Richard Dawkins being his usual prissy self

[Doubting Thomas]

Next thing ToriJ will be claiming that groups with the word "family" in the title aren't really focused on families and instead are just a bunch of homophobic bigots...

[rexbeccarox]

The TSA is a joke, and it is ridiculous that honey could be confiscated... but that doesn't take away from the fact that Dawkins is an arrogant prick.

Did you know that those people in authority, regularly violating your privacy aren't required to have any higher education than a GED? When I'm at the airport, it's all I can do not to sneer at every single TSA agent. IMO, it takes a special kind of asshole to want a job like that.

[Faith No More]

IMO, it takes a special kind of asshole to want a job like that.

Does anyone actually want to be a TSA agent? I always assumed it was like working at McDonald's. You do so because there is no other work.

[rexbeccarox]

IMO, it takes a special kind of asshole to want a job like that.

Does anyone actually want to be a TSA agent? I always assumed it was like working at McDonald's. You do so because there is no other work.

You do have a point...I have to say, though, that that makes it even worse: any uneducated moron asshole who can't get other work has authority over you and any potential threats. Scary.

[FlyingNarwhal]

I never really liked Dawkins, but he is right. The security at airports has gotten way out of control. Like Tib mentioned, most terrorist plots are stopped by the FBI not the TSA. And am I really supposed to entrust my saftey to TSA employees?!?! Do they look like they could stop terrorists if they wanted to? Even with that LAX shooting the TSA didn't stop him, the cops did.

---

He's right, the terrorists have won.

You forced to pray towards Mecca?

Nope, but apparently I no longer have the freedom to carry honey with me in an airport. Or the freedom to walk through one without getting groped or x-rayed.

---

So on a side note, I don't usually travel by plane but last time I opted for the pat down rather than the scan. And I decided to see how uncomfortable I could make my TSA molester. So during the pat down I just said a bunch of sexual stuff to make him uneasy.

"Oh yeah, slide your hand up my leg. A little farther up. Mmmmm yeah that's so good..."

Best time of my life.

[Captain Colostomy]

When getting your prostate checked by a ham handed, GED waving TSA agent is the 'best time in your life', I suggest getting out more....and avoiding public means of transportation. Honey smuggling is less a chore, too.

[CleanShavenJesus]

I don't have time to do a full investigation right now, but here's a few to start with.

I'll have to scrutinize that list, because not so long ago I believe the TSA admitted that they hadn't actually caught any terrorists via the security checks at airports.

They are always caught beforehand (i.e. due to surveillance) or after the plane is in the air...

Indeed, a quite browse through that list and it includes Richard Reid (shoe bomber who was caught on the plane) and a load of others that say "arrested by the FBI". The TSA aren't mentioned in the article at all...

Assuming the TSA has never actually caught a terrorist, I still feel much more comfortable with the airport security the way it is, regardless. It's annoying and sometimes stupid, but I'd still take it over having any less security.

[Jackalope]

He's right, the terrorists have won. The security measures at the airport these days are stupid and I'd like to see a list of any terrorists they have actually stopped.

I don't have time to do a full investigation right now, but here's a few to start with.

You should read through that list - I didn't read it carefully, but a quite scan through it didn't turn up any plots that were foiled by any means remotely related to airport security screening, which is what ToriJ was asking about.

[Jackalope]

Assuming the TSA has never actually caught a terrorist, I still feel much more comfortable with the airport security the way it is, regardless. It's annoying and sometimes stupid, but I'd still take it over having any less security.

I dunno, I'd personally rather that the additional substantial sums of money and inconvenience that we currently spend on airport security be spent doing something that actually accomplishes something.

I'm funny that way.

[Cyberman]

But it's funny that someone that is constantly complaining about how stupid other people are couldn't read the rules displayed quite conspicuously.

Isn't the point that there's such a list of rules in the first place? That's what I pick up from the story, anyway. By all means have sensible restrictions for security's sake, but if the official line is that the terrorists have forced you to go overboard and suspect threats everywhere (accurate or not), then the primary goal of terrorism - spreading terror - has become a way of life.