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A comment on TSA's X-Ray Nude Body Scanners Output 50% More Radiation Than Admitted to by TSA. Parent comment

Re:TSA's X-Ray Nude Body Scanners Output 50% More Radiation ... by Steuard on Monday September 15, 2014 @04:11PM (#8321186)
I've finally given up on opting out, or perhaps I should frame it as finally declaring a partial victory and moving on. I still think the scanners are a huge waste of money and time, but they've gotten better.

The x-ray versions are gone (and with them any small chance of dangerous radiation exposure). And I'm told that they no longer show your naked body to agents, but rather a generic outline that labels potential objects of concern. So the things about them that I've felt had the potential for a direct negative impact on me personally are mostly in the past.

Because of that, the last time I flew, it struck me that opting out was purely a political protest, and that the only effect it was likely to have was to make things flow a little bit less smoothly for all the other poor folks standing in the long line behind me. I just didn't see the payoff anymore. So for the first time, I went through the blasted machine. They did a quick patdown anyway, but I guess that's par for the course.

I wish I knew a way to take an effective stand against this system. But I've ceased to believe that opting out is it.

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Re:TSA's X-Ray Nude Body Scanners Output 50% More Radiation ... by jghn on Monday September 15, 2014 @06:31PM (#8321946)
One could argue that making things flow a little bit less smoothly is a positive effect in and of itself. If the powers that be see that they're getting no actual security and snarling lines perhaps they'll come to their senses.

Ok, probably not, but still ...

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Re:TSA's X-Ray Nude Body Scanners Output 50% More Radiation ... by DanielStraight on Monday September 15, 2014 @04:22PM (#8321256)
Actually, the agents don't see anything unless the machine detects a "potential threat item", then they see the generic outline. See: http://www.tsa.gov/ait-how-it-works
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Re:TSA's X-Ray Nude Body Scanners Output 50% More Radiation ... by JadeNB on Tuesday September 16, 2014 @11:42AM (#8325020)
> the only effect it was likely to have was to make things flow a little bit less smoothly for all the other poor folks standing in the long line behind me.

Why should it have this effect? When I opt out, they have me stand in a little area off to the side until a scanner is ready for me. I don't hold up the line, and, as far as I know, most people don't even notice that anything is happening (except that some wonder curiously why I am electing to stand around, apparently for recreation, without belt or shoes).

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Re:TSA's X-Ray Nude Body Scanners Output 50% More Radiation ... by _up on Monday September 15, 2014 @06:22PM (#8321911)
I have no doubt that the NSA stores all the naked pictures. The data is far to valuable.
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