19 replies to this topic

[ChrisJ1968]

http://www.nypost.co...0RR9UVGzfypjnLO

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But since most TSA supervisors are too daft to actually supervise, bending the rules is easy to do.

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Most TSA screeners know their job is a complete joke. Their goal is to use this as a stepping stone to another government agency.

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Supervisors play absolutely no role in day-to-day functions except to tell you not to chew gum. Gum chewing is a huge issue with management. I once saw a supervisor make an officer open his mouth to prove he had a mint and not a piece of gum.

this screener also reveals

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A small number of screeners are delusional zealots who believe they’re keeping America safe by taking your snow globe, your 2-inch pocket knife, your 4-ounce bottle of shampoo and performing invasive pat-downs on your kids.
(Incidentally, the flap over the new rule allowing small pocketknives is overblown. Most of the public doesn’t realize it, but you are already allowed to bring scissors, screwdrivers, tweezers, knitting needles and any number of sharp instruments on board.)

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The rest are only there for the paycheck and generous benefits. Screeners start at $15 per hour, and there is tons of overtime — mainly because they are filling in for the many screeners who don’t bother coming to work. For every 40 hours you work, you receive four hours of vacation and four hours of sick time.
One screener didn’t come to work for four weeks. When he finally reappeared, he asked for another week off. The answer was no. So what did this brainiac decide to do? He took another week off — and didn’t get terminated.

I always knew TSA was worthless, it's just that I was always called a conspiracy theorist. not all conspiracies are theory.

[ChrisJ1968]

I post those key quotes because - felt they were important to point out the bigger points this article presented not to mention shocking to say the least. I DO question all authority in terms of things that do not make sense or don't work.

[mudslag]

Every now and then we can agree Chris, the TSA is a joke of a agency that has got a firm lock on the gov and they are not letting go of their cash cow. The ONLY way I ever see a real change come is when the people have had enough but sadly the general population gets to comfortable and accepting faster then they get ****ed. I fear they are hear to stay.

[ChrisJ1968]

I just do not like the way this country is turning out. I was raised by a father who taught me about a hard working, honest and strong work ethic. I worked enough time before being totally disabled to cover the social security disability for 2 people. What I have witnessed in the last decade is, I have seen my country go from a nation of people who were self reliant, self sufficient hardworking people, to being a nation of entitlement, getting something for nothing. The bible teaches me that, if you don't work, you don't. But this isn't about the bible so much though but learning for me. As I lay in my hospital bed, I'm bothered by this generation who weren't taught the upbringing of the pleasure of appreciating working for ones own keep. I blame a lot but not all on the prior generations, parents who didn't teach their kids, the value of hardwork and blame the spoiled kids who didn't listen or refused to learn. We have people, in the news who, are praising a guy like hugo chavez who killed and stole from his people. George Soros did the same to his fellow jews during WWII in Hungary all in the name of getting rich. Communism purports to rectify "social injustices" by committing the largest injustice of all.. Indifference. So in this case, the TSA commits the largest social injustice.. Violating the 4th amendment and Congress is complicit in that with the patriot act and the NDAA. I wish EVERY nation could enjoy the bill of rights and constitution.. I wish we were all truly free. But all governments eventually fail due to corrupt and powerful people when the lust of supreme power tempts them.

[+Jdawg683]

i'd have to agree w/ this article. in large airports, the TSA is pretty worthless. it doesnt help that the people working for the TSA can barely breathe or spell their name.

however, in the smaller airports (like Cleveland) the TSA seems pretty good. theyre always searching bags and screaming things towards flyers...

ChrisJ - i wouldnt call this a conspiracy. it's simply that the organization is too stupid, bloated and hires worthless people. if you want to talk conspiracy though, we should mention all the stuff that you cant do these days. You cant wear shoes through the scanners? yeah, im sure that's going to save everyone's life. and, as the article says, you cant bring a knife but all other sharp objects are ok. You cant bring a bottle of Coke, but you can bring any other liquid smaller than 3oz. suddenly 3oz is the magic number that dont harm anyone. oh, and it's worth mentioning - does anyone really believe that hijackers took over a plane w/ box cutters? is that really enough to stop a plane full of people? "get back or i'll severely cut you!"

[compl3x]

It's not a conspiracy. If you can prove something (e.g. an agency is ineffective, inefficient, or corrupt) that isn't a conspiracy theory.

It seems there is plenty of legitimate criticisms of the TSA.


Perhaps it's when you start ranting about commies, the Bible, and Soros is when people turn off and think you're a loon.

[Charisma]

You are *not* allowed to bring scissors on board. I've had pairs taken off me twice in airports, pairs I quite liked (but had in my bag and forgot about). Made me so mad I could just stab them!* ....except they took away my scissors.

* that was a joke

[Neobond]

TSA and the European equivalent make up the rules as they go along, and everytime I fly (not as often as 5 years ago now) the rules have changed a number of times.

The latest I'm hearing is that liquids will be allowed on flights again (shampoo, toothpaste in carry on) because they are implementing some kind of new scanner that can now detect bomb making liquids or some crap.

Flying is romantic? Hell no!

[Torolol]

I did see euro (France) TSA equvalent trashing passengers bottles,
which the owner claim the content of that bottles was taken from Dead Sea,
that was about 7 years ago.

[Nashy]

Flying is a pain in the ass because of frigging security.

I was threatened to not be allowed to fly if I didn't remove my pants and walk through the scanner. Belt and shoes were gone, I was still beeping. There was no metal on me. I refused twice, and was just lucky that the man behind me in the security line was an Australian Federal Police officer who stated that the guy couldn't actually make me do that, or stop me flying if I refused. He let me through at this point after a pat down.

This isn't TSA though, I've never been to the states to comment on them.

[Neobond]

Nashy, on 11 March 2013 - 14:05, said:

Flying is a pain in the ass because of frigging security.

I was threatened to not be allowed to fly if I didn't remove my pants and walk through the scanner. Belt and shoes were gone, I was still beeping. There was no metal on me. I refused twice, and was just lucky that the man behind me in the security line was an Australian Federal Police officer who stated that the guy couldn't actually make me do that, or stop me flying if I refused. He let me through at this point after a pat down.

This isn't TSA though, I've never been to the states to comment on them.

Wow! Glad the guy behind you stepped up and did the right thing!

[Mordkanin]

The phrase is "security theater". It gives the feeling of security while not actually doing anything to make you more secure.

[+McKay]

I once had a 10 minute argument with the TSA in Newark about how Toothpaste was not a liquid. He then patted me down and stuck his hands right under my arms despite me already warning him I have a condition called hyperhidrosis which causes my underarms to sweat rampantly for no reason. After that he remarked "Get some better deodorant".

After this I'd had enough and loudly remarked "If you can prescribe me stronger stuff than my Doctor already is for this condition, I'd be very grateful". At this point his supervisor glanced over and I believe he'd realized he'd made fun of a medical condition. I just dropped it though and walked off. When I told the guy in Amsterdam airport I had hyperhidrosis he took me to a closed off cubicle and just had me hold my arms up with my shirt off.

[theyarecomingforyou]

I've had toothpaste and deodorant disposed of when going through airport security after forgetting to take them out of my bag. Not only is it unnecessary and wasteful but it also financially benefits airports, who can sell you then same stuff after you pass through security. Banning scissors, penknives and liquids simply isn't necessary.

It's really sad the amount of security that surrounds flying now. I remember when I was a kid I got to go into the cockpit of the plane we were flying on (a full-sized commercial airliner) and the pilot told me to press a button that would land the plane (I appreciate it didn't actually do that - he was obviously just trying to make me feel special). Nowadays everybody is treated as a potential terrorist.

[+littleneutrino]

I always thought of the TSA as more of a Visual for people to think they were being protected just to make people feel good rather than an actual solution to a problem.