I don't know what the answer is, but given the choice between a scanner and some humorless guy grabbing my crotch...I'll take the scanner and get on with my dayBob

I find it interesting that you so easily find it acceptable that anybody in this country has to even make such a choice, and that the main discussion here is about the nuances of different types of radiation. When the government is treating ordinary people, who's only crime was to purchase a plane ticket, in ways that it is not even allowed to treat criminals under arrest unless they have special reason to. Is getting on with your day so much more important?

I find it interesting that you so easily find it acceptable that anybody in this country has to even make such a choice, and that the main discussion here is about the nuances of different types of radiation. When the government is treating ordinary people, who's only crime was to purchase a plane ticket, in ways that it is not even allowed to treat criminals under arrest unless they have special reason to. Is getting on with your day so much more important?

Yes it is. I don't tell other people what to think. I don't like being told what to think. I'm not talking about anybody in this country having to make such a choice. I'm talking about me.Do we need to get the scanners removed? Maybe. People can "opt out" if they want. That's up to them. The fact is that, right now, the scanners are there. I decide for me. I get on with my day.Bob

Yes it is. I don't tell other people what to think. I don't like being told what to think. I'm not talking about anybody in this country having to make such a choice. I'm talking about me.Do we need to get the scanners removed? Maybe. People can "opt out" if they want. That's up to them. The fact is that, right now, the scanners are there. I decide for me. I get on with my day.Bob

You don't like being told what to think, but it is ok to be told to strip off your clothes by the TSA? You need to wake up and realize that this whole world is not just about you. That you have a family, and that you have neighbors, friends, coworkers, and fellow citizens who are being wronged at this very moment by the government. That the only way to make things right is to stand up alongside others against what they are doing. To get on with your day while others around you are being hurt is cowardice.

Putting words in my mouth is not very good discussion technique. I don't believe I said it was OK to be stripped by the TSA. I believe I said I would go through the scanner, instead. What is wrong with that? I never said it's about me. I said people are free to do as they see fit. What is wrong with that? Because I do not think as you do does not make me a coward.Bob

Putting words in my mouth is not very good discussion technique. I don't believe I said it was OK to be stripped by the TSA. I believe I said I would go through the scanner, instead. What is wrong with that? I never said it's about me. I said people are free to do as they see fit. What is wrong with that? Because I do not think as you do does not make me a coward.Bob

The scanner is a strip search.

The scanner is a strip search.

Your opinion. To me, a physical strip search with pat down, and a scan are two different things. I prefer not to spread panic. As do the articles you read. Those articles use highly inflammatory language and examples to get their point across, without much in the way of facts. Is the government out to get me? Are they trying to kill me with these scans? Are they taking my freedoms away? I don't know (though I'm sure you do), and until I do, I have other things more important to worry about. Your answer to those three questions is "yes". Therefore you need to do something about it. Not on my behalf, but yours. Be my guest. Please allow me my standards(however misguided), as I allow you yours.Bob

Your opinion. To me, a physical strip search with pat down, and a scan are two different things. I prefer not to spread panic. As do the articles you read. Those articles use highly inflammatory language and examples to get their point across, without much in the way of facts. Is the government out to get me? Are they trying to kill me with these scans? Are they taking my freedoms away? I don't know (though I'm sure you do), and until I do, I have other things more important to worry about. Your answer to those three questions is "yes". Therefore you need to do something about it. Not on my behalf, but yours. Be my guest. Please allow me my standards(however misguided), as I allow you yours.Bob

If that is how you see those machines, then you are deluding yourself for the purpose of acceptance. Just because it is being done through the marvels of technology does not make it any less in intent and purpose than a physical strip search with pat down. I don't sense any panic, just a whole lot of anger and realization that this country has turned into something shameful. I don't know if the government is out to get you. Try refusing the strip search and pat down and see. We won't know whether they are trying to kill you with the scans probably for another twenty years. If you have to submit to a strip search to merely to go someplace else, maybe something has been taken away from you. I don't know. That's right, you just worry about what yourself. I guess that is the difference between the way you and I think. You don't seem to care much about what happens to others, you just worry about what happens to you. I don't care much about what happens to me, but I do worry about what happens to others, such as my family, friends, and strangers who are hurt by what the government is doing.And you know what? I have done something about it. My coworkers, my union, pilots of other airlines, we all stood up and said no to the TSA. We made sure they understood that none of us were going to cooperate and walk through their scanners. We all vowed to opt-out. And yesterday, they changed their policy to exempt flightcrews from the scanners and pat-down. Flightcrews only go through the metal detectors again. I should only hope the rest of the citizens of this country have the backbone and unity to stand up against the government when it oversteps its bounds instead of just acquiescing in order to get on with their day.

Thank-you. Now I understand where you are coming from. I agree that flight crews may not need to subject to the same searches the rest of us are. I'll have to take your word for it that they changed their minds because of anything your people did.On the other hand,you have no idea what I care about. That is because you do not pay attention to what I write. I fly every three or four years. Scans are a non issue for me. That in no way means I don't care about others. You have no idea. You keep looking for things that are not there. Bob

At the end of the day.. security is a global effort. Why americans think they have a right to jeoparidize other nations security is silly. If you don't want the scan I can assure you I don't want you on a flight coming into Canada it's really that simple. Now whether an actual x-ray is required probably not... there are more expensive alternatives coming on the market that use ultrasound.

Thank-you. Now I understand where you are coming from. I agree that flight crews may not need to subject to the same searches the rest of us are. I'll have to take your word for it that they changed their minds because of anything your people did.On the other hand,you have no idea what I care about. That is because you do not pay attention to what I write. I fly every three or four years. Scans are a non issue for me. That in no way means I don't care about others. You have no idea. You keep looking for things that are not there. Bob

And why shouldn't flightcrews be subject to the same search? Unless certain things happen, flightcrews should absolutely be subjected to the same search as everybody else. To me, your position on this shows that you really don't understand the issues here. The pilot who started this media storm by refusing the TSA at Memphis last month did it not for the himself, but for everybody else. Being a flightcrew merely allows us some leverage and maybe some leadership in fighting the TSA on this issue. Even though it may seem as though the flightcrews won something, this is far from over.I hope you at least care about your daughter's rights to her body. Honestly, does it really not bother you that the TSA is going to feel her labia just beause she bought a plane ticket? Again, it doesn't bother me that they touch my penis, but it does bother me that they would do that to my father and mother, and that they are doing it to other innocent people who are going to be bothered by it.It has nothing to do with whether one flies everyday or every ten years. An overstep of bounds and a violation of your body is wrong, period. And their strategy is that people will see this as something they have to put up with once every so often, so they will just take the easy way out, and let go of the fact that they are out there violating strip search laws everyday on somebody else. Anyways, you keep hiding from things that are out there.

At the end of the day.. security is a global effort. Why americans think they have a right to jeoparidize other nations security is silly. If you don't want the scan I can assure you I don't want you on a flight coming into Canada it's really that simple. Now whether an actual x-ray is required probably not... there are more expensive alternatives coming on the market that use ultrasound.

You're right, indeed it is. I don't want you coming into the US unless you've been strip searched either.

So you feel the need to lower standards and jeopardize everybody elses safety. A 2010 threat needs a 2010 deterrent. They're not doing this for the fun of it.

So you feel the need to lower standards and jeopardize everybody elses safety. A 2010 threat needs a 2010 deterrent. They're not doing this for the fun of it.

You're right. In fact, there is only a month and a half left of 2010. We need to look at the 2011 threat. I don't want you coming into the US unless you've had your anal cavity searched.

You're right. In fact, there is only a month and a half left of 2010. We need to look at the 2011 threat. I don't want you coming into the US unless you've had your anal cavity searched.

I'm fine with it.. like I said the ultrasound will perform that.

I'm fine with it.. like I said the ultrasound will perform that.

So why did they spend a half billion dollars on these machines that will do nothing against the next forseable threat, that humiliates the general population, and the legality of their use is questionable?