Re: Man up!

>> Well, I was reaching for a cheap joke, but I think you can take my
>> meaning. We have no inherent right to board a plane in any manner other than
>> the one that's available to us. Just like we have no right to drive a
>> vehicle in any way other than the ones that are available to us.
>
> Well, again, as I pointed out, you *do* have certain rights.  Even
> the laws that deny you those rights may be trumped by higher laws.

Well, when it comes to the fairness of those being checked, I suppose.
But flying is a voluntary thing. Therefore, any "right" I have is
subordinate to my decision to get on an airplane. What if I have
deformed feet and I'm embarrassed about taking off my shoes? What if I
have shrapnel in my body and walking through the metal detector stirs
up painful memories and causes psychological trauma? Too bad, right?
I'm choosing to get on an airplane, and I know what that entails.

>> It seems odd to me that some people are treating this like our rights are
>> somehow being violated. Airplanes present a unique and particularly potent
>> opportunity for terrorism, so certain measures are in place to reduce that
>> risk.
>
> No, certain measures are in place to *pretend* to reduce that risk.

Huh? How can we know that? The whole point of "security theater" is to
prevent people from *trying* to get bombs on planes, right?

> *Actual* risk-reduction would require profiling, etc.  But apparently the
> right of certain minorities or whatever to not be asked extra questions
> trumps *everyone's* right to privacy and a modicum of dignity.

I don't understand what you're saying, here. How would profiling reduce risk?

>> If we don't like it, we don't have to fly.
>
> That's easy for *you* to say, as your livelihood -- your contribution to the
> economy, etc. -- doesn't depend on flying.

Weren't you calling for TSA agents to quit *their* jobs the other day?
With a shrug of, "Hey, I know it's a tough economy, but..."

Hrm... there's a lot more to respond to, but I'm not going to pursue
it, cuz I'm kind of just playing devil's advocate anyway. I don't like
the new situation any more than anyone else, I just feel like the
objections are a bit overstated. Sometimes I feel like we're a culture
of spoiled brats who gladly accept the benefits of living in our
unique societies, but stamp our feet and hold our breath when things
don't go exactly the way we want them to. *Nobody* likes this new
rigamarole, it's just a fact of life in these dangerous times, so why
don't we just get on with it, y'know?

-- 
-pcg
 [email protected]

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