For all the crap we give China and their authoritarian government, airport security is FAR easier at every Chinese airport I've been to. Walk through a metal detector and get a quick non-invasive pat down.

When you've already locked down your citizens, control all guns, and record their wrongthink in databases linked to credit and their livelihoods, there's probably less danger at any one point.

Hell there aren't mass shootings in China either. Again, authoritarians often cite Order as the result of just giving in to their oppressive tactics.

There certainly are mass stabbings though...

> For all the crap we give China and their authoritarian government, airport security is FAR easier at every Chinese airport I've been to. Walk through a metal detector and get a quick non-invasive pat down.

flying domestically I had my eyes scanned and thumb print taken, and was tracked more or less everywhere I went.

Are you arguing this is a good thing?

Not in my experience. Felt about the same as US security, with one major difference being they made you take all electronics with cords out, such as phone chargers. This was both for international and domestic china flights.

Yeah really. I've gone through security with pretty big knives by accident and gotten "啊!你的水果刀" "your fruit knife", and it was apologetically confiscated with little hassle. Although I'm sure stereotyping (white skin not poor) worked positively in my favor. While in the US, for example, I go through with cup of demonstrably potable liquid and have to do some petty compliance exercise like take a walk around the terminal and wait in line to be screened by the same person again. I think it might have do do with rule by law vs rule of law

I hve never been to China but in my experience american airport security and immigration is nasty as compared to other perfectly free and democratic countries.

In my experience, the absolute worst immigration and airport security is found in the US and the UK. I've never been so harassed, and i'm a US citizen and a generic looking white guy. Can't imagine how bad it would be if I wasn't.

Never had a problem in US, but had few nightmares in Spain and Germany. 30 mins "detentions" for extra screening.

Try doing that as a Uyghur

I think you'll find that you're mistaken about any difference you think that would make. Please step this way for re-education.

I've yet to go through any of these machines since they were implemented. I have opted out every flight, every time.

In that case they don't have a picture, but they do know what they feel like, and if they don't, it just takes one ornery TSA agent for it to happen.

It's a thoroughly miserable process no matter what way you slice it.

I just don't go in with a toxic mindset and have never had a bad experience.

I'd rather not feel negatively for no reason, because it hurts me and doesn't help me in any way. Maybe you have a better reason to go through life unhappily, but I don't.

"You know what, I'm looking forward to having my privacy violated! I hope they stop me for packing some cookies in my carry on!"

I don't think anything when I'm going through airport security. It's literally the same experience as checking out at a grocery store. Wait a few minutes then walk through the xray. Do you go into grocery stores with the same toxic mindset?

"You know what, I'm looking forward to this wage slave touching my credit card. I hope they can't scan one of my items and I have to go put it back."

It's possible to be a nasty person in any situation. It never helps you. Your mindset causes you pain and you can literally choose not to do that.

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

I need to fly on st patricks so I have excuse to wear one my tac kilts. Fun for everyone!

good for you. i respect your conviction, and think you are doing a principled thing.

I don't have an input on the potential security risks of pen cameras on airlines, but I do have an opinion on your description of economy travel on modern airlines.

It's spot on, and unbelievable to me that there are no other options available for air travel. With the amount of time business executives spend in the air I have to imagine there is an airline company out there modeling the business case for increased ticket prices with the justification of companies subsidizing to make up for lost productivity.

- written from the 3rd flight I've taken this week

> with the justification of companies subsidizing to make up for lost productivity.

It's not just productivity - after a 6 hour flight starting from midnight, I have no idea how people are allowed to drive. I hear complaints about "why do people stand up immediately when the plane lands?" - I stand up so that I'll have enough feeling in my leg that I can actually walk off the plane by the time the doors open. Every bit of you is reduced by the time you're clumping off that airplane.