'No scan, no flight'

meghatronic · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:38

Some passengers at Heathrow and Manchester airports will have to go through full body scanners before boarding their flights under new rules.
It is now compulsory for people selected for a scan to take part, or they will not be allowed to fly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8490860.stm

So it begins?

I love this bit:

[Manchester Airport's] head of customer experience, Sarah Barrett, said: "It will enhance security for everyone, which can only be a good thing, without compromising people's privacy.

Two lies?

ac1d1ty · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:39

Yep people will blindly accept it whilst grumbling.

Durzel · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:40

If you've got nothing to hide you've got nothing to fear?

I guess you could stick it to the Man though on general principal, assuming you don't actually want to fly anywhere.

Flying is a privilege btw, not a human right. The airlines could mandate that you have to be able to do a handstand otherwise you can't fly if they wanted.

Vulcan · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:44

Durzel said:
If you've got nothing to hide you've got nothing to fear?

It's not about hiding something, it's just some people value privacy.

Tefal · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:44

If you want to use their hardware you gotta play by their rules.

J.T · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:44

Durzel said:
If you've got nothing to hide you've got nothing to fear?

Yeah right. :rolleyes:

Rich_L · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:45

Since when have people ever had a right to privacy when flying :confused:

Or did I miss something where you could decline to be patted down or searched and still be allowed to board the plane?

Angilion · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:46

Durzel said:
If you've got nothing to hide you've got nothing to fear?

Whenever that line is used, you have a great deal to fear.

meghatronic · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:47

Durzel said:
If you've got nothing to hide you've got nothing to fear?

I guess you could stick it to the Man though on general principal, assuming you don't actually want to fly anywhere.

Flying is a privilege btw, not a human right. The airlines could mandate that you have to be able to do a handstand otherwise you can't fly if they wanted.

Bend over anymore and you'll snap your spine.

You have nothing to hide? Okay, the fuzz will be round in a minute to install cctv and microphones in all of your rooms, a gps tracker on your ankle and in your car. Your computer will be seized once a week and all the data downloaded and stored. All your internet traffic will be stored indefinitely. Your medical records, blood, urine, semen and DNA samples will be made available to all. Your bank account statements will be published daily.

What? You have nothing to hide? Surely you're okay with all this?

And as for the privilege thing, the world is changing. Many would believe the internet is a fundamental human right, so it isn't as simple as that. Technically a house isn't a human right, which is absurd.

Vonhelmet · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:48

Hasn't it already been shown that the scanners don't find bombs very well?

All these things ever do is make a lot of money for the contractor of the week.

Dinomania · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:49

I went through one in Amsterdam Schiphol. I didn't think twice tbh.

I went through, and it clearly flagged something - she told me to take my boots off and stick them on the belt. I asked if I needed to go through again, and she said no - just the boots.

Saved time, she knew where the metal issue was, I needed no pat-down (which in my opinion is rather more of a compromise of privacy/personal space/comfort and probably ineffective anyway), and I'm absolutely not bothered.

meghatronic · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:49

vonhelmet said:
Hasn't it already been shown that the scanners don't find bombs very well?

Exactly. I can't see the logic. I'm assuming ministers are investors in the companies.

Rich_L said:
Since when have people ever had a right to privacy when flying

Or did I miss something where you could decline to be patted down or searched and still be allowed to board the plane?

You can request to be searched in private, and personally I find it less invasive for someone to molest me than to take pictures of my fat.

Morgoth · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:50

Hmmm, I'd rather wander past a full body scanner than faff about with the metal detectors like we do at present.

deuse · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:51

I think people under 18s were exempted because of the child protection law.

Kennysevenfold · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:51

Well its about time too tbh.

meghatronic · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:51

deuse said:
I think people under 18s were exempted because of the child protection law.

Been overturned by the government:

A rule which meant under 18s were not allowed to participate in the body scanner trial has been overturned by the government.

scorza · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:51

Don't like it? Don't fly.

peetee · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:52

Longbow said:
It's not about hiding something, it's just some people value privacy.

some people value caution and safety

V4NT0M · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:52

Get over it, you're never going to meet the person who saw the scan of your tiny penis.

meghatronic · 1 Feb 2010 at 13:53

Skyfall said:
Get over it, you're never going to meet the person who saw the scan of your tiny penis.

That doesn't bother me. What bothers me is there is NO need for someone at the airport to see my penis. They can ask if they want to see it - I'm not shy

.

Kennysevenfold said:
Well its about time too tbh.

Why?

Morgoth said:
Hmmm, I'd rather wander past a full body scanner than faff about with the metal detectors like we do at present.

But if you have anything in your pockets, or some types of shoes, or the day has a y in it, you'll have to take them off and x-ray them, or be patted down. It won't make it any less hassle.