I just can't escape the feeling when standing in long, dehumanizing chain-gang lines awaiting assessment by overbearing TSA agents who appear to be 10th grade educated, that the TSA is a largely ineffective bureaucracy, inflicted upon us by equally ineffective politicians in an effort to show that they care for their public in these terrifying times.
Most TSA agents seem nice enough in their overbearing way, but I still can't shake the feeling that, but for their TSA employment, most of them would be otherwise unemployable.
Maybe the TSA should employ one more body: a publicity expert who can endevour to raise the public status of these unemployables, perhaps by showing us the upside, if there is one, to their existence. Remember, though - we don't need to hear how they help us to be safe. We're already unsafe, and they can't and don't do anything to diminish that fact with assembly-line bureaucratic checklists. Maybe show that they are actually concerned, empathetic brethren who care about their charges. If that's actually accurate.
4
Since you have time to reflect upon how inconvenient those long lines are at the security check sights you might consider how inconvenient it would be to be hijacked and be forced to learn a third world language in a hurry. When was the last time a plane in the US was taken over?
I have over a million miles on one US carrier and put up with some waiting to knowing that I will return to my family safely because of the efforts of a group of people who get little respect yet do their jobs to insure the safety of their fellow Americans.
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@Dennis Mankowski security today is more looking for bombs than weapons that will take over the cockpit. Last I heard the cockpit doors are fortified. Remember the crazy pilot who crashed the German passenger plane in Europe? He locked the door and won't allow the captain back into the cockpit. That's how extreme we have gone. The pilot couldn't get back into his own cockpit whereas at one time those doors would have been opened.
The fact that you would mention "a third world language" shows exactly the mindset and what's wrong with people today. I remember the days where planes used to be hijacked to Cuba. How many passengers were forced to learn Spanish? Also terrorists nowadays are not interested in giving a Rosetta Stone language course. They are interested in crashing airplanes and murdering passengers.
2
There are no third world languages.
3
I miss Bogger Bob. He had a wonderful sense of humor while keeping travelers informed of the many dangers lurking in baggage!
3
Maybe someday the Times will recognize the need to quantify its adjectives about social media.
This article noted that the TSA Instagram account is "hugely followed."
Do tell.
Just how many followers make the following huge?
Those who don't use Instagram - try to understand the concept for a moment - won't be counted, so just how huge can the following be? I've heard that some folks prefer Twitter....but that was from a friend on Twitter. So, who knows?
Probably someone.
It is alright for average folks to use outsized adjectives to explain how everyone they know has seen something on social media, and this represents "everyone", "most people" and a "huge" audience.
I expect more from the Times.
3
Well, the article mentioned a million followers. Qualifies as huge.
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@Barry
maybe pack a sense of humor in YOUR carry-on?
4
@Barry first time I heard of that blogger. And I don't have an Instagram account.
1
While I agree that there are a lot of unstable people bringing prohibited items and that higher stiff penalties should be given to even absent minded travelers.
In my mind the biggest problem is that the TSA is the biggest failure of governmental agency in history. They claim to keep us safe with their hard work which is the biggest lie. They are constantly missing loaded weapons and other lethal instruments. It’s a miracle that no terrorist attack has occurred yet.
Not only are they ineffective they are also extremely rude and very ignorant of how to treat different situations and people. How about properly training their agents? If they really want to be a professional force all they need to do is look at how other develop countries manage this. Go to Japan see how they do it. They are always professional effective and respectful.
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@Patrick removing shoes is a waste of time. One guy had a shoe bomb that never worked so now we all suffer. In Japan they have you remove your laptop but not your shoes. Removing shoes is partly to blame for wasting time in getting through an airport. I traveled to and from Florida back in August last year yet I did not have to remove my shoes. Then in December I traveled overseas and I had to remove my shoes. Also two of the countries I traveled to one in Africa, the other in the middle east I had to remove my shoes. After we reach a certain age not everyone can stand on one foot while effectively removing a shoe. Also the laptop security I saw where a CT Scan machine would work well with the laptop inside the luggage. When I went through in December I had to remove so many things I only remembered my laptop after I went through my list to make sure I am not missing anything. Then I went back to retrieve my laptop after putting on my shoes and belt. Ironically the TSA officer checked my pants in the back saying it had too much space back there. Of course it did. I had to remove my belt. Had I been able to keep on my belt then my pants won't look like I'm trying to walk around like those young men whose pants seem to drop to their ankles while walking around.
1
Died at 48 from an unexpected bacterial infection? That's more messed up than the Trump Administration. RIP Blogger Bob.
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He did an unusually good job of humanizing a government agency.
For those that are interested, there is a GoFundme set up for his young daughters.
https://www.gofundme.com/bob-burns-trust-fund
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Blogger Bob died much too young. I hope he finds immortality on the Internet. Not mentioned in the article is that there is a GoFundMe page (Bob Burns) for his family that is trying to raise money for his daughters' education.
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"We're not happy until you're not happy."
2
Uh...is this the same TSA that has been burned hundreds of times by undercover agents smuggling various devices thru their screenings? The same TSA whose own agents have been implicated in smuggling schemes? Who have accepted bribes and left critical gates and doors open? At hundreds of airports.
I expect the typical dumb flyer's to get caught with their oddities...its the truly motivated ones with divine missions, or extreme grudges and some real intelligence of the do's and do nots - that worry me!
I've absentmindedly walked thru a check-point with a knife on dozens of occasions and it was never spotted...
Snagging the Freddy Kruger gloves, or a snake in a computer casing...do not impress me.
TSA. Yet another bureaucracy in dire need of elimination by AI.
1
RIP, Blogger Bob.
5
“...as Jimmy Kimmel once noted...” — seriously, these off-the-cuff, sexist remarks about ‘teenage girls’, just makes my 15 year old daughter more determined to call out these ignorant, highly paid idiot comedians.
3
In 1996, our daughter met us at her Aunt’s house near Philadelphia before a flight returning her to Atlanta and her medical residency. On a limited budget, she happily accepted her Aunt’s offer of a used upright vacuum cleaner. Only problem, how to get it to Atlanta. My fearless daughter rolled the vacuum through the Philadelphia airport, and on to the plane where a helpful flight attendant let her stow the Hoover in a compartment used for garment bags. No problem after all.
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Same daughter had a tube of toothpaste taken away as she boarded a flight this week. Times have changed.
3
Wonderful article and a great tribute to Mr. Burns.
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Reminds me of the time my husband carried three frozen pizzas on a plane traveling from Tampa to Austin. As he placed them on the x-ray belt, he made contact with the security agent and explained, "pizza delivery."
11
“Common sense is not evenly distributed” in the air traveling population?
Well said, and nicely understated. And perhaps something for all of us travelers, and tax-payers, to bear in mind now?
Like others, I've had some less-than-stellar experiences with TSA agents and processes, but by-and-large, the agents have been professional and friendly. And when you think of the objects and antics outlined in this article, that's pretty amazing.
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I loved his posts on instagram; informative and comical. I didn't know the name behind the account. What a sad loss.
31
What a great service Mr. Burns provided for the TSA. He had humor, grace, logic and clarity as noted in a previous comment.
A very sad loss for his family. Going forward I shall think of Mr. Burns while standing in the TSA line and submit to the process with patience.
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The TSA can find somebody new to handle their social media accounts, but Blogger Bob's good-natured sense of humor can't be replaced. Thanks for shining a light on his work! He deserves a full NYT obit.
69
I actually met Blogger Bob at a training last year and am very surprised and saddened to hear about his death. My heart goes out to his family. Thank you NYT for a very wonderful article about a guy with a special talent to see the humor and human in us all.
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Humor, grace, logic, clarity, and things we can all agree on. From a federal agency. Blogger Bob is sorely missed. Such a contrast with the boss.
40
Several years ago when my daughter was flying back to New York from New Orleans after a visit with me she almost missed her flight because the ziplock bag containing her liquids was in the wrong place. It was in her purse instead of her carryon and the TSA agent kept her there for ages because of it. When she got on the plane she rooted in her purse for something and discovered a utility knife with 20 blades that she forgot was in there. The TSA agent was so upset about her innocent ziplock bag that he didn't look any further.
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@Carole A. Dunn This is one huge problem with TSA. They have so many useless little things to look for, like snacks, that they miss the possibly for problematic items. It's one reason their failure rate in testing is 80%.
11
@Carole A. Dunn So your point here is what? That the neither the TSA nor your daughter did a good enough job searching for impermissible items?
2
Replacing Blogger Bob would be like trying to replace Peter Sagal. The show can go on but it won't ever be the same again.
I think the humanizing aspect was what made the humor so effective. Who are these people? Well, the TSA is dealing with this and worse everyday.
I've known at least three professional airport/airline employees well enough to hear their stories. You wouldn't believe the amount crazy they have to deal with on a regular basis. Blogger Bob was providing a funny PG version.
You might also forget these employees are often rotating night shifts or doing back-to-back flights across the Atlantic. You haven't see them saying goodnight to their children as they leave for work. I have.
Next time you think about complaining over service, you might want to ask the employee when their shift started. I find the habit is a good check on airport tempers.
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@Andy I agree with everything you've said and fully understand that people in the industry have to deal with some situations that nobody should have to deal with...
That's why I always try to be polite and respectful, especially when someone's having a rough day.
But for all that, the TSA still isn't a good agency. The security they enforce is more theatre than genuine security.
That's not the fault of the employees, rather it's senior management/government, but that doesn't change the fact that the agency's approach is fundamentally flawed.
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@Andy Sorry, they chose to work for TSA, therefore, they can deal with what they get.
1
Your humanity is warming.