Airport Security Forces Mother to Scrub Floor (pg. 4)

June 14, 2007 1:50 PM

Airport security harasses a mother over the liquid in her son's sippy cup because she admits it's not "nursery water or other bottled water." Before the confrontation has ended, she's been ordered both to apologize, and to get on her knees and clean a small quantity that had spilled from the cup. What's particularly interesting is that her other effects were not searched. via
posted by JHarris (18 comments total)

A note:
Is this suitable for Metafilter's front page? I'm not entirely sure. It seemed important enough, and reading the article multiple times makes it seem just as important, but still, it's just a single link, and over an issue over which many MeFites are probably already aware.

What do you think?
posted by JHarris at 1:57 PM on June 14, 2007

Nursery water?
posted by Matt Oneiros at 1:57 PM on June 14, 2007

If you're "ordered" to apologize, doesn't that make the apology meaningless?

But yeah, welcome your new petty and power-mad fascist overlords.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 1:58 PM on June 14, 2007

Since you ask, no, I don't think this is suitable. Not because it is a single-link, but because it's not novel. There are dozens or maybe hundreds of similar stories of TSA arbitrary goofiness out there on the web from the last six years.
posted by grouse at 2:00 PM on June 14, 2007

This is the least of her problems if a kid of that age is that attached his sippy cup.
posted by sneakin at 2:00 PM on June 14, 2007

I think you should just let the post stand on it's own and not worry about it. If it's noise, it gets yanked. No biggie.

On the subject of the post itself: As the father of a toddler, I feel uniquely qualified to tell the TSA to go fuck itself.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 2:00 PM on June 14, 2007

Mind That Parcel!

Eagle Eyes Can Save A Life!

Don't Suspect A Friend; Report Him!
posted by Joey Michaels at 2:01 PM on June 14, 2007

Let's just pray that the terrorists never discover a way to harm people using solids or gases.
posted by designbot at 2:03 PM on June 14, 2007 [4 favorites]

grouse: Noted.

WinnipegDragon: If you were to do that I have no doubt that they would lock you and your child up in a cell for a while. A parent in a situation like this is in a uniquely perilous position.
posted by JHarris at 2:03 PM on June 14, 2007

I'd agree with grouse - not a big offense by the poster really, but something like this that is already making the rounds on other sites doesn't need to be repeated here, not to mention that these things happen a lot.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 2:04 PM on June 14, 2007

I can't wait until al Qaeda starts making blouse bombs. Those long security line waits won't be half as bad.
posted by NationalKato at 2:05 PM on June 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

NationalKato writes "I can't wait until al Qaeda starts making blouse bombs. Those long security line waits won't be half as bad."

I'm holding out for the C-4 breast implants. Yowza!
posted by mullingitover at 2:07 PM on June 14, 2007

Is this suitable for Metafilter's front page? I'm not entirely sure.

Well, we've covered Airport security horror stories before, and this was a particularly nasty one. It's not a great story but I found it interesting.

Seems like the TSA does nothing but harass people.
posted by delmoi at 2:07 PM on June 14, 2007

It's probably better not to travel to the US for a while.

I feel sorry for those of you who have to live there.
posted by sour cream at 2:09 PM on June 14, 2007

BlackLeotardFront: It is understood that it happens a lot. But when each instance is so galling, does that suggest that the reports should also increase in quantity? Also, this instance seems to be particularly bad, and to have little to actually do with national security.

A thought: Are there any statistics to be found on the number of fliers detained over security issues? Like a percentage? If there is, then that would have been good to include in the post.
posted by JHarris at 2:09 PM on June 14, 2007

Here's where I'm racist: I see the photo of the mom and the brat-faced boy and just think, "entitled white woman bitching and moaning; discovers 'harassment'. News at 11."
posted by Peter H at 2:09 PM on June 14, 2007 [1 favorite]

Airport security is a farce. I seem to recall that audits of airport security across the nation found that it was terrifyingly easy to get weapons past them. It appears that the purpose of airport security is to provide a comforting ritual, rather than to actually prevent hijackings or bombings.
posted by mullingitover at 2:11 PM on June 14, 2007

The lack of consistency between airports is what drives me nuts. Just because one moron tried to light his shoe, we have to take off our shoes. The whole process is just retarded.
posted by toddbass10 at 2:11 PM on June 14, 2007