Taking Sense Away: Confessions of a Former TSA Screener

OverTheGeicoE writes "TSA gets discussed on Slashdot from time to time, usually negatively. Have you ever wondered about the TSA screeners' perspective? Taking Sense Away is a blog, allegedly written by a former TSA screener, offering insider perspectives on TSA topics. For example, there's the Insider's TSA Dictionary, whose entries are frequently about the code screeners use to discuss attractive female passengers (like 'Code Red,' 'Fanny Pack,' and 'Hotel Bravo'). Another posting explains what goes on in private screening rooms, which the author claims is nothing compared to screener conduct in backscatter image operator rooms. Apparently what happens in the IO room stays in the IO room. Today's posting covers how TSA employees feel about working for 'a despised agency'. For many the answer is that they hate working for 'the laughing stock of America's security apparatus,' try to hide that they work for TSA, and want to transfer almost anywhere else ASAP."

Comments

Glad to hear they're ashamed

[Philotomy]

I'm pleased to hear that at least some of the people working for the TSA are ashamed. They should be.

Re:Glad to hear they're ashamed

[whoever57]

The airlines need to address this. They have the resources.

I suspect that the beancounters in airlines are the ultimate cause of the financial issues of US airlines. Travelling by air has become much less pleasant than it was, what with the lack of food, extra fees, less legroom, etc.. On a recent trip to Asia, it was clear that the standard of service on Asian airlines is much better: hot food provided free on short flights, baggage limits applied loosely, more attentive flight attendants, etc..

I think that the beancounters think that the unpleasantness from security and all the other nickel and dime changes affect travellers on all airlines equally, which is true, but the real problem is that the number of air travellers has dropped. Perhaps if travelling by air were more pleasant, more people would travel.

The airlines should lobby to make security less intrusive and focus on real threats, followed by providing better service on-board.

I have a relative who works

[Jafafa Hots]

for the TSA. It's the only job he's ever been able to hold down.

He's stupid and lazy, but at least he's arrogant. Almost killed my cousin, his wife, by convincing her that chiropractic should replace her insulin.

He's fiercely proud of the TSA.

Not that unpopular

[Improv]

For as much as the technolibertarian parts of the geek community loves to rage against the TSA, they're not actually that unpopular with the general public. There's some good poll data on this.

Re:Not that unpopular

[CanHasDIY]

There's some good poll data on this.

No.

Such.

Thing.

"Poll Data" == "The opinions of the small handful of pre-selected individuals residing in a particular geographic who have a landline phone and are home to answer it at 1 PM on a weekday."

That's not even accounting for the weaselly way they word poll questionnaires.

Worse than rent-a-cops

[Anonymous Coward]

"TSA gets discussed on Slashdot from time to time, ALWAYS negatively..."

Ftfy. The TSA is always discussed negatively here -- and rightfully so. Take the entire body of evidence as to TSA's effectiveness and procedures, then toss in a million or so anecdotes about TSA's harassment & sheer stupidity, and no wonder they are so looked down on.

Yet another anecdote: in August, I was told I'd have to go through a backscatter or be patted down. I _politely_ said no, I'll opt for the patdown. The fifty-something TSA rent-a-cop (Keystone Kop?), in a half-assed attempt at condescension, "explained" to me that "this machine is not harmful, it uses millimeter wave technology that is the same technology in your cell phone -- it's just as safe as your cell phone." I resisted calling him a dumb fuck, and I _politely_ said that I'll opt for the patdown. He became aggressive and persisted with his bullshit reasoning, and I _politely_ said based on what I've read, I'll opt for the patdown. The dumb fuck yelled at me "WELL EVERYTHING YOU READ IS WRONG!" I know, I know, whilst in the presence of a TSA rent-a-cop I was wrong to say that I actually read. So there you have it, slashdotters, I have solid evidence that everything we've read --and I suppose written-- is WRONG. That fascist fuck will be head of TSA some day. And the patdown is a memory I will always cherish!

  Guess who's avoiding airports and instead driving from CO to PA this holiday

Re:TSA, terrorism, gun control, and mass shootings

[Anonymous Coward]

Japan also has a mafia so powerful it has influence over the government, and while we were telling the English king to go fuck himself, they were living in feudal aristocracy that was utterly submissive and caste-ridden. Even for the supposedly macho samurai, it was considered a point of honor to die like a little bitch for your lord, and to fail him required suicide. They were also the only people allowed to carry weapons and they could and did murder peasants with impunity. (I guess when your lord could ass-rape you if he wanted, you tend to take it out on the little people. Come to think of it, the Spartans did the same kind of shit, and they were big on ass-rape too.)

So, does Japan not have a lot of murders because they lack guns, or do they lack murders (and guns) because they've always been a docile, subservient people, violent only when allowed to be in the service of their betters?