How has the TSA handled you?

Members of the IDS Editorial Board offer their experiences with the Transportation Security Administration.

My crotch was literally patted down in an intrusive exam after the officer informed me he would have to go “high on the thigh.”
To add injury to insult, I had already submitted to the “pornscanner,” and they thought I had something in my pocket. The next time I have to go through, I will simply opt for the
pat-down the first time around.
— Nick Wallace

So, I wanted to get the pat-down, and I thought, hey, maybe it’ll be, you know, nice. There could be a cute TSA officer and those private rooms ... you know.
So I walk up at Washington National and ask the guy directing people into the “pornscanner” if I could opt out and get the pat-down. He tried pretty hard to convince me to go through the scanner (maybe they hadn’t told him that the pictures are only viewed remotely?) and told me I wouldn’t have to have the pat-down if I went through the scanner.
I informed him that my decision was for the higher aim of professional
research. A young woman began the pat-down; she had this entire script memorized, which led me to give some serious thought to the absurd amounts of training that took place in order to implement the new security theater. She giggled while she patted me down. It was just ridiculous.
— Sarah Wilensky

Sadly I have not been physically groped by the government. ... yet.
— Matt Showalter