The T.S.A. and me

[SeaCat]

My wife is a beautiful younger lady of 38 years. She has some scars and some after market parts. Some of these parts include a Stainless Rod and Cable in her back as well as a Stainless Rib. Like me she carries a card detailing these parts. (No I won't go into my after market parts. Let's just say I call the hospital the Body and Fender Shop.)

We hit the airport early so we can go through security. We know the drill. We both have our cards out along with our boarding passes and I.D.'s. We pick the slowest looking lane in the security check point and start on our way.

Now both of us emptied our paockets and took off our boots. Hell I even took off my belt because of the buckle. I stepped through first, showing my boarding pass, I.D and Prosthetics Card. The machine beeped and the guy there didn't even blink. Then my wife stepped through after showing her card and I.D.

The guy started to get aggitated. He waved his wand over my wife several times and had her step through the detector a total of four times. I could see that my wife was getting a bit aggitated so I asked another T.S.A. Official to call for the supervisor, which was done.

The Supervisor shows up and starts with the wanding and detection on my wife again. He talked with my wife a bit and looked at her card then had her go through the detector again. By this time I was starting to smile while my wife was getting steamed. There was a line forming and people were getting pissed. My wife told the T.S.A. officials several times she had prosthetics and they seemed to ignore her. The local Police sshowed up and they started in with the questions. The local Police were satisfied by what my wife told them but the T.S.A. guys weren't.

Finally my wife had enough. She was pissed and I was starting to get irritated. Not a good combination. The Police told the T.S.A. guys that they were happy with the test results and the T.S.A. guys stated they weren't. My wife had gone through enough. She had demanded several times to go into the side room to be checked and they had ignored her. They just kept wanding her and giving her a hard time.

The guard came at my wife again with the wand and she reacted. In one fluid motion she reached down and grabbing the hem of her sweater pulled it over her head. Tossing this down on the table she turned to the guard and asked him if he was satisfied she wasn't carrying a bomb or did he want her to drop her pants as well so he could get his kicks. (I should mention here that my wife doesn't wear bras.)

The main supervisor finally showed up as my wife was standing there topless and demanded an explanation. People were gabbling up a storm. The Police gave their version as did the guard and his immediate super. The people waiting in line added their input while my wife stood there and steamed. The Airport Super turned to my wife and asked her to put on her shirt as she was creating a scene and she told him to blow it out his ass. She would get dressed when his people were happy she wasn't carrying a bomb.

By the time everything was said and done my wife had the appologies of the Airport Supervisor of the T.S.A. and the admiration of many other passengers.

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

Good for her.

 

[TE999]

Your wife deserves a medal!

Those twopenny Napoleon's in these TSA checkpoints get ridiculous with their searches. 'Bout time someone gave 'em hell (and didn't get wrestled to the ground and arrested).

 

[glynndah]

I want to be her when I grow up.

 

[kimbalee]

I want to be her when I grow up.

giggling... me too.

 

[buxxxom]

I'll bet they were using their wands to make up for the size of their "other wands."

It's always a damn shame when people with a little bit of power have absolutely no common sense. Sadly, this seems to be the case more and more.

 

[THROBBS]

Excellent, SeaCat and Mrs. SeaCat!!
Bravo!

 

[3113]

Excellent, SeaCat and Mrs. SeaCat!!
Bravo!

I think this deserved a commemorative picture, don't you, Throbbs?

 

[THROBBS]

I think this deserved a commemorative picture, don't you, Throbbs?

heeeheeee...
I'll need some photo reference!

I am pretty sure I have seen pics of Mrs. SeaCat...waaaay back.

 

[Emerald_Dragon]

Whooh hoooo!!

Can I adopt your wife as my big sister? She sounds beyond cool!!!!

 

[Lisa Denton]

heeeheeee...
I'll need some photo reference!

I am pretty sure I have seen pics of Mrs. SeaCat...waaaay back.

You have to expect that when a group of peoples get paid to possibly look up the rectums of terrorists for explosives, some of them will be a pain in the ass. Most of them was turned down by the police force hiring dept as being too unstable.

That is why they have supervisors, but, like many other occupations, sometimes they just make the biggest pain in the ass the criteria for supervisor status.

Your wife showed patience, grace and charm, ....... well ........... and tits.

 

[jomar]

1. That scene belongs in a movie.

2. Was that before or after the smelly passenger incident?

2a. Admirable restraint either way.

 

[john-the-author]

You should post that on www.stupidsecurity.com. They just eat that stuff up.

And way to GO!

 

[redpaint]

Well thats the TSA for ya. bigest wast of money you can find. and they wonder how terrorists items can still be slipped on borad airpalnes. there should be a higher stander for Highering these people. this job is to important to give to people that are only qulifed to work at a McDonalds.

 

[SeaCat]

Well thats the TSA for ya. bigest wast of money you can find. and they wonder how terrorists items can still be slipped on borad airpalnes. there should be a higher stander for Highering these people. this job is to important to give to people that are only qulifed to work at a McDonalds.

Unfortunately Redpaint you are correct, but we have only ourselves to blame.

What do you expect from a country where Security Gaurds have such nicknames as Wannabe Cops?

Think about it this way. What do you get when you want someone to potentialy lose their life for minimum wage? When you treat them like shit?

How much are T.S.A. Gaurds paid? What kind of training do they receive? What are their incentives?

Cat

 

[glynndah]

Unfortunately Redpaint you are correct, but we have only ourselves to blame.

What do you expect from a country where Security Gaurds have such nicknames as Wannabe Cops?

Think about it this way. What do you get when you want someone to potentialy lose their life for minimum wage? When you treat them like shit?

How much are T.S.A. Gaurds paid? What kind of training do they receive? What are their incentives?

Cat

Incentives? Well, those particular ones have learned if they wand a woman long enough, there's a chance they'll get to see her breasts. I'm afraid any other lessons are probably lost on them.

 

[SeaCat]

Incentives? Well, those particular ones have learned if they wand a woman long enough, there's a chance they'll get to see her breasts. I'm afraid any other lessons are probably lost on them.

True.

Then again you wouldn't want me in charge of security at an airport. It would be one of the only airports in the United States where security not only worked but did so with a minimum of fuss.

Cat

 

[Katyusha]

...






...to every single post in this thread.

 

[Gizzmotick]

True.

Then again you wouldn't want me in charge of security at an airport. It would be one of the only airports in the United States where security not only worked but did so with a minimum of fuss.

Cat

Well, I suppose I can be safe saying this now that I'm not in that position any more...

I used to be a TSA Supervisor. If you'd like, I will let you see for yourself exactly what the screening officers are paid.... I know how much training they recieve because I used to train them. At the various airports that I worked at, the folks who were taught by me, or were supervised by me were considered top of the line.

I know that I will have lots of hate-mail coming my way, however there are many things that the travelling public just simply doesn't understand about the job. It is stressful, due to the testing done daily and the fact that the TSA is constantly understaffed... but that comes from the fact that none of the taxpayers want to help pay for the organization to have enough people to truly be effective.

There are a whole MYRIAD of other issues plauging the TSA. I will not get into it here. However, if you have any travel plans and would like a few pointers, please feel free to PM me and ask.

Seacat - what you and your wife did was fine... right up until she dis-robed. Ask for the supervisor. On the uniforms, ALL supervisors will have 3 stripes on thier shoulderboards. Not everyone who has 3 stripes is a supervisor, however all supervisors have 3 stripes... (yes I know it is confusing). Make sure the person who comes to help settle the issue has those three stripes, and if they do not give you the proper assistance - ask for the "Screening Manager". The TSA's policy on taking someone to the side to be screened privately is this: If you ask for it... you get it. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
Anything else, and you have the basis for a serious complaint. I would suggest that you ask for the contact information for thier customer service department and the name the Customer Service Manager. Even so, I suggest contacting the National TSA Customer Service number - 1-866-289-9673 and registering a complaint there as well.

Now... yes, there are many not-so bright people working for the TSA, unfortunately - at all levels of screening and management. Many people are former/retired Military, Law Enforcement, Teachers, etc... Most of the older officers have degrees, some of them have multiple degrees.

So, next time you fly, and want to criticize those folks screening your bags, realize that they too are HUMAN. Realize that they get to put up with people EVERY DAY who talk down to them, yell at them, and try to tell them how to do their job better. Think about that. How would you react to someone if after 4 years of dealing with 2-300 people each and every day who belittle you, call you names etc... to someone doing exactly that. At some point, it your attitude shifts. That's personally why I don't hold that position anymore.

ETA: One more bit of food for thought. Regardless of what your profession is... let's say you have someone pop into your place of work... someone who has NO FREAKING CLUE how to do your job.... and begins attempting to tell you how to do your job. How would you feel then?

 

[SeaCat]

Well, I suppose I can be safe saying this now that I'm not in that position any more...

I used to be a TSA Supervisor. If you'd like, I will let you see for yourself exactly what the screening officers are paid.... I know how much training they recieve because I used to train them. At the various airports that I worked at, the folks who were taught by me, or were supervised by me were considered top of the line.

I know that I will have lots of hate-mail coming my way, however there are many things that the travelling public just simply doesn't understand about the job. It is stressful, due to the testing done daily and the fact that the TSA is constantly understaffed... but that comes from the fact that none of the taxpayers want to help pay for the organization to have enough people to truly be effective.

There are a whole MYRIAD of other issues plauging the TSA. I will not get into it here. However, if you have any travel plans and would like a few pointers, please feel free to PM me and ask.

Seacat - what you and your wife did was fine... right up until she dis-robed. Ask for the supervisor. On the uniforms, ALL supervisors will have 3 stripes on thier shoulderboards. Not everyone who has 3 stripes is a supervisor, however all supervisors have 3 stripes... (yes I know it is confusing). Make sure the person who comes to help settle the issue has those three stripes, and if they do not give you the proper assistance - ask for the "Screening Manager". The TSA's policy on taking someone to the side to be screened privately is this: If you ask for it... you get it. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
Anything else, and you have the basis for a serious complaint. I would suggest that you ask for the contact information for thier customer service department and the name the Customer Service Manager. Even so, I suggest contacting the National TSA Customer Service number - 1-866-289-9673 and registering a complaint there as well.

Now... yes, there are many not-so bright people working for the TSA, unfortunately - at all levels of screening and management. Many people are former/retired Military, Law Enforcement, Teachers, etc... Most of the older officers have degrees, some of them have multiple degrees.

So, next time you fly, and want to criticize those folks screening your bags, realize that they too are HUMAN. Realize that they get to put up with people EVERY DAY who talk down to them, yell at them, and try to tell them how to do their job better. Think about that. How would you react to someone if after 4 years of dealing with 2-300 people each and every day who belittle you, call you names etc... to someone doing exactly that. At some point, it your attitude shifts. That's personally why I don't hold that position anymore.

ETA: One more bit of food for thought. Regardless of what your profession is... let's say you have someone pop into your place of work... someone who has NO FREAKING CLUE how to do your job.... and begins attempting to tell you how to do your job. How would you feel then?

Gizzmo,

No offence meant by any stretch. I too know what they go through having worked profesional Security for years. I have dealt with some of the best, and some of the worst in the field.

I would view Security Guards as I do C.N.A.'s. Again lower pay for what they do and deal with. Respect on par with what they are payed. Respect on par with what they do.

AS for my comment about setting up security in an Airport. You know as well as I do that the security could be much better if it was designed and run by people who knew what they were doing and not beauroRATS.

Cat

 

[Gizzmotick]

Gizzmo,

No offence meant by any stretch. I too know what they go through having worked profesional Security for years. I have dealt with some of the best, and some of the worst in the field.

I would view Security Guards as I do C.N.A.'s. Again lower pay for what they do and deal with. Respect on par with what they are payed. Respect on par with what they do.

AS for my comment about setting up security in an Airport. You know as well as I do that the security could be much better if it was designed and run by people who knew what they were doing and not beauroRATS.

Cat

Very. Much. Agreed.

 

[sutherngent985]

Well, I suppose I can be safe saying this now that I'm not in that position any more...

I used to be a TSA Supervisor. If you'd like, I will let you see for yourself exactly what the screening officers are paid.... I know how much training they recieve because I used to train them. At the various airports that I worked at, the folks who were taught by me, or were supervised by me were considered top of the line.

I know that I will have lots of hate-mail coming my way, however there are many things that the travelling public just simply doesn't understand about the job. It is stressful, due to the testing done daily and the fact that the TSA is constantly understaffed... but that comes from the fact that none of the taxpayers want to help pay for the organization to have enough people to truly be effective.

There are a whole MYRIAD of other issues plauging the TSA. I will not get into it here. However, if you have any travel plans and would like a few pointers, please feel free to PM me and ask.

Seacat - what you and your wife did was fine... right up until she dis-robed. Ask for the supervisor. On the uniforms, ALL supervisors will have 3 stripes on thier shoulderboards. Not everyone who has 3 stripes is a supervisor, however all supervisors have 3 stripes... (yes I know it is confusing). Make sure the person who comes to help settle the issue has those three stripes, and if they do not give you the proper assistance - ask for the "Screening Manager". The TSA's policy on taking someone to the side to be screened privately is this: If you ask for it... you get it. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
Anything else, and you have the basis for a serious complaint. I would suggest that you ask for the contact information for thier customer service department and the name the Customer Service Manager. Even so, I suggest contacting the National TSA Customer Service number - 1-866-289-9673 and registering a complaint there as well.

Now... yes, there are many not-so bright people working for the TSA, unfortunately - at all levels of screening and management. Many people are former/retired Military, Law Enforcement, Teachers, etc... Most of the older officers have degrees, some of them have multiple degrees.

So, next time you fly, and want to criticize those folks screening your bags, realize that they too are HUMAN. Realize that they get to put up with people EVERY DAY who talk down to them, yell at them, and try to tell them how to do their job better. Think about that. How would you react to someone if after 4 years of dealing with 2-300 people each and every day who belittle you, call you names etc... to someone doing exactly that. At some point, it your attitude shifts. That's personally why I don't hold that position anymore.

ETA: One more bit of food for thought. Regardless of what your profession is... let's say you have someone pop into your place of work... someone who has NO FREAKING CLUE how to do your job.... and begins attempting to tell you how to do your job. How would you feel then?

Im not a professional in security, but I have a pretty good idea about TSA. All it is is a put on for show and to give people who cant qualify for any other kind of law enforcement a job and a pretty uniform. I would hope that there are, SOMEWHERE in that typical government mess, at least one person who knows what the fuck they should be doing. I have yet to deal with a TSA idiot..I refuse to call them agents...who wasnt rude, condescending and, way too may times, a total asshole. I mean, come on. Seacats wife had a card outlining everything and STILL they had to be assholes. But TSA is typical of the US govt...closing the barn door after the cows are long gone. If the security checkers had been doing their jobs on 9/11, the WTC would still be standing and alot of people would still be alive...and what do you bet that these were the first idiots hired by TSA?

I remember a gal in Texas (I think) that had problems with the assholes cause she had her nipples pierces and they made her take them out. Now, to me, that is nothing more than some power hungry asshole trying to be a big man simply because he could. Someone want to explain to me why?

And did you ever think they are told how to do their jobs because they dont freakin know how to do them?????

 

[Chantilyvamp]

I want to be her when I grow up.

I'm with you.. does she give lessons?

 

[john-the-author]

Im not a professional in security, but I have a pretty good idea about TSA. All it is is a put on for show and to give people who cant qualify for any other kind of law enforcement a job and a pretty uniform. I would hope that there are, SOMEWHERE in that typical government mess, at least one person who knows what the fuck they should be doing. I have yet to deal with a TSA idiot..I refuse to call them agents...who wasnt rude, condescending and, way too may times, a total asshole. I mean, come on. Seacats wife had a card outlining everything and STILL they had to be assholes. But TSA is typical of the US govt...closing the barn door after the cows are long gone. If the security checkers had been doing their jobs on 9/11, the WTC would still be standing and alot of people would still be alive...and what do you bet that these were the first idiots hired by TSA?

I remember a gal in Texas (I think) that had problems with the assholes cause she had her nipples pierces and they made her take them out. Now, to me, that is nothing more than some power hungry asshole trying to be a big man simply because he could. Someone want to explain to me why?

And did you ever think they are told how to do their jobs because they dont freakin know how to do them?????

I've met a number of TSA agents who actually are trying to do a good job--completely impossible, of course, because the entire system is (a)busted from the word go, (b)far too easy to fool, and (c)completely pointless--but there are a lot of people in TSA employ who aren't worth spit, sadly. I'm not sure if it's that they were idiots when they started (a few were, clearly) or if the fact that people really *DO* treat them poorly has just soured their attitudes. (The ones here in Eugene I deal with all the time tend to be okay for the most part; some of them are very friendly. I travel often enough that I'm beginning to recognize most of them.)

With every possible respect to Gizzmotick, the number of ways in which the system can be outwitted is far too huge to make the TSA anything but security theater. I agree that airport security is a good idea and it's something we should have, so I'd like to see us actually have some at some point in the future, because we sure don't have any now. I'd also like it if the TSA actually ever acknowledged a complaint, let alone did anything about them. Regardless of the folks who do the work, it's clear that the people at the top really ARE idiots.

 

[Katyusha]

Im not a professional in security, but I have a pretty good idea about TSA. All it is is a put on for show and to give people who cant qualify for any other kind of law enforcement a job and a pretty uniform.

And did you ever think they are told how to do their jobs because they dont freakin know how to do them?????

You have no clue, man. No clue at all.

And no I'm not going to respond to john-the-author's post the same way because at least he has a clue. You, however... *shaking head sadly*