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Re: S/O Poll: Full-body scanners
I always opt-out.
Primary reason: health concerns
Even though the machines are allegedly safe when operating under normal conditions, I don't really trust Joe Schmoe TSA Agent to recognize when the machine is not operating correctly. There's a reason that x-ray techs have specific jobs and certifications, and I don't think the agents go through detailed training to recognize when the machine might be malfunctioning and operating outside its safe limits.
I don't have a problem with anyone seeing me naked, and I don't really have a problem with the lady agents touching my girly bits. In fact, after a long flight, it actually feels kind of nice to have my shoulders and back patted down!
For fun, and to put the TSA agents on more pleasant ground, I've actually started opting opt by saying, "I'd like to opt for the shoulder massage." I've gotten a few weird looks, but usually I get a smile or a chuckle.
Secondary reason: Political statement
I think it's a huge waste of money. It's so easy to smuggle stuff through security, circumvent the no-fly list, etc. and I don't think full-body scanners are making it much harder. I think the full-body scanners are ridiculously expensive and needlessly slow down security checks, and that money could have been better spent in other areas. Without really thinking about it, I know how to [illegally] board a plane while you're on the no-fly list, and [legally] carry a half gallon of liquid through security. So a couple of fancy scanning machines don't really make me feel much safer.
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I have never had it come up but I would opt-out. As I'm TTC and spending an awful lot of energy avoiding a ton of stuff, it seems wrong to expose myself to who knows what in scanners that no one can adequately explain to me.
The staff at Edi airport are seriously all in my business when I get flagged (pretty much every time, my underwire sets it off). I find it fairly uncomfortable (also pointless) but at least it's not potentially dangerous.
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I haven't gone through them for some reason - just the regular xray machine. Friends of mine have gone through them though while we were travelling together.
My biggest concern is what Gilli said - that the airport staff are NOT trained in x-ray tech to know if a machine is malfunctioning or something.
I always opt out.
On principle.
I laugh (internally) so hard when DH tries to be faster and go through the scanner and then he still ends up getting a pat down anyway.
i have no problem with it. and i dont know how much radiation my microwave puts out either-and i use that a ton more than an airport scanner. i also dont know about the high tension lines near my office or the ez pass toll payer attached to my windshield or the cameras that are everywhere here....see what i'm saying. or my satellite radio or bluetooth in the car....
and fwiw-if it takes away even just a slight chance of my plane being blown up i'm all for it.
THIS! If something is going to help make my travel safer I am all for it.
I sorta equate this to people being annoyed when asked for ID when cashing a check or something like that......THEY would be the first to raise a fuss if someone were to get access to THEIR funds. Most checks at airports /ID checks are to protect us.
For those who opt out (for ANY reason) I bet some smoke, have a drink and then drive, eat fast food, use a microwave, use a cell phone, etc....
Flame away..............
No. I don't opt out because I don't care enough to do so, and at that point, have always been more concerned about going through security efficiently.
I didn't opt-out the only previous time the question came up but plan to in the future for political reasons.
I have no problem with security measures (both travel-related and stuff like showing ID for checks or to get into buildings here in Santiago). But I think the TSA is a completely reactionary organization that is always one step behind any actual bad guys. There was a shoe bomber? Let's make everyone take off their shoes to protect them! Ok, great, so no one's going to do the shoe bombing again, but I'm pretty sure the terrorists aren't sitting there twiddling their thumbs thinking "damn, they're on to us." They're thinking up a new plan. And the TSA never seems to take proactive measures to avoid future threats, which might actually be helpful.
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I have opted out every time except once. If I can finagle my way into the regular line, I will, but if it's xray or opt out, I opt out. I do it both on principle and for health concerns (more so when I'm flying multiple times in a month) and maybe just a bit because it does creep me out. I've only had one unpleasant interaction with the person doing the pat down (and she was just b**chy) - otherwise the person has always been nice and professional.
I figure there's enough stuff in the world that could harm me, so if I can avoid one without inconveniencing myself, I may as well. The opt out has never taken me more than five minutes.
Wouldn't you rather see those millions of dollars spent on something that makes flying more than slightly safer? I'm definitely all for making flying safer, even if I have to walk through security in my underwear (they don't like this -- don't try it), but I want them to make smart decisions.
After all, airports are just now installing machines at security that can read boarding passes. At most airports, you can still walk through security with something that "looks" like a boarding pass as long as it has your name on it. Then you can just whip out someone else's real boarding pass and get on a plane. Sure, someone can still fake an ID, but even I can fake a boarding pass, and I'm definitely not a forger. So much for the no-fly list.
ETA - Or even simpler, just require airlines to always check IDs at the gate. I honestly don't understand why US airports don't do this.
YEs!! absolutely i'd love to see more funding to go into overall security!! personally for me there would be no liquids/gels allowed in carry on, passports would be required on domestic flights (it's much harder to fake a passport than a license) and have boarding pass scanners and passport scanners at each security check point. but i'm probably an extreme situation.
I agree abotu the security boarding pass readers however-there are readers at each gate-those scanner things-so that alleviates the issue. if someone provides a fake boarding pass and ID at security all the'll do is get into the terminal area. i have my id checked at the gate here in the US. I always fly out of JFK. maybe that's why.
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In the US I always opt out. I am confident that the scanners violate my fourth amendment rights and I refuse to engage in security theater to placate others. Moreover there is very little evidence that they actually work. People still get all kinds of stuff through security. I will never believe that security trumps privacy and I am very unhappy with the increasing government incursions into my private life in the name of keeping me safe. Since I have no congressional representation opting out is my only way to protest.
Other countries have different constitutions and laws. I will respect them. In Nigeria I went through the scanner (there is no opt out option anyway) despite frequent evidence in the Nigerian press that the security workers are basically using the scanners as a source of live pornography.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.
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100% this!
Also WTF to the eating fast food, smoking and drunk driving. I don't do any of these things but I also dont think that eating fast food is a violation of the bill of rights.
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Seriousy. Can you imagine those 35-40 hour trips with no lotion. No toothpaste. Potentially no deoderant. Good lord no.
Not to mention the need to check a bag on every single flight!
Honestly, I switched back to solid deodorant just because I don't have to worry about it in my carry-on.
And what if I had a second flight and wanted to take the amenity kit from flight #1 with me? Would that not be allowed? I love those mini toiletries!
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LOL well maybe just smaller containers then. But not having a gel deodorant isn't the end of the world. a small travel size solid does the trick. and breath mints are solids. you'd survive
while some of those are extreme situations i think a lot of measures aren't implemented because the public wouldn't like it.
my dh always says he wonders what would happen if they had 2 of the same flight: one wtih super strict security and one without-and let the passengers choose. i know which flight i'd book. i'm guessing most others would too. then again i'm all for screening in subways as well. but that's another story.