Underwire Bras and the TSA (RO)

[BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed]

@Eureka

Unrelated to the above–last time I flew, I took with me a set of 5 very pointy metal sticks. I assure you, each one contains more than enough metal for two underwires. My metal sticks caused no problem whatsoever with the X-ray machine. But on Ravelry, which is dedicated to the knitting and crocheting communities, it is funny reading threads about taking pointy metal sticks or pointy non-metal sticks on planes. Partially because in some countries, one can’t take knitting needles on planes, while in the US, you can. But also just because some people take paranoia to the extreme of trying NOT to look like they are planning to knit, while taking stuff which can be used to knit but doesn’t look like it with them, and other people try to make their stuff look like knitting stuff and therefore harmless.

But there are certainly people who’ve had knitting confiscated, and others who have flown with needles that really should be classified as weapons. (Mine, mentioned above, were sock needles, so they are pointy on both ends, but really quite little).

I’ve never had trouble with having my crochet hooks taken away on the half dozen or so flights I’ve had them with me. I guarantee that I could do almost as much damage with pens or crochet hooks as I could with a tiny jackknife.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

@Telperien

Maybe he’s going to come round to our houses and hold them up for us.

Indeed, and at no extra cost.

[Telperien]

@Really Not All That Bright

Indeed, and at no extra cost.

You, sir, are a true humanitarian.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

@Telperien

You, sir, are a true humanitarian.

In the interest of full disclosure, I plan on putting this on my resume as an example of my non-work related service activity.

Probably right after my volunteer work as an oil boy at the Miss Hawaiian Tropic contest.

[Telperien]

@Really Not All That Bright

In the interest of full disclosure, I plan on putting this on my resume as an example of my non-work related service activity.

Probably right after my volunteer work as an oil boy at the Miss Hawaiian Tropic contest.

Well, I’ve always been told that relevant volunteer work goes on there.

[Stranger_On_A_Train]

@OtakuLoki

If I publish that I’m going to punch anyone in the nose, if I catch them wearing an “I’m with Stupid” t-shirt, why can’t I think that you’re an idiot if you only get upset with the policy once it affects you?

Why would you expect anyone to let you get away with punching them in the nose just because you published the claim that you’d do so? This is a very stupid analogy.

Stranger

[Harmonious_Discord]

Shocker band and tracker for all passengers on airplanes. Just think how the the flight attendant will handle you, when they think your dress is too short, or you look menacing.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

@Stranger On A Train

Why would you expect anyone to let you get away with punching them in the nose just because you published the claim that you’d do so? This is a very stupid analogy.

For the same reason that passengers are expected to let the TSA get away with feeling them up and rooting through their luggage because the sign says they will.

[Morelin]

@scout1222

Interesting. I always wear underwire, and I’ve never set off alarms. (I fly maybe 3-4 times a year, so admittedly I don’t have a whole hell of a lot of experience.) To be honest, I really didn’t know it was supposed to be an issue.

Heck, I worked at an airport almost daily for 6 months, and I didn’t set off any alarms, or even know it was an issue. I’ve also been wanded, for a knee brace, and my bra didn’t set it off. Of course, I hardly ever notice which bra I’m wearing, wired or not.

[horsetech]

@Telperien

You, sir, are a true humanitarian.

Shocking! I had him pegged as a vegetarian.

D&R

[Queen_Bruin]

@EJsGirl

But my underwire has never set off a magnetometer, although the minute bit of metal in my hair barrettes used to set off the one at Sky Harbor in Phoenix, every time. And that was years befor 9/11.

It must be a Sky Harbor thing - my Doc Martens set off the metal detectors there every time (and nowhere else). And of course I got the big burly lady security guard with the German accent: “Let me *vand *you.”

[Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew]

@Queen Bruin

And of course I got the big burly lady security guard with the German accent: “Let me *vand *you.”

Cue porno music:

Bow-chicka-bow-chicka-chika-bow-bow-chicka…

[dropzone]

@Harmonious Discord

Shocker band and tracker for all passengers on airplanes. Just think how the the flight attendant will handle you, when they think your dress is too short, or you look menacing.

Since it’s hard to find a flight attendant younger than me (54) they might need the extra help subduing younger passengers they can’t catch while hobbling in their walkers.

[coffeecat]

@WhyNot

I wear a G cup bra. (I should wear an I cup, but can’t find one in a molded cup style, but I digress.) Each underwire is somewhere around 14 inches long and 1/3" wide, definitely made of metal and there are two, of course (as well as two roughly 4 inch strips of metal on the sides of the bra under the arm, in this particular style bra). I think that if I was sufficiently motivated, I could tear the casing of my bra and rip out each underwire in less than a minute. I’m not real up on weaponry, but I could certainly contrive to poke an eye out with one as is, or tear out my underwires at home and replace them each with 42 inches of actual wire, folded in a trifold manner and unfolded on the airplane to use as a garrote. I could even take them out, sharpen the inner edge to a knife’s sharpness, put it back in the casing, sew it up and later use them as nifty scythe-like throat slitters.

I have never, ever tripped a metal detector with these huge honkin’ underwires, though I’ve flown at least a dozen times wearing this bra design in particular since increased security measures were put into place. Sleep well, America, you’re well and truly safe. :rolleyes:

I can’t wait to see that in a James Bond movie. If I were 007, I’d want to team up with you instead of one of those useless, ornamental types he usually gets.

[Waenara]

From the article linked in the OP:

TSA spokesman Nico Melendez said Monday that he wasn’t familiar with the incident. But he said in all circumstances, “we have to resolve an alarm.”

That’s the case for bras, artificial hips or anything with metal that sets off an alarm, he said. “Unfortunately, we can’t take a passenger’s word for it.”

Personally, I just can’t wait for the first terrorist who has a bomb surgically implanted in them. “Suuuure, that’s just your artifical hip - full-body MRIs for all passengers!”

[Cubsfan]

@SP2263

My husband worked at a large airport, in the baggage area, for three months. He could have smuggled anything he wanted into the baggage area and gotten it on a plane. The metal detectors at boarding are supposed to increase our safety but it’s all for show when there are easier ways to smuggle larger things on board.

So? What the hell is your point? The pilot could nose dive the airplane and crash it on purpose. The stewardess could kickout the windows or cause some other catastrophic failure. The mechanic could rig the engine to blow out or any number of things.

Are you saying your husband is not trustworthy? If not then what ARE you saying?

[WhyNot]

@Cubsfan

So? What the hell is your point? The pilot could nose dive the airplane and crash it on purpose. The stewardess could kickout the windows or cause some other catastrophic failure. The mechanic could rig the engine to blow out or any number of things.

Are you saying your husband is not trustworthy? If not then what ARE you saying?

She’s saying that the “security” measures we go through at airports are a total waste of time and don’t make us more secure in any meaningful sense.

The 9-11 hijackers came here, bought homes and went to flight school in order to learn how to crash airplanes into buildings. You don’t think they’ve got the commitment to their cause to come get a job as a baggage handler for two weeks? Passenger security checks are meaningless because “they” don’t have to be passengers to down planes.

[Bryan_Ekers]

@WhyNot

The 9-11 hijackers came here, bought homes and went to flight school in order to learn how to crash airplanes into buildings.

Well, being safely based in Montreal helped.
I read that somewhere.

[flodnak]

@EJsGirl

Oh yeah, I have taken 10 inch bamboo knitting needles on planes, as well as 18 inch stainless steel ones. Never a problem. Even my grandma could kill somebody with one of those, but no, they’re fine as long as I don’t bring more than 3 ounces of moisturizer in my purse… :rolleyes:

For a while there, you were allowed to take small-guage bamboo knitting needles on an airplane - and for those of you who don’t knit, those suckers are SHARP, as in don’t look too close or you’ll cut your eyeball sharp - but you couldn’t take a pair of blunt-edged kindergarten scissors to cut the yarn with, even though anybody who’s ever been a kid can testify that they suck for cutting anything other than paper or some unsuspecting kid’s hair.

That isn’t quite as weird as the fact that the three ounce bottle of moisturizer mentioned above is a potentially dangerous weapon when carried loose, yet perfectly safe in its bomb-proof one-quart Ziplock bag, but it’s up there, it’s up there.

[Guinastasia]

OtakuLoki, quick question-are you male or female?