this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] [email protected] 382 points 2 months ago (11 children)

The TSA is something that shouldn't exist in its current form. They very often fail their audit checks and normalize invading your privacy to an extreme degree like body scanners and pat downs. If water bottles are considered potentially explosive then why dump them on a bin next to a line of people where they can go off? This is low grade security theater that inconveniences passengers at best.

[–] [email protected] 115 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's security theater through and through.

Apart from the obvious failings of these checks, think about what kind of damage a single backpack of explosives can do to a packed airport during holiday season. You can literally put a ton of explosives on one of those trolleys, roll it into the waiting area and kill 200 people easily. No security whatsoever involved.

Reality is, most security measures are designed to keep the illusion of control. Nothing more. Penetration testers show again and again that you can easily circumvent practically all barriers or measures.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 months ago (4 children)

The goal is not to stop the people in the queue being attacked, its to stop someone boarding a plane with the means to hijack it

[–] [email protected] 57 points 2 months ago (1 children)

They fail gloriously at at that too.

Whenever they get tested the red teams manage to smuggle in everything needed to hijiack a plane plus a kitchen sink.

The few times that terrorists tried to board planes, they made it through security and were caught by other passengers.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago (5 children)

That's what's changed. Before, a hijacking meant a free trip to south America or Cuba. Now it means you're likely to die if you don't stop the hijackers. A planeful of pissed off passengers determined to live are gonna stop a would-be hijacker.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 months ago (10 children)

Yeah, and you don't need the TSA for that. Just do as they already do: lock the cockpit.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago (2 children)

They had to do something about the plague of people hijacking planes with bottles of water.

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[–] [email protected] 99 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's basically the only type of jobs program that both sides of our broken government can agree on: petty nonsense that looks like it might do something useful, but really doesn't, and only inconveniences the poors.

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[–] [email protected] 43 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The main reason that rule still exists is to sell overpriced water. Otherwise they could just ask you to drink some of it to prove it's water.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 months ago (2 children)

you are allowed to take empty bottles with you, just saying

[–] [email protected] 25 points 2 months ago (6 children)

Some airports have no place to refill and have only hot water in the toilet sinks. It's inhumane.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

This happened to me after a lunch break going back into the court room for jury duty. Didn't think about my soda until I got to the checkpoint, used to the TSA's mentality so figured the rest of it was forfeit. She just tells me to take a drink to show it's valid. Respect for people doing their job correctly, and using common sense.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 2 months ago (9 children)

According to the story I heard as to the origin of the "no liquids over X amount" rule, years ago there was a terrorist that tried to smuggle hydrogen peroxide and acetone - which can be used to rather easily synthesize triacetone triperoxide (TATP, a highly sensitive explosive) - onto a plane in plastic toiletry bottles. They got caught and foiled somehow, and then the TSA started restricting liquids on planes. This was in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, if I recall correctly.

And I happen to know, from a reliable source, of someone who accidentally made TATP in a rotary evaporator in an academic lab. So it seems plausible.

Not that the rule is actually effective prevention against similar attacks, nor that the TSA even knows what the reason is behind what they do at this point, haha. I just thought it was an interesting story.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 months ago

It's because all the shops inside want you to buy their shit.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 2 months ago (5 children)

The main reason why it exists is to provide jobs. The number of people who work at the TSA at every airport in every state...no representative wants to cut those jobs.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 2 months ago (18 children)

I fucking hate that this is a thing. "We can't stop doing this useless and/or detrimental thing, look at all the work it makes for other people to do!!!" Absolutely bonkers that it's just a standard political argument.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Agreed. I’d rather they be paid that wage NOT to bother me.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 2 months ago (4 children)

I mean if a state removed the TSA and spent the money on something else, surely they could use the money to create as many jobs as they removed but in an actual useful field.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Could we pay them to dig a ditch and fill it back in again? It'd be just as useful.

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[–] [email protected] 135 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 180 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Big caveat

The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint.

[–] [email protected] 134 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (6 children)

Ah yes, the "rules only apply when I say they do" rule. Much legitimate.

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[–] bradinutah 23 points 2 months ago

See, flying isn't for people who plan. It's for people who roll 20s and not 1s. You know, lucky people. That's the message here.

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[–] [email protected] 127 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's actually stated on the TSA website that frozen liquids are permitted. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/ice

[–] [email protected] 75 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Notice the footnote on every TSA webpage that their officers can always change the rules on the spot if they feel like it. So it’s always a gamble.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago (2 children)

This is what gets me the most. It's totally arbitrary, every time it's a chance for new rules. What you brought one way maybe a problem on your way home.

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[–] [email protected] 123 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The longer they discuss the less it is allowed.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yup, TSA is on the same level as McDonald's. You're arguing with a dipshit who hates you.

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[–] [email protected] 95 points 2 months ago (5 children)

Do you think they get mad if I bring plasma

[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 months ago (1 children)

As long as it's being held in magnetic confinement!

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago (1 children)

They tend not to care so much about "how safely the hazardous material is stored"

Just ask anyone who's tried to smuggle on 5lbs of mercury...

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Nah, that's because five pounds would be about 6 fluid ounces of mercury and you're only allowed 3 ounces of a fluid.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

I'm full of plasma, but they never stopped me from flying.

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[–] [email protected] 92 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 33 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Technically it's the only kind of correct. Technically.

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[–] [email protected] 76 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I've actually done this successfully. TSA agent knocked on it, and said no problem.

If i somehow would be stopped, I'd love to argue what is liquid or not, and what could be liquid if it's just hot enough.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Getting denied at security because you’re trying to bring steel beams

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[–] [email protected] 35 points 2 months ago (2 children)

That's odd...I've had TSA agents recommend this to get liquids through security.

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[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 months ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

For the lazy:

Ice

Carry On Bags: Yes (Special Instructions)

Checked Bags: Yes

Frozen liquid items are allowed through the checkpoint as long as they are frozen solid when presented for screening. If frozen liquid items are partially melted, slushy, or have any liquid at the bottom of the container, they must meet 3-1-1 liquids requirements

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 months ago (11 children)

you could freeze H2O2 and blow up something later.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 months ago

The main issue you'll have with the TSA in this case is that you're using logic

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 months ago

I brought frozen fish with ice packs through TSA. The TSA guy was a fisherman and wanted to talk about fishing.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago (4 children)

Recently, I'm flying quite a lot, so I must try it, just to see if it works.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago

On my last trip I had a full water bottle with me and the lady said I had to throw it away, so I looked her dead in the eye while I chugged the entire bottle and stuffed the bottle in my bag.

Fuckin tell me I can't bring the water through again.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago

TSA vs Karen, quite a match

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