X-ray backscatter security scanners

[Catrin]

I am just not going to do it. I am not going through those machines and I am NOT going to go through all of that with TSA staff. Therefore I won't be flying. If'en I can't get there by bike, car, or train then I won't be going

Thankfully all of my family are within a 12 hour drive outside of my sister in San Diego. I further reserve the right to change my mind for special circumstances, but they would have to be da*n special circumstances indeed.

[badgercat]

I just flew from Phoenix to Philadelphia and back. Those are both pretty large airports, but I didn't encounter any of this business on either end. So... who knows how/when this is all actually rolling out.

[OakLeaf]

EPIC has a list, but it doesn't look like it's been updated since September, and obviously a lot of it has been rolled out since then. Columbus isn't on their list.

[emily_in_nc]

Since we're building a condo in Belize, I can't opt out of flying. We put down our deposit BEFORE all these new TSA requirements went into effect, unfortunately. Perhaps we would not have if we could have seen the future.

On the positive side, if many people refuse to fly b/c of all this, it should keep Belize from growing too fast. But I'd much rather none of us be subjected to this level of privacy invasion.

Interesting about an underwire bra setting off the metal detectors; I wear underwire bras AND have a metal plate in my pelvis and four pins, and I've never set off a detector. You'd think they'd have them set on the same sensitivity level USA-wide at least.

[OakLeaf]

You'd think they'd have them set on the same sensitivity level USA-wide at least.

Not even close. Which also raises questions about the backscatter machines, never mind the recent scandals about medical radiation overdosing.

As much as TSA employees are everyone's least favorite workers right now (mine included), I think employee health is a much bigger issue than traveler health. They're exposed to the stuff all day long. I read in a non-reliable source, and haven't bothered to verify, that they're not even ALLOWED to wear dosimeters, let alone provided with any. And of course the law that created TSA stripped the workers of all of the usual employee protections.

[Biciclista]

Knot, you asked why; because some big fat cat sold some other big fat cat a bill of goods.

Donald flew this weekend in bike duds. Worked very well.

no gropes, no xrays.

[OakLeaf]

I would think anything with a chamois would raise the same issues as sanitary pads and incontinence products. Which I would think have to come off, since they just present as pads on the scanners, and they can't tell what's in them by touch. I wonder about breast cysts on a grope-down, too.

Someone outfitted in cycling gear probably looks so bizarre in an airport that they wouldn't fit any profile but isn't the plan to eventually put everyone through the X-rays?

[KnottedYet]

Make sure that lycra doesn't have a Chamoise, or they'll want to know what it is.

Not bashing. Just the truth, from what I've read. The same thing has happened with women wearing sanitary pads.

No chamois in my lycra.

I'll be on the rag when I fly. If they wanna see it, fine. It's my choice to fly. It's my choice to put up with this crap. (even the backscatter would lead to a pat-down when the menstrual pad shows up)

Like I said before, I'd rather spend 2 hours to fly to my family than spend 18 hours driving there. I have no shame about my body. The luxury of shame was stolen from me years ago. All of you who still have it, enjoy it. I don't really care anymore.

I'm too busy fighting for the rights of my completely legal and state-recognized marriage to be retained, to give a flying f*ck about TSA. I leave that job to the rest of you.

Moonfroggy - my perp was family, and it went on for years. I'm right there with you. Be strong! Don't let them win!