Eh. Whichever. Either way, some poor SOB working as a screener that day is going to lose their appetite. 
Well, they do make it more annoying for everyone. If every single person gave a lecture to the security folks, and every single person opted for the search option that takes the longest, there would be time to search fewer people in order to keep even a modicum of efficiency, or they’d have to spend more money hiring more people. So, if someone is against more invasive searches, that might actually be semi-effective, long-term.
I don’t know. I rarely need to fly, so it generally doesn’t matter, but I find both options repulsive. Probably the scan to get the bullshit over with.
I’d go for the pat down and then moan loudly in ecstasy. Didn’t matter if the security agent was male or female, I’d put on the performance of a lifetime!
I flew on Saturday. Apparently nobody wanted to see me naked or grope me, although I did get a look at the new scanner while I was in line. I would have happily gone through the scanner if anyone had asked. I’m posting today from my parents’ house, where I will spend Thanksgiving, and that’s the most important thing to me.
Option C, (no flying) when it’s practical. If I must fly, I’ll take the pat-down. Because it gives me some quality time with a TSA agent so I can complain about these pointless security procedures that don’t really make us any safer but violate our privacy.
I didn’t say they WOULD prevent it. I said IF. I realize that’s a big if but basically what it boils down to is that complaining is unlikely to make it change and I fly so rarely that there’s no point in getting all worked up about it (when it applies to me).
Yes, there are extreme cases that need to be dealt with (like the prosthetic related cases) but FOR ME in MY CIRCUMSTANCES (after all, this is IMHO), I really don’t give a shit. I just want to get through the line and on the plane and then hopefully OFF the plane as fast as possible.
But is the walk-through always an option? I thought we were choosing between being scanned or groped.
Pat down.
If I’m going to be needlessly hassled, I can hassle right back. And who knows. . .I might get off on it.
I don’t give two shits if some security guard looks at a blurry picture/blob of my body for five seconds. I’ll take the body scan.
I’d take the pat-down because hey, free pat-down.
Body scan all the way. Mainly because I want the TSA to get a glimpse at the heat I’m packing. And by heat, I don’t mean firearms either. 
But also I fear that if I were to submit to a patdown I’d break down laughing like a little girl thinking about this now-famous TSA “cockpunching” photo.
http://www.leftcoastrebel.com/2010/11/caption-contest-for-tsadenver.html
I understand that radiation is cumulative and I’m thinking I’ve already had more than my share. Around here people are dropping like flies from various types of cancer. So I’d thought I’d take the patdown - just the natural style for me.
I’m not sure what that means, however. I was called out of line for a patdown a few years ago and didn’t experience it as offensive. Somewhat foolish though - an ancient farmer-type guy and I must’ve looked pretty threatening. While we stood there a group of six men in sweeping floor-lenth robes and turbans strolled right past. Guess they were reassured they weren’t being profiled.
If my naughty bits are directly touched I may not find that as innocuous.
At any rate neither prospect will prevent me from flying so I suppose I’ll deal with it. Been through worse experiences than either.
ETA: It’s my understanding that the people scanning your image are no where in the immediate vicinity which would help ease some discomfort.
You do realize that the person patting you down will neither be attractive nor female, don’t you?
(bolding mine)
Your experience is irrelevant, since the security measures today are an order of magnitude more intrusive than even just a few years ago. Now, for example, they will directly touch your naughty bits.
Pat down.
I’ve turned my head and coughed at the doctor’s office plenty of times with no lasting emotional scars.
In 2010, I know better than to trust someone who says “I promise to only use this potentially embarrassing digital image responsibly,” even if he is wearing a professional looking uniform.
Are you people seriously embarrassed by people potentially seeing a ghostly, black and white scan of your skin, that has no bearing of resemblance to your real self?
That is just weird.
That hand can belong to anyone I want it to. 
I flew out of O’Hare yesterday morning and went through the body scanner. Having to completely empty my pockets first was a new experience, especially since I was wearing cargo pants with a book in one pocket and a ziplock bag of beef sticks in another, which I hadn’t bothered to put in my carry one because I had figured neither would set of the metal detector. The only thing (slightly) embarrassing was that the security line had moved so fast that I’d forgotten that I had a metal pill case in another pocket, which of course was picked up by the scanner and resulted in a brief pat down (that went nowhere near any personal area).
I’ve got no problem with the scanner. The one thing I found interesting was that there wasn’t the usual announcements while waiting in line about removing shoes, jackets, etc, now was there anything said about the possibility of being either scanned or patted down.
Gee, if this thread is representative of the general public, my wife and I should be able to cruise right through security tomorrow, what with all the people refusing to fly anymore. The airport will be a veritable ghost town!
Sadly, though, I don’t believe that will be the case.
I’ll take the scan. I don’t care if somebody sees my fuzzy grey outline, and I’m not a big enough hypochondriac to freak out over a puny dose of radiation.
And if you’re one of those folks planning to make some dramatic protest speech or otherwise draw attention to yourself trying to make a grand point, at least have the courtesy to step aside first so that the rest of us who just want to get to the gate can do so with minimal fuss. Thank you.
Loudmouths make a lot of noise. Most people are not offended by the airport scanners.