Ladies, what do you think of pat downs and body scanners?

Cancer surviving flight attendant forced to remove prosthetic breast during pat-down

By Molly Grantham

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A Charlotte-area flight attendant and cancer survivor contacted WBTV after she says she was forced to show her prosthetic breast during a pat-down.

Cathy Bossi lives in south Charlotte and has been a flight attendant for the past 32 years, working the past 28 for U.S. Airways.

In early August Bossie was walking through security when she says she was asked to go through the new full body-scanners at Concourse "D" at Charlotte Douglas International.

She reluctantly agreed. As a 3-year breast cancer survivor she says she didn't want the added radiation through her body. But, Bossi says she did agree.

"The T.S.A. Agent told me to put my I.D. on my back," she said. "When I got out of there she said because my I.D. was on my back, I had to go to a personal screening area."

She says two female Charlotte T.S.A. agents took her to a private room and began what she calls an aggressive pat down. She says they stopped when they got around to feeling her right breast… the one where she'd had surgery.

"She put her full hand on my breast and said, 'What is this?'. And I said, 'It's my prosthesis because I've had breast cancer.' And she said, 'Well, you'll need to show me that'."

Cathy was asked to show her prosthetic breast, removing it from her bra.

"I did not take the name of the person at the time because it was just so horrific of an experience, I couldn't believe someone had done that to me. I'm a flight attendant. I was just trying to get to work."

http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13534628

Business traveler, Penny Moroney, was flying home from St. Louis to Chicago. Like all other airline passengers, she had to go through security first. When the metal in her artificial knees set off the detectors, she had to undergo more screening. When Moroney asked if she could go through a body scanner, she was told none were available.

A pat down was the only alternative.

Moroney explains “Her gloved hands touched my breasts...went between them. Then she went into the top of my slacks, inserted her hands between my underwear and my skin... then put her hands up on outside of slacks, and patted my genitals.”

“I was shaking and crying when I left that room” Moroney says. “Under any other circumstance, if a person touched me like that without my permission, it would be considered criminal sexual assault.”

http://www.kmov.com/news/mobile/Woman-says-her-Lambert-security-screening-was-sexual-assault--109114934.html

I wouldn't want to use a full body scanner if pregnant.

The US has gone a bit gung ho with a serious staff attitude problem at some airports, but others are lovely.

One airport they wanted me to take off my medic alert bracelet from my wrist, which requires 2 hands, but none of the staff were willing to help (even though I was the only passenger there). Thankfully another guy with a brain showed up and told them to stop being idiots and help me remove it.

My bra clasps always go off in Brussles (only in Belgium), but they are so used to it there, nothing dodgy happens.

I hate Dubai security, not pleasant at all, and always get separated from my male crew members and have to wait forever for no reason except rudeness and laziness.

It really comes down to the attitude of the staff in security, if they are pleasant and friendly, you don't feel so bad, if the are arogant and rude it isn't nice at all.

Australia, England and USA can be at either end of the scale, unforunately the arogant and rude one most often.

This is one area I think Thailand has got it right.

I had a TSA agent tell me to remove my bum bag as it was a "third bag" note, that this has nothing to do with security regulations in anyway (as confirmed by the counter staff at the airline) but she insisted I take it off and put it in my laptop bag and then when I said, "This is a third bag?" she got very shirty and rude and aggressive. I couldn't believe it, tbh and it put me right off TSA and helped me to understand why so many people get so sick of this. My sister was pulled out of line a couple of years ago by a TSA agent and given a hard time because the agent overheard her say, under her breath to her boyfriend that the whole thing was BS. Unfortunately for the agent, my sister doesn't back down very easily and insisted on the supervisor coming over. The issue was dropped and my sister went through security. Note, she didn't refuse anything, and she wasn't loud in at all, just a TSA agent with a power issue.

And its these people that scare the heck out of me, tbh. Feeling up peoples genitals (including children btw), insisting the woman remove her prostheses. That is pathetic and a power trip and the reason why I am against pat downs. Not a big fan of the naked scanner either, as I think that will be open to abuse, like everything else. And I can understand why people who travel alot of who work at airports would be against being scanned alot since the long term effects are not known.

wierd; i live in a country where every store, mall restaraunt, theatre, whatever we have to go thru a bag search and/or metal detector; the thing is, a large majority of us wear bangles, many of us cant remove them (received as children, and get more every year) so most of us have learned to walk thru the metal detectors with all the bracelets showing....its automatic fo rus to stop and open the glove compartment in the car, open the baggage/trunk, ... its so automatic that when we are in other countries we do the same things at every door to every store, rather funny actually... automatically unzipping and opening all bags , even small kids know to do this to their school bags... but aprt from certain situations, never yet had a full search done. in the airport anyone that has to go thru a full search is taken to the side and searched, gender appropriate, and it is all particularly problematic here since both muslem and jewish orthodox have very strict rules about modesty and clothing removal... nver mind children since here depending on which and how religious a family is, their children under a certain age (like boys up to age 3) can be searched by a woman but after age 3, are considered as men among certain sects, ....

funny thing is im glad that hubby doesnt have metal 'pearls' but glass 'pearls' inserted as many thai men do .... not sure how those could be removed, not sure, even, what a guard would make if he happened to notice them in a feel or a scan?...

bina

I really feel for women who have to go through this indignity. Women are usually more modest than men and it's an effrontery. Anybody touched like that by anyone in the public would have the molestor put in jail. But, it's somehow okay for staff on public transport to do it. The paranoid authorities have gone a lot overboard.

As for myself I don't give a hoot. Next time I get a pat down I'm dropping my pants and taking off my shirt. I don't wear undies so it should cause a stir.

This guy recounts his experience at San Diego International Airport and what happened next when he refused a body scan and pat down of his groin a couple of weeks ago.

http://johnnyedge.blogspot.com/2010/11/these-events-took-place-roughly-between.html

I'm curious... where's the bit about "Angry white guys complaining loudest..."

I'm curious... where's the bit about "Angry white guys complaining loudest..."

Maybe angry white guys are not suppose to feel public humiliation. Or maybe the thread title is a cheap ploy to get posters. It's working!

I have never had a pat down. But i would ask questions about why they want to pat me down etc. From what i heard they seem to choose randomly the people they do this to (probably to get rid of the boredom of the job) whether it is men or women.

SBK, those stories are horrific. I think America is getting a bit hysterical about security in airports - maybe for good. But to put the fear of flying into everyone is not good.

I would do the scanner, I have nothing to hide (apart from the very extinct wobbly tummies from Switzerland). And if they want to have a giggle about me afterwards I shall sue them for millions.

Put's another thing on what our mothers always said - never leave the house without clean knickers on!!!

Edited November 25, 201015 yr by Patsycat

And, on another note, the guy complained about having his bits groped for about 30 seconds. Us females go through that at least twice a year, having some stranger fumbling around "down there" for check ups with our legs up and out.

I'm curious... where's the bit about "Angry white guys complaining loudest..."

You must've missed katana's link in the post prior to yours? or the two or three threads running in travel and one in news about it?

And, on another note, the guy complained about having his bits groped for about 30 seconds. Us females go through that at least twice a year, having some stranger fumbling around "down there" for check ups with our legs up and out.

I think your doctor changes rubber gloves. Apparently the TSA does not change gloves between fumbling around down there.

And, on another note, the guy complained about having his bits groped for about 30 seconds. Us females go through that at least twice a year, having some stranger fumbling around "down there" for check ups with our legs up and out.

I think your doctor changes rubber gloves. Apparently the TSA does not change gloves between fumbling around down there.

Seriously? I am now completely grossed out.

And, on another note, the guy complained about having his bits groped for about 30 seconds. Us females go through that at least twice a year, having some stranger fumbling around "down there" for check ups with our legs up and out.

I think your doctor changes rubber gloves. Apparently the TSA does not change gloves between fumbling around down there.

Seriously? I am now completely grossed out.

WND reported two days ago on alarmed passengers who noted that TSA agents doing the pat-downs that have been described by critics as molestation since they include touching private body parts were not changing gloves between passengers. In fact, some apparently were patting down dozens of passengers or more wearing the same gloves.

It's this sort of terrifying abuse of power which will keep me away from visiting the states any time soon. Which is a shame as it is a lovely country that I would like to see more of but I am the type of person to not back down when faced with petty bureaucrats. Security gone mad.

It's this sort of terrifying abuse of power which will keep me away from visiting the states any time soon. Which is a shame as it is a lovely country that I would like to see more of but I am the type of person to not back down when faced with petty bureaucrats. Security gone mad.

Fly to Canada and drive across the border. No pat downs or scanners.Our donuts are better too.

It's this sort of terrifying abuse of power which will keep me away from visiting the states any time soon. Which is a shame as it is a lovely country that I would like to see more of but I am the type of person to not back down when faced with petty bureaucrats. Security gone mad.

Fly into Canada. See Ian and then drive across the border to Seattle. Nice trip. Or fly into Toronto and then drive to NYC. Not far. If you want to go South, Cuba is only 90 miles from Miami. Or the Bahamas are a short boat ride away from Florida.

It's this sort of terrifying abuse of power which will keep me away from visiting the states any time soon. Which is a shame as it is a lovely country that I would like to see more of but I am the type of person to not back down when faced with petty bureaucrats. Security gone mad.

Fly to Canada and drive across the border. No pat downs or scanners.Our donuts are better too.

Are you telepathic or am I? ( I swear I didn't see your post. I was typing mine at the same time.)

On thinking about it, you could fly into Vancouver BC which is a fun town. Rent a car and take the car and yourself by ferry to Victoria. Where Ian lives. Victoria is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Excellent hot buttered tarts. Then take the car ferry to Seattle. It docks close to Pike place market which has wonderful shops and seafood markets. They even make fresh off the grill crumpets (or did when I lived there). It never gets really cold in Victoria or Seattle because of the Japanese current and is nice year round.

Edited November 26, 201015 yr by mark45y

and everyone around her is totally unfazed. I would have given her a standing ovation!

stories from Alex Jones Prison Planet

Sanitary Towel Prompts TSA To Grope Sexual Assault Victim.

TSA Hired Sex Offender Despite Prior Convictions Of Harassment and Stalking.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/

Audio of a Canadian Man and his wife being 'welcomed' to the USA at the Canadian/US border by US Immigration.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo91XS5pVj8

Audio of a Canadian Man and his wife being 'welcomed' to the USA at the Canadian/US border by US Immigration.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo91XS5pVj8

Outrageous! As someone who is both a US citizen and a PR of Canada I can confirm treatment of border crossers is just as recorded. In true tit for tat fashion I have to say the Canadians aren't much better.

The agency hires paranoid power trippers and expects there ISN'T going to be confrontation? Give me a break. I went through that in 1950 as a child when the USA was paranoid about communism. Because my father wore a yachting cap with a red star on it we went through similar hell at the Ontario into Detroit border crossing. The red star on my father's yachting cap stood for the star class sailboat my father was racing at the time in Chicago. We were there because a paranoid border guard THOUGHT my father was a communist. It's seems the USA is reverting to old policies. Canadian border guards are no better. They should ALL be sent off to Iraq or Pakistan to suit their bully-boy attitude.

It's this sort of terrifying abuse of power which will keep me away from visiting the states any time soon. Which is a shame as it is a lovely country that I would like to see more of but I am the type of person to not back down when faced with petty bureaucrats. Security gone mad.

Fly to Canada and drive across the border. No pat downs or scanners.Our donuts are better too.

Are you telepathic or am I? ( I swear I didn't see your post. I was typing mine at the same time.)

On thinking about it, you could fly into Vancouver BC which is a fun town. Rent a car and take the car and yourself by ferry to Victoria. Where Ian lives. Victoria is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Excellent hot buttered tarts. Then take the car ferry to Seattle. It docks close to Pike place market which has wonderful shops and seafood markets. They even make fresh off the grill crumpets (or did when I lived there). It never gets really cold in Victoria or Seattle because of the Japanese current and is nice year round.

I was nineteen when I saw the tarts in Victoria, and I was not impressed, although I had a certain empathy since I was hitch-hiking at the time. The butter is a good idea, though , and if I had thought of that I might have been tempted to put my hand in my pocket (in a wallet sort of sense, rather than billiards)

SC

But straying back on topic, I have always been charmed by the courtesy of customs and immigration officials wherever I have gone. I recall one time, travelling back from continental Europe, the driver I was travelling with asked me to carry back an extra carton of cigarettes, though Ialready had a box of cigars for my dear old father. We went to the customs booth to declare our imports (this was in the good old days, when you still needed a manxman to get your brandy brandy back - it was 1 litre, and no 'reasonable personal consumption by the vanload) anyway, the nice gentleman looked in our carrier bags, and said "Mind if I look in the truck?". Straight to the passenger glove box where I had accidentally left the cigars "They're mine. They're duty-paid in the EC..." "You're still supposed to declare them" and he spent ten minutes pretending to search the truck. All the other drivers had warned we would get searched because it was the driver's first trip...

All part of growing up and being British...

SC

in the airport anyone that has to go thru a full search is taken to the side and searched, gender appropriate, and it is all particularly problematic here since both muslem and jewish orthodox have very strict rules about modesty and clothing removal... nver mind children since here depending on which and how religious a family is, their children under a certain age (like boys up to age 3) can be searched by a woman but after age 3, are considered as men among certain sects, ....

bina

Yes here is the hypocritically lost point of the entire process, the people who are most likely to require a pat down or such are the ones most likely to give serious opposition on religious grounds so the rest of us are just being harassed while they get to slide by anyway.. And having children myself I find it very offensive that they might search my child and touch them in ways that even I don't deem appropriate for me to do any more since they're older and it invades their privacy and personal space..

in the airport anyone that has to go thru a full search is taken to the side and searched, gender appropriate, and it is all particularly problematic here since both muslem and jewish orthodox have very strict rules about modesty and clothing removal... nver mind children since here depending on which and how religious a family is, their children under a certain age (like boys up to age 3) can be searched by a woman but after age 3, are considered as men among certain sects, ....

bina

Yes here is the hypocritically lost point of the entire process, the people who are most likely to require a pat down or such are the ones most likely to give serious opposition on religious grounds so the rest of us are just being harassed while they get to slide by anyway.. And having children myself I find it very offensive that they might search my child and touch them in ways that even I don't deem appropriate for me to do any more since they're older and it invades their privacy and personal space..

I'd be tempted to take advice from people who suffer a far greater terrorist threat than we do, and far stronger religous opinions, principles, constraints, and prejudices.

I've never met a civil servant who was any less than pleasant and professional, though I can see how some members of the public that I have seen might test their ability to remain so,,,

SC

You see the one about the woman in the wheelchair who went through in a trenchcoat and her underwear and they still took an hour to search her?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8177265/Wheelchair-bound-woman-in-underwear-gets-hour-long-security-search.html

It's a changed world since 9-11 and it's only going to get worse. I remember being impressed by the New Zealand immigration and airline authorities prior to 9-11. After going through customs and picking up my checked luggage I opened one of my cases and took out my expensive multi-tool to fix a zipper. I forgot to put it back in my case prior to bording a flight to Christchurch. The guard saw that I was an angler on a fishing trip and told me to put it away and not take it out again. That would never happen today.

It only stands to reason that aggressive people are going to apply for work in jobs that give them power over others. It is no wonder that a few over step their authority. This new regime of thugs is perfect for the "bully-boys". I wonder how many of the female staff are butch lesbians. They sure appear that way.

Off topic bickering deleted.

Guys, this forum is not the appropriate place for these games, so drop it, thanks