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Posted
Hey all.

 

As a general rule I try as much as possible to avoid flying. I dont really fair well with the TSA and all of the loss of privacy that entails. Fortunately business has been going well -- unfortunately this has meant almost constant travel for the past couple months.

 

As I remove my shoes and personal items, splay open my backpack, lay out my laptop, and pose for the porno-scanner I have a really visceral sort of up-welling of disgust and, if I'm honest, at least a little hatred for the thugs around me and as much, maybe more, for the sheep I'm surrounded by in this society that quietly and subserviently march through the cattle stalls of this immoral process.

 

I find myself lashing out without much forethought when asked "how are you today?".... "Fine except for this mess..." -- "well you'll be alright sir, you'll make it through." -- "My privacy and dignity wont. You're about to steal that from me."

 

or 

 

"You should go get a real job where you're not participating in immoral crap like this." 

 

Today, about 2 hours ago, it came to a head. I was entering the Charlott airport as I had at least 4 times previously. Every - single - time at this specific airport when my laptop goes through xray they flag it for "additional screening". Thats where they pull you and it aside, swab all over it, and put the swab in the magic machine that tells them if you're a terrorist.

 

They do this thing lately, I'm sure it's some new form of training to make sheep feel better, where they ask you if it's OK for them to do each thing in the process... As if you had any god damned say in any of it...

 

(a bit of paraphrasing for brevity as I dont want to tell the whole story)

"Sir is it ok if I fuck with your laptop?"...

 

me: "I dont consent to any of this but I have to get home so I will comply."

 

*swab triggers an alarm in the magic box*

 

"Sir is it alright if we open every pocket and look at every single thing on your person and in your bags, pat you down, run everything back through the metal detector again?"

 

me: "I will comply because I have to get home but I do not consent. What you are doing here is immoral. You should get a real job."

 

Supervisor is called who comes over and talks to me like a petulant child. When I look him in the eye and tell him much the same he escalates. Sits me in a corner for 20 minutes to "calm me down" (I'm already calm). He then calls the Police! They arrive to see me still sitting calmly and ask whats going on. I tell them I'm being bullied because they dont like being told that what they're doing is wrong.

 

Long story short a TSA supervisor arrives and starts try to find out what rules I broke, literally asking if he can charge me with this crime or that crime, etc... I've broken no rules and complied with every order so he doesnt find anything... But now that it's over and I've had time to think I have realized a few things.

 

1. They could have lied and I could be in jail right now. They would feel like they'd taught me a lesson and I would feel completely justified in everything I've said to them. Nothing would change for them or anyone else. I would have to deal with god knows what.

 

2. I'm not really sure I have changed a single persons view on anything by verbally resisting, by trying to make people feel bad for what they're doing. I seem to be doing all of this to make me feel better about what they're doing to me under the guise of trying to make them see the evil in their ways -- or maybe both is true. Or maybe I have changed someones mind a little. How would I know if I did?

 

3. Is it even important that what I do works? Or is it enough that I try?

 

4. I see also that I'm entering these encounters without any forethought and each time I am just reacting out of bitterness and anger. I dont like that -- I want to act in a purposeful way that I've considered before hand.

 

So thats what I'm asking for here. What are your thoughts on how to handle the TSA and other situations like it where you cant avoid their forced processes. On one side I could defend myself and resist which would surely change nothing but land me in trouble that would probably be career ending -- but I would be acting on my values. On the other end I could quietly submit like all the other sheep -- but I would die a little inside each time. Somewhere in the middle is where I seem to have been today (although very haphazardly): Comply with all demands but take a verbal shit on anyone near by -- I feel a little better but I always risk a bully trying to throw me in jail because I hurt his feelings or challenged his "authority".

 

I dont like any of it and I seem to still be too pissed to think about this. Insights?

 

Thanks.

Posted

I would suggest you write "You should have bought me a drink first" or "F**K THE TSA" on yourself in metallic paint so that it shows up on the scanner, but they'd probably give you the "alien abductee" treatment (abduction and anal probing).

 

Maybe they realized that you weren't going to take this and decided not to have you falsely arrested, as you would probably have sued them or filed charges against them.

Posted

I just can't imagine that in this situation anyone is open to hearing anything with a clear mind. It's like starting a philosophical conversation with someone wearing a shirt that says, "Because I'm the parent that's why". That said my girlfriend had jury duty a while back and they were all handed notepads to take notes. She wrote on hers "I don't consent to being here". They're not supposed to read them but the next time she was called in they said they couldn't help but see what she'd written and asked if she thought her perspective would in any way affect her judgement in the case. She asked if it mattered and do I have a choice of whether to be here or not. They had a sidebar and "dismissed" her.

  • Upvote 1
Posted

I think if someone works in such agency theyre heavily invested emotionally and financially to the point that you talking like this makes them think YOU are the problem (as evident by what happened.)

 

Which means that either:

 

A. They really believe what they do is good and are supriced and shocked at your words.

 

B. Thye have grown lofty and arrogant for trying to find somethign on you, both thinking what they do is necceriry and jsut AND contradicnarily thinking you should obey such "good" people and not make a scene. And so they want to punish you for being a troublemaker and a bad person and indeed as you said set an example.

 

To me they sounded like bad parents whom tell everyone ESPECIALLY themselves that they love theyre children but dont. :)

Posted

As a frequent flyer I definitely know what you mean and what you're going through, and honestly it sucks. Just last week I almost missed my flight home from the Denver airport because they were having some kind of initiation/swearing in ceremony. I mean seriously there's a line of 100+ people trying to get through this BS because you're short staffed and theres about 20 of you circled around the flag praying and swearing you allegiance to the TSA. How does that make sense?? On top of all of that I know (from personal experience) how easy it is to get "items" through without even getting a second glance. 

 

Like a lot of things in today's society it's kind of just one of those things you have to just suck up and play along with. It's like the lady at the DMV except since they have a uniform and a badge so they think they have power over you (and technically they do in the moment). Not to mention the brainwashing they go through to make them believe they really are "keeping America safe." If you think about it it truly is Orwellian style brainwashing with the "If you see something, say something" signs everywhere, and the constant loop of "It's for your own safety" playing over the loud speaker all day everyday. It's literally the Stanford prison experiment put into play.

 

When it comes down to it, they are all just sheep doing their jobs so making their jobs more challenging only makes your experience worse. Some tips that I've found useful:

TSA pre-check - if you can handle the privacy infringement of them ensuring you're a "trusted traveler" this makes your life way easier

Opt-out of body scan - pat-downs may or may not be as intrusive as nudie scanners

make things as easy for them as possible - if you know certain things get checked every time (my razor handle) just take it out ahead of time usually they'll visually inspect it as it's going through

 

As with cops, politicians, DMV workers, etc. the TSA is just one more govt. worker who those of us outside of the matrix just have to deal with until it all falls apart.

 

TYFYC

  • Upvote 1
Posted

This reminds me of the Stanford Prison Experiment. Those who participated and became guards changed almost instantly with their behaviour. They eventually seemed to get the urge of intimidating the prisoners (fake prisoners of course) socially, due to their higher level of authority. I wouldnt be surprised if TSA agents are affected the same way. They know they have more power than the average traveler, and can intimidate anyone (except for the rich) easily without consequences.

Posted

Someone private messaged me with a very helpful thought...

 

Think of what they do as a "time tax". When I pay my taxes, I pay as little as possible, and resist in subtle ways that dont bring men with guns to my home and family. I think I will work on ways to adopt this same strategy when dealing with the airport thugs.

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