Bag inspected by No. 1984

[Ytown Tribe fan]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134653764_tsasign15m.html

Regardless of how you feel about the situation with Iraq or this particular man's beliefs, this inspector went a little too far.

[satchel]

Interesting story. I like the description of the incident as "Orwellian." (Judging by the subject line, you did too!) Imagine how you'd feel if you got a note commenting on the color of your underwear or your taste in literature ... then multiply that feeling by the fact that it was a federal employee commenting on his apparent political stance. :eek:

[Gosfgiants]

It seems like these sort of incidents are becoming more common these days. Here is one the arroused quite a big discussion on an email list I am on:

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20030304_651.html

The mall has since dropped charges against the lawyer, but they have try to bring pressure on the store to stop selling the t-shirts in question.

[pathogan]

... really nice.dissension equals treason?lovely

[Craig S.]

I may not agree with their views, but the treatment these people have received is ridiculous. Orwellian is definitely a good word for it.

[JamesI]

Wether we agree with people who oppose war in Iraq is not important. Those people must be allowed to have their views, or what is the point? The baggage person who wrote that note should be fired.

[pwdennis]

Originally posted by JamesI
Wether we agree with people who oppose war in Iraq is not important. Those people must be allowed to have their views, or what is the point? The baggage person who wrote that note should be fired.


Disagree here - should be punished in some manner, yes. Fired is too Draconian - sort of reverse PC punishment

[satchel]

Originally posted by pwdennis
Disagree here - should be punished in some manner, yes. Fired is too Draconian - sort of reverse PC punishment

I'm inclined to agree, because I'm a big believer in notice. Unless the TSA had an explicit policy that addressed this kind of "interaction" with travellers - and it probably didn't, because it wouldn't have been anticipated - then it's kind of unfair to fire a worker who probably thought his action was harmless.

Going forward, however, a policy should be adopted and workers put on notice that such editorializing will not be tolerated - or that adding items to passengers' luggage is as unacceptable as removing them.

[pathogan]

Originally posted by pwdennis
Disagree here - should be punished in some manner, yes. Fired is too Draconian - sort of reverse PC punishment

What? someone inspects my belongings, in what is still a free country, and cooments on it, a federal employee, and punishing them is Pc? Please...:rolleyes:

[pwdennis]

Originally posted by pathogan
What? someone inspects my belongings, in what is still a free country, and cooments on it, a federal employee, and punishing them is Pc? Please...:rolleyes:

If you read my thread, I said they should be punished but in lieu of already existing policy (as Satchel referenced) termination would be hysterical overreaction, the very essence of PC

[pathogan]

Originally posted by pwdennis
If you read my thread, I said they should be punished but in lieu of already existing policy (as Satchel referenced) termination would be hysterical overreaction, the very essence of PC


You seem to mention PC an awful lot...seems kind of trite in a world gone mad, no?:(

[pathogan]

...

[pwdennis]

Originally posted by pathogan
You seem to mention PC an awful lot...seems kind of trite in a world gone mad, no?:(

Trite - no. The small things are but microcosms of the larger issues. Sanity will be restored eventually but this PC curse will remain.

It always amuses me that those who are the quickest to scream "censorship" are the first to shout down and otherwise suppress dissent from their positions. This applies globally - remember the French reaction to the support voiced for the US position on Irag by the incoming members of the EEC ?

[pathogan]

Originally posted by pwdennis
Trite - no. The small things are but microcosms of the larger issues. Sanity will be restored eventually but this PC curse will remain.

It always amuses me that those who are the quickest to scream "censorship" are the first to shout down and otherwise suppress dissent from their positions. This applies globally - remember the French reaction to the support voiced for the US position on Irag by the incoming members of the EEC ?

not always...war is much ,far worse a plague than "pc', which exists mostly in ephemeral lands

[Craig S.]

I think PW and Satch are right about what kind of actions should be taken. The guy/gal shouldn't have done it, but they were only stating their opinions. Unfortunately, they did it in a stupid manner.

[pathogan]

Originally posted by Craig S.
I think PW and Satch are right about what kind of actions should be taken. The guy/gal shouldn't have done it, but they were only stating their opinions. Unfortunately, they did it in a stupid manner.


...I objected to the Pc part being thrown in.Hell, its tough enough to find work out there

[satchel]

:warn: I know this thread treads a bit close to the NDF Ban on Politics, and I commend all participants for trying to stay on the proper side of that line. I am afraid discussions of the concept of "PC" cross it. To the extent possible please stick to the topic of the boundaries of TSA inspectors' rights and responsibilities.