Security evolves on TSA blog
The Transportation Security Administration’s blog has been live since Jan. 30. The Associated Press takes a look at what’s buzzing. It found questions asked and answered, myths dispelled and, of course, plenty of criticism. The blog’s goal is to help TSA connect with passengers, Christopher White, a TSA spokesman and a blogger, tells the AP. White and several others post four or five times a week with few editorial constraints. A sampling of comments:
“When can we quit this charade and begin to carry our water and toothpaste with us again?”
“I think you seriously need to stop stealing toiletries from people.”
“Thank goodness Richard Reid did not conceal something in his underpants or these people would be strip-searching every poor grandma…”
The TSA claims it limits censorship on the posts; comments are deleted if they contain foul language, threats, attacks, or require TSA to divulge sensitive information. A Delete-O-Meter on the blog shows how many comments have been deleted so far — 112 as of early March. Richard Bloom, director of terrorism, intelligence and security studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, supports the idea of the blog. “There are a lot of legitimate grievances and complaints from the traveling public,” he said. “To collect them and read them and think about them and take action is a positive thing to do.”
What do you think? Is the TSA blog a worthwhile effort, or just a waste of time?
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One Response to “Security evolves on TSA blog”
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I went to it and left a comment myself today. The post about body language is extremely informative, along with a video of baggage handler who remembers helping Mohammed Atta on 9/11 with his check-in.
I think the TSA blog is a great idea, it is totally refreshing to have feedback from the government talking to us and acting like real people.
I have always found most TSA officials to be nice people, even when I get called out, as long as you remain calm and let them do their job, which happens to be trying to save our lives.
More such government interaction would be great. And I commend the TSA for taking the punches and criticism not too seriously. They actually do endure a fair amount of abuse there.