VANITY: Things you can say to a TSA agent.

I spent a coupla days lurking on a 49-page thread about opt-out experiences at FlyerTalk.com. Obviously frequent fliers, yes?

Most accounts of the intimate body search concluded with the gloves being mechanically “sniffed” by an explosives detection device, and I assume those posters who didn’t mention it would have said the same if asked. The TSO would report that the gloves checked out clear (or something similar) before the passenger was released to their gate.

I was surprised how many flyers insisted on being searched out in the open rather than in the private space available. Theory being that, one, they wanted fellow passengers to witness the useless sharade of “safety,” and, two, did not want to retire to a private spot for a total stranger to even further abuse his/her power.

Also, a lot of the earliest opt-outs were used as a training tool for other TSA agents of mixed sexes to witness (and of course offer commentary to enhance the experience). At least one female searcher attempted friendly chatter (with her hands freely roaming her victim’s body) until a male observer pointed out that the searchee was ill-disposed to amiable banter.

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