11.11.10 - 11:00AM
- by
Jay Hathaway

Operation Grab-Ass - Reddit and Flight Attendants Vs. the TSA

woman being groped by TSA There's been a lot of discussion on Reddit about the Transportation Security Administration's new full-body scans and invasive physical searches, and the consensus seems to be that this nonsense is not going to fly -- and neither are many Redditors, apparently. Many are saying they won't fly until the TSA's policy of groping the private parts of anyone who opts out of a body scan is revoked.

One popular thread is collecting money for a full-page ad opposing the measures in the Sunday edition of the New York Times (which currently lists at $150,000 and $200,000, although it's possible Reddit could negotiate a lower rate).

The concept of the New York Times ad emerged in response to a flight attendants' union whose members are against the "invasive patdown" procedures the TSA has put in place. Turns out flight attendants don't like being groped any more than regular passengers do, and they have to go through it a lot more often. Ideas for anti-patdown ad copy are being formulated on a new Reddit page called OperationGrabAss, where the description is "Reddit community coming together to publicize current failures in TSA's Pat Down Procedures. All are welcome!"

Reddit's power to organize shouldn't be underestimated, considering that they've now helped raise over $500,000 for classrooms through DonorsChoose and (arguably) incited Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's big Washington, DC rally. When a cohesive internet community puts its hive mind to something, it's likely to get results. Running the ad isn't the hard part, though. The real challenge is getting lawmakers and security agencies to act on the message.

For another perspective, check out the AMA (Ask Me Anything) thread where a TSA supervisor is anonymously answering Reddit's questions about airport security.

link:// Reddit: Operation Grab-ass

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11.11.10

By The Shockwave

Neutral

"Many are saying they won't fly until the TSA's policy of groping the private parts of anyone who opts out of a body scan is revoked."

Well, thank goodness the TSA loses money if people don't fly. I'm sure they will notice the sharp dip in people flying. Now I know the airlines lose money, but if the airlines knew this was coming and weren't able to stop it, what makes these people think that this is going to make a difference?

Also, these people are going to boycott flying right up to the minute they need to fly. Try telling your family that you aren't coming home for the holidays or your boss that you aren't flying to some conference because you are taking a stand against the TSA. Let's just say, that isn't going to fly (OHHHH!).

11.11.10

By LouF

Neutral

Reddit has NOT "raised over $600,000 for classrooms through DonorsChoose". Reddit was a very small part of a coalition that raised that money.

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=39361&max=12

Almost all of that money was raised through the popularity of Colbert and Facebook.

You really should remove this article. It is fundamentally wrong.

11.30.10

By mLori71

Neutral

This is true. In reality, Stewart and Colbert had actually applied for their permit in March of this year in response to the hype Beck was spewing on Fox-News. The fact that the Reddit people started pushing for it when they did was just a massive coincidence. Jon and Stephen, at the post-rally press conference, confirmed this. And also, there were many who donated (myself included) who are not "Redditors" at all. It was a good cause and Stephen thanked the people of Reddit for doing it, but even if they hadn't the Rally would've still happened.

11.20.10

By Lyle

Neutral

Okay I give up, does anyone of these complainer's have a better idea how to stop the people that want to hurt us? Do you realize that if the Christmas day bomber wasn't stupid he would have pulled off his mission and there would be about 200 more deaths over our soil. I'm not saying i like another man touching me but if it going to make the airways a little safer, then go for it. Do you think the TSA Officer enjoy this? Does a prison guard enjoy doing strip searches? I do not think so. So I haven't flown in years but looking at the pictures of the body scans it doesn't look like it is even strong enough to show bones. So how dangerous is this. Or we could just get rid of the TSA completely and flying could be like playing Russian Roulette...who's got the lucky plan with the bad guy on it???

11.22.10

By Kmac

Neutral

Comments like this just annoy me. For starters no one knows what the long term health implication are going to be from "regularly' being X ray by these machines if your a frequent flyer. So you save me from the underwear bomber and give me cancer instead. Thanks! Now I have no problem with a normal pat down but these guys have gotten ridiculous with these "open palm" pat downs and the extent their taking it. Then we have naive people like you who believe by just passively accepting all this means we will be safer. Wake up! What is to stop them from inserting liquid explosives in a plastic capsule with a detonator made of non metal parts up their anus or vaginal cavity and going to the bathroom once on the plane to extract what they need. It has already been rumored that the attack on the Saudi Prince by a terrorist not to long ago use such a cavity bomb, although the head of the TSA denies it. But my point is this, are you truely so naive to think that a would be terrorist would hesitate to use these means (drugs have been smuggled this way for decades). So what is next are we all going to be told to cough and squat while someone sticks a finger up our behinds all in the name of safety? At what point do we say enough and draw the line? Now I recognize the TSA is faced with a difficult task of trying to balance the needs of the public with security. Most people who are against their current policy understand this, what we are saying to the TSA is the current policies are poorly thoughout and they need to go back to the drawing board and think of something else. Whether that something else is bomb sniffing dogs or devices that can detect the scent of some chemical explosives that are now being used in some transportation hubs, or maybe something completely different. If the current head of the TSA lack the ability to think outside the box when it comes to security solutions, maybe we need to replace him with someone who has more imagination!

11.24.10

By Lyle

Neutral

Kmac,
You are right that it seems like it keeps going, going and like the government is trying to take away all your rights. But it is a damm if you do or a damm if you don't. I'm a retired soldier and still work for the government, 4 years ago I worked for the TSA now I work for another agency and from what I have seen and still experience in my current job we are always reacting to an incident while trying to stop it from further causing additional incidents. Example of the damm if you do... seeing how you said you fly all the time do you remember the puffer machines? Those machines where sniffers for explosives...wait the flying public threw a fit because they were taking to long and slowing down the flights. Then the government said that they were costing to much to keep serving, the general public is saying that the government is spending to much money. Then you said how about getting dogs...almost every airport has 4 to seven terminals with each area having checkpoints. So say every airport in the US had 5 checkpoints how many dogs do we need? (Thousands). Then someone will feel threatened by the dog or have an allergic reaction to dogs. And with the general public and some of congress announcing last week that the government was to big, it needs to get rid of 200,000 employees and cut it budget down by 25%. But still do complete there current missions with less....if you look at www.federaltimes.com you will see were a committee wants the federal work force to start in 2011 with a hiring freeze and a pay freeze.
So now the challenge is make the people happy but safe, do not forget if something happens who gets the blame. Until the world is rid of the terrorists, some of what we use to know has freedom will have to change. I agree with you that there has to be a better way but I personally to not know how. New technology equipment is costing a lot of money and that is something that is being limited. So many people want the US government to wave a magic wand and make it safe for them without them having to give up anything and I mean anything...waiting in lines at airports, taking their shoes off, allowing bringing there liquids and definitely do not raise taxes. Here is what was told to me by passenger when I worked for TSA,
1) Do I look like a terrorist?(What's a terrorist look like; Timothy Mcfaye, Richard Reed I do not know what terrorist looks
like) But do not profile that is illegal.
2) Why are you taking my drink it is not even open? (I do not know what is in it. could be anything I'm not going to taste it!
3) I'm late for my flight, I was watching football can you help me get through the line quicker?
I have also been called every name in the book and actually was spit at once.
Then one day in 2004 an elderly lady near 75 years old came into the checkpoint with a loaded 22. She said my son gave that to me for protection , so I take it everywhere I go.
I with you on finding a better way but it seems that every time something is recommended it gets shot down from another group of people for other reasons.
It is almost like the law of the land Cops are not allowed to do high pursuit of a vehicle that is running from them for some reason, if there is even a possible chance that a innocent person could get hurt. Tell that to the troopers wife (widow now) that happened 3 days ago because the PA Cops had to give up the chase.