TSA agents detain child in a wheelchair

[Beachlife!]

If they'd ask to share your panties it would be cause for real concern.

[GenYus234]

And I'd be concerned if they told you to stand closer to the rhino.

But whatever you do, do not flirt in order to get ahead in the TSA line.

[Skeptic]

Secondly, how much flack do you think the TSA is going to get when they allow someone to blow up a child in a wheelchair because that was the best way to get the bomb onto the plane?

That was the plot of a film I saw years ago. A guy kidnaps his own son from his estranged wife, as the kid was in a wheelchair and he was going to use him to kill the president.

[Beachlife!]

I once made the mistake of getting too friendly with a US customs agent. He asked what I did for a living, and after I told him I asked what he did for a living. His answer "I am a United States Customs agent and I can hold you here for a very long time."

[Bobcat Warrior]

Beachlife and GenYus234:

I think we have succeeded in lowering the standard of the discussion on this thread.

BW

[Mickey Blue]

Originally Posted by Beachlife!

If they'd ask to share your panties it would be cause for real concern.

It can be hard not to share if they have perfect eyes though, just remember never to tip the TSA agents, cause tipping is a scam.

[GenYus234]

Originally Posted by Beachlife!

I once made the mistake of getting too friendly with a US customs agent. He asked what I did for a living, and after I told him I asked what he did for a living. His answer "I am a United States Customs agent and I can hold you here for a very long time."

I bet they get a lot of "Why don't you get a real job?"* comments from people and so are pretty touchy about that. Not an excuse to threaten to hold someone just for pique's sake, but a potential reason.

Bobcat Warrior, happy to help!

* Probably second only to "I pay your salary!".

[Beachlife!]

I'm going to tip anyone I need to if it will keep from standing by the rhino.

[erwins]

They do require everyone to take off their shoes before entering their "house" though--and they don't provide slippers.

[Bobcat Warrior]

Originally Posted by GenYus234

I bet they get a lot of "Why don't you get a real job?"*... * Probably second only to "I pay your salary!".

Back when I was a "Civil Serpent" I used to reply: "Well yeah, I pay taxes too!"

BW

[geminilee]

That doesn't quite work. They are.saying that since they pay you, they get to boss you. You paying taxes just means you get to boss you too, it doesn't reverse the situation unless they also are paid from taxes. Of course, you could argue which of you pays more taxes, and thus gets to boss you more.

(I do not agree with the "I pay.your salary" logic, unless the person is your boss and directly pays your salary, I want to note.)

[Hero_Mike]

Paying the salary of any public servant - and let's not forget that word "servant" there - should earn someone the right to be treated with dignity and respect. The job of the police is to "serve" and "protect". Thus the phrase "public servant" - they "serve" the public.

The distinction gets lost because people think "servant" is equal to "slave", but the responsibility, and respect, should be mutual.

[Mickey Blue]

I agree that all people (public servants and otherwise) should treat all people with dignity and respect.. But I'm curious if the idea that the fact that you pay their salary would carry over to other people who benefit from tax money (people on social services, schools and hospitals that get public funds, etc)?

Again, honestly, everybody should be nice and respectful of everybody else, but I don't think the fact that some people get some of 'my' tax money should be a notable factor. I don't think that a paramedic on a private rescue squad should be entitled to be less polite/respectful than one on a public one.

[mouse goddess]

I haven't read all of the replies yet, but the parents could have handled this a LOT better.

I've traveled several times with my wheelchair-using daughter. There has never been any doubt about the procedure. Part of the "perk" of being to cut to the front of the line, is the process of patting down the kid and swabbing the chair.

If the mom had LISTENED, rather than spent the time fiddling with the camera on her phone, they're required to explain what they're doing, as they're doing it, and why they were doing that.

They actually prefer you take the kid out and carry them through, that way, they can x-ray the chair. Since my kid is almost completely dead weight, she's not capable of helping me carry her at all, and that it's a big hassle to take her out of the chair, I know that the "trick" is to say that she CAN'T medically be removed from the chair. (Not technically true, but a TSA agent actually helped me out on that one.) They very perfunctorily, feel along the sides of the kid, have you lean the kid forward to feel down the back of the kid, and down the back of the chair, and then do an explosive swab on the chair. Since my kid uses a feeding pump, and has a bag of formula with it, they swab that too.

Maybe I've been lucky, but in the 20 times or so I've flown with Maureen, the agents have been completely nice, and completely respectful. Sometimes, they're even a little TOO timid, and respectful, as I need to get to my gate, and they're super-concerned with being gentle and not startling or alarming her, and therefore, are moving SLOWLY.

This mom should have acquainted herself with the procedure first, and then explained it to the kid ahead of time. Their prickliness is what got their daughter so upset, IMO. The agents are not out to "touch children". This mom is being ridiculous.

[Not_Done_Living]

Originally Posted by mouse goddess

This mom should have acquainted herself with the procedure first, and then explained it to the kid ahead of time.

But then she couldnt make a big stink and try to get their vacation paid.

[Sue]

Originally Posted by Not_Done_Living

But then she couldnt make a big stink and try to get their vacation paid.

Where have you seen this? All the parents wanted, from every source I've seen, was an apology and an assurance that procedures would be followed correctly in future. Which they got. They clearly stated they had no intention of suing and they did not want anyone to lose their job. No where has there been any suggestion that they wanted to get their vacation paid for - if this is the case I'd be interested to see it.

The idea that people whose child has part of her spine exposed would be upset that total strangers would be patting her down really shouldn't be surprising.

[Not_Done_Living]

A trip to Disney is generally well planned -- I would expect travelling in this situation would be even more planned. Everything planned. No surprises, as surprises could be tragic.

[Sylvanz]

Originally Posted by Not_Done_Living

A trip to Disney is generally well planned -- I would expect travelling in this situation would be even more planned. Everything planned. No surprises, as surprises could be tragic.

Is this one of those, "Can you start an urban legend" threads.? I think I lost my way. Maybe I should have turned left at Albuquerque?

[wanderwoman]

Originally Posted by Sue

The idea that people whose child has part of her spine exposed would be upset that total strangers would be patting her down really shouldn't be surprising.

It would be really unusual if that had not been repaired while she was in infancy. Do you have a source that says it wasn't?