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Comment by saulpw | Hacker News Reader

I have opted out of the scanner at numerous airports over the past 20 years, without fail (dozens of times), and not once have I been asked to go through a 'magnetometer'. It's been a manual pat down every time.

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It's been a few years since I've flown (and opted out of the MMW), but I recall being directed through the magnetometer first, then receiving a pat down on the other side. Maybe that was nonstandard.

I have always opted out of the full body scanner and always had to go through the metal detector followed by pat down.

Genuine question not from a judgy space but from an interested one.. what motivates you to do this? I feel like I would find the pat down far more invasive than someone seeing a sort of nude picture of my body.. again, I’m asking because I would like to understand, not because I’m judging the choice. Appreciate your insight!

Heh, cannot give it a rationale answer. I mostly started as the most minor form of political protest against the security theater. Then there were the few inevitable scandals: instances where images were saved, some of the machines were miscalibrated and delivering far too much energy to people, whatever. Sorta some justification, but I really do not have much to point. I can just say that it has never been a huge inconvenience to opt out.

I am also a boring white guy so the pat downs have always been perfunctory -never feared being groped by a thug.

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