> This is a huge pain the in ass for them

I'm sure it is.

> However, this is their job, and they are carrying out orders from their superiors.

I fundamentally oppose this reasoning as justification for doing something you think is wrong.

> So there's no reason to make snide remarks to the agents.

Saying this as you out opt isn't snide: "I'm a little concerned about the radiation myself but I can't imagine what it's like for you to stand near this machine all day. It must be worrying".

I would argue that many of these people are told that the machines are perfectly safe and don't even consider that they are being exposed while standing outside.

> I fundamentally oppose this reasoning as justification for doing something you think is wrong.

Nobody does evil all by themselves. If everyone thought like you do, there would be less room for evil in the world.

Exactly. Personally I wish that, legally, using the Nuremberg ("just doing my job") Defense would get you a much more severe sentence. If no one were willing to do evil things because "it's their job" most of the biggest atrocities we can think of couldn't have been committed and we would have never heard of many of the most evil people in history. None of them could have accomplished anything all by themselves.

While this opinion is clearly unpopular, to a certain extend I agree with the johnglasgow. I hope that I would quit if I were in a similar situation as the TSA employees, but I'm fortunate to have finished college and actually have an interest in a relatively lucrative field (computer programming, natch).

While, technically, they might use the Nuremberg defense, I think bringing that up is a little harsh. Some of the TSA workers probably do disagree, but some of them also have been working in this job since before the scanners were introduced, or before other less controversial practices were introduced. If you have a stable job and not too many other prospects, it is particularly difficult to leave, due to human inertia etc... I know how this can be as I'd like to find a new job right now too, because I really hate using CVS where I work now :)

In addition, if they are less educated, they might genuinely believe that what they are doing is helping prevent terrorism. I'm sure there is plenty of mild to heavy indoctrination done during training, and I doubt that many of the TSA agents at the gate are reading Bruce Schneier.

I think it would behoove HNers to have a little more compassion for these people, it is highly likely that they are less fortunate than most of HN.

Needless to say, I disagree with the TSA policies. And actually I think "snide" remarks about the possible health dangers, and educating other passengers similar to a story posted yesterday, is great. Unfortunately, I think comments about the safety of the machines are probably pretty infrequent, and that the agents probably get a lot more incoherent flak than that about all the inane procedures.

They can quit.