Comment by philwelch | Hacker News Reader

Comment by philwelch | Hacker News Reader

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The pat down vs. backscatter machine issue is interesting because it opens up so many avenues for nonviolent resistance (most of which would be far more effective if you got a bunch of people together to do it all at once at one major airport):

1. If your kids go through the machine, loudly accuse the TSA of child pornography. If your kids go through the patdown, loudly accuse the TSA of child molestation. (If you have a suitably eccentric or sympathetic local law enforcement head, like a county sheriff, this might be the way to go, but there's probably some sort of federal immunity against actual prosecution.)

2. Upon entering security, strip completely naked.

3. Opt for the pat down and take a dive, claiming the screener hurt your testicles.

4. Opt for the pat down; pretend to enjoy it.

Note that, like most forms of nonviolent resistance, many of these can get you arrested or at least stop you from making your flight. Getting arrested to make a point is a proud tradition, however. And unlike a mere protest, these kinds of actions can sabotage the TSA or potentially cripple air travel if you get a large enough coordinated protest.

Jesus, guys, this is supposed to be a startup forum. Just create and sell aluminum underwear, you'll make a killing and what are they going to do? Outlaw underwear, or force you to take it off?

Realistically? Once they see that the strip search machine isn't working on you, they'll go for a pat-down. What you really need is an aluminum codpiece. Preferably one with the phrase "What now, bitches?" engraved on it.

You'd probably be arrested out of sheer spite, but just think of all the blog pageviews you would get later! Add enough advertising and try to create secondary drama with some followup letters to the TSA, and you could make a fair amount of money with just audacity and a metal codpiece.

> You'd probably be arrested out of sheer spite

You're probably right, and this makes me very sad. For all the supposed rights US citizens fight to defend, both the TSA workers and air travelers are just rolling over at the threat of being called a "terrorist".

Keeping the public terrified makes for easy prey.

What we need, then, is a dedicated civil disobedience campaign against it. If just one person does it, it ruins their day, week, or even several months dealing with the court battles. If 100 people do an act of civil disobedience, it becomes a movement; it might make some more significant news, attract some more significant attention.

If a thousand, or ten thousand people engage in civil disobedience, it starts to put a real strain on the system. It overwhelms the TSA. The court costs become prohibitive.

Why do we have so many people going to a rally in DC that won't really do anything (rallys almost never do)? And most of them will likely meekly go through security, without a fuss, on their way there. Why don't we instead organize 10,000 people to take a flight on the same day, and all wear aluminum jock straps and bras, or strip nude as they go through security? This would demonstrate how ridiculous the system is; this would help overburden an already overly expensive system to the point of breaking.

But of course, it's easy to talk tough on the internet, and a lot harder to get people to actually do anything. We all have our jobs to do, families to support. We have rallies for "truthiness" to go to. Or some of us don't even know where to start; don't know how to assemble such a group, and get them to follow through with it.

But perhaps we should put all that aside for freedom's sake, and go out, and disobey authority in a civil manner; it's our country, and we need to take it back.

Being arrested is not the same as being indicted. Pulling a prank like this might put you in handcuffs for a while, but if you have the time, it may still be worth it.

you'd probably be arrested

You'd be required to remove it - like you're sometimes required to remove a belt, or boots, or anything with metal in it for that matter.

No, seriously, I think you have a point here: Can we manufacture clothing and/or underwear that at least partially blocks the backscatter X-rays?

These already exist! No claim of efficacy on my part.

http://www.rockyflatsgear.com/mens-brief-radiation-blocker.h...

http://achewood.com/index.php?date=05192006

I've been waiting for an opportunity to bust that out...

Better than that: silicon penis enlargers.

But it will a short time before someone makes an explosive one.

For #4, depending on who is doing the pat down, you might not have to pretend to enjoy it.

I'm sure they'll use an agent of the same gender they perceive you are. But what if you're gay? Will they give you someone of the opposite sex?

But then again - and I'm unfortunately stereoptyping here - but who many attractive TSA agents of any gender have you seen?

> 2. Upon entering security, strip completely naked.

It would be amazing to get a campaign going of people doing this.

Then the whole purpose of the porno machine is moot. You'll have porno without the machine.

It's just a reminder to everyone of the view that guy/lady in the booth has. "This is how the security agent sees you."

Number 2, in America, will get you arrested and/or fined for indecent exposure.

Getting arrested is traditionally the point of nonviolent resistance, though.

Or better yet - yell loudly "no I will not suck you" during the pat down.

Hopefully the TSA guys will make life hard for the sucker, perhaps enough to make him quit.

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