DissidentHere's Journal: The airport security joke

Well, I have some ranting to do, so /. seems like the best place.....

I've been traveling a lot lately, and aside from other rants about children on planes I think airport security is funny. Not ha ha funny, but funny disturbing. I'll probably end up on some kind of watch list for this, but oh well.

I recently walked right through security with items that while not weapons, could very easily have been. Here's the story, I was on my way home on a business trip and going through the security routine (become quite an expert now). Took out my computers, everything from my pockets, shoes off, etc, etc and walked through security. Only later did I realize what I forgot; my (stainless steel) fountain pen and brass collar points.

Now, at first this didn't seem like a big deal, but when I thought about it..... My collar points are thick brass, pointed, kinda look like a miniature sword (its OK for nerds to attempt style when visiting customers). My pen, full sized, metal tube. I started to think that someone bad could easily turn these small items in to a sharp knife. With all this metal on me, shoes and belt off, I didn't even set off the metal detector.

My only conclusion is that airport security is an unfunny joke. I can walk through it with collar stiffeners that could just as easily be sharp and a 6 inch metal shaft to attach them to, and people have nail clippers taken away.

Obviously, I would never do anything nefarious on a flight. I just want to get where I'm going and get home. But the thought that I can walk right through security with what could easily be blades in my collar makes me wonder. One time I did set the alarm off (forgot my phone in my pocket). I asked the security worker about my collar points before I realized my phone was still in my pocket and he said 'no, don't worry.' They could easily be two inch blades instead of harmless collar stiffeners.

So, I'm happy to go through security, take off my shoes and belt, even though I'm just a guy travelling on business. I've got no problem with it. But I'd feel a lot more secure if the TSA picked up on some of the things I might forget, like my metal pen and metal collar points.