Rushed into the security gate

Whenever I fly from an airport whose security line is short or empty, I’m
approached by a TSA agent as I pause to remove my metal objects from my person,
before entering the metal detector.

I’m usually some distance from the security gate (that is, not blocking its
entrance by any means). The agent always urges me to go into gate. If I respond
(always civilly) saying I’m not yet finished removing my metal objects, he or
she invariably gets pushier.

I don’t look like any sort of threat that would qualify me as a bad profile. My
carry-on isn’t oversized and is quite ordinary, as are my build, voice,
demeanor, clothing, grooming, and facial expression. I’m a native-born healthy
middle-class white American over 50 with no police record. Yet somehow I’m
always regarded with hostility for de-metalizing myself within view of the
security entrance. And others close by doing the same thing are never bothered!

What’s with these people? I have to take off my belt, watch, tie clip, cell
phone, keys, and pocket change. Am I supposed to be able to do all that
instantaneously? Must I do it in my car or taxi first? I don’t dare show my
true disgust for fear of being branded a threat. I don't fly often, but I've
definitely noticed this increase since a few years ago -- which is ironically
when I shaved my moustache off.

Obviously I’m doing something wrong; what is it?

Peter

On Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:27:25 -0800, Peter wrote:

Whenever I fly from an airport whose security line is short or empty, I’m
approached by a TSA agent as I pause to remove my metal objects from my person,
before entering the metal detector.

I’m usually some distance from the security gate (that is, not blocking its
entrance by any means). The agent always urges me to go into gate. If I respond
(always civilly) saying I’m not yet finished removing my metal objects, he or
she invariably gets pushier.

I don’t look like any sort of threat that would qualify me as a bad profile. My
carry-on isn’t oversized and is quite ordinary, as are my build, voice,
demeanor, clothing, grooming, and facial expression. I’m a native-born healthy
middle-class white American over 50 with no police record. Yet somehow I’m
always regarded with hostility for de-metalizing myself within view of the
security entrance. And others close by doing the same thing are never bothered!

What’s with these people? I have to take off my belt, watch, tie clip, cell
phone, keys, and pocket change. Am I supposed to be able to do all that
instantaneously? Must I do it in my car or taxi first? I don’t dare show my
true disgust for fear of being branded a threat. I don't fly often, but I've
definitely noticed this increase since a few years ago -- which is ironically
when I shaved my moustache off.

Obviously I’m doing something wrong; what is it?

Peter
Did you vote for Bush?

Peter wrote:
Whenever I fly from an airport whose security line is short or
empty, I'm approached by a TSA agent as I pause to remove
my metal objects from my person, before entering the metal
detector.... What's with these people? I have to take off my
belt, watch, tie clip, cell phone, keys, and pocket change....

Your problem is easy to see: Wearing these things in the first
place. If you put your belt, tie clip, cell phone, keys and change,
dentures and other metal object into your checked luggage B4
leaving home, and wear only PJ's and slippers, you'll breeze thru.

"Craig Welch" wrote:
irwell said:

Peter wrote:
Obviously I'm doing something wrong; what is it?

Did you vote for Bush?
Did anyone?

While I have no use for the shrub or his cronies, IMO
its unfair to lay the issues with TSA at their feet. But,
if I ran the world, they'd be put on a no-fly list and
subject to full body-cavity searches.

Peter wrote:
Whenever I fly from an airport whose security line is short or empty,
I’m approached by a TSA agent as I pause to remove my metal objects from
my person, before entering the metal detector.

I’m usually some distance from the security gate (that is, not blocking
its entrance by any means). The agent always urges me to go into gate.
If I respond (always civilly) saying I’m not yet finished removing my
metal objects, he or she invariably gets pushier.

I don’t look like any sort of threat that would qualify me as a bad
profile. My carry-on isn’t oversized and is quite ordinary, as are my
build, voice, demeanor, clothing, grooming, and facial expression. I’m
a native-born healthy middle-class white American over 50 with no police
record. Yet somehow I’m always regarded with hostility for
de-metalizing myself within view of the security entrance. And others
close by doing the same thing are never bothered!

What’s with these people? I have to take off my belt, watch, tie clip,
cell phone, keys, and pocket change. Am I supposed to be able to do all
that instantaneously? Must I do it in my car or taxi first? I don’t
dare show my true disgust for fear of being branded a threat. I don't
fly often, but I've definitely noticed this increase since a few years
ago -- which is ironically when I shaved my moustache off.

Obviously I’m doing something wrong; what is it?

My uninformed guess is that the TSA folks are only happy when they're
working frantically or totally idle. Your impending arrival is more
tension than they can bear, and that's why they can't wait for you to go
through the metal detector and get it over with.

Or maybe they get a charge out of it when people miss a bit of metal and
they set off the alarm. It could be the only interesting thing that
happens to them all day, so they try to rush you in hopes that you'll
forget something.

When I remove my metal, I try to do it in an out-of-the-way place (to
the extent that this is possible in an airport). I avoid making eye
contact with anyone on the theory that if I don't look at them, they
can't see me. Then I present myself at security acting as if I had
spent my entire life walking around holding my ID and my boarding pass
and had finally found someone to show them to.

Or maybe you're just too ... ordinary. Grow your mustache again. Go
for the Bohemian look; don't wear the tie clip on board -- or the tie.
If you're wearing a tie and you get bumped up to business class and
you're served a meal, there's no telling what you might spill on it.

Enjoy your flight.

Louis

"Craig Welch" wrote:
"Rog'" said:
While I have no use for the shrub or his cronies, IMO
its unfair to lay the issues with TSA at their feet.

Why? They introduced legislation that produced the TSA farce.

Post 9/11, the Dems pushed for airport security to be handled
by government employees, as opposed to private contractors.
If the Repubs had their way, these folks would be rent-a-cops,
accountable only to corporate shareholders. Either way, we're
still stuck with folks who'd otherwise be emptying curbside
garbage cans.

Peter wrote:


What’s with these people? I have to take off my belt, watch, tie clip,
cell phone, keys, and pocket change. Am I supposed to be able to do all
that instantaneously? Must I do it in my car or taxi first? I don’t
dare show my true disgust for fear of being branded a threat. I don't
fly often, but I've definitely noticed this increase since a few years
ago -- which is ironically when I shaved my moustache off.

Obviously I’m doing something wrong; what is it?

Peter


Why don't you deal with the stuff before getting to the security area?
Why do you need to take off your belt?
If you have a belt that sets off the metal detector, buy a different belt.

Larry in AZ wrote:

Waiving the right to remain silent, Craig Welch said:


"Rog'" said:


"Craig Welch" wrote:

irwell said:

Peter wrote:

Obviously I'm doing something wrong; what is it?

Did you vote for Bush? Did anyone?

While I have no use for the shrub or his cronies, IMO its unfair to lay
the issues with TSA at their feet.

Why? They introduced legislation that produced the TSA farce.


Bush opposed the formation of TSA.


HUH?

"Mr. Travel" wrote in message
. ..
Peter wrote:


What’s with these people? I have to take off my belt, watch, tie clip,
cell phone, keys, and pocket change. Am I supposed to be able to do all
that instantaneously? Must I do it in my car or taxi first? I don’t
dare show my true disgust for fear of being branded a threat. I don't
fly often, but I've definitely noticed this increase since a few years
ago -- which is ironically when I shaved my moustache off.

Obviously I’m doing something wrong; what is it?

Peter


Why don't you deal with the stuff before getting to the security area?
Why do you need to take off your belt?
If you have a belt that sets off the metal detector, buy a different belt.

Why should he change his lifestyle because the US government is terrified of
terrorists who haven't killed anyone for several years?

Why should anyone?

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

"Peter" wrote in message
...
Whenever I fly from an airport whose security line is short or empty, I’m
approached by a TSA agent as I pause to remove my metal objects from my
person, before entering the metal detector.

I’m usually some distance from the security gate (that is, not blocking
its entrance by any means). The agent always urges me to go into gate. If
I respond (always civilly) saying I’m not yet finished removing my metal
objects, he or she invariably gets pushier.

I don’t look like any sort of threat that would qualify me as a bad
profile. My carry-on isn’t oversized and is quite ordinary, as are my
build, voice, demeanor, clothing, grooming, and facial expression. I’m a
native-born healthy middle-class white American over 50 with no police
record. Yet somehow I’m always regarded with hostility for de-metalizing
myself within view of the security entrance. And others close by doing
the same thing are never bothered!

What’s with these people? I have to take off my belt, watch, tie clip,
cell phone, keys, and pocket change. Am I supposed to be able to do all
that instantaneously? Must I do it in my car or taxi first? I don’t dare
show my true disgust for fear of being branded a threat. I don't fly
often, but I've definitely noticed this increase since a few years ago --
which is ironically when I shaved my moustache off.

Obviously I’m doing something wrong; what is it?

Hair length?

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.