# Anti-TSA Activist claims she was groped during security search. What's the goal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 28, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553 "2013-05-28T16:32:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/61 "2013-05-29T23:50:53Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > As someone who is not a fan of the excessive amount of security theatre demonstrated by the TSA and also as someone who consistently opts out of going through the scanner, I can say with 100% certainty that the TSA employees in that video neither groped either passenger or touched their vaginas. Having submitted to pat-downs multiple times in multiple airports, it’s my not-so-humble opinion that those TSA employees conducted themselves professionally and with supreme patience. It’s a good thing that woman filmed her experience, so that I could personally call bullshit on her claims. > > The TSA professional explained what she would be doing, the woman acknowledged that she understood and consented to the procedure, and she got exactly what she was told would happen. Her dramatic response was clearly for the camera. The TSA should give that agent a bonus for putting up with such utterly immature behavior. It’s too bad the agent can’t sue and recover monetary damages for defamation. Personally, I’d be royally pissed if someone uploaded a video of me doing my job and accusing me of being some kind of pervert. > > Can’t we all just agree that this video in no way demonstrates what’s \*actually \*wrong with the TSA and it’s overblown “security” measures? How dare you drag us off the hijack and back to the actual subject of the thread!😉 And yes, I think you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/62 "2013-05-30T00:09:04Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > I must have missed all the planes blowing up, just how many bombs have gotten through? Unless I missed something, the last bombing of a commercial flight originating in the US was in 1962. 9/11 was very aberrant even if you don’t consider what happened to the buildings. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/63 "2013-05-30T00:18:35Z")
FWIIW I think most screening is a waste of time. If the reason for TSA is to prevent airplanes from being used as weapons then it is a waste of money. Just make it impossible to get into the cockpit in flight, problem solved(yes I see it has already been posted but I’ve been saying it for years). I believe however that the TSA exists so politicians can say “see we are keeping you safe, re elect us” I think many people believe this and therefor the TSA continues to exist. I’ve been flying twice a week for work for almost four years. Due to cancer for six months of that time I had a chemo port setting off the body scanner and a feeding tube making a six inch bulge under my shirt(don’t pit me again\*\* RockytheflyingS\*\*). I got patted down every flight, most of the time I found the individual agents to be friendly and professional. Do they have some stupid policies, of course they do. Again I blame Congress. The TSA sets it’s policies as they are told to. **Stranger On A Train** , why not carry an empty bottle and fill it up at the waterfountain instead of paying $8 for water. Sorry about the other stuff though. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/64 "2013-05-30T00:30:33Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > **Stranger On A Train** , why not carry an empty bottle and fill it up at the waterfountain instead of paying $8 for water. Sorry about the other stuff though. It has to be verified as coming from the shop with a receipt. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/65 "2013-05-30T00:52:03Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Unless I missed something, the last bombing of a commercial flight originating in the US was in 1962. > > 9/11 was very aberrant even if you don’t consider what happened to the buildings. Good point. Also, not to nitpick, but the 911 hijackers didn’t bring on any bombs. They brought box-cutters instead. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/66 "2013-05-30T01:19:47Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Good point. > > Also, not to nitpick, but the 911 hijackers didn’t bring on any bombs. They brought box-cutters instead. well yes, the hijackers did bring bombs. They used box cutter to gain access to the control of them. One man’s transportation node is another man’s energy source. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/67 "2013-05-30T03:29:23Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It doesn’t cost money to ask questions so I don’t know why you think it would cost so much more. Then go tell Israelis that they are getting ripped off by using well-trained screeners, and they should save money by hiring a bunch of dopes to “just ask questions.” ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/68 "2013-05-30T03:54:34Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Then go tell Israelis that they are getting ripped off by using well-trained screeners, and they should save money by hiring a bunch of dopes to “just ask questions.” You can’t compare the US to the Israeli system because the Israelis protect a larger demographic. As has already been pointed out, the TSA screens for airplanes.Everything else is vulnerable. They won’t try to protect the terminal until one is blown up and then they’ll react postmortem like have with everything else. The Israelis start screening before people park their car. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/69 "2013-05-30T04:01:27Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You can’t compare the US to the Israeli system because the Israelis protect a larger demographic. As has already been pointed out, the TSA screens for airplanes.Everything else is vulnerable. They won’t try to protect the terminal until one is blown up and then they’ll react postmortem like have with everything else. The Israelis start screening before people park their car. An awful lot of Puerto Ricans who lost family due to Israel’s vaunted racial profiling would find your logic rather flawed. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/70 "2013-05-30T04:15:33Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Good point. > > Also, not to nitpick, but the 911 hijackers didn’t bring on any bombs. They brought box-cutters instead. I meant that it’s rare for commercial airplanes to be purposefully destroyed in flight after leaving a US airport, be it by bomb or by controlled flight into stuff. Before 9/11, there was (AFAIK) Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983 (obviously not an airport security issue) and then the bombing in 1962. > [@Ravenman](#): > > Then go tell Israelis that they are getting ripped off by using well-trained screeners, and they should save money by hiring a bunch of dopes to “just ask questions.” The TSA actually tried that. A [GAO report](http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10763.pdf) (PDF) wasn’t kind. The TSA bungled it (surprise), but even then the report says “scientific consensus does not exist on whether behavior detection principles can be reliably used for counterterrorism purposes.” Maybe Israel gets better results by using better people…or maybe Israel is just dowsing for terrorists and “behavioral profiling” is total crap everywhere. I don’t know that there’s much evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/71 "2013-05-30T04:28:16Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > An awful lot of Puerto Ricans who lost family due to Israel’s vaunted racial profiling would find your logic rather flawed. you’re referring to the 1972 incident where the terrorists arrived via an Air France flight from Rome weapons in hand. Do you think this is a valid comparison to either the TSA or Israeli security systems today with something that happened 40 years ago? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/72 "2013-05-30T04:38:53Z")
I would rather they simply block the door to the cockpit, issue everybody on board a taser and let us duke it our for ourselves. Seriously, I used to go through both a metal detector and one for explosives to go into a nuke plant, and this is after having a security clearance from hell to even get a job with the contractor to go in and work. The damned FBI spoke with people I went to elementary school with and hadn’t seen in at least 15 years :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/73 "2013-05-30T04:52:56Z")
I wish I would have called it when I thought about it but I was watching a PBS program on the Boston bombing and it came back to me. In it they mentioned Google’s algorithm had ability to recognize words that were misspelled and this could have been used to catch one of the bombers. I thought about this when they missed the underwear bomber at the point of origin because of a spelling mistake. Of course that could also lead to chaos with everybody’s name but if something flags with the person standing in front of you and they’re acting nervous it would seem like a good time to ask a few questions and see where it leads. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/74 "2013-05-30T05:03:46Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I would rather they simply block the door to the cockpit, issue everybody on board a taser and let us duke it our for ourselves. at the time 9/11 happened passengers were allowed to carry a better knife than a box cutter. We know from passenger accounts that what you said was not only possible but that it actually happened. One of the attempts to hit a building was stopped. If the pilots had been warned about the plot ahead of time they could have alerted passengers to this and stopped the whole thing in it’s tracks. I don’t know the extent of their security briefings now but I’m under the impression it’s improved since then. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/75 "2013-05-30T11:21:01Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > It has to be verified as coming from the shop with a receipt. I’m not sure what you mean. What has to be verified? I just carry an empty bottle with me and after I pass through security I fill it up at a waterfountain. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/76 "2013-05-30T14:15:54Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You can’t compare the US to the Israeli system because the Israelis protect a larger demographic. I don’t understand what you mean. The US has two million passengers per day, and all the airports in Israel handle 15 million passengers a year. What do demographics have to do with it? Unless you mean something absurd like the TSA doesn’t seek to protect Christians, women older than 65, or people with low incomes – you know, actual demographics. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/77 "2013-05-30T14:31:25Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > They what? > > :eek: > > (BTW, I actually agree with your larger point, but I’m struggling to think what is usually carried on board planes which is, or could be made, a bomb) I’m pretty sure they’re talking about laptop batteries. > **[Beware of exploding laptops](https://phys.org/news/2006-06-beware-laptops.html)** > > Exploding laptops could be deadly, a Canadian research group reported Thursday. Apparently, they blow up on accident fairly often, and could easily be detonated on purpose by bad guys on a plane. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/78 "2013-05-30T15:24:42Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Apparently, they blow up on accident fairly often, and could easily be detonated on purpose by bad guys on a plane. FWIW, I’ve never seen a video of a battery explosion that would make me think: holy cow, if that happened on a plane, everyone would be doomed! Instead, I see things like these, where my reaction is, I certainly would not want to be close to that if it happened. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pizFsY0yjss/hqdefault.jpg "Laptop Battery Fire - Can My Laptop Explode?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pizFsY0yjss) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RQjudHKh-bI/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGHIgRChEMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCb2BHBU6CKKlC9lHkdrdcYj8rkuw "Lithium Polymer Battery Explosion 2") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQjudHKh-bI) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tC0UWIYswKI/hqdefault.jpg "Laptop PC explodes violently") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC0UWIYswKI) The term I would use for these incidents is “bursting into flame,” not “explosion.” So I’m a little skeptical that laptops are actually ticking time bombs that are poised to bring down airliners. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/79 "2013-05-31T00:48:32Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > I’m not sure what you mean. What has to be verified? I just carry an empty bottle with me and after I pass through security I fill it up at a waterfountain. I wondered the same thing. I also carry a [recycled aluminum, reusable, Made-in-USA (hey, I’m a patriot) bottle](http://www.libertybottles.com/). Sometimes I use a water fountain, but generally I ask the baristas at Starbucks to fill it up from their tap because I know it’s filtered. Nobody has ever asked me for a receipt anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553/80 "2013-05-31T03:50:54Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I don’t understand what you mean. The TSA screens for boarding passengers. Everybody in the terminal and parking lot are soft targets. The Israelis start screening as you enter the airport. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-tsa-activist-claims-she-was-groped-during-security-search-whats-the-goal/659553.md?page=5)