Stop that. You are trying to sound normal in this post, acting like you are having a perfectly normal experience, but you were super dramatic in your first post, describing TSA agents who were “screaming,” shoving, etc. I wasn’t being combative, I was responding to your over the top descriptions of TSA experiences, that don’t match ANYTHING I’ve ever seen in any airport in America.

For instance, in this post you say:

I’ve never had a random security check by non TSA, and when they do inspect my luggage they neatly repack it and close it.

Very reasonable. But in your original post, you said:

Have you had to deal with agents asking you what’s in your bag and screaming at you not to touch it as if it contained a bomb that you’re doing to activate? Oh no your toothpaste and USB charger overlapped in the x-ray and looked like an IED! Then they shove everything back in your bag so it doesn’t close and tell you to move it so they can deal with the next suspect, and the only place to repack your bag is on a bench 15 feet away?

That is in direct conflict with your supposed personal experience, so which is it? If you’ve had normal experiences with TSA, why were you trying to spread nonsense about abusive behavior that you’ve never experienced? And what is wrong with me countering your dramatic first post with my normal experiences, which turn out to mirror your second experience?

And you accuse me of being combative, when you go on some incomprehensible rant where you half agree with me, and half don’t, start interrogating me about feeling safe about my shoes or belt or something, I don’t get it. Like this:

And to be clear, I’ve had experiences where they went above and beyond, maybe they’re new and haven’t stopped giving a shit yet, or maybe they’re just rays of sunshine. But it’s not standard practice to be polite and helpful in the most standardized security theater in the world, and that’s a problem.

So they’re nice to you sometimes, and not nice to you sometimes. Who cares? They’re doing their job as security, and you’re doing your job as a traveler. Why do they have to live up to some personal standard? They see thousands of people a day. Are they supposed to read everybody’s minds and treat them the way they like? I don’t expect that, I just expect them to do their job, that’s all. They don’t have to smile for me, too, that’s just condescending, and gross.

Do I feel safer? I don’t know, I don’t really think about it, and that answers your question.

Look, it’s real simple: Before the 90s, hijacking were out of control world wide. American security improved until it was pretty good by the 90s. Then 9/11 happened, and they realized that the threat was getting worse, with the rise of Al Qaeda, and they enhanc d their security. The result has been a 25 year hiatus since the last hijacking.

That’s success right there. It’s obviously working, so whatever they have to do, I’m willing to be cooperative about it. My home airports are two of the busiest in the world, and I never have any issues. I show up early, take my time, do my thing at security, help less experienced travelers if they need it, and move on. I have never witnessed these dramatic problems that people have seem to have, despite being in some of the most crowded airports in the world.

The result is that I don’t have die in a hijacking. Isn’t that the ultimate objective? So what’s everybody whining about?