening. There are also lots of reports of the TSA agents not following the pat down procedures correctly as well. A lot of security experts refer to the US measures as "security theatre." They do essentially nothing to make people safer, but it gives the appearance of doing so. There are also like, 50,000 TSA agents. Sure, they have some screening for the job, and some training before they start poking your vulva. But sufficient? Doubtful.
Given that it is unnecessary and more than likely unhelpful, I cannot believe these things have been allowed to become procedure. On the other hand, how do you get anywhere?
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Permalink Reply by G to the G on -
I think there are better alternatives... and I think might have a precious snow flake moment if my kid was to get a pat down. (or like on the news today showing up shirt less)
To be honest...*cringe* I'm more annoyed at this making traveling even slower. I fly for business 5 times (or more) a year and security is already a giant pain in the ass. I was subject to a full body scan in LAX this year. I'd prefer that than a pat down any day.
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Permalink Reply by Kiwi on -
I am excited about the prospect of a full body scan. I already have my sights set on the huge and very realistic looking strap on penis I plan to purchase just for wearing in my pants before I fly next.
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Permalink Reply by Floor Pie on -
LOL!
Kiwi said:I am excited about the prospect of a full body scan. I already have my sights set on the huge and very realistic looking strap on penis I plan to purchase just for wearing in my pants before I fly next.
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Permalink Reply by G to the G on
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Snortle
Well, its funny as long as I'm not in line behind you ;)
Kiwi said:I am excited about the prospect of a full body scan. I already have my sights set on the huge and very realistic looking strap on penis I plan to purchase just for wearing in my pants before I fly next.
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Permalink Reply by The Oracle on -
I think it's a secret anti-obesity initiative.
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Permalink Reply by GreenLantern on -
I've decided that if I have to fly, and I have to get groped (I'm not getting scanned), that I'll moan with loud ecstasy as the TSA agent is feeling my balls.
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