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Comment by bdimcheff | Hacker News Reader

I feel like we need a script to recite when demanding a patdown that explains to all the people around us why the porno machines and the whole process is so objectionable. And request to have the patdown out in the open so people can see what you're willing to put up with to avoid going through the scanner.

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"I'd prefer the pat-down to the strip search, please."

If challenged on the term strip search, as seems semi-likely:

"It records a picture of my naked body, and sends it to a screen for someone to look at, right?"

Then, regardless whether the responds is "yes", "no", "yes, but...", silence, whatever, follow up with just:

"Pat-down, please."

The problem with this is that you're asking for the pat-down. If that's required to fly if I opt-out of the strip search, let them say so.

"I opt out of the electronic strip search {.|because} {I believe in human dignity|it's silly|I am worried about potential health risks|of Rolando Negrin|...}"

Potential names for back scatter machine:

Strip search

Electronic strip search

Virtual strip search

Anonymous strip search

The Vegas Strip

most frequent flyers (on flyertalk) have been calling it the nude-o-scope

nude-o-scope just sounds too benign. We refer to the artistic, tasteful depictions of unclothed people in fine art as "nudes". The images captured by back-scatter x-ray bear no resemblance to the tasteful renderings of Titian, Michelangelo, Gaugin, etc. An appropriate nickname for the machine should be derogatory and characterize both the tasteless nature of the images produced and the abusive, exploitative process by which they are acquired. Personally, I think it should be referred to as the Porn-o-Tron machine.

People at my office seem to have standardized on "the naked machine," which I think sounds appropriately menacing, yet pleasantly colloquial. It's just diplomatically neutral enough that I think I may use it in line next time I opt out of one.

Maybe we should call it the Digital Rape Machine so that anti-Digital-Restrictions-Management stickers can advocate two causes at once.

Why not just call it what it is? It's a strip search.

With a digital camera. In 3D!

>Why not just call it what it is? It's a strip search.

Personally if they really want to see me naked they can. It's just a hunk of meat. But you're lying, it's not a strip search unless you take off your clothes, ie "strip".

It's a scan of your body. You're perfectly right to object if you don't like it but it's silly to lie about it IMO.

I thank that would be a good idea. But it needs to be catchy. At least where I am the "naked body scanner" phrase seems to have caught on (or at least be understood).

This is a great idea -- I'll send it to some privacy organizations and see what they think ...

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