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A few months ago, an investigation uncovered a secret Border Patrol Facebook group. The group was filled with vulgar, sexist and racist posts that were made by federal border agents. From an obscene illustration featuring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to jokes about migrant deaths, the content left many people completely baffled. And if you think that group was bad, well, as it turns out, TSA employees are no better.

Recently, NBC Washington revealed that Transportation Security Administration employees have their own Facebook group with 18,000 current and former employees called TSA Breakroom. The employees used it to vent about their managers, coworkers and of course the travelers who, in some cases, were described as 'idiots'. Posts were filled with hate, frustration, crudeness and racial stereotypes. While the group is no longer available, NBC Washington managed to gather some of the absolutely outrageous posts.

Even though TSA made a statement to News4 I-Team in which they stated that the page "is not affiliated with TSA" and "an employee's off-duty internet use must not adversely reflect on TSA", the posts clearly demonstrate problems within the institution. An audit by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General cited staff turnover, shortages, pay and “excessive use of overtime” as causes of lower job satisfaction and morale.

#1

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Renee Gauthier
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think that is that bad. Just being realistic & funny about what the gloves look like.

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#3

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Rabbit Carrot
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just doing their job. Customers who say they’ve already been checked elsewhere blah blah blah are asshats. Just get checked and leave, you’re holding up the damn line.

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Hans
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think you need to see both sides. In the very moment, you cannot do much and should move on. The people checking you cannot change the rules anyway. However, different standards by the same agency actually undermine security and should, therefore, be questioned.

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Danikah
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Through* if you're going to b***h about people spell it right

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Master Markus
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was going to correct that because I read it wrong like "people threw things at another airport" and thought it was okay.

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Stille20
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I also hate when customers say this. They didn't stop me last time! Last time they weren't doing their job right. That doesn't make it okay.

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No you didn't
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get that, but as a traveller, I do find it super frustrating when an agent takes a fork off me that was clear to travel with me on 10 airport before. Don't they have guidelines?

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David Manhart
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is nothing wrong with questioning the process where you have to go through two separate checks. That is a waste of personnel and an assault on a person's sense of common sense.

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Karen Klinck
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the second airport may have heightened security concerns. Would you rather end up blowing up, taking an unscheduled trip to another country at the point of a gun, or end your flight ramming into a building?

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Electric Ed
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, why do you do it differently in different places? If you want me e.g. to remove my shoes, then you have to tell me to do so. How should I as a passenger, most likely being here the first time, know your particular customs in such a nice event as airport security? And if you seriously want me to do something so silly as removing my shoes, well then, some people will get butt hurt. Deal with it - that's what you get paid for.

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Karen Klinck
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe the fact that they have to repeat the instructions with each passenger might clarify the frustration--and then the idiots still want to argue! I last flew several years ago, but even walking with a cane I was willing to take off my sandals. These poor people don't make the regs you're whining about. Take it up with a superior, while you miss your flight!

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Craig Silberman
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this confirms my observation that they each make up their own rules, instead of following established procedures that apply to every airport; also, if the TSA agent doesn't know the difference between "through" and "threw," he or she is an idiot

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TigerDRena
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The issue with this is that some items are not clearly defined in EU for example, when it comes to what are "dangerous" items? There is a list of some of the prohibited items, and then there are very vague descriptions. And every airport seems to handle some of those items differently. Take travel tripods for photographers or even small umbrellas as an example. Seen both being accepted and both also being rejected and different - sometimes even the same airports when handled by different staff.

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TigerDRena
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To clarify this: When I tried to research if I could take my camera tripod with me on a trip I couldn't find any clear information. The EU regulations stated something like: "No pointy or sharp items. No items that can be used to injure other passengers." Like really? You could use anything to really hurt someone if you wanted. =|

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Donna Webber
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People that cant figure the difference between the words threw and through should be put to sleep

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Marnie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, even people who very well know the difference might occassionally type the wrong word. I wrote "to" when I meant "two" in a software design doc the other day and didn't realize it until I proof-read it later. I definitely do know the difference.

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misteriosa
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such people are awful. This is not relqted to customer service per se, but their character. For example, in part of my city, it is forbidden to park at entrances of buildings and on side of a street because they are narrowing (otherwise two-way streets) and have more than enough parking areas between buildings, but residents don't care and leave cars at those places nevertheless. When police finally came and started writing tickets, they had the audacity to complain on tv how "it is not fair" and "they left their cars there for _insert_amount_of_time_", dude, just because you ignored the law for so long doesn't mean that it becomes ok after a while. I am so irritated by such people.

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Michelle Hernandez
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Mom was SUPER PISSED when she was forced to throw out some rocks she had collected in Italy. If she had put them int her checked luggage she would have been fine. Word to the wise- remember each country and even each airport has different rules depending on local issues- in this case Ireland does NOT play with possible germs from rocks.

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Grazina Strolia
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Naw, no: having just traveled this past weekend with a child car seat that's certified for planes but *looks* too large, even though exceptions for its size are given by every airline, and being furiously told by security at the third airport that we couldn't bring it onboard (until fortunately his supervisor noticed), I DISAGREE.

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Trash Panda
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ignorant. The word is "through". If you're going to call out someone for their shortcomings you had better have your s**t straight.

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Stanislaw Orynski
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well I once had guy giving me a long speech (I was just working in the nearest building) about how he was parking in the no-parking zone for half a year so why police locked his wheel today (maybe you were just lucky before?)

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DotC
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really hate the inconsistency. This is what state's rights and corporate control of government gets you. Sky Harbor is the worst. La Guardia doesn't care about any of it.

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Karen Klinck
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Just because the last person didn't follow the rules doesn't mean I don't."

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Geoffrey Holland
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only problem I have with this one is the misspelling of the word through.

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Valerie Lessard
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Learn to spell before you rag on other people. No wonder he/she got the job of village idiot.

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#4

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Stille20
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yea, you don't get to dictate what the TSA searches. The note was pretty delusional.

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#6

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LuckyL
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But that probably wasn't even a lie... it really depends on the airport

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#8

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Anna McHugh
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry, what exactly is wrong with this? The person is cold. There is a heat-source. Person is only proving that they're not a numpty by applying heat from source to cold extremities.

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#9

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Demi Zwaan
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is profiling, not racist. If a large percentage of travelers from China (usually Chinese) bring prohibited items with them, then a whole group not having anything is an outlier and worthy of a little nod. Nothing wrong with that.

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#10

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Anonymous
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's actually horrible??? Just because you have a crappy unfulfilling life, Susan, doesn't mean you should feel joy when others lose theirs. Learn to be happy. This is some real grinchness here.

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#11

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Gemma Read
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wilvander, you realise that it was the TSA that someone else was shouting at right? Not the other way around?

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#14

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Dynein
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would expect security measures within one country - or at least one state - to be the same! This is not about preferences such as shoes on or off, this is about safety!

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#15

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Marcellus the Third
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And why is this post here? OK I need my life back, can't believe I'm this far down and still nothing to enjoy/get upset so far.

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#16

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Pseudo Puppy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SSSS = Secondary Security Screening Selection. LLLL = you're pre-check approved. I believe it stands for "Laptop Liquid Light-jacket Line" (ie the line where you don't need to remove your laptop, liquids, or light-jacket, in order to be scanned). (according to google research & the TSA-related websites)

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