Sorry, still don't get the outrage on the TSA screening.

It's like this - it's a clear invasion of privacy - if you are a woman on your period they'll know what you use to manage that. They can see outlines of parts people that you aren't married to, related to or in the care of shouldn't see. And what if people hack into these systems - I don't see this as the best way to do this job. I support more K9 units.

How much of your privacy/rights are you willing to give up to "feel safe"

Just my two cents.

PS - I do agree these poor workers, it's not their fault and they are the ones receiving the grief.

"if you are a woman on your period they'll know what you use to manage that"

when you go to the cvs or walgreens the cashier knows exactly what you use to manage that too so big whoop

have you ever seen the tsa images? they look like an xray - not exactly self-pleasuring material

If you are a woman of menstruating age with any sense of preparedness, they will know what you use when they look in your purse.

All the scanners will do is confirm that you are female--shouldn't pose a problem for the majority of women. The only ones I see being directly by this particular aspect of the scanners are transgenders who have not yet had surgery--they will be asked to explain the elaborate undergarments/bandaging used to give them the appearance of the opposite gender.

And...sad to say, those with other kinds of prosthetics. The woman with the prosthetic breast was passed--but small amounts of explosive could easily be packed into that sort of shape or inside a hollow limb....

Your doctor sees all that stuff, too, and touches you. And that's important too. Or is anti-terrorism security suddenly unimportant.

(blowing up in a plane IS bad for your health)

Here's what I don't like about it.
1. We teach our children it is not ok for strangers to touch them like that, now we have to teach them it's ok for a TSA agent to.
2. They may not be killing people now because of the "security" we have but we have let the terrorist win. They have managed to disturb our way of everyday life, to disrupt our government and divide our people over these issues. When we live in fear we are letting them win.
3. No matter what security we have for whatever event, reason or so forth they will find a way to beat it. With each new step they take forward we are just going to make everyday living that much more "secure" Soon we will have x-ray scans, security agents at every public place. Just because they can't attack in the sky so easy anymore doesn't mean they are going to stop.

Nicole, you are so correct. Don't forget the x-ray exposure is very real and the dose is far greater and more penetrating.
About 5% of women are hyper sensitive to radiation due to a DNA repair (BRCA gene) issue. Breast and ovarian cancers will continue to climb from this equipment.
Young children, expecting mothers, fair skinned, and people with the BRAC gene should avoid x-rays.

"We teach our children it is not ok for strangers to touch them like that, now we have to teach them it's ok for a TSA agent to. "

then walk your kids through the sensors and nobody will have to play with their bodies.

"When we live in fear we are letting them win."

two thirds of americans have no problem with security screening, because they understand that a little common sense will let us feel safer. When I ride a plane, I do not worry about dying because I know that everyone went through security screening. If we were to drop the screening, I expect that Al Qaeda would give it another shot.

"they will find a way to beat it."

there's a lovely fatalistic attitude. Let's all committ suicide this morning, since that's the only way to truly defeat Al Qaeda. They can't kill us if we are already dead. -)

"then walk your kids through the sensors and nobody will have to play with their bodies."

and in 5 years when these machines are proven unsafe and everyone who used them frequently has health problems, then maybe they should have just done your previous statement below of committing suicide at least it would have been painless instead of developing whatever these things may cause.

"two thirds of americans have no problem with security screening, because they understand that a little common sense will let us feel safer."

"I do not worry about dying because I know that everyone went through security screening. If we were to drop the screening, I expect that Al Qaeda would give it another shot. "

Common sense would know there's always going to be away around security measures it's just a matter of someone finding the way around them. They may give it another shot even with the measures we have. Maybe our government should just dictate that everyone in America has to walk around naked, then we would know at all times what one is carrying on their bodies.

"there's a lovely fatalistic attitude. Let's all committ suicide this morning, since that's the only way to truly defeat Al Qaeda. They can't kill us if we are already dead. -) "

I'm sorry I don't live in a fantasy world but no where did I suggest that we commit suicide in my previous comment.

Right, and since "common sense" will tell you that there's a way around the security measures, wouldn't you rather have "common sense" tell you that you're better safe than sorry? If the TSA can find something on 1 person that was going to kill a flight of 160 people and you and your child just so happen to be on it, would you rather that the TSA let those 160 people get through without a pat down because YOU think it's an invasion of privacy? Or would you rather make sure you (and the other 159 passengers) could reach your destination safely?

On the other hand, though, since "common sense" will tell you that they will find their way around security measures, we might as well just fire all the TSA's and let everyone fly willy nilly. There's a good answer.

We teach our children it is not ok for strangers to touch them like that, now we have to teach them it's ok for a TSA agent to.

I'm pretty sure children can learn that there is a difference between airport security and a stranger out to do evil. Especially if the parent mentions it.

and in 5 years when these machines are proven unsafe and everyone who used them frequently has health problems

Radiation poisoning from x-rays has been studied since before Hiroshima got bombed. This isn't anything new.

Chris: "two thirds of americans have no problem with security screening, because they understand that a little common sense will let us feel safer."
Umm, Chris--are these the same people who voted for the teabaggers and republicons? Just because 2/3 don't have a problem with it, that doesn't mean it makes sense.

"I'm pretty sure children can learn that there is a difference between airport security and a stranger out to do evil. Especially if the parent mentions it. "

You maybe talking just airports now but eventually it will be everywhere and you won't just have to explain it's TSA doing security. It will be going to a federal building, getting on a bus (so your statement below of not flying won't work), the courts, schools, anywhere that they may attack next. It's just starting with the airports.

"Radiation poisoning from x-rays has been studied since before Hiroshima got bombed. This isn't anything new."

My point x-ray poisoning. The previous statement was to let my children go through the machines and they don't need to have pat downs. There's a reason why when they do x-rays the have you wear a lead vest/apron. Now my kids can do these machines and in 5 years have something that's going to kill them and/or not be able to have children of their own.

These machines don't blast you as much the medical ones that see deeper in you.

Do you realize you get more of this radiation from being in a plane up in high altitudes? It's just a matter, now, of adding a few more minutes worth of it.

That's what they say now. Let's see they don't save or send images either.......hmm have you seen the pictures all over the net!? I wouldn't be surprised if the "remote" person looking at them is in a room that can see the line either. One lie after another about them.

I had chemo and radiation treatment for five years and it sure didn't kill me off..instead it saved my life.
And I rather my life would be secured via flying then worrying if some arse had an explosive in his underpants, shoes, up his butt or in a prosethiic leg.

Of course, I went to a high school (many years ago) where we got patted down when we walked in also, and through a metal detector, quite a few were stopped for guns, knifes and once a homemade pipe bomb...

Thank goodness for those pat downs, otherwise might not be here today.

Its got reality...it isn't always roses and sunshine....

I hear people bitch about it (as like I said, from those who aren't even flying) but if something happened again, then they will blame security for not doing enough security checks.
Do people think these people are getting a kick out of it? No..they are doing their JOB (or would you rather they quit/fired and sit on unemployment)
If you aren't comfortable with the security practices...DON'T FLY..plain and simple.
I had to fly after 911, I was patted down and not once did someone grab me incorrectly, hands go down in between sterum, and across pants lines/pockets...
My friend's son works as security at Chicago's busiest airport, and he says it isn't fun, it isn't about get their jollies off, it is keeping people safe...in the past two days he has found cuticle scissors, lighters and a perfume bottle with coke in it...these people refused the machine, and had the pat down, scissors were in plastic bag clipped to underpants (women claimed she was going to do her nails on the plane) Lighters are NOT allowed, and in pockets, one guys socks and a woman's bra. The perfume bottle filled with coke was in the man's crotch area, but when he moved it shifted so during the pat down it was found...
may not seem like a big deal to some what is found...but it shows what people will do to get away with even the little things.

One lie after another about them.

Now you're just being silly.

I am? Check out all their reports that they don't save images and that they can't transmit them. Then check out all the reports now that they can be saved and that they can be transmitted. That wasn't a lie? What do you call it?

Nellie was that within the last couple of weeks since they changed the way they do pat downs? I agree with the pat downs the way they use to be done not the way they do them now.

Oh and yes I know the reports are not on the TSA scanners but on the imaging equipment used at a court house. Still images were not to be saved, either way you look at another government lie.

Nichole, that was two days ago.

and how would you have felt had you had an experience like the guy in Detroit? The cancer survivor whose bag of urine they broke the seal on?

sure would if he was Muslim or Middle Eastern. No one deserves that. So lets all just lawyer up to fly and sue for millions. That will solve it all including the deficit.

Hmmmm, broke the seal of the catheter? Last time I tossed around a catheter it sure didn't break "a seal"...and touching a catheter bag, which is worn around the thigh and which the passenger would have had a doctor's note pertaining to it so security would have known ahead of time, they would have had to squeeze it very tightly and put a lot of pressure on it to push the "seal" upwards and out.
Sometimes it is funny when someone actually knows about something in the real world?

I do know about the real world. My mother has done catheters plenty of times in children as she works in a phohi room. He did try to explain to them his condition they wouldn't listen.

and it was an urostomy bag that attaches to the stomach.

In case you need a lesson on the real world and differences between a catheter and the urostomy bag check out these links. http://www.coloplast.com/OstomyCare/Topics/BeforeOperation/UsingTheBag/Pages/HowToUseUrostomy.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catheter

Whatever security measures are put in place, a way will be found around it. For now, the scans and pat downs are the best new measures to defeat potential terrorists during one of our most vulnerable times of year. Holidays are times for travel and screening those increased numbers of the flying public raises the odds of someone/something being missed. Do YOU want to be on the flight where the terrorist/bomb got through because the TSA's hands were tied?

I would not want to undergo a pat down if I could possibly avoid it--I don't have any problem with medical professionals but that is in a clinical setting, where privacy is guaranteed, the purpose is to treat health issues and sensitivities can be communicated and respected.
An airport is not private and the agent is not interested in my well-being or sensitivities.

For myself--I won't fly. Not because I have any great moral issues with the screenings, but because I am extremely prone to motion sickness--when traveling by car, I pretty much have to drive, be ill or dope up with massive amounts of Dramamine--which kind of ruins the trip.

My fiance travels for business and he and his co-workers have gone through pat downs. They've never had their genitals touched at all and the TSA workers briskly brushed over them with the back of their hands.

has that been recently since they changed their pat downs? If it has they have been lucky wait until they get the one that feels it all.

What really kills me is if we have a terrorist slip by because there WERE NOT PAT DOWNS, these fools would be screaming loudly about how could we let them sneak into our country again and I'm sure there would be some of them that would definitely blame Obama.

Your "privacy" is more invaded when you go to the gynecologist or for males when they have to turn their head and cough. But to keep us safe, that is what those jobs are in place for. Same thing with the TSA. That's their job to keep us safe. If you think you're being "felt up", take a bus. Or a car. Or sit home. No one's making you fly. But those of us that do fly would like to know that we will arrive to our destination with no threat of a terrorist.

That's why I go to one gynecologist, I don't make it a habit to switch doctors 400 times through the years. If they had a personal agent who could travel with me and be the only one to do these pat downs. Great, I'm all for it. Heck I'm even for pat downs just not this intrusive.

And yet doctors are saying that the scanners are probably not safe for kids, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems....and possibly not safe for anyone. But the sheeple think that they're being taken care of. And the terrorists win again.

Kim. Good points!
new scanners do "total recall" images don't worry dose is small...
Also about 5% have a BRCA DNA repair issues that make women much more radiation sensitive. We will see more breast and ovarian cancers from this madness.

First, these porno xray scammers are from a company that Michael Chertoff is a lobbyist for--and have already had some issues in other countries.
Second, I worked for the Illinois Department of Corrections for 30 years, inmates, visitors and staff were shook down--all but the inmate had the right to have it done behind closed doors.
Third, it seems that the TSA staffers have not been told to change gloves between people...so, if I have lice, chiggers, bedbugs, some forms of skin disease, MRSA, you may get it fairly easily be through the glove to your body contact.
Fourth--While the public is being shaken down, the cargo is not--DUH.
Fifth--isn't this just another of the endless, "Be afraid! Be Very Afraid!" routines? Neither the pat downs nor the scammer will tell if someone has a condom filled with explosive -- just like mules have been doing for many years--take a condom, fill it with drugs, diamonds, explosives...and store it in a body cavity....and the underwear bomber? In all probability he wouldn't have been found with these. And, no I won't be flying, unless I absolutely have to. Israel doesn't do these -- and they're getting bombed much more often than us.

Thanks, Kim. All good points. I wondered if they were changing gloves between people. Didn't look like it in the videos that were able to be taken.

And you're right about Israel. They do profiling - racial and behavioral - and it works.

It is bitch about security or bitch if there isn't enough...and always from those who aren't even flying.

I've been flying about 5-7 times a year but your right I won't now.

The reason why people are so outraged is drum roll please......Obama is president.

I could care less who's president I don't agree with it.

That accusation is getting old, Lori. Who cares who is the president? We're complaining about scanners and being felt up.

I posted about the "safety" of the scanners. The government says they're safe. Do I believe the government? Heck no. The "professionals" who said it's safe are the same ones who claimed that CT scans were like getting one chest x-ray, when we discovered they were more like getting 1,000 chest x-rays.

Doctors are coming out and saying the scanners are probably not safe for children, pregnant women and anyone with a compromised immune system.

Then you have to be groped if not scanned? One video I saw said they use latex gloves. If that's the case, I have to opt out of that as well. I'm not just allergic to latex, I'm totally intolerant of it. (When I put on a pair of latex gloves, my fingers bleed.)

What we have needed from day one was profiling - racial and behavioral. Instead, the PC crowd ends up getting the government to do these scanners (which are making someone who used to work for the government very, very rich). Or we get felt up.

And the terrorists have won.

Wasn't our last problem with cargo? Do you realize how much cargo is put on a passenger flight? Perhaps they should focus on that.

Then they should do what Israel does. Profiling. From curb to plane, they have 4-6 check points where agents talk to people. That works.

The machines deliver a large dose to the skin and tissues such as the breast and testicles. Scanners deliver very detailed images that can be saved. Say no to groping say no to the penetrating radiation.