shoes

[lsanderson]

When has taking off shoes become mandatory? Unless you don't mind getting patted down ad delayed...

flights oversold but I didn't take tomorrow off.

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

It's not mandatory. I never do it. When they tell me to, I just say "no."

I don't beep, so it's never a problem.

B

I've been...

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

Through with the same clothes before, but suddenly with the shoes on, it's step into the penalty box and spread 'em. Trying to crank up more terror before the election?

Re: I've been...

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Maybe. If you beep, you're hosed. The trick is not to beep.

B

Re: I've been...

[shelleybear.livejournal.com]

Remember my earlier comment re rebar?

Re: I've been...

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I know. I'm thinking of the portal metal detector, not the wand.

B

Re: I've been...

[shelleybear.livejournal.com]

Can't rig that as far as I know

Re: I've been...

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you can push some sort of "alarm test" button and make it ring.

B

Re: I've been...

[shelleybear.livejournal.com]

You're right, of course.
There would have to be some sort of test mechanism.

[boywhocantsayno.livejournal.com]

I had to take my shoes off in Chicago on my way to San Diego in April. Then again, I wear orthodic in-soles, which set off the metal detectors anyway...

[ex-erikvolso370.livejournal.com]

Note that if it's one of the four airports the TSA doesn't work at (MCI is one), then not taking off your shoes is an automagic search. Which is way annoying.

But, yeah, like he said. I wear NB 573, in black. There is no metal in them. So, I don't.

I just really really wish they'd hire someone with a clue to teach them what a laptop looks like on X-ray. They've got plenty of them over in the UK.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Which four airports? I never take my shoes off, I don't beep, and I'm not searched. Have I just missed those airports?

B

[ex-erikvolso370.livejournal.com]

I know there are four. One is Wichita, One is Kansas City (But only the American Terminal, which is Terminal C, IIRC.)

It's a "test" to "privitize" homeland security, since, of course, the GOP never wanted the TSA, until, of course, they looked at the polls.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Ah. I've never been to Wichita. And I haven't been to Kansas City for years.

B

Denver and MSP

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

I've never taken my shoes off at MSP before, and this is the first time they did the search thing... The biggest piece of metal I had on was the buttons on the 501s.

I just wish they'd hire more cuter men...

[avt-tor.livejournal.com]

I just don't have a thing about shoes. I can have shoes off and back on in way less time than any discussion could take. Ain't nothing I have down there that I care about anyone seeing.

I care about civil liberties. I just don't think that the choice of carry-on items is really the forefront of that battle. People already drag too much crap into the cabin. It's not that hard to organize one's possessions to minimize the number of things that will set of a detector, and it's not that hard to cooperate about something that they want to see. If they want to swab my bag because it has a little dust on it, whatever.

I take my shoes off to visit my great-aunt. And heck, go to a few conventions sharing a room with more than two other friends, and physical privacy just isn't a big deal anymore.

In the long run, security doesn't create peace, peace is a prerequisite for real security. Countries need to think about the causes of terrorism and international conflict, not just try to demonize one arbitrarily-chosen side. But until we get some leadership that understands those issues, in the short run I don't want to be on a plane that blows up.