(no subject)

[rm]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/outlook/2660471 or what happens when you doodle the wrong four letter word on the side of your crossword puzzle on an airplane. Forget, writers beware, in the new world, we have to monitor not just everything around us, but ourselves, constantly.

Comments

[rosemarymint.livejournal.com]

I'm almost afraid to fly these days -- not because of terrorists, but because of my fellow passengers and my government.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Me too. I haven't actually flown since before 9/11, and I'm quite worried about Australia and a probably trip to Texas in the coming months for these very reasons.

[editrx.livejournal.com]

I was worried, too, but have flown and survived by dint of carrying nothing to read with me (in case anything I thought normal appeared questionable) and answered everyone, including stewardesses with monosyllabically polite answers. I did have a brush-up with one official who thought I was "bein' smart" by referring to her as "ma'am," but I quickly explained that I was raised in the military (well, I was) and everyone was ma'am or sir to me. She still made me basically strip before she let me go, but at least I was able to get on the plane.

I don't like feeling this way, either. This is not the country I grew up in.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I always call people sir and ma'am when I'm intimidated, or trying extra hard to be polite.

It's stupid, but I'm worried because I ennunciate. I mean, even when I feel like I'm being utterly perfectly normal my speech patterns generally have people react to me as as if I'm a cross between teh bitchiest girl in high school and severus snape, and that' s not funny in an airport.

[rosemarymint.livejournal.com]

I've learned to sanitize everything I could possible bring or wear. I've been lucky to have been searched just a few times, but I am always afraid I'll get the rubber glove treatment.

It's particularly fun watching some rubber gloved minion open up your suitcase and rifle through every single piece of your clothing and anything else that might be in there, while another rubber gloved minion stares at your drivers license and asks you about where you live, the color of your eyes and then informs you that your ID looks nothing like you and do you have another one.

I swear to god, these people are on total power trips and they enjoy making life a living hell for the rest of the population.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Okay, you are now officially FREAKING ME OUT.

[rosemarymint.livejournal.com]

Sorry. Actually, that has only happened once -- and I tend to fly at least once a year.

[nnp.livejournal.com]

that pisses me off... fucking homeland security and the fucking patriot act... (it occurs to me that by writing that i may have someone show up at MY door to interogate me... hm.)

[rm.livejournal.com]

It's okay... that's still pretty bloody freaky!

[rosemarymint.livejournal.com]

You know -- I really wonder what money conspiracies lie in the TSA -- who is profiting off of the screener systems....

me smells an investigation...