"Ample open TSA threads" November 15, 2010 12:16 PM Subscribe
Can we have a separate subsection of MetaFilter just about airline travel, security, the TSA, backscatter machines, agressive pat-downs, ball cupping, and other related topics? It could be an area for posts about these issues, questions, projects, jobs, and music. I feel this would be both a great place to productively funnel the surge of ongoing interest and a way to help keep the rest of the site from being inundated. Potential names for the subsite welcome and appreciated.
You're joking, right?
posted by morganannie at 12:19 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by morganannie at 12:19 PM on November 15, 2010
No thanks.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 12:20 PM on November 15, 2010 [19 favorites]
posted by mathowie (staff) at 12:20 PM on November 15, 2010 [19 favorites]
Ha ha! What's clever about this post is that you don't really want what you're asking for, do you?
Metafilter, like the rest of popular culture, gets fixated on one thing, be it elections, or politics, or whatever. While it can be tedious, take comfort in knowing that in a day or two, it'll be something completely different for you to get annoyed about.
posted by crunchland at 12:20 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Metafilter, like the rest of popular culture, gets fixated on one thing, be it elections, or politics, or whatever. While it can be tedious, take comfort in knowing that in a day or two, it'll be something completely different for you to get annoyed about.
posted by crunchland at 12:20 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Or how about the mods delete redundant TSA posts like they've been doing and that way we can avoid an unnecessarily sarcastic and pointless Metatalk thread.
Though I do have to admit, I'd like to see more posts about ball cupping, especially in AskMe and Jobs, and maybe even IRL.
posted by bondcliff at 12:21 PM on November 15, 2010 [11 favorites]
Though I do have to admit, I'd like to see more posts about ball cupping, especially in AskMe and Jobs, and maybe even IRL.
posted by bondcliff at 12:21 PM on November 15, 2010 [11 favorites]
We could always use the back room for this, the one where we used to have all the Lady Gaga conversations.
posted by jbickers at 12:21 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jbickers at 12:21 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
-->LET'S JUST CHANGE THE ENTIRE SITE TO THIS<--
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:22 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Sticherbeast at 12:22 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Can we have a separate subsection of MetaFilter just about airline travel, security, the TSA, backscatter machines, agressive pat-downs, ball cupping, and other related topics?
there's already a fetlife group
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 12:25 PM on November 15, 2010 [19 favorites]
there's already a fetlife group
posted by FAMOUS MONSTER at 12:25 PM on November 15, 2010 [19 favorites]
No. Things are working pretty much okay right now. What sort of gets me is how the new TSA threads are basically "new shitty thing happening with TSA!" which is sort of the definition of what needs to get posted in the open thread. If someone wanted to make a post that was comprehensive, not filled with free-floating rage and actually was a good summary of what's been going on and what is going to go on, I am certain people would enjoy it and we'd probably not delete it.
People are interested in what is going on with TSA and would like to talk about it. That's fine but in the interests of keeping MeFi from turning into a "How does TSA suck today?" blog, we're just trying to stay on top of things.
That said, I'm basically not interested in doing more work on this besides typing this comment, so no there will not be a MetaFilter subsite on this. First in line for the subsites will be Minecraft, followed by bacon and then followed by "hey all you asshats, make your completely nonsensical comments here so you dont confuse and annoy people trying to have a conversation" followed by GRARworld. Please fill out your forms in triplicate when making your requests for subsites. Thanks!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:26 PM on November 15, 2010 [48 favorites]
People are interested in what is going on with TSA and would like to talk about it. That's fine but in the interests of keeping MeFi from turning into a "How does TSA suck today?" blog, we're just trying to stay on top of things.
That said, I'm basically not interested in doing more work on this besides typing this comment, so no there will not be a MetaFilter subsite on this. First in line for the subsites will be Minecraft, followed by bacon and then followed by "hey all you asshats, make your completely nonsensical comments here so you dont confuse and annoy people trying to have a conversation" followed by GRARworld. Please fill out your forms in triplicate when making your requests for subsites. Thanks!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:26 PM on November 15, 2010 [48 favorites]
Can we have a sub-site where people brag about how little they spend on (whatever)? "I only spend $100! I only spend $50! $25! $10! $5! THEY PAY ME TO USE IT!"
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:27 PM on November 15, 2010 [20 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:27 PM on November 15, 2010 [20 favorites]
Technically you can sort of make bacon already in Minecraft.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:29 PM on November 15, 2010 [22 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:29 PM on November 15, 2010 [22 favorites]
Can we have a sub-site where people brag about how little they spend on (whatever)?
That's coming after the site where people post asking if they spend too much/too little on whatever. Priorities, man.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:30 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
That's coming after the site where people post asking if they spend too much/too little on whatever. Priorities, man.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:30 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Is the AskMe subsite for users who don't have an answer but just want to aggressively challenge the premises of the question included in GRARworld, or will it be its own thing?
posted by donnagirl at 12:30 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by donnagirl at 12:30 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
That is a GRARworld subsite. I call it pigeonmating.metafilter.com.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:31 PM on November 15, 2010 [8 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:31 PM on November 15, 2010 [8 favorites]
Sorry, no matches for the tag ballcupping across MetaFilter.
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 12:31 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 12:31 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
How about a GRARworld™ theme park?
posted by bondcliff at 12:34 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bondcliff at 12:34 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Want to talk about "TSA sucks amirite" without there being anything new or significant to discuss? There's a reddit for that.
posted by Gator at 12:34 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Gator at 12:34 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'd like the subsite for "I already decided what I was going to say before I even read your question, because I don't like to read".
posted by catlet at 12:35 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by catlet at 12:35 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
I don't want to live in a world where you don't have to pay for ballcupping.
posted by found missing at 12:36 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by found missing at 12:36 PM on November 15, 2010
We could always use the back room for this, the one where we used to have all the Lady Gaga conversations.
You really don't want to go out back; everyone just sort left their meat-clothes there after they got bored, and it's gotten pretty rank.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:36 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
You really don't want to go out back; everyone just sort left their meat-clothes there after they got bored, and it's gotten pretty rank.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:36 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
Oh yeah, if you're taking suggestions for subsites, I'd love one for "I haven't bothered to read the other comments but I expect everybody to read mine." Is ideserveasmackupsidemyrudehead.metafilter.com taken?
posted by Gator at 12:38 PM on November 15, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by Gator at 12:38 PM on November 15, 2010 [3 favorites]
There is a case to be made for a (grar|flamepit|arguments).metafilter.com, a place where banished posts could house the trolls and congenital debaters. In particular, this might save the odd "why did you delete my perfect post?" or Electionfilter!, IsrPalfilter!, Applefilter! post in metatalk.
On the other hand, I think it would be pure hell to have to moderate. Further, fragmentation also breaks the one-conversation philosophy of the site.
posted by bonehead at 12:42 PM on November 15, 2010
On the other hand, I think it would be pure hell to have to moderate. Further, fragmentation also breaks the one-conversation philosophy of the site.
posted by bonehead at 12:42 PM on November 15, 2010
Potential names for the subsite welcome and appreciated.
MetaFrisk.
posted by googly at 12:42 PM on November 15, 2010
MetaFrisk.
posted by googly at 12:42 PM on November 15, 2010
Sorry, no matches for the tag ballcupping across MetaFilter.
Try IRL.
posted by zarq at 12:43 PM on November 15, 2010
Try IRL.
posted by zarq at 12:43 PM on November 15, 2010
taters.metatalk.com
posted by bonehead at 12:45 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bonehead at 12:45 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
So I checked this list of airports with pornoscans and my departing airport for Thanksgiving didn't have it and I was all like: yay!
But then I checked again and my return trip does have one and I was all like: damn.
Those are all my thoughts on the matter.
posted by Rhaomi at 12:45 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
But then I checked again and my return trip does have one and I was all like: damn.
Those are all my thoughts on the matter.
posted by Rhaomi at 12:45 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
Or, we could have a subsite for chatfilter about the Tea Party that was unanswerable in the first place and has now just become users arguing back and forth about who is right about what caused the Tea Party.
posted by proj at 12:46 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by proj at 12:46 PM on November 15, 2010
First in line for the subsites will be Minecraft
SUCK IT, BOOKFILTER WHINERS!
posted by DWRoelands at 12:46 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
SUCK IT, BOOKFILTER WHINERS!
posted by DWRoelands at 12:46 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
First in line for the subsites will be Minecraft
OMG minecraft.metafilter.com CONFIRMED! yay!
posted by juv3nal at 12:46 PM on November 15, 2010
OMG minecraft.metafilter.com CONFIRMED! yay!
posted by juv3nal at 12:46 PM on November 15, 2010
now just become users arguing back and forth about who is right about what caused the Tea Party.
Oh right, let me take care of that.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:52 PM on November 15, 2010
Oh right, let me take care of that.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:52 PM on November 15, 2010
You'll pry the congenital debaters from our cold dead ballcupping fingers.
Also, I still want a recipe subsite called EatMe.
posted by taz at 12:53 PM on November 15, 2010 [6 favorites]
Also, I still want a recipe subsite called EatMe.
posted by taz at 12:53 PM on November 15, 2010 [6 favorites]
First in line for the subsites will be Minecraft, followed by bacon and then followed by "hey all you asshats, make your completely nonsensical comments here so you dont confuse and annoy people trying to have a conversation" followed by GRARworld.
Ok everyone, we've preliminary approval!
posted by nomadicink at 12:53 PM on November 15, 2010
Ok everyone, we've preliminary approval!
posted by nomadicink at 12:53 PM on November 15, 2010
I have an idea for a subsite about subs -- submarine sandwiches, submarines, subs in BDSM relationships, the user subbes, the Pittsburgh Pirates' legendary pitcher Kent Tekulve, subwoofers, Subarus, grunge music of the early 90's, underground transit, Jared training for the marathon, and attempts at sarcasm.
posted by not_on_display at 12:55 PM on November 15, 2010 [6 favorites]
posted by not_on_display at 12:55 PM on November 15, 2010 [6 favorites]
wait i have changed my mind i want a subsite about sarah palin
posted by not_on_display at 12:57 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by not_on_display at 12:57 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
I see GRARworld, and read it as GWARworld, and think, that'd be kind of cool.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 12:57 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 12:57 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
wait i have changed my mind i want a subsite about sarah palin
aka Sarah Palin's Alaskme.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:04 PM on November 15, 2010 [6 favorites]
aka Sarah Palin's Alaskme.
posted by cortex (staff) at 1:04 PM on November 15, 2010 [6 favorites]
GRARWorld: Everything is in varying, poorly contrasting shades of red, just to tick you off a little more. Either the corner logo looks subtly like a fist or it must resemble the Red Lantern symbol. All text is converted to uppercase. Any sentence-ending periods must be replaced with exclamation marks. Each username blinks. Prepend all comments with some variant of "FUCK YOU!"
Yeah, GRARWorld.
posted by adipocere at 1:04 PM on November 15, 2010 [8 favorites]
Yeah, GRARWorld.
posted by adipocere at 1:04 PM on November 15, 2010 [8 favorites]
Are you sure you're not reading Reddit and then forgetting where you've been hanging out? There were a grand total of seven posts tagged with TSA in the last year. Admittedly three were in the last month (less than one a week still seems hardly worth stunt posting over)... but it might be a little early to chalk that up to more than a momentary outlier.
For whatever reason (nationwide epidemic of horrible body image issues?) the x-ray spec scanner versus official feeling-up issue is the first sign of real resistance to the increasingly surreal alternate reality of the check-in line for airplanes. There's good recent evidence that the main reason these scanners exist is good old fashioned lobbyist-motivated legislative pork. A few articles one month doesn't seem like a big deal.
posted by nanojath at 1:05 PM on November 15, 2010
For whatever reason (nationwide epidemic of horrible body image issues?) the x-ray spec scanner versus official feeling-up issue is the first sign of real resistance to the increasingly surreal alternate reality of the check-in line for airplanes. There's good recent evidence that the main reason these scanners exist is good old fashioned lobbyist-motivated legislative pork. A few articles one month doesn't seem like a big deal.
posted by nanojath at 1:05 PM on November 15, 2010
Admittedly three were in the last month
We deleted, I think, two more as well.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:08 PM on November 15, 2010
We deleted, I think, two more as well.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:08 PM on November 15, 2010
andoatnp, you have searched up the leg of MetaFilter, and found resistance.
posted by Kabanos at 1:11 PM on November 15, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 1:11 PM on November 15, 2010 [5 favorites]
The TSA at Logan had been using regular latex gloves for their ball-cupping, but lately switched to nitrile gloves. It just doesn't feel the same, to be honest. And last time the guy managed to slip his phone number in my boxers.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:11 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by backseatpilot at 1:11 PM on November 15, 2010
Are you counting the three deleted posts from the past 24 hours, nanojath?
posted by Gator at 1:12 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Gator at 1:12 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Also, does anyone make underwear our the steel microfiber cloth ThinkGeek uses to make this wallet? I would buy that for traveling.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:13 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by backseatpilot at 1:13 PM on November 15, 2010
GRARWorld: Everything is in varying, poorly contrasting shades of red
...and cortex is this big white flying head that shoots fireballs ? I may have to reconsider my position on this.
posted by bonehead at 1:14 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
...and cortex is this big white flying head that shoots fireballs ? I may have to reconsider my position on this.
posted by bonehead at 1:14 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
How about a GRARworld™ theme park?
We need for TaterWorld™!
Great with bacon!
posted by jgirl at 1:14 PM on November 15, 2010
crap
posted by jgirl at 1:14 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jgirl at 1:14 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
The TSA at Logan had been using regular latex gloves for their ball-cupping, but lately switched to nitrile gloves. It just doesn't feel the same, to be honest. And last time the guy managed to slip his phone number in my boxers.
posted by backseatpilot
Well, what do you expect with a name like that?
posted by bondcliff at 1:15 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by backseatpilot
Well, what do you expect with a name like that?
posted by bondcliff at 1:15 PM on November 15, 2010
Speaking of minecraft.
CPU is complete.
posted by empath at 1:22 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
CPU is complete.
posted by empath at 1:22 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'M GOING TO GRARWORLD!
Yes, but who will be its mascot?
Perhaps a moose would be a bad idea....
posted by zarq at 1:29 PM on November 15, 2010
Yes, but who will be its mascot?
Perhaps a moose would be a bad idea....
posted by zarq at 1:29 PM on November 15, 2010
After I go to GRARWORLD, I'm winning the Super Bowl!
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:32 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:32 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Are you counting the three deleted posts from the past 24 hours, nanojath?
It would be a cool feature if the new post screen also looked at recently deleted posts when checking for duplicates and similar tags. Like you would think that showing people the recently deleted "tsa" tagged posts might make them think twice.
Most people just don't see the deleted posts, because they aren't using the GreaseMonkey script.
posted by smackfu at 1:37 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
It would be a cool feature if the new post screen also looked at recently deleted posts when checking for duplicates and similar tags. Like you would think that showing people the recently deleted "tsa" tagged posts might make them think twice.
Most people just don't see the deleted posts, because they aren't using the GreaseMonkey script.
posted by smackfu at 1:37 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
Potential names for the subsite welcome and appreciated
MeFly
posted by briank at 1:46 PM on November 15, 2010
MeFly
posted by briank at 1:46 PM on November 15, 2010
Only if I can have a separate area for, ooh, everything I think there's a bit too much of. That would be cool. Especially Metatalk whinebaggery. We should have a separate area for that. Definitely.
Oh wait...
posted by Decani at 1:48 PM on November 15, 2010
Oh wait...
posted by Decani at 1:48 PM on November 15, 2010
For awhile it seemed there were regular requests for a separate "DateMe" section, but I feel like one hasn't popped up in awhile. Have we all finally found love?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:58 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:58 PM on November 15, 2010
This is one of those cases where I think Matt should totally go ahead and add another subsection of the site just for TSA threads, just to fuck with andoatnp. And, as added irony, we should all go and post the coolest posts about other topics to that subsection.
I think we can do it.
posted by koeselitz at 1:58 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think we can do it.
posted by koeselitz at 1:58 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
*sits down to wait for baconfilter*
posted by rtha at 2:05 PM on November 15, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by rtha at 2:05 PM on November 15, 2010 [3 favorites]
For awhile it seemed there were regular requests for a separate "DateMe" section, but I feel like one hasn't popped up in awhile. Have we all finally found love?
Either that or those folks started reading AskMe a little more carefully.
posted by zarq at 2:06 PM on November 15, 2010
Either that or those folks started reading AskMe a little more carefully.
posted by zarq at 2:06 PM on November 15, 2010
pigeon... mating?
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:09 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:09 PM on November 15, 2010
Yeah you know when you're sitting there watching pigeons and they're doing their coo-coo thing and all of the suddden one pigeon puffs up and starts chasing and pecking some other piegon on the head? And sometimes there are two or three of them all puffed up and a bunch of other smaller ones sort of trying to run away and hide from them? And from your perspective the whole thing looks crazy goofy but apparently it's some sort of necessary part of the whole pigeon cycle? That.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:19 PM on November 15, 2010 [18 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:19 PM on November 15, 2010 [18 favorites]
...followed by "hey all you asshats, make your completely nonsensical comments here so you dont confuse and annoy people trying to have a conversation"
I'm going to move in as soon as you get the roof on this.
posted by timeistight at 2:21 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm going to move in as soon as you get the roof on this.
posted by timeistight at 2:21 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
First in line for the subsites will be MineLovecraft
Fixed that for you, where "fixed" means "changed to what I like."
posted by Zed at 2:21 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Fixed that for you, where "fixed" means "changed to what I like."
posted by Zed at 2:21 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
Unions advise pilots to avoid full-body scans
While recommending the pat-downs as an alternative to the AIT scanners, both unions described them as demeaning and intrusive. USAPA recounted the experience of one US Airways pilot who "experienced a frisking that . . . left him unable to function as a crew member."posted by gman at 2:30 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
There’s a pigeon on your head! You’ve got head pigeons! Go to the nurse before they spread to the other children!
posted by shakespeherian at 2:30 PM on November 15, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 2:30 PM on November 15, 2010 [5 favorites]
I'M GOING TO GRARWORLD!
Fuck that place. The line for the emotional rollercoaster is like, forever long.
posted by Devils Rancher at 2:36 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
Fuck that place. The line for the emotional rollercoaster is like, forever long.
posted by Devils Rancher at 2:36 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
the pigeon wants a scotch.
posted by clavdivs at 2:49 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 2:49 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
I went to GRARWorld when I was a kid, and my mom bought be a ball cupping game. Toss the ball, catch it in the cup, dump it out of the cup, toss it, and catch it in the cup again. The ball is on a string and attached to the cup, so there's no worry if you don't catch the ball in the cup, and clean-up is as easy as catching a ball in a cup!
posted by davejay at 2:57 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by davejay at 2:57 PM on November 15, 2010
I meant to type "my mom bought me", but I have a cold
posted by davejay at 2:58 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by davejay at 2:58 PM on November 15, 2010
Ah. Pigeon mating. Yes.
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:58 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by nebulawindphone at 2:58 PM on November 15, 2010
Have we all finally found love?
Yes, thanks to TSA!
posted by Wolfdog at 3:04 PM on November 15, 2010
Yes, thanks to TSA!
posted by Wolfdog at 3:04 PM on November 15, 2010
"experienced a frisking that . . . left him unable to function as a crew member."
Um.
posted by adamdschneider at 3:09 PM on November 15, 2010
Um.
posted by adamdschneider at 3:09 PM on November 15, 2010
Have we all finally found love?
If I understand correctly, the demand for DateMe has been taken over entirely by the demand for MinecraftMe. Or at least, this is what I am led to believe about Minecraft.
(Also: Bacon.)
posted by sonika at 3:25 PM on November 15, 2010
If I understand correctly, the demand for DateMe has been taken over entirely by the demand for MinecraftMe. Or at least, this is what I am led to believe about Minecraft.
(Also: Bacon.)
posted by sonika at 3:25 PM on November 15, 2010
I kinda think there should be a "this shitty thing the TSA did today" site, but metafilter's not the place for it.
posted by cjorgensen at 3:27 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by cjorgensen at 3:27 PM on November 15, 2010
"experienced a frisking that . . . left him unable to function as a crew member."
Um.
Um . . . yeah. There are people in the world who, for various reasons, may be psychologically traumatized by a stranger or cop-figure touching their penis or vagina. Is that a difficult concept?
posted by chaff at 4:13 PM on November 15, 2010
Um.
Um . . . yeah. There are people in the world who, for various reasons, may be psychologically traumatized by a stranger or cop-figure touching their penis or vagina. Is that a difficult concept?
posted by chaff at 4:13 PM on November 15, 2010
She felt along my waistline, moved behind me, then proceeded to feel both of my buttocks. She reached from behind in the middle of my buttocks towards my vagina area.
She did not tell me that she was going to touch my buttocks, or reach forward to my vagina area.
She then moved in front of my and touched the top and underneath portions of both of my breasts.
She did not tell me that she was going to touch my breasts.
She then felt around my waist. She then moved to the bottoms of my legs.
She then felt my inner thighs and my vagina area, touching both of my labia.
She did not tell me that she was going to touch my vagina area or my labia. ...
I stood there, an American citizen, a mom traveling with a baby with special needs formula, sexually assaulted by a government official. I began shaking and felt completely violated, abused and assaulted by the TSA agent. I shook for several hours, and woke up the next day shaking.
posted by Joe Beese at 4:24 PM on November 15, 2010
She did not tell me that she was going to touch my buttocks, or reach forward to my vagina area.
She then moved in front of my and touched the top and underneath portions of both of my breasts.
She did not tell me that she was going to touch my breasts.
She then felt around my waist. She then moved to the bottoms of my legs.
She then felt my inner thighs and my vagina area, touching both of my labia.
She did not tell me that she was going to touch my vagina area or my labia. ...
I stood there, an American citizen, a mom traveling with a baby with special needs formula, sexually assaulted by a government official. I began shaking and felt completely violated, abused and assaulted by the TSA agent. I shook for several hours, and woke up the next day shaking.
posted by Joe Beese at 4:24 PM on November 15, 2010
This thread is not the "TSA sucks AMIRITE" thread either.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:45 PM on November 15, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:45 PM on November 15, 2010 [3 favorites]
No, apparently it's the TSA slashfic thread.
posted by backseatpilot at 4:50 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by backseatpilot at 4:50 PM on November 15, 2010 [2 favorites]
man it seems like a lot of people really want metafilter to be reddit, like basically with the "Could We Have A Subsite?" (which has appeared a little while ago about something else) basically makes me think people are applying a foreign paradigm to metafilter; subsites (such that they exist) here are purpose driven, not topic driven and it's kinda weird to see these things pop up. Also with the occasional "HEY YOU FORGOT TO CREDIT REDDIT" as first comment kinda noise but that's probably just some confirmation bias on my part, dunno if I've seen that a lot lately. Maybe the mods make like Jean Reno on those comments.
posted by boo_radley at 4:50 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by boo_radley at 4:50 PM on November 15, 2010
Is that a difficult concept?
No, but for whatever reason (the phrasing, my battle with disease that's left me feeling rather foggy today) I didn't even consider psychological trauma. It really just seemed like they were suggesting the frisking smashed his balls or something. Back to fluids and bed for me.
posted by adamdschneider at 5:07 PM on November 15, 2010
No, but for whatever reason (the phrasing, my battle with disease that's left me feeling rather foggy today) I didn't even consider psychological trauma. It really just seemed like they were suggesting the frisking smashed his balls or something. Back to fluids and bed for me.
posted by adamdschneider at 5:07 PM on November 15, 2010
"hey all you asshats, make your completely nonsensical comments here so you dont confuse and annoy people trying to have a conversation"
But that's hey that's now don't you know what the that would be what was the question?
posted by metagnathous at 5:15 PM on November 15, 2010
But that's hey that's now don't you know what the that would be what was the question?
posted by metagnathous at 5:15 PM on November 15, 2010
I expect still the I gave in which be able customize the price... of another way I followed austere
posted by Gator at 5:20 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by Gator at 5:20 PM on November 15, 2010
Dear MetaTalk TSA Forum,
I know this is going to sound like a crazy fantasy, but every word of this story is true.
I was traveling from New York to Paris, and I was in line at the TSA security checkpoint. While I waited, I began writing a letter to President Obama suggesting he change his limo to a Prius, when an attractive, buxom TSA agent touched my arm. "Excuse me sir, but you've been selected for secondary screening," she murmured. Her voice was soft and careful and one of the buttons of her uniform was missing. Her eyes were dark brown and were tinged with a melancholy, Please don't make this difficult--I just work here.
"I'm going to give you a pat-down--would you prefer a private room?" she whispered. "Yes, I think so," I replied. She ushered me into an unmarked door, locking it behind her. As she turned, I could see her
[Deleted. This isn't appropriate for MetaTalk--jessamyn]
posted by George Clooney at 5:20 PM on November 15, 2010 [17 favorites]
I know this is going to sound like a crazy fantasy, but every word of this story is true.
I was traveling from New York to Paris, and I was in line at the TSA security checkpoint. While I waited, I began writing a letter to President Obama suggesting he change his limo to a Prius, when an attractive, buxom TSA agent touched my arm. "Excuse me sir, but you've been selected for secondary screening," she murmured. Her voice was soft and careful and one of the buttons of her uniform was missing. Her eyes were dark brown and were tinged with a melancholy, Please don't make this difficult--I just work here.
"I'm going to give you a pat-down--would you prefer a private room?" she whispered. "Yes, I think so," I replied. She ushered me into an unmarked door, locking it behind her. As she turned, I could see her
[Deleted. This isn't appropriate for MetaTalk--jessamyn]
posted by George Clooney at 5:20 PM on November 15, 2010 [17 favorites]
Okay, so last week there was this thing on reddit where someone was like "Well, everyone hates the TSA, and we can raise a lot of money, so lets make an ad in the NY times and get a full page ad!" so I'm like "Hey I can draw, I think I'll make something that's emotionally jarring and gets the point across!" so I do, and proceed to spend the next day or so making an ad. I show it off and people say "Yeah, this is pretty good, it's so good it doesn't even need copy!" and I get a request from some random guy for a 300 dpi image of it so he can print it off himself. It's something I put a bit of work into, because it's an issue I'm passionate about.
That, I must stress was last week and now I must declare that I am Tired Of These Motherfucking TSA Posts on this Monday Friday Blog.
posted by hellojed at 6:04 PM on November 15, 2010
That, I must stress was last week and now I must declare that I am Tired Of These Motherfucking TSA Posts on this Monday Friday Blog.
posted by hellojed at 6:04 PM on November 15, 2010
more cute rodent posts pleez thnx
posted by marxchivist at 6:05 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by marxchivist at 6:05 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
There must be a way to mate taters, bacon, cups and balls and roll them all together in a it's-been-on-the-counter-for-a-quarter-of-an-hour-can-I-still-eat-it-subsite. Only there's a will, fewer pigeons, a few cute rodents [and more scotch].
posted by Namlit at 6:16 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by Namlit at 6:16 PM on November 15, 2010
This thread is not the "TSA sucks AMIRITE" thread either.
*Pshaw* If they're ballcupping these days, I may just have to go down to SeaTac and drop in for a howdy-do! It would go a little something like:
*Beep-Beep-Beep*
"Excuse me sir, step over here"
"Sure thing!"
"Sir, I am going to have to now search your body that will include a pat down."
"Yes, please!" *wink*
*Ball cupping ensues*
"Thank You!"
*stroll back to the end of the line*
posted by P.o.B. at 7:21 PM on November 15, 2010
*Pshaw* If they're ballcupping these days, I may just have to go down to SeaTac and drop in for a howdy-do! It would go a little something like:
*Beep-Beep-Beep*
"Excuse me sir, step over here"
"Sure thing!"
"Sir, I am going to have to now search your body that will include a pat down."
"Yes, please!" *wink*
*Ball cupping ensues*
"Thank You!"
*stroll back to the end of the line*
posted by P.o.B. at 7:21 PM on November 15, 2010
I stood there, an American citizen, a mom traveling with a baby with special needs formula, sexually assaulted by a government official. I began shaking and felt completely violated, abused and assaulted by the TSA agent. I shook for several hours, and woke up the next day shaking.
So many poor mommies with blogs being treated badly by TSA.
posted by anniecat at 7:32 PM on November 15, 2010
So many poor mommies with blogs being treated badly by TSA.
posted by anniecat at 7:32 PM on November 15, 2010
Mmm, balls.
posted by bardic at 7:35 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bardic at 7:35 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
So many poor mommies with blogs being treated badly by TSA.
And now there are a lot of other people being treated poorly by the TSA, people who just stand there and say "Am I free to go?" and "Am I under arrest?" in completely reasonable tones in ways that are pretty unassailable, even by irritable internet people. And maybe, just maybe, people will get together and do something about it. I am hopeful.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:40 PM on November 15, 2010 [13 favorites]
And now there are a lot of other people being treated poorly by the TSA, people who just stand there and say "Am I free to go?" and "Am I under arrest?" in completely reasonable tones in ways that are pretty unassailable, even by irritable internet people. And maybe, just maybe, people will get together and do something about it. I am hopeful.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:40 PM on November 15, 2010 [13 favorites]
Unlikely to happen but still hoped for new subsite can be called mefi peTSAck, and include all Ask questions about pets, yes?
posted by Ahab at 8:04 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by Ahab at 8:04 PM on November 15, 2010
Sorry to GRAR at you adamdschneider. I'm gonna recuse myself from TSAchat for a while, I can't seem to be even-handed.
posted by chaff at 8:42 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by chaff at 8:42 PM on November 15, 2010
'Backscatter' inevitably makes me think what happens when my never-quiescent digestive system starts feeling its oats, and it's toilet-brush time again.
I know, too much information. TSA-inspired TMI.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:43 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
I know, too much information. TSA-inspired TMI.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 8:43 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
"In April, Bierfeldt, who works for Ron Paul's Campaign For Liberty, was transporting several thousand dollars in cash raised at a political rally...Unknown to the TSA agents, Bierfeldt recorded the entire encounter and publicly released it shortly thereafter."
I have ah, yeah.
The law is making its firm stand. It this is a literal shakedown enmasse. Unless the 'shadow kids' have some evidence to prove this action is some how deemed mandatory to the (HPSCI)-(SSCI), IMO it will stop pretty hard.
posted by clavdivs at 8:43 PM on November 15, 2010
I have ah, yeah.
The law is making its firm stand. It this is a literal shakedown enmasse. Unless the 'shadow kids' have some evidence to prove this action is some how deemed mandatory to the (HPSCI)-(SSCI), IMO it will stop pretty hard.
posted by clavdivs at 8:43 PM on November 15, 2010
better link
heh
'Campaign For Liberty Website Is Experiencing Technical Difficulties
Please try again later.
Thanks for bearing with us!'
i hear the teen spirit..
posted by clavdivs at 8:51 PM on November 15, 2010
heh
'Campaign For Liberty Website Is Experiencing Technical Difficulties
Please try again later.
Thanks for bearing with us!'
i hear the teen spirit..
posted by clavdivs at 8:51 PM on November 15, 2010
At some point the crazy will come full circle. TSA agents will sue for sexual harassment because they were forced to ballcup and labiatap.
Our MeFly section should address the needs of these TSA workers, perhaps with a subsection called CupMe.
posted by 26.2 at 10:30 PM on November 15, 2010
Our MeFly section should address the needs of these TSA workers, perhaps with a subsection called CupMe.
posted by 26.2 at 10:30 PM on November 15, 2010
I spend virtually nothing on ball-cupping. Maybe $75 a week, but I get my balls cupped a lot for that.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 11:08 PM on November 15, 2010
posted by PeterMcDermott at 11:08 PM on November 15, 2010
Actually, AskMe already has a category for this: grab bag.
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Sockpuppetry at 11:15 PM on November 15, 2010 [6 favorites]
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Sockpuppetry at 11:15 PM on November 15, 2010 [6 favorites]
i see your point.
posted by clavdivs at 11:15 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 11:15 PM on November 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
My friend was trying to figure out a way to go through the security line in such a way as to express her dissatisfaction with the system.
If she were a intimidatingly large man unconcerned with having his balls groped repeatedly, getting to the airport really early and going through the pat down multiple times in a row (preferably with the same screener) may well be a way to make an impact.
Or get arrested for harassment.
posted by that girl at 11:59 PM on November 15, 2010
If she were a intimidatingly large man unconcerned with having his balls groped repeatedly, getting to the airport really early and going through the pat down multiple times in a row (preferably with the same screener) may well be a way to make an impact.
Or get arrested for harassment.
posted by that girl at 11:59 PM on November 15, 2010
Can we put the people who seriously use the word "pornoscanner" is the same pit as where we threw everyone who said "ground zero mosque"?
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:37 AM on November 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:37 AM on November 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
I wasn't going to use it seriously, but then someone told me I couldn't use it, so now I can't stop saying it.
posted by theredpen at 5:54 AM on November 16, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by theredpen at 5:54 AM on November 16, 2010 [4 favorites]
"Steve Bierfeldt was pulled aside while going through the security line at Lambert-St. Louis (Missouri) International Airport, taken to a room, and questioned for half an hour about the box of cash he was trying to check through. Bierfeldt, who works for a Ron Paul organization ..."Dude, you'll never get a box of cash through airport security. Use your God-given common sense next time: stuff your cash in a mattress and carry that through airport security.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:22 AM on November 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
Could you use metallic body paint to spell out messages for the pornoscanner operators?
EYES UP HERE
posted by Zed at 7:24 AM on November 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
EYES UP HERE
posted by Zed at 7:24 AM on November 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Dear MetaTalk Forum,
Sorry if this joke has been done, but I just had the most amazing experience in the airport security line and I had to write in and tell you about it. I was in the junk-cupping line because I'm a little embarrassed about having my huge member appear in the porno scanner, you know how that goes. Anyway, the screener, who looked just like Angelina Jolie but with bigger boobs, stopped and looked up at me—"There's something hard bulging in your pants. What have you got in your pants, Mister?"
And I said, "Just what the good Lord gave me."
"I'm going to have to take a closer look..."
etc.
posted by Mister_A at 7:39 AM on November 16, 2010
Sorry if this joke has been done, but I just had the most amazing experience in the airport security line and I had to write in and tell you about it. I was in the junk-cupping line because I'm a little embarrassed about having my huge member appear in the porno scanner, you know how that goes. Anyway, the screener, who looked just like Angelina Jolie but with bigger boobs, stopped and looked up at me—"There's something hard bulging in your pants. What have you got in your pants, Mister?"
And I said, "Just what the good Lord gave me."
"I'm going to have to take a closer look..."
etc.
posted by Mister_A at 7:39 AM on November 16, 2010
Oh look, it's an answer for that "ain't broke don't fix it" AskMe.
posted by desuetude at 7:51 AM on November 16, 2010
posted by desuetude at 7:51 AM on November 16, 2010
EndsOfInvention : Can we put the people who seriously use the word "pornoscanner" is the same pit as where we threw everyone who said "ground zero mosque"?
I don't know, the "ground zero mosque" was not, in fact, a mosque, but the pornoscanner produced results that had to be blurred out on last night's Colbert Report. Suggesting that the images were, to Standards and Practices mind, pornographic.
posted by quin at 8:03 AM on November 16, 2010
I don't know, the "ground zero mosque" was not, in fact, a mosque, but the pornoscanner produced results that had to be blurred out on last night's Colbert Report. Suggesting that the images were, to Standards and Practices mind, pornographic.
posted by quin at 8:03 AM on November 16, 2010
Backscatter sounds like it should be the title of a Neal Stephenson novel. It's a signal in the Metaverse, buried beneath the surface communications and unnoticed by the social and financial elites.
posted by empyrean at 8:51 AM on November 16, 2010
posted by empyrean at 8:51 AM on November 16, 2010
Can we put the people who seriously use the word "pornoscanner" is the same pit as where we threw everyone who said "ground zero mosque"?
I don't want to be with those people. I just can't stop saying pornoscanner. It really stuck.
posted by anniecat at 8:59 AM on November 16, 2010
I don't want to be with those people. I just can't stop saying pornoscanner. It really stuck.
posted by anniecat at 8:59 AM on November 16, 2010
If we can't say Pornoscanner, then the terrorists really have won.
posted by Mister_A at 9:47 AM on November 16, 2010
posted by Mister_A at 9:47 AM on November 16, 2010
And now two more today.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:10 PM on November 17, 2010
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:10 PM on November 17, 2010
Maybe I'm just hopelessly jaded at this point but both of those posts were terrible.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:14 PM on November 17, 2010
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:14 PM on November 17, 2010
YOU ARE NOT JADED, BUT ON THE CONTRARY AWESOME AND THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.
posted by Gator at 1:17 PM on November 17, 2010
posted by Gator at 1:17 PM on November 17, 2010
This is sort of seeming like some sort of conspiracy to get all this TSA crap on the front page now. I do appreciate that the mods are playing whack-a-mole, but now I need to know what's going on with it.
posted by crunchland at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2010
posted by crunchland at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2010
The Taiwanese have made another fantastic animated news segment.
posted by gman at 1:28 PM on November 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by gman at 1:28 PM on November 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
You know, I have been having that feeling too. There was a "I am going to have a protest" post in AskMe, and then a few more about how to get through the metal detectors and then a FLOOD of posts on the main page. I mean, I get that this is a big issue lately and it's attracting a lot of media attention but I also feel like it's leading up to the One Big Day Of Protest in a way that isn't entirely "Hey I have this neat link that I want to share with the MeFi community."
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:28 PM on November 17, 2010
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:28 PM on November 17, 2010
ThePinkSuperhero: "For awhile it seemed there were regular requests for a separate "DateMe" section, but I feel like one hasn't popped up in awhile. Have we all finally found love"
Ummmmm, no. DateMe would be cool.
posted by Samizdata at 6:34 PM on November 17, 2010
Ummmmm, no. DateMe would be cool.
posted by Samizdata at 6:34 PM on November 17, 2010
And now there's another AskMe about the TSA. This seriously feels orchestrated.
posted by proj at 10:28 AM on November 19, 2010
posted by proj at 10:28 AM on November 19, 2010
Yeah it's tough to tell what's a response to the online outfreakage and what is [possibly] manufactured outfreakage. While I have no reason to personally question any individual post, I am very surprised at the sheer number of them last week and this week. I'm trying to keep the AskMe decent, but it's fairly difficult. Everyone's help would be appreciated.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:39 AM on November 19, 2010
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:39 AM on November 19, 2010
Ok just curious here, what if you're wearing a heavy pad and they do this pat down? Is that going to be some sort of freak out flag on their part?
posted by stormpooper at 10:46 AM on November 19, 2010
posted by stormpooper at 10:46 AM on November 19, 2010
Well, I know of at least two highly visible bloggers that are stoking the TSA hate fires -- Drudge and Doctorow. I also know Fox News and CNN are really pumping up the volume of outrage, too.
posted by crunchland at 10:48 AM on November 19, 2010
posted by crunchland at 10:48 AM on November 19, 2010
(Correction ... now that I really look, it's not just Cory over at BoingBoing who seem hyper-obsessed with the issue.)
posted by crunchland at 10:50 AM on November 19, 2010
posted by crunchland at 10:50 AM on November 19, 2010
It is also covering the front page of reddit most days, which is odd since many of the submitters don't seem old enough to fly that frequently.
posted by proj at 10:52 AM on November 19, 2010
posted by proj at 10:52 AM on November 19, 2010
I don't think it requires any real conspiracy for a populist outrage sort of thing to show the occasional peak like this, for what it's worth. Outrage makes good news viewership and clickable blog entries, people watch the news and read blogs, get bothered, talk about it, cycle repeats until we reach some sort of denouement or fatigue sets in.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:57 AM on November 19, 2010
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:57 AM on November 19, 2010
And now there's another AskMe about the TSA. This seriously feels orchestrated.
Just my opinion, but I think it's pretty plausible that it's NOT orchestrated. It seems like the TSA controversy has been moving through the interwebs and the mainstream news sites in a strange, almost sideways manner that is leading to new little pockets of people become aware each day and saying, "wait, WHAT? can you say that again? I'm traveling next week, are you really telling me that..."
I mean, I check the blue somewhat-regularly but not so much on days when I'm really busy at work, and I totally missed the TSA thread. I vaguely became aware of some people talking about this on a different social-networking site but didn't totally follow what people were freaking out about. It wasn't until maybe yesterday (?) when there was a question on the green about the safety of the devices and someone linked to the UCSF letter of concern about radiation that I finally really started paying attention--because I'm flying on Saturday and it hit me that I should figure out what in the hell was going on.
I generally consider myself pretty well-informed, I read the Washington Post nearly cover-to-cover every day, I have my whole set of current events/policy blogs that I follow, and I missed this for what is practically an eternity in internet-time. Even though it's starting to creep into the mainstream news websites (WaPo, NYT, CNN, etc) it's not like it's headline news that you'd have to be dense to have missed until now. It's a little link on the front page of those sites for one day, then it's off again and if you blinked you miss it. (Unless you're following the story, then it seems to be everywhere.)
That's my $0.02, anyway. I'm guessing that given the big travel week coming up and the fits-and-spurts way this story is on-the-front-page then off-the-front-page on major news sites, we're going to see a lot more aborted posts to the blue and a lot of questions on the green.
posted by iminurmefi at 11:08 AM on November 19, 2010
Just my opinion, but I think it's pretty plausible that it's NOT orchestrated. It seems like the TSA controversy has been moving through the interwebs and the mainstream news sites in a strange, almost sideways manner that is leading to new little pockets of people become aware each day and saying, "wait, WHAT? can you say that again? I'm traveling next week, are you really telling me that..."
I mean, I check the blue somewhat-regularly but not so much on days when I'm really busy at work, and I totally missed the TSA thread. I vaguely became aware of some people talking about this on a different social-networking site but didn't totally follow what people were freaking out about. It wasn't until maybe yesterday (?) when there was a question on the green about the safety of the devices and someone linked to the UCSF letter of concern about radiation that I finally really started paying attention--because I'm flying on Saturday and it hit me that I should figure out what in the hell was going on.
I generally consider myself pretty well-informed, I read the Washington Post nearly cover-to-cover every day, I have my whole set of current events/policy blogs that I follow, and I missed this for what is practically an eternity in internet-time. Even though it's starting to creep into the mainstream news websites (WaPo, NYT, CNN, etc) it's not like it's headline news that you'd have to be dense to have missed until now. It's a little link on the front page of those sites for one day, then it's off again and if you blinked you miss it. (Unless you're following the story, then it seems to be everywhere.)
That's my $0.02, anyway. I'm guessing that given the big travel week coming up and the fits-and-spurts way this story is on-the-front-page then off-the-front-page on major news sites, we're going to see a lot more aborted posts to the blue and a lot of questions on the green.
posted by iminurmefi at 11:08 AM on November 19, 2010
(Correction ... now that I really look, it's not just Cory over at BoingBoing who seem hyper-obsessed with the issue.)
If it gets him to stop talking about DRM for more than 30 seconds, then it's a win.
posted by DWRoelands at 11:09 AM on November 19, 2010
If it gets him to stop talking about DRM for more than 30 seconds, then it's a win.
posted by DWRoelands at 11:09 AM on November 19, 2010
I am trying to figure out why being touched all over your body, even outside your clothes, is less invasive than someone seeing your body, even nude, through the pornoscanner. Both seem annoying, but the second would seem to me to be more of a trigger for anyone with past abuse issues.
I'd appreciate the perspective of anyone who has gone through the scanning recently. Why did you choose the pat-down over the pornoscanner?
Or if you didn't, was the pornoscanner really bad? I'm only seing accounts of the pat-down travelers.
posted by misha at 11:10 AM on November 19, 2010
I'd appreciate the perspective of anyone who has gone through the scanning recently. Why did you choose the pat-down over the pornoscanner?
Or if you didn't, was the pornoscanner really bad? I'm only seing accounts of the pat-down travelers.
posted by misha at 11:10 AM on November 19, 2010
I am trying to figure out why being touched all over your body, even outside your clothes, is less invasive than someone seeing your body, even nude, through the pornoscanner.
I haven't flown at all recently, so I haven't had to make this decision, but for me there are two reasons to opt out of the pornoscanner: 1) It's an active, rather than passive, choice, and therefore allows me to actualize my dissent against doing whatever the TSA prefers me to do; 2) The pornoscanner images are not secure, and some have leaked previously, and thus going through the pornoscanner could have (for me, no history of abuse) lasting negative consequences, while the groping by a stranger is just invasive and awful, but over when it's over.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:16 AM on November 19, 2010
I haven't flown at all recently, so I haven't had to make this decision, but for me there are two reasons to opt out of the pornoscanner: 1) It's an active, rather than passive, choice, and therefore allows me to actualize my dissent against doing whatever the TSA prefers me to do; 2) The pornoscanner images are not secure, and some have leaked previously, and thus going through the pornoscanner could have (for me, no history of abuse) lasting negative consequences, while the groping by a stranger is just invasive and awful, but over when it's over.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:16 AM on November 19, 2010
Yeah, I don't think this is some kind of orchestrated thing on MeFi either. It is a thing that's genuinely and legitimately bothering a lot of people, though there really seems very little to actually talk about other than "TSA sucks amirite, here is another example of them sucking." I'm hoping there will be a major court case of some sort going forward against them, or Obama stepping in and Saying Some Words about it in public, either of which would probably FPP-worthy if it was framed well.
Just out of curiosity, jessamyn, in that latest AskMe thread, is there any reason you linked people to this MeTa for discussion instead of the last TSA thread on the Blue? (NOT COMPLAINING, YOU ARE STILL AWESOME, JUST ASKING)
posted by Gator at 11:19 AM on November 19, 2010
Just out of curiosity, jessamyn, in that latest AskMe thread, is there any reason you linked people to this MeTa for discussion instead of the last TSA thread on the Blue? (NOT COMPLAINING, YOU ARE STILL AWESOME, JUST ASKING)
posted by Gator at 11:19 AM on November 19, 2010
I went through the body scanner a couple of months ago (Oakland Airport was an early adopter.) To no surprise, of itself, it was a wholly neutral experience. I did and do prefer it to a patdown.
But there's little demand in this world for naked pictures of me, so it's pretty easy for me to not worry about the image being saved and distributed, something I don't doubt we're going to see a lot of in the months to come.
posted by Zed at 11:38 AM on November 19, 2010
But there's little demand in this world for naked pictures of me, so it's pretty easy for me to not worry about the image being saved and distributed, something I don't doubt we're going to see a lot of in the months to come.
posted by Zed at 11:38 AM on November 19, 2010
Or if you didn't, was the pornoscanner really bad? I'm only seing accounts of the pat-down travelers.
The physical pornoscanner experience is not "bad" in any way. I went through one in Corpus Christi in September before I knew what it was, and there is physically no real difference to going through a regular TSA metal detector. You stand very still for about five seconds between two big gray walls with your arms up over your head, and then go get your stuff. Fast, painless.
What's bad about the pornoscanner is that TSA staff are off to the side looking at your nude image while you go through it, and of course the nude image might end up on the internet or on television or in some government file somewhere, and you as a private citizen have no control over that.
So it's a short-term vs. long-term issue. Do you want 10 minutes of physical discomfort while you get groped? Or do you want no physical discomfort but a lifetime of feeling violated by the leering TSA agent who saw you naked, and possibly by The Man for years to come?
My friend was trying to figure out a way to go through the security line in such a way as to express her dissatisfaction with the system.
This t-shirt would be one option.
posted by pineapple at 11:39 AM on November 19, 2010
The physical pornoscanner experience is not "bad" in any way. I went through one in Corpus Christi in September before I knew what it was, and there is physically no real difference to going through a regular TSA metal detector. You stand very still for about five seconds between two big gray walls with your arms up over your head, and then go get your stuff. Fast, painless.
What's bad about the pornoscanner is that TSA staff are off to the side looking at your nude image while you go through it, and of course the nude image might end up on the internet or on television or in some government file somewhere, and you as a private citizen have no control over that.
So it's a short-term vs. long-term issue. Do you want 10 minutes of physical discomfort while you get groped? Or do you want no physical discomfort but a lifetime of feeling violated by the leering TSA agent who saw you naked, and possibly by The Man for years to come?
My friend was trying to figure out a way to go through the security line in such a way as to express her dissatisfaction with the system.
This t-shirt would be one option.
posted by pineapple at 11:39 AM on November 19, 2010
gman: "Unions advise pilots to avoid full-body scans
While recommending the pat-downs as an alternative to the AIT scanners, both unions described them as demeaning and intrusive. USAPA recounted the experience of one US Airways pilot who "experienced a frisking that . . . left him unable to function as a crew member."
Coxless pair. Poor guy.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 11:43 AM on November 19, 2010
While recommending the pat-downs as an alternative to the AIT scanners, both unions described them as demeaning and intrusive. USAPA recounted the experience of one US Airways pilot who "experienced a frisking that . . . left him unable to function as a crew member."
Coxless pair. Poor guy.
posted by LuckySeven~ at 11:43 AM on November 19, 2010
I think survivors of/those at high risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer are advised to not go through the new scanners. Women who are pregnant are advised to avoid the scanners as well.
This kind of puzzles me though. The FDA considers every woman of childbearing age to be pre-pregnant, essentially. Does that mean no woman should go through the scanner?
Anyway, real question: in the same vein as the sanitary pad - what's the reaction to genital piercings?
posted by giraffe at 11:56 AM on November 19, 2010
This kind of puzzles me though. The FDA considers every woman of childbearing age to be pre-pregnant, essentially. Does that mean no woman should go through the scanner?
Anyway, real question: in the same vein as the sanitary pad - what's the reaction to genital piercings?
posted by giraffe at 11:56 AM on November 19, 2010
I am trying to figure out why being touched all over your body, even outside your clothes, is less invasive than someone seeing your body, even nude, through the pornoscanner.
Oh, it's totally not less invasive; that's the point. The alternate to the scanner needs to be equivalently invasive for consistency of policy.
The TSA is attempting to blithely normalize an incredible breach of personal privacy under the banner of new! easy! shiny! technology! Pat-downs are time consuming and fun for no-one; they highlight the inappropriateness of the new policy.
posted by desuetude at 12:02 PM on November 19, 2010
Oh, it's totally not less invasive; that's the point. The alternate to the scanner needs to be equivalently invasive for consistency of policy.
The TSA is attempting to blithely normalize an incredible breach of personal privacy under the banner of new! easy! shiny! technology! Pat-downs are time consuming and fun for no-one; they highlight the inappropriateness of the new policy.
posted by desuetude at 12:02 PM on November 19, 2010
Well the last ~9 years have basically been a giant experiment of "what will the American public put up with?" First there were the nailclipper and scissor confiscations (the rules against which have now been rolled back — your nose-hair scissors are good to go), then shoes, then liquids (oops, except breast milk, and medications, and maybe baby food, but don't you fucking dare try to bring that snowglobe you terrorist), then laptops (unless you buy a fancy new bag!) ... and throughout it all, the public pretty much bent over and took it.
But I think it was pretty clear to all concerned that eventually, the TSA was going to push too far. It was just a question of when tolerance would run out.
With the pornoscanner / fondling thing, the tolerance level may finally have been reached. It's still a bit early to tell whether it's a wave of disgust that's going to crest early and turn into nothing significant, or is going to build until it actually changes the landscape, but it's certainly more pushback than has happened in response to any of the rules so far.
What might look like a coordinated conspiracy is probably just people jumping on the bandwagon as it gathers momentum.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:04 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
But I think it was pretty clear to all concerned that eventually, the TSA was going to push too far. It was just a question of when tolerance would run out.
With the pornoscanner / fondling thing, the tolerance level may finally have been reached. It's still a bit early to tell whether it's a wave of disgust that's going to crest early and turn into nothing significant, or is going to build until it actually changes the landscape, but it's certainly more pushback than has happened in response to any of the rules so far.
What might look like a coordinated conspiracy is probably just people jumping on the bandwagon as it gathers momentum.
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:04 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Metafilter isn't primarily a chat site. I would love to find a site as well-moderated and populated with the sorts of people who hang out here* that is more chat-centric. Metachat does a terrific job, but is way smaller.
* snarky, smart, well-read, thoughtful, interesting and weird.
posted by theora55 at 12:12 PM on November 19, 2010
* snarky, smart, well-read, thoughtful, interesting and weird.
posted by theora55 at 12:12 PM on November 19, 2010
I'd appreciate the perspective of anyone who has gone through the scanning recently. Why did you choose the pat-down over the pornoscanner?
I have a good friend who is an attorney who recently completed her second round of radiation for breast cancer, and she's been strongly -- strongly -- advised by her doctor not to subject herself to any X-Ray type thing unless is a matter of life or death.
So the issue for her now becomes: stop flying (and therefore basically stop working at her job, which she loves) or deal with getting the patdown.
My mother in law wants to take the whole family to Disney next year, but there's no way on earth I'm letting my son go through either. So I guess if we go, we're driving.
posted by anastasiav at 12:17 PM on November 19, 2010
I have a good friend who is an attorney who recently completed her second round of radiation for breast cancer, and she's been strongly -- strongly -- advised by her doctor not to subject herself to any X-Ray type thing unless is a matter of life or death.
So the issue for her now becomes: stop flying (and therefore basically stop working at her job, which she loves) or deal with getting the patdown.
My mother in law wants to take the whole family to Disney next year, but there's no way on earth I'm letting my son go through either. So I guess if we go, we're driving.
posted by anastasiav at 12:17 PM on November 19, 2010
But there's little demand in this world for naked pictures of me, so it's pretty easy for me to not worry about the image being saved and distributed, something I don't doubt we're going to see a lot of in the months to come.
The issue of images getting distributed, which serious, is a secondary issue as far as I'm concerned. I have a much larger problem with the government demanding that I get naked for anonymous strangers before I'm permitted to travel. It's demeaning.
And it's not even a little bit within the bounds of our cultural mores. If I chose to take off all of my clothes in public, I'd breaking laws against indecent exposure. If any other business attempted to coerce me to remove my clothes as a condition of handing over the goods/service that I bought, it would be sexual harassment.
posted by desuetude at 12:30 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
The issue of images getting distributed, which serious, is a secondary issue as far as I'm concerned. I have a much larger problem with the government demanding that I get naked for anonymous strangers before I'm permitted to travel. It's demeaning.
And it's not even a little bit within the bounds of our cultural mores. If I chose to take off all of my clothes in public, I'd breaking laws against indecent exposure. If any other business attempted to coerce me to remove my clothes as a condition of handing over the goods/service that I bought, it would be sexual harassment.
posted by desuetude at 12:30 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
As infrequently as I fly, I think I would prefer the grope to the Radiation NudieCam. My question is, iare there any rules prohibiting me from huskily singing ultrahot slow jams while I am being touched or giving my Toucher five dollars once they are done?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:39 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:39 PM on November 19, 2010
But there's little demand in this world for naked pictures of me
Don't be so sure of that. There's a whole industry of greeting cards made up of "funny" pictures of "ugly" naked people, to say nothing of LOL sites made up of the same sort of thing. How would you feel if you found yourself featured on such things? Or someone you love?
posted by Gator at 12:44 PM on November 19, 2010
Don't be so sure of that. There's a whole industry of greeting cards made up of "funny" pictures of "ugly" naked people, to say nothing of LOL sites made up of the same sort of thing. How would you feel if you found yourself featured on such things? Or someone you love?
posted by Gator at 12:44 PM on November 19, 2010
Did I sound like I was acting as an apologist for the procedure, Gator?
posted by Zed at 12:59 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Zed at 12:59 PM on November 19, 2010
Just wondering if you've thought the implications through, since you say it's "pretty easy for me to not worry about" this stuff.
posted by Gator at 1:04 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Gator at 1:04 PM on November 19, 2010
anastasiav, according to Mefites in another thread, children under 12 won't be required to either go through the scanner or the pat-down.
Which is another thing. Isn't that rather arbitrary? Why 12? Does puberty signal the start of subversive practices? Or is there a terrorist-recruitment program targeting bat/bar mitzvahs?
posted by misha at 1:09 PM on November 19, 2010
Which is another thing. Isn't that rather arbitrary? Why 12? Does puberty signal the start of subversive practices? Or is there a terrorist-recruitment program targeting bat/bar mitzvahs?
posted by misha at 1:09 PM on November 19, 2010
i was pointed towards this thread from here.
i wonder why my on topic answer was deleted? i know mods are actively trying to keep that thread from ballooning - but she asked about under clothing pat downs and i linked to a comment that talked about a woman wearing a long skirt being told her options were to disrobe or let a TSA agent reach up her skirt.
posted by nadawi at 1:11 PM on November 19, 2010
i wonder why my on topic answer was deleted? i know mods are actively trying to keep that thread from ballooning - but she asked about under clothing pat downs and i linked to a comment that talked about a woman wearing a long skirt being told her options were to disrobe or let a TSA agent reach up her skirt.
posted by nadawi at 1:11 PM on November 19, 2010
TSA blog: "Children 12 years old and under who require extra screening will receive a modified pat down."
posted by Gator at 1:11 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Gator at 1:11 PM on November 19, 2010
i linked to a comment that talked about a woman wearing a long skirt being told her options were to disrobe or let a TSA agent reach up her skirt.
The OP wanted to know how invasive the pat down would be, zizzle started asking about skirt-wearing "what if me and my husband both were wearing skirts...?" which I deleted. You linked to one comment in a 134-comment post called "rape survivor devastated by TSA enhanced pat down" instead of just summarizing and including a link. Your entire post was "i wouldn't wear a skirt if i were you."
Generally it would be nice if answers to questions that have had mods show up in them multiple times were sort of ... clearly answering the question instead of linking to something off-site that might or might not send a whole bunch of people arguing and freaking out again. The TSA thread in AskMe had as many "get over it" responses as "It's horrible fascism" type responses which is why these threads are so choppy, mainly.
Gator, I linked to here instead of the MeFi thread because it's a MeTa issue if people want to talk about something not in the thread. Anyone who is interested in talking about the TSA stuff can find the open MeFi thread as well but if they had mod concerns, they should go here with them.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:20 PM on November 19, 2010
The OP wanted to know how invasive the pat down would be, zizzle started asking about skirt-wearing "what if me and my husband both were wearing skirts...?" which I deleted. You linked to one comment in a 134-comment post called "rape survivor devastated by TSA enhanced pat down" instead of just summarizing and including a link. Your entire post was "i wouldn't wear a skirt if i were you."
Generally it would be nice if answers to questions that have had mods show up in them multiple times were sort of ... clearly answering the question instead of linking to something off-site that might or might not send a whole bunch of people arguing and freaking out again. The TSA thread in AskMe had as many "get over it" responses as "It's horrible fascism" type responses which is why these threads are so choppy, mainly.
Gator, I linked to here instead of the MeFi thread because it's a MeTa issue if people want to talk about something not in the thread. Anyone who is interested in talking about the TSA stuff can find the open MeFi thread as well but if they had mod concerns, they should go here with them.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:20 PM on November 19, 2010
i guess that makes sense. i was trying hard to not editorialize or bring my personal feelings into it as a rape survivor. i felt the best way to do that was just to link to the comment. there are a lot of fighty blogs that picked it up, but i went and found what appears to be the first place that story showed up. i guess since i didn't see any of the other deleted entries (thus i didn't know their content), and mine answered the question asked, i didn't think it went over the line.
thanks for the answer.
posted by nadawi at 1:24 PM on November 19, 2010
thanks for the answer.
posted by nadawi at 1:24 PM on November 19, 2010
Just wondering if you've thought the implications through, since you say it's "pretty easy for me to not worry about" this stuff.
...which kind of implies acknowledgement that it would be more difficult for others, eh?
posted by Zed at 1:30 PM on November 19, 2010
...which kind of implies acknowledgement that it would be more difficult for others, eh?
posted by Zed at 1:30 PM on November 19, 2010
Presumably, but I was asking how you would feel. I've never met someone who wouldn't be bothered to find out their naked pictures were being passed around for others' amusement, are you really such a person?
posted by Gator at 1:47 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Gator at 1:47 PM on November 19, 2010
are you really such a person?
Maybe this should go to email? Or I suppose we could talk about this generally as a group. My feeling on pornoscanner photos of me being passed around is that, if it got to this point where identifiable photos of someone were passed around because they'd been taken by TSA and somehow [via TSA or otherwise] been liberated from their "secure" machine and disseminated, that would basically be the end of all of TSA's denials and hand-wavings that this sort of thing could never ever happen because, hey there it's happening! If it turned out that the photos that tipped the scales to pointing out TSA's lies about this were, in fact, naked photos of me, I guess that would actually be okay.
While I totally understand and respect people's rights to not want TSA naked x-ray shots of them being taken, much less distributed, not everyone has the same level of give-a-shit about this particular aspect of the larger TSA thing happening right now.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:53 PM on November 19, 2010
Maybe this should go to email? Or I suppose we could talk about this generally as a group. My feeling on pornoscanner photos of me being passed around is that, if it got to this point where identifiable photos of someone were passed around because they'd been taken by TSA and somehow [via TSA or otherwise] been liberated from their "secure" machine and disseminated, that would basically be the end of all of TSA's denials and hand-wavings that this sort of thing could never ever happen because, hey there it's happening! If it turned out that the photos that tipped the scales to pointing out TSA's lies about this were, in fact, naked photos of me, I guess that would actually be okay.
While I totally understand and respect people's rights to not want TSA naked x-ray shots of them being taken, much less distributed, not everyone has the same level of give-a-shit about this particular aspect of the larger TSA thing happening right now.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:53 PM on November 19, 2010
the thing i've been curious about since my recent encounter with airport security isn't all the junk-touchin' and porno-scannin,' it's that period of time when everyone in various states of foot undress are shuffling across the square feet of floor, spreading whatever peculiar variety of fungus spore they may carry, until shoes are put back on. makes me wonder if all that "IT'S NOT SANITARY!!!1! IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH RISK!!!1!1 PUT YOUR SHOES ON!!!!" in the early '70s was just hippie hate.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 4:30 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 4:30 PM on November 19, 2010
The question you should be asking yourself there is, and I'm pretty sure Andrew Ryan said this at some point in Bioshock: "is a man not entitled to the static electricity of his socks?" Airport all using us as energy generation units and charging us for extra checked luggage as thanks.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:00 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:00 PM on November 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Couldn't have been Andrew Ryan in Bioshock, where's the "Would you kindly"?
posted by misha at 6:15 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by misha at 6:15 PM on November 19, 2010
heh ... indeed! my trip through security looked something like this!
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 8:47 PM on November 19, 2010
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 8:47 PM on November 19, 2010
TSA blog: "Children 12 years old and under who require extra screening will receive a modified pat down."
TSA Strip Searches Young Boy (YouTube Video)
I'm guessing he's between six and eight. His shirt is off and he gets a full below-the-waist pat down from TSA in full view of everyone. (I'm guessing his father is the man with him.)
posted by anastasiav at 11:17 AM on November 21, 2010
TSA Strip Searches Young Boy (YouTube Video)
I'm guessing he's between six and eight. His shirt is off and he gets a full below-the-waist pat down from TSA in full view of everyone. (I'm guessing his father is the man with him.)
posted by anastasiav at 11:17 AM on November 21, 2010
This version of that video has some interesting text in the description from the guy who shot it, apparently some TSA people noticed him recording it and tried to get him to delete it.
posted by chaff at 12:04 AM on November 22, 2010
posted by chaff at 12:04 AM on November 22, 2010
NY Times Analysis of how the whole TSA story evolved, got overexposed, and then amounted to nothing. Unfortunately, it seems to add wind under the wings of effing Matt Drudge.
posted by crunchland at 2:09 PM on November 29, 2010
posted by crunchland at 2:09 PM on November 29, 2010
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posted by zizzle at 12:17 PM on November 15, 2010