X-ray backscatter security scanners

[VeloVT]

Wow, seems like I'm in the minority. I'd gladly volunteer for a full-body scan to save the inconvenience of taking off my shoes. The new enhanced pat-downs are unappealing, but I really couldn't care less about the scans. While I defer to those who have medical concerns about them, I don't understand the extreme anger they seem to have excited amongst everyone else. Yes, the operator will see you naked -- you and the 10,000 other people that go through the line that day. Few of us are really that memorable.

[KnottedYet]

Few of us are really that memorable.

Ain't that the truth!
For those of us who work in healthcare, the whole "see the body" thing is moot. Honestly, y'all are not that interesting nekkid.

[Owlie]

If I have to fly, I'll take the scanner. I don't like being touched, and I know I'm not that interesting naked. I just don't like the idea of being irradiated unnecessarily either.

[jessmarimba]

True. I don't really care what they see with those machines (I do think they are taking away my right to privacy, but someone may as well enjoy seeing me naked). But I don't trust the safety of them. Sure, yeah, the FDA has said they are safe. But how many drugs has the FDA pulled this year alone that they THOUGHT were safe and have changed their minds on? Plus I've read too many scary stories about radiation machines for cancer accidentally putting out way more than necessary - and those are run by medical personnel. I had to take several hours of radiation-safety training just to test properties for lead-based paint, and I doubt anyone from TSA has had equivalent training.

Anyway, I will continue flying because I have to, but my teenage rebellious streak has come out of hibernation from all of this I may try to fly in a bikini just to see what happens.

[colby]

Wow, seems like I'm in the minority. I'd gladly volunteer for a full-body scan to save the inconvenience of taking off my shoes. The new enhanced pat-downs are unappealing, but I really couldn't care less about the scans. While I defer to those who have medical concerns about them, I don't understand the extreme anger they seem to have excited amongst everyone else. Yes, the operator will see you naked -- you and the 10,000 other people that go through the line that day. Few of us are really that memorable.

Dang you shoe bomber - though they were already making you remove shoes everywhere I went well before that. It used to be some shoes on a TSA judgment call, but then became all shoes as time went on (same time as the 3oz rule, I guess).

Someone could make a MINT off of TSA-approved shoes (like the TSA-approved laptop sleeves). Every time I try to go through in my Five Fingers I ask them what I could hide in 2mm of rubber that they wouldn't catch in the scan (either kind), and they give me the "them's the rules!" face. I'm sure the problem is "where do you draw the line?" and that in the end it's faster to push people through with one rule than to actually think "you could hide stuff we couldn't pick up on the scan in those shoes." I don't really mind the backscatter machines but I prioritise traveling expediently over being in a giant crowd of people with ruffled feathers. Not having to take off my shoes is even more expedient, even if they like to look at my hobbit shoes in the baggage scanner.

I was able to wear my five fingers through airport security in Amsterdam, Rome, and customs arrival in Seattle (where you transfer back to the airport for domestic flights). Apparently my shod feet are safe internationally, but not in the states.

I am concerned about the health issues, it makes sense that there would be a class of people who should avoid exposure. We accept a certain amount of risk in everything we do, the key is to be informed.

[VeloVT]

I've often thought that someone ought to make very minimal disposable paper slip-ons for airport wear -- sort of like I've read you can buy disposable paper travel underwear in Japan. Or like surgical scrubs... Sturdy enough to walk around in throughout a few layovers, but ultimately disposable/recyclable... I'd use them.

[colby]

I've often thought that someone ought to make very minimal disposable paper slip-ons for airport wear -- sort of like I've read you can buy disposable paper travel underwear in Japan. Or like surgical scrubs... Sturdy enough to walk around in throughout a few layovers, but ultimately disposable/recyclable... I'd use them.

I've seen the scrubs-style ones in a few random airports - like the ones that carpet cleaners or people working in your house wear to not track stuff on your carpet. I bet a cleaning supply place would have them.

[Trek420]

Someone could make a MINT off of TSA-approved shoes (like the TSA-approved laptop sleeves).

There is the official shirt

http://www.chokeshirtco.com/product/tsa-uni