Full body scanner at airport?

campberson · November 2010

Just wondering your thoughts on these since it's such a big deal in the news right now. I'm flying this week and will be opting out of the scan, doing the full-body pat-down instead, but I'm not sure what I'll do post-baby.

izzourclue · November 2010

I wouldn't worry about the scanner if I wasn't pregnant. My concern is how do I avoid having some TSA agent touching my child's private areas during a pat down. I can take a quick butt grab or crotch brush. I don't want to put my toddler in that situation.

chicky1231 · November 2010

I personally don't get the big fuss...if it stops crazy people from getting on a plane with a bomb I'll do it. I don't understand why people are going to b*tch about something that can save their lives.....of course their will always be complainers. God forbid something did happen on a plane that everyone would be going on about how horrible the security is....and I prefer the scanner of a pat down by some random person

LolaCook · November 2010

If I were flying before my due date, then I would opt out ONLY because I'd feel uneasy about subjecting LO to unnecessary risk (unfounded or not, the jury is still out...).

After LO is born, I will have no issues with the scan. If it stops ONE person from being hurt or killed on an airplane, then it has done it's job.

MN Momma 2011 · November 2010

I was also wondering about this... I may be taking a trip in the next couple weeks. I was wondering if the scanner was safe for LO. I do not oppose going through it any other time. I agree with PPs, I would rather be safe than sorry!!!

garnet1981 · November 2010

When not carrying lo, I don't really care about the scanner. As long as I don't see the image, I don't care. I would be very critical. It's like, I already know I'm fat; I don't need to see it on a screen.

pawcall · November 2010

meh.

We flew to Ohio several weeks back and went through the full body scan. It didn't occur to me at the time to opt out, and when I mentioned it to my doctor later he said they were perfectly safe and nothing to worry about.

Pregnancy aside, I have no problem with them, but I wonder how much of it is "generational" because most people I know in my parents age group and above are much more concerned with their personal privacy than most of the people in my circle. I was a freshman in college when 9/11 happened (and prior to college, most of my travel was between islands and generally not through stateside airports) and that was honestly the first time I really thought about my privacy in that way. It doesn't bother me to go through the scanner, or to have the pat-down, or to have my bags searched - I really have no expectation of privacy at all. In my mind, that's just part of travel on public trans. Kind of sad, I guess, that I set the bar so low.

My husband is 9 years older than I am and is constantly outraged when his bags are checked, or he has to take his shoes off, or there's a long line at security. I guess he just has more of a memory of life before all this security?

mick64 · November 2010

chicky1231:
I personally don't get the big fuss...if it stops crazy people from getting on a plane with a bomb I'll do it. I don't understand why people are going to b*tch about something that can save their lives.....of course their will always be complainers. God forbid something did happen on a plane that everyone would be going on about how horrible the security is....and I prefer the scanner of a pat down by some random person

Yes, but from what I've read, the scans really aren't that effective of a security measure anyway. Israel does not use them specifically for that reason. So why let them violate my privacy when it may not reduce the risk? It's kind of a slippery slope.

If I were flying now I would opt for the pat down because i wouldn't want to expose LO to the radiation. Probably still opt for the pat down afterwards because I find it creepy that the security people will basically be able to see me naked, even if my face is blurred out.

Millie07 · November 2010

I have no issue at all and totally give the side-eye to people who are throwing a fit about it. I mean really?! You hardly see a darn thing on the image and the people viewing the images never see YOU in person. Who the f cares.

campberson · November 2010

izzourclue:
I wouldn't worry about the scanner if I wasn't pregnant. My concern is how do I avoid having some TSA agent touching my child's private areas during a pat down. I can take a quick butt grab or crotch brush. I don't want to put my toddler in that situation.

I think they modified their policy and now do not require "enhanced" pat downs for children.

campberson · November 2010

Here's some info I found regarding the radiation levels.

RHitch · November 2010

When I flew back from New Mexico in September I had to go through a full body scan. I was ensured by security that it was perfectly safe, so I walked through. I didn't really get nervous until after I went through it already, so I called my OB and she also confirmed that it was perfectly safe. I don't see the big deal. I just walked in, stood there, and kept it moving. I didn't see a real reason to complain, to be honest.

MichelleL1118 · November 2010

In many airports, the body scanners are being used as a secondary measure - so you wouldn't go through them unless you caused the metal detector to beep. Personally, if I wasn't pregnant, I'd have no issue with them - as pp said, if they keep even one negative incident from happening then they've done their job. That said, DH & I are currently arguing about how to approach them on our next trip, when LO will be ~5 months old. DH doesn't want LO going through the body scanner, but refuses to be the one to deal with the pat-down. I say, if the pedi says the scanner is safe, then LO can walk through the scanner with me. We'll see what happens.

izzourclue · November 2010

...heather...:
izzourclue:
I wouldn't worry about the scanner if I wasn't pregnant. My concern is how do I avoid having some TSA agent touching my child's private areas during a pat down. I can take a quick butt grab or crotch brush. I don't want to put my toddler in that situation.
I think they modified their policy and now do not require "enhanced" pat downs for children.

They still pat the kids down all over, they use the backs of their hands on your kids genitals.

cera.rn · November 2010

LolaCook:
If I were flying before my due date, then I would opt out ONLY because I'd feel uneasy about subjecting LO to unnecessary risk (unfounded or not, the jury is still out...).

After LO is born, I will have no issues with the scan. If it stops ONE person from being hurt or killed on an airplane, then it has done it's job.

These are my feelings as well. If these are the precautions the TSA feels we need, then there is nothing I can argue. If people are seriously opposed to the scans or pat downs, then don't fly.

DaniGirl0517 · November 2010

Not sure how I feel about the scan. Security-wise I'm very glad they have them and wouldn't be outraged at all, hey if you want everyone to go through, remove their shoes, go through their bags, the whole shpiel, ect, I'm fine with that.

The only thing I'm not sure about is if I would go through the scanner or take the pat down. I am paranoid when it comes to that stuff because one day they say "xyz" is perfectly safe and normal and about 4-5 years later they say that certain problems were caused by it. Like I said, I know I'm paranoid. So that's why I'm not sure if I'd go through the scanner or take the full-on pat down. BUT I wouldn't be angry either way. They can strip my fat butt down to chonies (underwear) and do the pat down for all I care as long as the flight is safe.

Realistically though I believe the news last night said it's only 5% that are asked to go through the scan. And one simple way to likely avoid it: make sure that every bit of metal is removed from your pockets and what not and you won't trip the metal detector.

pawcall · November 2010

DaniGirl0517:
Realistically though I believe the news last night said it's only 5% that are asked to go through the scan. And one simple way to likely avoid it: make sure that every bit of metal is removed from your pockets and what not and you won't trip the metal detector.

I think it depends on the airport. When we were just flying (and now I can't for the life of me remember whether it was on the way from Philly to Ohio or the other way around) everyone went through. In our particular security line, it was used in place of the metal detector.

RedZee · November 2010

Mrs.McCain:
chicky1231:
I personally don't get the big fuss...if it stops crazy people from getting on a plane with a bomb I'll do it. I don't understand why people are going to b*tch about something that can save their lives.....of course their will always be complainers. God forbid something did happen on a plane that everyone would be going on about how horrible the security is....and I prefer the scanner of a pat down by some random person

Yes, but from what I've read, the scans really aren't that effective of a security measure anyway. Israel does not use them specifically for that reason. So why let them violate my privacy when it may not reduce the risk? It's kind of a slippery slope.

If I were flying now I would opt for the pat down because i wouldn't want to expose LO to the radiation. Probably still opt for the pat down afterwards because I find it creepy that the security people will basically be able to see me naked, even if my face is blurred out.

Exactly! If they could confirm that the scans could REALLY enhance safety it would be one thing - but as far as I've heard so far the scans aren't going to be super effective at catching what they're looking for. Israel's airline and airports have an incredible safety record. For a country that is constantly in so much danger, it is really impressive. They don't use all these scans and stuff. I think we need to look to them to revise our security measures rather than to technology that may or may not be effective, may or may not be safe, and definitely violates our privacy.

I'll be opting out.

starsmaycollide · November 2010

Well, I'm not "throwing a fit" but I don't see why they are necessary. In all honestly, I agree with a journalist who spoke on the subject recently-if someone has infiltrated one of our airports, gotten past the CIA/FBI/federal government/terror watch lists to form such a plot and hasn't been caught yet I seriously doubt that machine is going to do the job. I think it's going to have to be stopped before that point, because by then, they know what they plan to do to get past the TSA.

I'm not trying to be morbid, but that's been the truth with our current measures anyway. It's just become the new norm, and understandably so to a degree-I'm not saying we shouldn't check people. Just that TSA agents aren't exactly stopping terror plots on a daily basis. It is what it is, but I don't think adding this in is really going to do anything all that helpful.

Also, one thing that has been mentioned is how there was that Christmas bomber last year...but he did not go through one of our checkpoints, anyway.

nkubon · November 2010

It's so funny how many people are so upset about the new policies, yet they to were the same people complaining about airport secuirty not being tough enough. Now when they actually toughen it up everyone has a complaint about it. IMO if you are bothered about walking through the scanner or the pat-down you have something to hide. I would much rather be patted down for a brief minute or scanned then be on a plane with some loser with a knife or gun. Sorry, just me!

I think if I were to travel right now I would not walk through the scanner regardless of how safe everyone says it is. I would just do the pat-down for piece of mind.

mishu917 · November 2010

chicky1231:
I personally don't get the big fuss...if it stops crazy people from getting on a plane with a bomb I'll do it. I don't understand why people are going to b*tch about something that can save their lives.....of course their will always be complainers. God forbid something did happen on a plane that everyone would be going on about how horrible the security is....and I prefer the scanner of a pat down by some random person

This, but I am not going to go through the scanner. Better safe than sorry, I don't care how uncomfortably intrusive it is, as long as I can do anything to protect LO, I will. Having said that, I'm lending my radiation ring and badge to DH so that he can go through the scanner and measure what the radiation emission is. My workplace limits our radiation exposure to 5milli REMs when pregnant so I am interested to see how much this will pull.

pmanolides · November 2010

I think its an invasion of privacy, potentially harmful and ineffective. DH and I will be opting out of the scan, as will LO.

mzclaire · November 2010

starsmaycollide:

Well, I'm not "throwing a fit" but I don't see why they are necessary. In all honestly, I agree with a journalist who spoke on the subject recently-if someone has infiltrated one of our airports, gotten past the CIA/FBI/federal government/terror watch lists to form such a plot and hasn't been caught yet I seriously doubt that machine is going to do the job. I think it's going to have to be stopped before that point, because by then, they know what they plan to do to get past the TSA.

I'm not trying to be morbid, but that's been the truth with our current measures anyway. It's just become the new norm, and understandably so to a degree-I'm not saying we shouldn't check people. Just that TSA agents aren't exactly stopping terror plots on a daily basis. It is what it is, but I don't think adding this in is really going to do anything all that helpful.

Also, one thing that has been mentioned is how there was that Christmas bomber last year...but he did not go through one of our checkpoints, anyway.

Completely agree - The major threats to security are not going to be caught using at-the-airport measures. They will be thwarted using our intelligence agencies. That's why we pay those guys the big bucks and buy them all those fancy toys.

As to the scan vs pat-down. Well, it's one invasion of privacy or another... full body scan (visual invasion) vs bodily pat-down (physical invasion). I'd much rather do the scan, thanks - get it over with quickly. But I still think it's not a truly effective way of stopping an attack.

flhokie · November 2010

I travel almost every week for work--most of it flying. Only once have I even been faced with deciding scan or pat down (many airports who have the scanners only have 1 or 2--it's rare to see them at every security lane). I did choose pat down because it was earlier in my pregnancy and I wasn't too sure about it. But, after doing my research and talking to my doctor, I will go through it if faced with it again. I'm flying next week for work and am hearing about all of these people trying to back up the lines by opting for the pat down--I will go through the scanner and get on my plane without thinking twice.

broccolitree · November 2010

DaniGirl0517:
And one simple way to likely avoid it: make sure that every bit of metal is removed from your pockets and what not and you won't trip the metal detector.

No. While failing the metal detector twice will buy you an automatic ticket to the sexual assault line, when they randomly select people to go through additional screening, you're faced with the choice of the scanner or the grope too. When we flew from ATL to Italy last year, I wore dress pants with the pockets cut off & sewn shut, a thin cotton t-shirt and slip-on shoes and I got selected. At the time, I didn't know about the radiation, or the fact that the scan images are saved and linked to your identity (and can later be leaked on the internet, apparently), so I went with the scan. With my family history of cancer, I really wish I'd known more about the backscatter technology, too.

Frankly, these scans and pat downs are pretty much a security blanket (pun totally intended) compared to the rest of the holes in air travel security. But then, there aren't any lobbyists trying to push for a several million dollar appropriations bill for, say, tighter cargo security the same way they're pushing for the scanners.

futuremrscohick · November 2010

My feeling is, if you don't want to go through the scanner or be patted down, don't fly. If this is what I have to do to know that I'm going to have a safe flight, so be it. Just my opinion though.

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