We Won't Fly: national aviation opt-out day in protest of TSA porno scanner/genital grope "security"

ExiledSurfer sez, "In support of NATIONAL OPT OUT DAY on NOVEMBER 24th, this is a website dedicated to people who decide to opt out of the TSA scanning procedures, with advice how to do it, what you can expect, and a place to tell your stories. A website dedicated to civil disobedience."

The Plan is Simple
1. If you absolutely, positively must fly, opt out of the scanners. Do it to protect your health and privacy.
2. If you can avoid flying, don't fly. Hit the airlines in the pocketbook until the scanners and gropers are gone. Make the airlines work for us.
3. Raise holy hell. Register your disapproval of the scanners and gropers to your airline, your hotel and all government officials who claim to work for you. Educate your community.

Opt Out of the Airport Scanners for Health and Privacy - We Won't Fly.com (Thanks, ExiledSurfer, via Submitterator!)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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Anonymous

Child Rape Charge Rocks The TSA

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1238602
kullervo

I live on Kauai. Wake me when Amtrak finishes the bridge.
Anonymous

This isn’t a fair method of protesting. The TSA is a branch of a federal organization (the FDA) and the airlines have absolutely no power over them, and no capability to change their practices or decisions.

“Hitting the airlines in the pocketbook” will have absolutely no affect on the TSA, who gets paid no matter what, from the FDA, but the airlines will take it out on the flight attendants, pilots, and other personnel they DO have power over. TAKE THIS TO YOUR STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, that will have a much bigger affect than hurting the airlines, which are huge corporations and will just push on their hurts to the little guys who are already not getting paid what they deserve since massive pay cuts in the early 2000s. THINK!
- Anonymous
  
  It is Homeland Security, not the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
- Anonymous
  
  Good points, but I also think that hitting the airlines in the pocketbook might get them screaming at the government. Every bit of pressure helps, right? Gov’t won’t listen to lowly citizens but the air travel lobby will louder volume on the communication dial.
Bat Guano

You know what freaking rocks? The train.

We usually fly, but we took the City of New Orleans from Chicago to NOLA and back.

Con: It took 24 hours. And that stretch of track in Mississippi was just crazy warped. And I wished they would’ve stopped blowing that horn at night because I was trying to sleep.

Pro: No TSA. We could bring fluids on the train, including flasks of gin and bourbon which we were allowed to consume. Sitting in the sightseer car at night in a Illinois thunderstorm, drinking and watching the lightning. The food, surprisingly good, and dinners free with our sleeper. Spending $90 for a sleeper for two, and the tickets were still cheaper than a plane. Seeing Chicago, Memphis, swamps, bayous roll by. It was the most relaxing long-distance trip I’ve ever been on. Google up some Amtrak, people.
- Anonymous
  
  I agree with “bat”. You can’t see the country from an airplane. Get in your car or take the train. You’ll be glad you did.
Mauibrad

Kullervo, on Kauai, just opt-out, take the pat down. The scanner puts dangerous levels of radiation on all of your skin surfaces, scientists are now stating. TSA never adequately tested the machines. There’s a reason why the pilots are taking a stand. Opt out even on an island.
- AnthonyC
  
  “The scanner puts dangerous levels of radiation on all of your skin surfaces, scientists are now stating.”
  I’d like to see a link for that. AFAIK, the irradiation from this machine is insignificant compared to what you’re exposing yourself to by flying around at high altitudes.
BookGuy

I’m sure the choice of what is usually the first or second heaviest travel day of the year in U.S. was intentional, but I suspect it will cut way down on people’s ability and/or willingness to do this.

Full disclosure: This is not meant to be in any way and endorsement, passive or otherwise, of naked scanners and groping. I definitely plan to avoid air travel as much as possible until this crap gets dialed back, if it ever does. But I’m stuck for now. If I could travel this Thanksgiving without flying or making my elderly parents very sad by not flying, I’d definitely do it.
Anonymous

I just got my 3-day Greyhound ticket from Oregon to Rhode Island for the holidays. $150 coast-to-coast! I’m going to pack well and enjoy the scenery. I’ve taken Amtrak across country many times, and recommend it to anyone who wants hassle-free travel and time to think. Also, check out Megabus.com for travel between Northeast cities.
- Anonymous
  
  Your’e riding the Greyhound and you think you won’t get groped?
EH

TSA screening procedures are not a consumer issue, they are a political one. Nothing is going to happen until politicians get involved.
- bhtooefr
  
  However, going the consumer route, and making it clear to the airlines that you chose not to fly because of the TSA, can mean that their much larger clout can be used to lobby for these scans to go away.
falnfenix

I’m just buying a camper. Screw all this flying and hotel nonsense.
Anonymous

My family (5 members) opted to NOT FLY for Thanksgiving. This is our little way to send a message. We will drive 6 hours to San Diego and enjoy family togetherness the old-fashioned way. What’s wrong with that? More people should get back to busing, training, or driving. The way it used to be. Things were good then. WE DO NOT ‘NEED’ TO FLY. THINK ABOUT THAT!!!
Anonymous

Thats the rub. With two sets of grandparents in California wanting to see granddaughters, and not being independently wealthy, or otherwise able to afford a 10 day thanksgiving vacation, what can you do?

Make a scene? Great, daddy is in the TSA isolation area, with the six year olds and mommy alone on the flight?

Not so good.

Rights and Vindication 2 years after the fact in a court, are all well in good, but the emotional pain and damage are now. That influences the choices. I’m worried we’re on the road to a horrible conjunction of 1984 and Nueromancer, but I’m not sure what the way out is, or if there’s a way out.

I despair.
Ant

This is why I stopped travelling on airplanes since summer of 1993. Too slow, annoying, and got sick of travelling. :( Let me know when we have teleporters.
h.a.jones

i really think folks are missing a prime opportunity to embellish one’s privates for “per-view”….like how about dropping a pokemon character or two down there, perhaps add some structural support with k’nex, or a warm embrace with a little fur-real, and then, to maximize the encounter, break very slowly into a satiate grin as the TSA scan operator rocks your world!

just sayin’…
- efergus3
  
  Extra large jock strap and 2 or 3 baseballs. Make their day.
Jupiter12

I think his desire to “hit the airlines in the pocketbooks” and “make the airlines work for us” because of the scanners may be misguided. If I’m not mistaken, the full body scans are conducted by the TSA, not the airlines themselves. In fact, a pilot recently made news by opting-out of the scan.
urpBurp

If I am gonna pay good money for some stranger to grope me… it certainly won’t be at the airport :)

This administration needs to get this policy changed. What’s next, anal probes?
Captain Obviousness

I completely despise the TSA, but this plan makes no sense. “Hitting the airlines in the pocketbooks” is not going to change anything – the TSA is part of the government not the airlines. The TSA could care less if fewer people flew. In fact, the average TSA worker would probably love it if fewer people flew (less work for them to do, so they can be paid to stand around doing nothing instead of being paid to molest people).

Like any other government agency, the TSA will only get bigger, more powerful and more expensive. It’s kind of like Eric Cartman’s trapper keeper in that respect.
MikeDobbins

I’m wondering, has anyone ever tried to pull a Supertroopers on the TSA?

That is to say, before going through the pat down, pop some viagra and go through with a raging, mega-huge boner?

Methinks that would be hilarious.
Wassermelone

I feel trapped between a rock and a hard place. My wife and I fly the 18th for our honeymoon to Paris. It was booked 4 months ago before news of all this shit existed/or reached me.

-Option 1. I opt out. I get molested in public prior to my honeymoon. This then raises the question in my wife as to what happened and why did I opt out. She has a terrible body image and would under no circumstance want anyone other than me seeing her naked (such as the backscatter). On the other hand, she, in equal fashion, would not want anyone other than me touching her like that. What a wonderful start to our honeymoon. Shes already nervous about traveling as shes never been out of the country.

-Option 2. Roll over. Get irradiated. Do what the TSA wants me to do and not question. My wife goes through and has a naked photo taken of her that we have no idea what will happen to. Chances are its just one of millions that might… eventually get deleted. But who knows? Walk through trying to keep that fact from my wife who would go through a nervous panic at the thought.

This is the shit this puts travelers through.

TSA. Attempting to ruin your vacation before it even starts!
Anonymous

Don’t just opt-out, take every unauthorized item in your carry-on as well like toothpaste, liquids, hairspray, all of it and make them stall with your luggage as well. Along with the pat down this will kill the airlines. Screw the people in line that don’t want to protest if you make them late they will be pissed at the scanners too.
Anonymous

And one more thing. My daughter and I were so excited to have finally made reservations at Disney but have since canceled and taken the 10% hit in my wallet just so we don’t have to fly and we expressed that to the Disney Rep and they were clueless. Point is send emails to EVERY amusement park, hotel, motel, etc…advising them you were going to come and visit but the airlines have made it far too difficult and you will be spending your money elsewhere closer to your home.
Anonymous

But, what if we refuse to go through the scanner and instead of the pat down we all just strip right in the middle of the airport???? I have often thought that the real solution is everyone flies naked.
Mauibrad

Here you go, Tony, these are not the only ones:

Doctors, incl Nobel Laureate, letter request #TSA cease using & independent eval of full body scanners http://n.pr/bKGCKx #wontfly #OptOut

Scientific health reasons why people should Opt-Out of going through unproven full body scanners http://bit.ly/ci3M7m #wontfly #TSA #OptOut

The radiation from these machines is focused all on the skin, and the technology has the potential to break DNA strands within cells in the skin, potentially causing or making more suseptible to skin cancer. Young and elderly as esp. at risk. The pilots know all of this, that’s why they are leading the boycott, and rightly so. These machines were never properly evaluated.
cakenggt

New TSA procedures will include tasting the nipples for poison and probing the vagina with the screener’s penis to find any hidden objects. Slapping and hitting are allowed and encouraged.

On a side note, if I were chaotic good I would sign up to be a TSA agent and literally molest as many women as I could at these checkpoints until the law got changed. Only so many accounts of “excessive groping” will be tolerated by the agency and the people, especially if it happens to their wives and grandmothers.
- gwailo_joe
  
  Is that really Chaotic Good? Seems more like Lawful Evil to me. . .
  
  Anyhow: not traveling that day. So I’m helping! Take That TSA!!
  
  of course. . .I wasn’t going to travel anyway. And when I do, I fly. My gf lives in Japan; I’m supposed to hire on as a merchant marine? No thanks.
  
  And yeah: the draconian and invasive techniques and behaviors of the transportation ‘authorities’ often make my blood boil. But go ahead and scan my nakedness if you must you underpaid flunkies: I got shit to do and no time to make a fuss. I’ll leave the civil disobedience to the activists, young people and lovers of cheap thrills. As soon as I get to the terminal bar I’ll raise a g&t to their bold efforts. . .but I’ve gotten pretty far by always being very oh-so-polite to those in positions of petty authority when they are dealing with me, then doing what I want later. Fight the Power (when convenient)!
Anonymous

Fight the TSA sexual assaults and Nude-O-Tron

I had an epiphany on a way to fight the sexually assaultive policies. It involves creating viral videos of the assaults.

When you air travel with others, split into two parties. The first party/person goes through security with a video capable digital camera five or teen minutes before the second party/person. This party/person does nothing to draw attention to themselves.

Once out of the security zone, recon and select an area that gives a good view of the grope-zone. This may not be possible in all airports, but it should be in many. Set up the camera to record vid, and < <>>. This will let you shoot the vid without drawing attention to yourself. Be ready to roll vid when your party comes through.

The “target” party should object and disrupt the scan/grope as loudly and belligerently as you feel comfortable with. You know if you are willing to be arrested or not, it is up to you. Get the local police involved as quickly as possible. Demand arrest of TSA for sexual assault. Take names and badge numbers. Be particularly adamant if your “target” person is your juvenile son or daughter. Let the police know that you are protecting your child from sexual assault and that NO ONE has permission to touch them. Also be clear that they will freely go through the metal detector (not the body scanner) and willingly be wanded.

Let the scenario play out to your comfort level. If you get good vid, let it go viral on YouTube, or release it to Fox and any news outlet that will take it.
rastronomicals

Not that I haven’t done it a couple times when absolutely necessary, but I’ve been deathly afraid of flying since 9/11.

I know that much of my response is irrational, but tell that to my hindbrain :-)

I also know that the rational part of me is glad that my irrational side makes the airlines’ deplorable treatment of their customers (basically) a moot point for me.

It is something of an amusement to me to see how the reaction to the TSA’s dehumanizing scanners has run, considering that the airlines have been dehumanizing their customers for years, how they’ve been herding them like cattle, subjecting them to hours-long delays on the tarmac, eliminating basic services like meals.

For those of you who are thinking, well, s&@t, if the airline companies just knew how unhappy we are with all these scanners, things’d sure change then, I have but one word.

LULZ.

Oh, and to Bat Guano, that train things sounds f&@%ing awesome.
Alan

Since I don’t really want to be groped, and I really don’t want to be seen naked via radiation on a machine that saves the picture, I’d just as soon strip down right there. Really, what’s the difference?
omems

I’m really tempted to just strip naked the next time I get randomly selected for this machine. I’d try to do it with as much dignity as one can, both in stripping and submitting to Authority.

I’m not an exhibitionist by any means, and I realize it’s somehow illegal to be naked in public so it would definitely not help me in the medium term, but in the long term, if we don’t provide *some* resistance to giving up our rights, they won’t stop taking them.

Anybody with me?
Anonymous

Does anyone know of a body paint that would “shine” or “fluoresce” under these scanning rays? I have a kilroy-was-here-esque idea in mind (I’m male). Alternately, one could paint a suitable message on their chest or elsewhere to make a mockery of this ridiculous meddling procedure. Now that would be American!!!!
efergus3

Not just for the men either.
Anonymous

I realize this is the sign of the times BUT, with what happened just recently is very scary. Has anyone given thought to HOW it happened? The bomb was not taken on board the aircraft. The article was sent as freight or parcel without a passenger, SO my question is ” why are the traveling public held responsible for the over site of the airlines?
Anonymous

ok, they are taking people’s basic rights away…people are consdiering not flying- that is restricting people’s air travel and modes of travel…with all of this…now people are going to start driving? what if they decide to shut the airlines down then….restricted fliers means…less freedom for people in general…it seems like it’s about control , restriction…not a good thing…whta if people go on strike and the airline industry goes out of business…doubt it would get to that level but…if you really get to the big picture…none of this is good…and what it’s doing to people- either way…you, the common person…loses…regardless of what you do…protest..what happens? stop flying? be subjected to groping or searches…either way the general public loses and is at the mercy of others… do you think the congress, senate will do anything about this, once they have gained more power over people in this way… people can protest flying, but then what…would it really change the procedures or do worse…
42isall

This sadly doesn’t work as a protest. Really, you either need a significant portion of an airlines customers to not fly for them to even notice, or you’re going to have more people get groped, which might make some difference if you start filing complaints, but then all that would happen is they say that they will teach all TSA agents better techniques. Really what needs to happen is this should be for AT LEAST a week, possible until the new year, you really would need at least one or two people handing out pamphlets at every airport that has one the entire time, and then you would need some form of mainstream press coverage.Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for this, I just don’t think it will work.
- Anonymous
  
  This alone won’t end it. Not enough people will participate. That doesn’t make it useless though. If there are enough, maybe this can get more media attention and wake some more people up to erosion or rights and dignity. Some protest is more than none. I now avoid flying, but most people don’t have that option (unless they quit work).
LeFunk

I would so do it, if I knew that I’ll absolutely positively never want to fly again.
Clayfoot

Some clothing or materials purport to fully or partially block the radiation from such scanners, but I have yet to see formal test results. If it works, this seems like a good compromise in some ways: You can scan me through my clothing, but-oh-by-the-way they’re just as opaque in the scanner as in visible light. Anyone know of clothing or material that’s been tested with WBI/AIT scanners? Here are some possible options:

http://www.cogentemr.com/radiationsafeapparel.html
http://rockyflatsgear.com/
http://runningtimes.com/Print.aspx?articleID=11294
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/2533R_Brooks-HVAC-Running-Shirt-X-Static-Long-Sleeve-For-Men.html
http://www.bellyarmor.com/shop/
http://kissbaby.en.alibaba.com/product/244242913-209342650/Italy_KISSBABY_Radiation_composite_nano_silver_fiber_clothing_harnesses_underwear8819_8820.html
LoTekJunky

For you people that think this is not a workable plan for the reason that the TSA is part of the government… that is the reason it WILL work. The TSA and their security theater are there to make it look like they are protecting someone from something. When people stop flying, the airlines will raise a stink with DHS/TSA and hopefully something will change. I’m just waiting for some terrorist to fly with explosives in his rectum a d purposefully get CAUGHT. What will they do then? ANAL PROBES FOR ALL! Not likely… it will just prove the fact that the TSA is a theater production.
Anonymous

My misbehavior is tempered somewhat by my wife’s good judgment, but it would seem to me that short of stripping naked, one could stop at a really minimal thong. A millimeter short of technical indecent exposure, would surely get the message across. Simply having the clothes start coming and tossed into one of those buckets, to a burlesque soundtrack, preferably with a cellphone-camera-equipped accomplice….
Donald Petersen

“Act Now. Travel With Dignity.”

Naw, that’s when they get ya by the short & curlies.

It’s our desire for dignity that allows them to rob us of same. Most of us don’t like to raise a fuss in public, and our shame about public nudity compels the TSA to looking for contraband where the sun don’t shine.

I don’t have Peter Hinwood’s physique, but I wouldn’t mind going through the terminal in Rocky Horror’s gold lamÃ© Speedo. Heck we all should, the more outta-shape the better. If they wanna inspect further inside that gilded package, let ‘em do it right there in front of God & everybody.

Trouble is, for all my showmanship I expect all I’d receive in response is “Have a safe trip. Next.”
Anonymous

We decided to drive instead of fly on our last two trips. We will continue to not fly. The airlines can influence the procedures that happen via the TSA. They have large powerful lobby efforts that can change policy.
Jenearias

The last time I flew I wore a pretty dress with a flared skirt.
Thinking I had a bomb between my legs, TSA pulled me aside and,
in front of everyone, felt me up between my legs. Forget that
the agent was a woman, I don’t like women feeling me up-and not in public! I threw the dress in the trash and haven’t flown since. Now they’re scanning? NO!!!
Anonymous

My answer to the TSA and all the jack-booted thugs.

http://www.meetup.com/National-Boycott-of-Airline-Travel-2011/
Anonymous

I will not fly. I’ll keep my dignity and liberty, you keep the “change”
Inanna Kadesha

Does it make any sense to take the train to Canada to catch an international flight?
Anonymous

I would like to submit another option for your consideration: Charter a plane. If you are travelling as part of a small group (six people seems to be the break even point), you can often charter a plane for as much as it would cost to fly commercially, and you can arrive far closer to your destination than an airline can get you. It is also more fun.
straponego

Yes, we get it, not everybody can opt out. If you can’t, that’s fine. But it turns out that you are not the only person in the world. Some of us can and will opt out and this will affect the bottom line of the airlines.

For example, I’ll be driving instead of flying for Thanksgiving. Next year I’ll fly to Hawaii, but any other vacations I take will be by car or rail, unless the TSA starts acting reasonably. Airlines are barely profitable as it is; if they turn away enough of us, they will feel the pain they deserve.

This will be interesting. In particular, the people who do fly and opt out of Molestovision will be engaging in the first meaningful civil disobedience the US has seen in many years.
- Captain Obviousness
  
  “Airlines are barely profitable as it is; if they turn away enough of us, they will feel the pain they deserve.”
  
  It seems that there is a huge misconception that the TSA is operated by the airlines. The TSA is the federal government, not a branch of Delta or JetBlue.
  - straponego
    
    I know the TSA is not run by the airlines, as do most or all of the people you’re mocking. Or trolling. So I will respond in kind. Perhaps you were not aware of this, but government policy is largely determined by politicians. With me so far? Politicians are influenced by money. Okay, here’s the leap, but I know you can make it: airlines have a lot of money.
jeremypsyops

In related news, there’s a national thinking opt-out day in protest of the NSA’s remote neural monitoring program.
Anonymous

Honestly, an opt out day has no real impact on me at this point. I’ve flown once for work in the last two years, and I haven’t flown for personal reasons since they started doing the whole “3 oz bottle, 1 quart bag thing” (which started the day I returned from vacation).

It was bad enough when the hurdles were completely pointless, and ineffective, methods to harass us. Now that it has crossed the line to being completely invasive, I won’t even fly for work anymore.

If GM was “too big to fail”, then the airlines definitely are as well. If we hit them in the pocket enough, the government will have to do something about this TSA bull#$%^.