Anyone that's flying on Wednesday.

[Eater of Clowns]

Heh, Dimo's bass player's argument reminds me of my own co-workers.  I've been arguing against the TSA policies with them for a few weeks now, and one of the things they ask is "How do you feel about us searching inmates, since you're against searching travelers?"

"You're talking about the difference between a convicted rapist and a grandmother going to visit her family."

"YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CONVICTED RAPIST AND A GRANDMOTHER GOING TO VISIT HER FAMILY!"

"YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CONVICTED RAPIST AND A GRANDMOTHER GOING TO VISIT HER FAMILY!"

I feel like fucking Yossarian in that place sometimes.

But it always comes down to this, on their side, "I'd rather be a little inconvenienced if at least I know we're safe."  The terrorists already won.  All flight passengers should be cuffed, naked, and be forced to cough while bending over a mirror.

I'm all for people opting out Wednesday.  Fuck this shit.

[Cuddlefish]

Opt-In, You Dummies

National Opt-Out day ain't gonna do shit. Obviously the proper tactic here is to submit to the invasive search and then litigate. Litigate the fuck out of that shit. Accuse the people who touched you of rape, molestation, assault, etc. etc. Sue them in civil court. Get together a thousand fondled men and women and go for a class action. Demand a bajillion googleplex dollars for emotional harm. Tie up every TSA official in depositions and whatnot for the next thirty years. Require ACT clearances and their by-state equivalents of every screener. Demand citizen review boards. Keep shitting in the same toilet until the goddamn pipes explode.

See, there's a million and one ways to go about it. PICK ONE!

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I feel like fucking Yossarian in that place sometimes.

Welcome to my life.  

[LMNO]

But it always comes down to this, on their side, "I'd rather be a little inconvenienced if at least I know we're safe."  The terrorists already won.  

Bonus: These screening aren't really making you "safer".

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Bonus: These screening aren't really making you "safer".

To my mind, that's utterly irrelevant.

Even if they COULD find underwear bombs and similar hilarity (they can't), I'd still be just as against it as I am now.

[Cuddlefish]

In addendum to all I've said so far, I feel the need to express how terrifying this really is to me. I have a far greater fear of a "secure state" than any potential terrorist attacks. And "I don't even fly."

[AFK]

Bonus: These screening aren't really making you "safer".

THIS.  From what I've read and heard, while your junk is getting scanned and/or manhandled.  There are all kinds of bags, packages, etc., going to cargo that are getting little more than a pair of eye-balls.  

[The Good Reverend Roger]

In addendum to all I've said so far, I feel the need to express how terrifying this really is to me. I have a far greater fear of a "secure state" than any potential terrorist attacks. And "I don't even fly."

You're just not serious about having a good time, 21st Century America™-style.

[LMNO]

To my mind, that's utterly irrelevant.

Even if they COULD find underwear bombs and similar hilarity (they can't), I'd still be just as against it as I am now.

I know, I'm just taking that argument off the table.  It's bogus, and shouldn't even be considered.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

THIS.  From what I've read and heard, while your junk is getting scanned and/or manhandled.  There are all kinds of bags, packages, etc., going to cargo that are getting little more than a pair of eye-balls.  

Not only that, the perv machine won't pick up a pair of RDX-lined underwear, nor will being groped.  

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I know, I'm just taking that argument off the table.  It's bogus, and shouldn't even be considered.

Point.

[Cuddlefish]

And, to add to my previous post, the fact that the public response to this has been so minimal, angers, frustrates and scares me even more.

[LMNO]

It's been on the nightly news ever since that cellphone video went viral.  Every single person they've asked has been against it.

What more do you want, armed insurrection?

[AFK]

Any terrorist organizations worth their salt are going to find ways around whatever cockamamie system we put up.  Even if these screenings were making it impossible for terrorists to wear explosives on the plane.  they'll just exploit the loopholes in cargo security.  Or they will abandon planes altogether and ship something in the bazillion containers that enter our ports that don't even get the eye-ball treatment.  

One of the problems America has is it seems to suffer from multiple personalities.  We want to be open and free while also being safe and secure.  I'm not sure it is possible to have both.  I think on some level, people have to accept that, well, we're people.  There are people who's hobby and/or profession and/or raison 'd-etre is to kill other people.  Of course we still need some kind of security and defense systems, but it is utterly unrealistic to think we can protect ourselves from harm forever.  People who want to kill us will find a way to kill us.  We just have to hope we aren't living in their bullseye.  

[Suu]

I am putting "MERRY CHRISTMAS" across my ass in magnetic tape when I fly, and I'm walking through the perv machine. If anything, maybe I can start the "IT'S HAPPY HOLIDAYS NOT MERRY CHRISTMAS" bullshit amongst the minimum wage wackjobs they hire, and continue to my Jet Blue Extra Legroom 3 hours and 10 minute gate-to-gate experience in piece.