Woman: TSA agent patted my genitals

[Teacher Mark 53]

I don't see the big deal with all this TSA bullcrap. If you don't like it, go Greyhound!

I've had more than one bad experience on the Silver Slug. I'd take a TSA grope any day over another Greyhound trip.

[_Simpson_ 250]

no need to be snarky, and imwo it is the same as saying it's par on with a dr visit. and a body search where someone inserts their hands inside your underpants is invasive and an entirely different context than a dr. vist. again just MY opinion which i am entitled to even if it doesn't agree with yours which YOU are of course entitled to.

it is a big deal to SOME, i have and will continue to travel extensively and will likely feel very offended if someone puts their hand inside my underpants i think very few folk were expecting it to be that invasive. i have had the good fortune to never be in or visitng a prison so no need for that "more intense" search. it's wonderful that you don't have any hang ups relative to the search in question but it is not uncommon for people to have hang ups or feel self conscious.

now with all of those things said there are some tsa agents that are good and some that are bad and among those that i would lump in with the bad, i would say you will absolutely find some who are getting their jollies from this new found power. some for the power trip and maybe some for the sexual gratification. they are human.

Then some people need not travel by plane. If the agent didnt do the search according to protocol then the woman should sue but to me it looks like this woman is just being a drama queen.

Edited November 20, 2010 by _Simpson_

[slim 1,530]

I supported Obama, even donated money to his 2008 campaign. If he doesn't get his sh*t together very soon, I will be a protest voter in 2012, just to teach the Democrats a lesson, the lesson that treason and betrayal of the constituents is worse than being "just" a crook.

[slim 1,530]

I've had more than one bad experience on the Silver Slug. I'd take a TSA grope any day over another Greyhound trip.

Yeah but you don't get groped on Greyhound.... unless you want to be!

it looks like this woman is just being a drama queen.

Exactly.

[Boiler 45,913]

You could always wear a Burkah.

No way the TSA would touch you then.

[Mike&Cherry 45]

The more freedom we give them to search us like this will be the more freedom we will loose. They will probably take it one step futher after they know they can get away with this. Pretty soon the next step will be a completely nude strip search and having to squat and cough like prisoners while they stare at our butt holes. Maybe they will grope us to. Where will it end? The real kicker is that when we buy a plane ticket we have to pay for these personal violations with the increased security surcharges that they add to the final price of the ticket. Since we are paying for this can can we request to be in different positions or touch them back? lol.

[Used to be broken 147]

I didn't say it was on par with a dr visit. I said I wondered what she say after a dr's visit, given the histrionics from the body search. I've had them numerous times..... both while traveling and when entering a prison. And you can bet that the prison search is more intense. It's not a big deal. They're not trying to get their jollies on. They're doing a job.

The reality is you don't know what the heck they are doing, If no one speaks up when they go overboard it victimizes other people down the line.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So do the airlines charge extra for a "happy ending" with the ticket purchase?

[Ban Hammer 13,474]

So do the airlines charge extra for a "happy ending" with the ticket purchase?

so that's why it's the friendly skies...

[happilycontent 16]

Yeah but you don't get groped on Greyhound.... unless you want to be!

Exactly.

I'd rather be frisked by a TSA officer of the same sex and fly safely than be decapitated like what happened on greyhound. TSA is doing their job, if you don't like the additional screening to help keep us safe, you can always find some other way of getting to your destination.

Edited November 20, 2010 by happilycontent

[Canadiandggal 49]

I'd rather be frisked by a TSA officer of the same sex and fly safely than be decapitated like what happened on greyhound. TSA is doing their job, if you don't like the additional screening to help keep us safe, you can always find some other way of getting to your destination.

I agree with your comment about Greyhound as I would love to be alive a little longer but at the same time the only two people that are allowed to touch my "privates" are my husband "meow" and My doctor (If I had One)and I am extremely uncomfortable with the doctor part. However My doctor is making sure that I am not diseased or have cancer etc,,,, what exact medical condition is this TSA officer looking for???As far as I know my "private" has yet to learn how to shot a gun...hmmm

[slim 1,530]

I'd rather be frisked by a TSA officer of the same sex and fly safely than be decapitated like what happened on greyhound. TSA is doing their job, if you don't like the additional screening to help keep us safe, you can always find some other way of getting to your destination.

Why would you get decapitated on Greyhound? You can carry your gun on the bus. (I know, I know... you're not supposed to...)

[nab 74]

That story reads like an hysterical response. Some people are quite over-reactive. I wonder how she fares at her doctor's appointments.

judge not... till it's been done to you

the demeanor in which it's done can change a "pat down" into "sexual assault" and, under threat of being arrested, if you resist even more traumatic.

i don't know if this lady and her claim are legit but if some tsa agent touched my cookie box i would super angry and feel violated as well. it is not at all par on with a dr. visit imwo. i have been patted down in other countries by security personnel in fact in china EVERYONE and it was uncomfortable since she touched me with her palm side (seat of pants, chest, and front of pants pockets) but not inside my pants and DEFINITELY not inside my underpants.

yikes. i'm more scared of the search than the threat to my safety on a plane.

you are correct, it is NOT on par with a dr's visit AT ALL

She does have freedom...the freedom to not comply, and the freedom to not fly.

She agreed to the search, how it was 'without permission' is retarded.

problem is Lisa, she did NOT comply with a physical touching of her body...

TSA was supposed to be using these scanners as a secondary measure but once ok'd now they are primary, ok fine. (not fine but we'll move on)

this woman requested to go thru a scanner "but none were available". she was forced to submit to a physical search... when she bought a ticket she was not agreeing to physical search, when she was in airport she was not agreeing to search. once you are inside security area you are screwed.

IDK about good ones but i can tell you if a bad agent doesnt want to do their job they will put you through he1l and do everything they can to humiliate you. they've been putting people through these kinds of searches for many years.

no need to be snarky, and imwo it is the same as saying it's par on with a dr visit. and a body search where someone inserts their hands inside your underpants is invasive and an entirely different context than a dr. vist. again just MY opinion which i am entitled to even if it doesn't agree with yours which YOU are of course entitled to.

it is a big deal to SOME, i have and will continue to travel extensively and will likely feel very offended if someone puts their hand inside my underpants i think very few folk were expecting it to be that invasive. i have had the good fortune to never be in or visitng a prison so no need for that "more intense" search. it's wonderful that you don't have any hang ups relative to the search in question but it is not uncommon for people to have hang ups or feel self conscious.

now with all of those things said there are some tsa agents that are good and some that are bad and among those that i would lump in with the bad, i would say you will absolutely find some who are getting their jollies from this new found power. some for the power trip and maybe some for the sexual gratification. they are human.

i want to clarify a myth here

would you be surprised to know that someone visiting a friend or relative in prison has more rights that you as a airline traveler as far as your "security search"?

(they are allowed to keep their dignity and respect)

the type of search a friend or relative undergos to visit a prisoner is NOT anything like what we go through in airport security!!! there are actually RULES the officers MUST abide by and they do that. They show the friends and family respect (most do) and if they do not there is an IMMEDIATE course of action you can take! Here are some of those rules:

during the 'pat down' an officer cannot put their fingers/hands or anything else inside the clothing of the visitor (they must stay on outside of clothing)

take off belt and all metal objects, walk thru scanner

if your hair is up it must come loose and you shake it (done in private with a female guard)

you open your mouth and they shine a light inside, NEVER are they to put a finger or anything else inside your mouth (not even the light!)

take off shoes and they check those by hand (not with a scanner, they run their hands inside them and visually check them)

their bare hands must never come into contact with your bare skin, EVER

when they do a "pat down" they run the BACKSIDE of their hand over you, NOT their palm and fingers

they do not touch your private areas

NEVER DO THEY REPEATEDLY GO UNDER YOUR BREASTS AND SQUEEZE THEM WHILE LEERING IN YOUR FACE!

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how's THAT for "drama queen" Slim?

would've quoted your post too but it was on next page and i dont know how to do quotes from two pages

and from my friends who've rode greyhound, they say "don't fall asleep"

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something i do want to add though, for a prisoner :-( the search is not as easy, but if they want a visit they must endure it before and after the visit because they are the prisoner. their search resembles the one TSA gives to you, except add take off clothes, squat, and cough, put clothes back on. doesnt ake much time, who knows, soon you could be treated like a criminal too... or even worse, with internal searches "if they suspect something" (that's how they got these scanners approved).

Power Corrupts. There will be some in positions of power (from Law enforcement to Politics) who are professional and work with high integrity. There will be always those who will be in the minority who will abuse the powers given, because they believe they can get away with it. Our job is to make sure they don't.

i agree. there are some wonderful professionals out there who can do the job for 40+ and IDK how they stay just as professional on last day as they were the first. then others who will take even the smallest bit of power and use it it's fullest to abuse everyone in sight. the psychology of it is strange. if you have time check this site out:

http://prisonexp.org/

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Mike&Cherry - i agree the more freedom we give them the more freedom we lose. we've been losing freedom sicne 9/11 and THAT is what the terrorists want. they have taken our lives, while we are alive... they've taken our freedom, what america stands for.

[happilycontent 16]

I agree with your comment about Greyhound as I would love to be alive a little longer but at the same time the only two people that are allowed to touch my "privates" are my husband "meow" and My doctor (If I had One)and I am extremely uncomfortable with the doctor part. However My doctor is making sure that I am not diseased or have cancer etc,,,, what exact medical condition is this TSA officer looking for???As far as I know my "private" has yet to learn how to shot a gun...hmmm

You do understand that it's a same sex officer using the back of their hand to pat around the area, and aren't actually taking their hand and caressing or groping the skin of your privates, right? What medical condition you ask are they looking for? uh, I'm pretty sure they're making sure nobody blows off your genitals mid air.. I don't see anything wrong with their protocol. I'm actually happy that they've started enforcing tighter security.

Why would you get decapitated on Greyhound? You can carry your gun on the bus. (I know, I know... you're not supposed to...)

Man decapitated on Greyhound obviously had their been security such as TSA that wouldn't have happened.

[nab 74]

You do understand that it's a same sex officer using the back of their hand to pat around the area, and aren't actually taking their hand and caressing or groping the skin of your privates, right? What medical condition you ask are they looking for? uh, I'm pretty sure they're making sure nobody blows off your genitals mid air.. I don't see anything wrong with their protocol. I'm actually happy that they've started enforcing tighter security.

Man decapitated on Greyhound obviously had their been security such as TSA that wouldn't have happened.

i will apologize now for being so blunt but *I* have been through it and i am telling you = this is a lie (and if you do not believe me believe pictures, every photo they show has TSA with palm toward traveler body = proof)

prison guard searching visitor = uses back of hand

TSA body searching traveler (granted only had it done once but once was plenty thank you) = palm and fingers, squeezing and running over and under actual breasts inside my clothing (multiple times), taunting while doing it, away and off to side but in front of other travelers

they were supposed to be wanding my shoes

Edited November 20, 2010 by nab