Syndicated newspaper columnist Dave Barry recently had a TSA patdown experience that many airline travelers hope they won't ever have. Barry was pulled aside from the security check line due to having a "blurred groin" on the body scan image.
Barry's recent pat-down arrives just as a man in San Diego was recently thrown out of the airport, since he refused the pat-down treatment. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Barry had to be taken to a special area, a "little pen" in order to receive a pat-down. Included in the pat-down was his groin. The scary part is that it's now a mandatory procedure which must be done if the images showing up on the body scan computer's screen aren't clear.
Barry said of the experience:
"I had this kind of surreal conversation with one guy telling me what a big fan he is... and the other guy is groping me," Barry said, adding the TSA official who later insisted the pat-down wasn't punitive "was not having his or her groin fondled at the time."
There's been several videos which have gone viral based on these required pat-downs including a nun in her traditional attire and another man who was thrown out of the airport for refusing the procedures. In all reality, there's a fine line between keeping people safe from terrorists yet respecting privacy limits. How far is too far?
A skit that once was funny on Saturday Night Live featured three perverted male security guards at an airport which Sharon Stone as the passenger. The guards continuously pretended she was setting off the metal detector in order to make her strip off more articles of clothing- procedure, of course. While that skit was funny years and years ago, it's becoming closer to a scary reality where airport security is having their way with passengers' privacy.
Do you think pat-downs should be allowed as part of airport security, or does there need to be a limit there?
Barry's recent pat-down arrives just as a man in San Diego was recently thrown out of the airport, since he refused the pat-down treatment. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Barry had to be taken to a special area, a "little pen" in order to receive a pat-down. Included in the pat-down was his groin. The scary part is that it's now a mandatory procedure which must be done if the images showing up on the body scan computer's screen aren't clear.Barry said of the experience:
"I had this kind of surreal conversation with one guy telling me what a big fan he is... and the other guy is groping me," Barry said, adding the TSA official who later insisted the pat-down wasn't punitive "was not having his or her groin fondled at the time."
There's been several videos which have gone viral based on these required pat-downs including a nun in her traditional attire and another man who was thrown out of the airport for refusing the procedures. In all reality, there's a fine line between keeping people safe from terrorists yet respecting privacy limits. How far is too far?
A skit that once was funny on Saturday Night Live featured three perverted male security guards at an airport which Sharon Stone as the passenger. The guards continuously pretended she was setting off the metal detector in order to make her strip off more articles of clothing- procedure, of course. While that skit was funny years and years ago, it's becoming closer to a scary reality where airport security is having their way with passengers' privacy.
Do you think pat-downs should be allowed as part of airport security, or does there need to be a limit there?
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