Isaac.Obie@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Isaac Obie) (02/06/91)
Index Number: 13564
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
now, i know that security is a must at our airports. but, like
everything else, there's a way to do everything. now, i always try to
ask that they take all the metal objects i have and place them in a
basket. sometimes, they do and other times they don't. then i wear
hearing aids and they invariably set off the detectors. i ask that they
put this in a basket and not put it through the xray machine. sometimes,
they don't. now here's the punch line. they want to do a hand search. i
refuse this invasion of my privacy. suppose i get a homosexual security
guard whe's just waiting to do just such a thing. well, needless to say,
they always honor my request not to be hand-searched. however, there's
much aggravation because if they'd listen to me in the f3pst pace, we
wouldn't have to go through this mess. further, when a lady comes up
with a guide dog, they always make them walk thrugh the securiny metal
detector even though they can see all that metal. then they ask for a
hand search of the person's purse. now is all this really necessary? i
think this is where organizatons like acb and others could be helpful.
have uniform search policies at every airport. for instance, in atlanta,
i can ask them to use a handheld metal detector. in boston, they don't
seem to have such equipment. now if i was going to be hand-searched by a
pretty lady security guard, i might not object--now i said might not.
now, let's see you guys kick this one around! tell me why i have to be
searched as though i am a common criminal when all i did was have
apocket full of quarters for pay phones and soda machines. don't forget
the hearing-aids! do you have better approaches for this situation? i
sometimes try to call ahead and request servie so it'll be easier. i
don't want to be shot out of the sky no more than the next person. i
know security is a must, but therh's a way to do everything. don't make
me feel as though i am a common criminal. thanks.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460.0!Isaac.Obie
Internet: Isaac.Obie@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.orgCarla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell) (02/06/91)
Index Number: 13587
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
IO> NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY ALWAYS HONOR MY REQUEST NOT TO BE
IO> HAND-SEARCHED. HOWEVER, THERE'S MUCH AGGRAVATION BECAUSE IF
IO> THEY'D LISTEN TO ME IN THE F3PST PACE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO
IO> THROUGH THIS MESS....
You have no idea how uncomfortable that makes me, as a frequent air
traveller!
IO> ...FOR A HAND SEARCH OF THE PERSON'S PURSE. NOW IS ALL THIS REALLY
IO> NECESSARY? I THINK THIS IS WHERE ORGANIZATONS LIKE ACB AND
IO> OTHERS COULD BE HELPFUL.
I could not disagree with you more strongly! Such a policy of not
applying security measures to blind and otherwise disabled people would,
I fear, provide a perfect opportunity for terrorism.. Simply disguise
the terrorist as a blind man and bingo.. he can carry whatever he wishes
onto an airplane by saying "please don't search me.. it bothers me and
you might be gay...". See my previous message for description of how I
handle the guide dog and metal harness problem. As for my possessions--
I never have my purse hand-searched (or in my case, my backpack, as I
rarely carry a purse) because I send it through the conveyer belt just
like everyone else. I have never had to argue too long to get them to
hand-search my computer equipment-- I think they are used to it by now
from business travellers-- and while they look at things like
VersaBrailles funny, I have truly had only one bad experience with
security making me miss a plane while they tried to make myApple //C do
something without an electrical socket. That could have as easily
happened to a sighted person.
I do think security personnel could be educated more in how to _treat_
disabled people and about computer equipment in general, but I do not in
any way, shape or form, think that I should be immune to as rigorous a
security check as my non-disabled peers. For garsh sakes, it's easy
enough, these days, with plastic explosives and the like.. let's not
make terrorism any simpler!!
--Carla
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Carla.Campbell
Internet: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.orgRay.Campbell@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org (Ray Campbell) (03/14/91)
Index Number: 13919
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Carla-
Ditto Ditto! Just because we are disabled doesn't mean we have any
business expecting to be exempted from rigorous security procedures which
are in place for everyone's safety. In fact one time when I was coming
home from Dayton, Ohio, I was pretty rigorously questioned at the airport
because of a metal belt buckle I had with a tractor on it. After they
were satisfied everything was OK, one of the security guys remarked to me
that someone could plant something on me and I may not know it. I
wouldn't go so far as thinking that could happen, but who knows.
I always figure if you have something on you that you think will set the
thimng off, you request that they take whatever it is from you. I have
made it a practice to get rid of my keys, talking clock and sun glasses
before going through security. That way, I rarely beep and thus don't
have to go through all the rigors.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!115!778!Ray.Campbell
Internet: Ray.Campbell@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org