# X-Ray Sees Through Clothes: **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 9, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853 "2004-11-09T16:29:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/1 "2004-11-09T16:29:17Z")
[Check it out](http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/11/09/xray.reut/index.html). Man. It’s a sad day when, in the name of National Security, we must be subjected to such violations of our most intimate selves. It’s bad enough that _I_ know; but does the _rest_ of the world need to know I’m not hung like a rhino? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/2 "2004-11-09T16:37:48Z")
Well, I can’t make out that much detail on the subject in the photo. He looks almost as “featureless” as a Ken doll. Nice build, though. Would this device detect plastic weapons? ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/3 "2004-11-09T16:55:21Z")
It’s called backscatter x-ray. Here are some images of it in use: [http://www.as-e.com/products\_solutions/image\_library.asp](http://www.as-e.com/products_solutions/image_library.asp) ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/4 "2004-11-09T16:57:15Z")
And yes, it can detect practically anything. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/5 "2004-11-09T17:50:18Z")
I have seen images from these machines that were not as featurless as a Ken doll. Indeed, you could tell cut or uncut. If they are safe and if they were operated by trained professional who would behave in a professional manner, and this meant I did not have to take off my shoes, I would not be bothered, but I see in the news that many of the screeners do not behave in a professional manner and cannot be trusted to respect the dignity of those being screened, so I would boject. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2004, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/6 "2004-11-09T18:07:24Z")
If they were being operated by trained professionals in the manner listed in the CNN article, I would have little objection. But they won’t be. They’ll be operated by TSA dorks with minimal training and no professional ethics. Thank you, no. I’ll drive myself. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/7 "2004-11-09T18:15:04Z")
Finally, all those years of learning how to write on my ass are going to pay off. What do you mean I have “Fuck You Pigs” written on my buttocks? I have no idea what you’re talking about… ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/8 "2004-11-10T00:39:29Z")
Nuts, I’ve been searching eBay, but I can’t seem to find one. When does it go on sale again? ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/9 "2004-11-10T01:18:41Z")
Does this mean X-Ray glasses are in the near future? 😃 Seriously, though, I would probably also object, on the same grounds as **lee** and **silenius**. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/10 "2004-11-12T09:12:21Z")
“Fine, fine, mouse, fine, syringe, fine, fine, nose, fine…” ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-ray-sees-through-clothes/273853/11 "2004-11-12T10:04:41Z")
Well, one thing I know for certain now, is that If I’m gonna get scoped out by some chick with x-ray vision I should turn around, because from the front the dude looks like Captain Weak-ass-tapeworm victim, but from behind could pass for Superman.