I am a screener, and I do understand that there are some "weird" people in this world and in all work enviroments, and do understand the way you felt if this did happen as it is not the way we were trained. I have been a "screener" for 3 years and even contract security didn't do as you said happened. Please remember there is always 1 bad apple in a basket, but that doesnt mean that all the apples are bad.

I do not like going through peoples dirty clothes!

I do however like the fact that I have personally found "things" that were potentially hazardous in baggage that could have accidently caought the baggage on fire thus could have spread out through the other baggage containing hairspray and such causing it to explode that was already under pressure thus causing the plane to catch on fire.

we have also discovered poeple that were getting on board to attack a certain individual that was also boarding the flight. One case being a jealious husband after his wife's boyfriend.

we have made several drug trafficing findings, Everyone knows when there is drugs, there is danger.

we have found containers of hazardous biochemicals that were being transported to an out of state university. If gone airborn on the plane, well everyone on the flight and maybe even other flights would have been seriously ill if not a few dead.

we have discovered firecrackers and strike anywhere matches in childrens bags.

No these people we not intentially trying to blow up the plane or hold the plane hostage, they were every day people that ment no potentail harm to everyone, but accidents happen folks! People are STUPID, Children are inexperienced.

Say we hadn't have caught the guy that was after his wifes boyfriend, that was one life lost. Say that we didn't catch the hidden gun in a baggage or cary on and it happened to have fired, could have killed a passenger on board or put a hole in the side of the aircraft causing even more damage to the flight, say we hadn't found the toxic chemicals ( by the way were in a cary on) and one of the caps came off of the tiny plastic tube and went airborn among the flight, say we hadn' t found the firecrackers and matches and the child got the sudden urge to maybe just light one, or the strike anywhere match accidently struck inside the bag full of firecrackers on board the plane.

Oh, I can't believe I didn't mention this earlier.

I personally found a baggage with pickled body parts in it. That was a shocking discovery.

Have you ever seen a human heart in a jar.

It was the man's wife, he was taking her on vacation. I don't believe he pickled them right because the smell was undiscribable.

Ask me why I go to work everyday? I dare you.

Brandi -- thanks for sharing your perspective, it's a really good one. FWIW, I was trying to express a candid empathy for the screeners and the whole process of screening. It must be a terribly strange job.

Isn't it odd that we hear no individual stories like the one's you're telling? That's something worth changing.

Brandi, Your comments seem to me to be a simplistic sort of rationalization/justification for doing what you do. The first thing that comes to mind is... Why weren't airplanes catching on fire and crashing for lack of government baggage intrusion before the TSA? Hey, if this is really working for airplanes, why not for private vehicles? After all, there is way too many highway deaths.

I suggest you get a different perspective. Try reading "Dominate

Tom, I don't believe that Brandi needs to "justify" doing her job. She's (assumption here; apologies if I'm gender ignorant) gainfully employed and performing the duties assigner her by her employer.

I think what you should be concerned with -- or rather who your comments should be directed at -- is the TSA, nor Brandi. ;)

Screeners Central

http://www.tsa-screeners.com

Brandi, As a fellow screener, I know how you feel.

People think it is funny to "scare" us w/ the things they pack. I had an overweight bag packed so tight that when I opened it a snake jumped out at me. It turned out to be rubber but the passenger admitted to the "prank" and thought it all in good fun untill the 80yr. old passenger next to him collapsed from fright. I wonder if he will find the penalties as much fun.

Tom,

I was a screener before TSA took over. Did you read the information that I gave or just read through it.

I love my Job. I am not justifing anything. Just asking people to think. Treust me, I meet stupid ppl everyday. I am not the brightest light bulb in the box, but I do have common sense.

But, I am going to say that I have met some of the most intellengent ppl and some of the most wonderful ppl also. That is why I love my job.

I am just a screener, I do not make the rules.

I do as I am employeed to do.

I work for a living, I was blessed to get hired on with TSA as they took over contract screening. I now make a little bit more money and the biggest blessing is I now have insurance benifits.

My husband has CP & I have adopted his 3 children from a previous marriage and 2 more children. I am the sole breadwinner of the home.

we are not any longer on food stamps, government housing or having to go to the free doctors clinic. And for this, I am proud!

I do my duties well & proud that I am making a difference.

As a screener, I am not all fond of all the rules & regulations. But it is my job. Just like any other job, you do what you are required.

Hear, hear!

Screeners Central

http://www.tsa-screeners.com

I am a screener also and I have confiscated a ton of things. Chain saws leaking gas, gallons of bleach, Quart and gallon cans of lacquer which is very volatile, paints, fireworks, drugs, boxes of matches, an active air-bag from the dash of a car, a 50 lb sack of fertilizer, lighter fluid, etc. But this is not what we were charged by congress to do. We are to find all potential explosive devices but we also report any dangerous items to the airlines. In the end analysis we are a small part of what it takes to keep this country safe. Our economy is fragile and we do not need another terrorist hit, it would be crippling. Anything that helps is a big help.

As a supervisor with security prior to TSA and as a supervisor with TSA, I understand what screeners have to deal with. It is a thankless, at times gross job. The problem I have with it being under government control is the total waste of money being spent. Our airport for example was run by 1 manager, 1 human resource, 4 supervisors and 1 trainer, plus 2 aids. Now under TSA we have 6 managers 8 supervisors, 8 lead supervisors. Thats just staff at the airport. At the administrative level (for our airport) there are 10 personel with minimum salary of 75,000 the top 4 guys make 130,000 the FSD makes close to 190,000. The equipment is a joke, ETD's (chemical tester) are calibrated wrong they pass our start up tests, but fail with the real sample exp. plastic explosives, and tnt. The huge half a million dollar CTX's are great at picking up peanut butter, toothpaste and shoes. they don't pick up fireworks, propane tanks (for cookstoves) and one of ours even missed a hand grenade. I dont see that we are doing a better job then we did before, yes we have more equipment and better uniforms (we look more official)and because we look more official passengers feel safer, maybe thats all the government is looking for. in reality what we are doing is a big Las Vegas show.

To Tom:

I'm a TSA screening supervisor at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, California. I'm not going to dwell on the ignorant remarks that you made towards Brandi in particular and TSA screeners in general. I just want to respond to your question: "The first thing that comes to mind is... Why weren't airplanes catching on fire and crashing for lack of government baggage intrusion before the TSA?" The truth of the matter is that aircraft HAVE been catching on fire and crashing for lack of oversight in the past. I've attached the URL for one of MANY reports available on the internet that goes in great detail about the results of careless passengers. Here's a exerpt from this particular report:

"Since HAZMAT accidents and incidents are only occasionally reported in the news, it's easy to get the sense that the scope of the problem is relatively limited. In fact, Department of Transportation data reveal that more than 1,400 incidents involving aircraft were reported in the United States in the year 2000 alone. More than 800 incidents over the past decade have involved undeclared HAZMAT. Most likely, these incidents and accidents represent only a small portion of the whole, with many more problems going undetected, unreported or otherwise unknown."

To use your own words - I suggest you get a different perspective. Try reading!

And to Brandi, compared to "certain people" you are the Sun, keep up the good work.

Addition: My apologies to those who might want to read the referenced report. Being unfamiliar with this website, I thought the URL would be listed separately. Unfortunately it is linked to my name. To access the report, just click on "Mike" in the "Comment from" header, which should be blue.

Thanks for listening...

I've been with TSA for aprox. 2yrs. I was hurt on the CTX machines in Jan. 04, and I'm still off work, suffering everyday, and in constant pain. A bag fell off the CTX belt and knocked me backwards and then I fell forwards as I turned to get another passengers bag. Listen guys you can go back and forth, over and over again, as to why we do the work we do. Thank GOD, we get thanked by passengers everyday for what we do. I got thanked much more than I ever had been put down. And its the great passengers, and children that keep me going on every day, doing the same thing. If you think our job is a joke, if you think its stupid, or we should be doing something else. all I can say to you is, " Why don't you go tell one of the OVER 3000 CHILDREN that lost either their Mommy OR Daddy on 9/11. That protecting OUR country is a joke. T

I was just wondering if anyone has actually done any development on a TSA-themed game. I run a game publishing company in my "other life" and I'm seriously considering it. Just wondered what the general reaction to such a game would be...

Screeners Central

http://www.tsa-screeners.com

I've been planning to do a TSA game for some time (I was serious about that in my original post). I have done some preliminary design work. General reaction to such games is always unpredictable, and it's clearly not going to be the next Halo. I see it as an opportunity to make some statements about the nature of security, from both sides of the wand, if you will.

You're Gold Rush Games, right? If I'm correct, you're in the paper RPG biz? Contact me off-blog if you want; I'd be curious to hear your thoughts about such a game.

Hello,

I can understand that you feel disturbed by the process that we screeners must adhere to because of what happened at 911.

But instead of blaming us for "rummaging" through your belongings you should be thanking us for protecting you. We do not know who may be a terrorist or hijacker or the next disgruntled employee or obsessed ex-husband that may decide to take down the plane and everyone on it. We check bags not because we want to be snooping through your underwear and smelling your aftershave. We are searching through your bag for things that you (the average citizen usually do not have any clues about) things that are easily hidden in the seams of your luggage, in your clothes, and yes possibly in your aftershave bottle as well. I do not agree with this screeners sniffing method as he could have came into contact with some biological chemical and injured himself. Also, we come across many many household agents that must be removed from luggage that pose a potential risk of fire if placed under the plane. These items that we remove (and sometimes get blamed for stealing) should be known by the passenger to pose a risk and that they are considered hazardous materials (there are warnings posted at curb and other airline checkins) but people still try to sneak them on. These items include aerosols such as airfreshner, cigarette lighters, batteries connected to potable hand tools (that are known to have ignited causing fires) other flammables.

Also, I would like to add, I do this job to help out. I do not care in any way what you have in your bag unless it does not belong there. I do not particularly like going through your dirty, smelly underwear, or opening bags with broken bottles of this or that or spoiled, disgusting, thawed out barbecue meat that some passenger thought would stay frozen in his suitcase. I do not like opening bags and having to be careful not to prick myself on your hypodermic needles or touching your personal adult entertainment toys (even with my gloves on)

My life is at a potential risk everyday to try and make your airflight safe so you can go to Maui and layout on the beach, while I cannot afford such luxuries because I WANT and choose to work to protect the national security.

So if you do not want someone opening your bag and going through your personal items then take a bus, drive your car, or do not take any luggage

I'm extremely grateful for all the responses we've had from TSA personnel. I mean that genuinely. It's great to have that perspective on this forum and as I think about the politics of security.

One thing that really interests me is this: most, if not all of the TSA agents who respond here seem to assume that I'm criticizing them or the practice of security. I thought I was pretty clear in my original comments, but to make it clearer: what interests me here is the process of doing this particular kind of job day in and day out -- exploring what that must be like. I think the broader implications of international politics are likewise interesting and important, and inextricable from this subject of course, but I'm curious why the TSA folks feel attacked? If anything, I would have imagined that they (you) would find it refreshing that someone was interested in the people behind the process, rather than just getting through the line as fast as possible.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much a PART TIME Screener made on average and month/year. If you could email me at t_wolkey@yahoo.com i would appreciate it..thank you very much

This is very amusing. The lesson to learn is this: mercenaries are always without blame, because whatever they do is done for money. "I just did what I was told. I have to make a living!"

It always amazes me how people who have no knowledge of what someome does on thier job, has so much BS to make them sound good. Before making statements with out fact. Ask guestion, be informed, then talk all you want.

As far as my comments being a screener, I have had more thanks for the job we do than I have negetive feedback. Usually the negative feedback comes from stupid people that want to arrive 5 minutes before their flight is schedule to leave and then has to go for addition screening because they do not want to remove their shoes or do not know how to take their cell phones off their side or something dumb like that. I have had soldiers that are fighting for our rights, and to keep us safe and free in America to tell me thanks for the job we are doing ans to keep things safe on this side and they will keep things safe on the other side. But I am sure people who feel like this person who wants to put us down for doing our job to keep them safe in the air isn't a soldier nor has he ever lost someone he cares for to terror or war so my suggestion to him is if he doesn't like the way we do our job to keep the airways safe then he should start driving everywhere he needs to go or learn to deal with. Because 98% of America is glad we do what we do because they like knowing they aren't going to have a gun put to the pilots head or a plane crashed into a building somewhere and loose their life. So I suggest you risk your life by drunk drivers and car jackers and leave the airways to us. I do not like going through a weeks worth of dirty clothes to get to a loaded gun in a bag to make sure it has been declared by the airlines or go through someones person items to get to a ciagette lighter but if people did what they knew they were suppose to do there would be no reason to go through your belongings unless it happens to be an airport that doesn't have all the equipement we have which would be a 40-40-20 airport but again that is for your safety, if you do not want to be safe. Drive a car take a bus I don't care but don't put us down for downing our part to protect our country and its people. Thank you for your time. Have a good day. See ya on the road, or in the newspaper when you get something you can't control because you didn't have someone to help protect you.

I am a screener for TSA . I do not wake up every morning and go to work thinking ... yay lets go through someones dirty underwear or yay lets secondary screen some guy who has trouble walking through the metal detecter and I dont think yay lets pick some poor kid to go through total screening or regular passenger to go through this just because of what color of jacket he or she may be wearing. I have a job to do. Thats keep you and others safe on an airplane. I dont know if you are a terrorist. Neither does the guy behind you. We seem to identify terrorists in this world only as a certain race without remember the oklahoma city bombing and the Timothy McVeighs of the world. All I ask as a screener is that you ( the passenger ) respect what I do and that I am trying to keep you safe to get to your home or to get you back to your family and I will give you the curtiosy and respect that you deserve. If I tell ask you to remove your shoes their is probably a very good reason for this but I can't tell you that so dont be upset. I'm trying to keep you safe. If I send you for secondary screening... threir may be something that you haven't heard about that I can't tell you but just remember I dont enjoy upsetting people but I have a job to do. If I dont pack something the way you want it just let me know and I will try my best to fix the problem. Just remember I'm trying to keep you safe for you and your loved ones.

Remember 9-11

Flight 93

Twin Towers

Pentagon

OKC bombing