dumb. like that's affecting the metal detector. :( - Jason Shultz from twhirl

I LOVE it when they tell me that. Buncha losers. - ha3rvey (business time)

Did you set the detector off? They're all crazy... - Kristen

I'm sure that's just how they were trained. Maybe it's pointless but they're just doing their jobs. - Mitch

Then maybe they should be trained to use their brains occasionally. - Ray Metzen

@Sean Rubber-glove time... - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

@abby: yes, seriously. @kristen: nope. @mitch: doing their jobs, which are equally pointless. I'd prefer they just took welfare. While I'd still be paying them to do nothing, at least I wouldn't be forced to play a part in their kabuki theater. - Anthony Citrano from fftogo

I don't know. From what I've seen, they had to be trained to identify MacBook Airs, and they think nipple piercings are tools of terrorism, but they know Robert Scoble when they see him. Maybe they're idiot savants. - MiniMage TKDteacher of FF

@abby: while some of them haven't been as explicitly absurd, every single one of my (100? 200?) TSA experiences have been very silly. [p.s. this WAS the return flight] :) - Anthony Citrano from fftogo

@lindsey: terrorists, duh! - Anthony Citrano

Abby that's, in many ways, awesomely funny. Overall though the sad part is that Americans tolerate all of this, in exchange for what? The illusion of security? It's so ridiculous, and we're all to blame. - Anthony Citrano

I'm reserving comment untill I get back to Los Angeles - ɐ ɯıʞ sıɹɥɔ

@Anthony - not disagreeing, but interested to know why specifically you think 'we're all to blame'? - Robin Barooah

Gregory the best thing would have been not to create the agency in the first place, something I'm proud to say I was always against. The thing to do now is to pressure Congress for massive reform. (I sense it's going to be forced into it anyway, but...) Some great reading is what the real experts say about it - actual counterterrorism professionals (one of whom I traveled with once; talk about a treat for the mind) and even pilots, who find TSA as ridiculous as we do. It's a pet issue of mine, and I .. - Anthony Citrano

..post about it often here and on the blog. - Anthony Citrano

@Gregory Perhaps hiring competent workers to be TSA agents? My experience has been similar to that of Anthony's; the current employment roster of the TSA is woefully inept. So much so, it (at least for me) has become comical... - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

@Mark I don't really agree. Hire smarter actual professionals if you want (and yes, you're right - these people are one tiny step above a fast food job or total unemployment) but that doesn't change the fact that the approach, the methodology, is completely ridiculous. I don't know anyone who understands terrorism and also believes that TSA methodology thwarts terrorism even a little tiny bit. It calms the nerves of the stupid; that is all it does. - Anthony Citrano

I imagine it's because anyone with a minute amount of skills doesn't want to work at TSA because of the horrible reputation it has. Who would willingly subject themselves to such ridicule on a daily basis? - Jason Shultz from twhirl

@Robin - I mean those of us who pay taxes, vote, appoint Congress, travel, pay the TSA fee, etc. We built this, we chose this, and it's an epic FAIL. As with so many such things, blame the dude in the mirror. @Jason: and unlike other ridiculed professions, it's well-deserved ridicule (sorry, I know I'm beating this horse, but I've been doing it for years and don't plan to stop.) - Anthony Citrano

@Anthony Also true. The entire concept of the TSA is wrong. Of that we can all be sure. - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

Two emails now about my "welfare" comment. Didn't mean to insult those who receive public assistance, and don't want to get into all that here. (and please, chickenshits, post your comments out in the light of day.) ;p - Anthony Citrano

Looks like more fun times at the airport for you. Traveling just isn't what it used to be.(I sound like an old man)! - Michael Fidler