# Anything To Increase SECURITY: Electronic Strip Searches should be mandatory **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 26, 2005, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567 "2005-05-26T06:12:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/41 "2005-05-27T22:05:59Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > You might want to be careful about advocating that “full nude” policy. I was hoping it only applied to stewardesses, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/42 "2005-05-27T22:26:27Z")
What if they only had nurses maning these machines? Granted, you would probably be a pretty bad nurse if your only job option is airport security. But still, there would be the layer of professionalism. Sort of. I dunno. Ideas? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/43 "2005-05-27T22:27:28Z")
I thought I remembered hearing about this a few months ago. Isn’t the system supposed to project onto some kind of ‘paperdoll’ that is generic, instead of actually showing the physical, er, attributes, of those folks walking through it? THough I have to agree with this sentiment: > [@Captain Amazing](#): > > So, how does somebody become an airport screener, anyway? Is there a form I have to fill out or something? 😛 If I get a job there I’ll be sure to hook everyone up. ‘What, this laptop here? Its hooked up for, er, security purposes only. Why do I have the external hard drive set up too? Well…security requires loads of, um, disk space. Look…the security of the homeland is serious business. We must all be prepared to make some sacrifices! Now move along!’ -XT ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/44 "2005-05-27T22:31:05Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I thought I remembered hearing about this a few months ago. Isn’t the system supposed to project onto some kind of ‘paperdoll’ that is generic, instead of actually showing the physical, er, attributes, of those folks walking through it? There are a couple of photos in the link, which, if they are representative, look photographic and quite clear. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/45 "2005-05-27T22:36:52Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > There are a couple of photos in the link, which, if they are representative, look photographic and quite clear. (this is from memory mind you…and its a few months old). My understanding was that, yes, the machine could basically see right through your clothing. Yes, it showed some highly graphic details of folks walking through it. However, again my understanding was that they would use software to project the images of other objects (the kind of stuff they are actually looking for, like guns or maybe drugs) onto a generic paperdoll…and that THIS is what the rent-a-cops behind the screens would be seeing. All of the above could be compeletly wrong of course and maybe the rent-a-cops are in for a nice show (they won’t be too happy seeing ME go through I have no doubts). In which case I’m willing to give up my IT business and sign up. We all need to do our part in the defense of this nation! 😉 -XT ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/46 "2005-05-27T22:38:13Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Low paid airport security cretins are now going to be ogling yours or your wives’ or your daughters’ nude bodies as you go through security. Will people be allowed to wear metallic mesh underwear (or something like that, but more comfortable)? I guess that would make the private areas not visible, but most probably the airport security won’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/47 "2005-05-27T22:53:18Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > In which case I’m willing to give up my IT business and sign up. We all need to do our part in the defense of this nation! 😉 > > -XT Dude, have you seen most of us recently? I don’t like looking at myself nude and I’m comparatively thin and elasticy. ::shudder:: ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/48 "2005-05-27T22:55:02Z")
For lack of a better way of putting it, you are NOT entitled to right to privacy if that is part of the contract. If the airlines (or the government) determines that it is a necessity that you be searched as a condition of air travel, you have a choice: take it or leave it. If that is the method of search and you have advance warning you can make the informed decision about whether or not you wish to fly. The only objection I would have is if the X-rays caused any sort of physiological damage. Other than that it’s just the price of doing business. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/49 "2005-05-27T23:17:45Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > For lack of a better way of putting it, you are NOT entitled to right to privacy if that is part of the contract. If the airlines (or the government) determines that it is a necessity that you be searched as a condition of air travel, you have a choice: take it or leave it. If that is the method of search and you have advance warning you can make the informed decision about whether or not you wish to fly. Naturally. That doesn’t mean it ain’t annoying. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/50 "2005-05-27T23:35:48Z")
Honestly, unless the screeners are back there touching themselves or giggling- I don’t care. And I agree that this is less intrusive then being patted down or wanded. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/51 "2005-05-27T23:37:32Z")
All it will take is for a few of us (including me) to fly, and those machines will be scrapped real quick! All the swimsuit models in the world passing through the machine wouldn’t erase the glory/horror of seeing me nekkid. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/52 "2005-05-28T00:23:14Z")
I’m _so_ going to stuff a raw chicken neck down my underwear if I ever have to walk through one of those things. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/53 "2005-05-28T00:30:41Z")
My primary concern is about possible health consequences. I would like to see some studies done proving there is absolutely no risk to repeated exposure. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/54 "2005-05-28T01:07:33Z")
My concern is being mobbed. If people were to see my studliness exposed, it’d be a madhouse. People would be stampeding just to get a piece of the ole wolf. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/55 "2005-05-28T01:39:29Z")
Anyone who thinks this is Woo-Hoo should stop on the street and look at the people passing by for 2 minutes. You don’t want to see Joe and Jane Average in the buff-having worked in a hospital, it’s not pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/56 "2005-05-28T01:43:30Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Will people be allowed to wear metallic mesh underwear Way ahead of you. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/57 "2005-05-28T02:11:32Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > I was hoping it only applied to stewardesses, myself. Having authored a comic 'zine around that subject (naked flight crews) precisely around late summer of 2001, one of my irrational peeves about the creation of TSA and the whole security-for-show hysteria was that they were ruining my joke. And it was such a promising one, too… :o ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/58 "2005-05-28T02:54:38Z")
I pity the poor bastards should I decide to fly anytime after implementation. It’s to the point know that I fantasize that _I’m_ someone else when I make love. ---
**Author:** ![Bangiadore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@Bangiadore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bangiadore)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/59 "2005-05-28T03:41:38Z")
About time, I’d say. If we’d started doing this 225 years or so ago, we might have averted September 11. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567/60 "2005-05-28T04:10:53Z")
It does raise some thorny questions about minors traveling. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-to-increase-security-electronic-strip-searches-should-be-mandatory/305567.md?page=4)