https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 05 May 2026 04:16:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412485 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:36:09 +0000 californiadreams 2412485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'd be annoyed because i usually don't like TSA people i interact with and find them to be on power trips. I know that is totally biased and overgeneralizing, but i just get annoyed with having to comply and be told what to do without a choice, even though i know there is no other way around it. So my annoyance would not be specific to the fact that it was my kid getting the pat down, i'd be annoyed if it was myself too.</p> <p>As a parent though, i certainly would not have taken a video, i would have just stood as close as possible to my kid and been supportive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412479 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:33:00 +0000 HLK208 2412479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't see any "groping" going on. That dad is overreacting big time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412466 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:23:31 +0000 MrsSCB 2412466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a lot of what the TSA does is not actually doing as much as we'd like to think regarding keeping us safe. BUT that being said, this video didn't bother me a bit. It is what it is at this point, and we all know the rules. I think the dad was looking for attention. He called it "heinous" and said it made him "sick to his stomach." Really? That's pretty over the top. </p> <p>Although I will say that my husband recently got pissed at a TSA agent because he asked if he should remove his belt before the scanner and the agent said no. Then of course the belt set off the machine, so he did have to take the belt off AND an agent basically stuck his hands in my husband's pants to feel around the inside of his waistband. That was a bit invasive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412423 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 10:03:12 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2412423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not think twice about it. Security screenings are part of flying (whether we like it or agree with them or not). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412404 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:54:15 +0000 littlejoy 2412404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister had to get a pat down when she was 6 ... My dad asked the TSA agent to explain to her what was going on (she was extremely shy). The agent literally said, "We have to check to be sure you're not bringing anything dangerous onto the plane. One day, some bad men got onto planes, cut people's heads off (ummmm?), and crashed the planes!" -- my parents were livid, my sister was inconsolable. In that case, I'd be PISSED! I routinely got patdowns when I was pregnant, and the agents were always respectful and super friendly. No big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412402 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:53:31 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2412402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: @looch: since we haven't had an incident at an airport or on a plane besides the underwear bomber I think TSA is doing a decent enough job. I would like to see TSA screenings become more consistent across airports because the different equipment and procedures does make me question what is truly necessary. Highly unlikely, but I would be open to screening the way some Israeli students described their airport screening. The agents were trained on body language and speech patterns cues to determine if people needed to be detained for further screenings. Americans would probably want to add an extra hour or two to air travel for mini passenger interviews and possible detainment even if that could prevent a dangerous person from moving about the country. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412343 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 09:25:04 +0000 blackbird 2412343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this dad was looking for trouble, frankly. Who whips out their phone to take a video like that? Come on. Unless the TSA pat down was inappropriate, it's just what it is in today's world. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412283 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:50:03 +0000 Anagram 2412283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, I don't think this is a big deal at all. Every time we fly with "medical liquids and foods" (because of my LOS MSPI), one of us has to get a patdown and I don't care,.</p> <p>The only time I had an invasive pat down was a flight into Vietnam where the lady patting me down (in front of a crowd of watching people) was feeling all along my underwire bra and then all along my panty line. They were doing it to everyone, so I wasn't singled out, but it was extremely uncomfortable to have it done with 50 people watching. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412275 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:47:01 +0000 ElbieKay 2412275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I wish I had a good answer to that, but I have no idea how an individual can effect change in a powerful government organization. I am actually quite resentful towards the situation to be honest, but it has a relatively low impact on me because I only fly once or twice per year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412253 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:31:19 +0000 mediagirl 2412253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not pull out my phone and record it. I think that would make my child feel even more uncomfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412247 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:29:09 +0000 Madison43 2412247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I've gone through a pat down several times and although I don't find it uncomfortable, I can see how a kid might. That said, I call bs on the dad's reaction. If you truly thought you're daughter was being "assaulted" and it made you sick to your stomach to watch, you're hardly helpless. Stop the search. Yeah, you may miss your flight but that seems like the least important thing if the pat down was so inappropriate. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412243 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:25:46 +0000 looch 2412243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: So what is the solution then? How do we, as travelers, make meaningful changes? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412231 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:17:10 +0000 ElbieKay 2412231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I think you are misunderstanding. I don't think the breakdown in the process comes from people's inability to follow it. I think the process itself is a joke. For instance, the liquids rule is incredibly arbitrary, and I suspect the primary effect had been to increase revenue from bottled water sales inside the terminal.</p> <p>And I sympathize with the TSA agents. I don't see any upside to having a job like that. Even if the public was on board with the concept, it would be dreadfully tedious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412223 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 08:05:44 +0000 looch 2412223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: I do think the process is broken. I know that I don't bring stuff I am not supposed to but I don't trust everyone else around me to do the same. Everytime I go through security, I am kind of surprised at the things that people try to get through. </p> <p>It's a tough job, dealing with the public. For every TSA agent that is a jerk, there are passengers that are jerks too. I think part of the problem is getting people that care to do the bag scanning. I know for sure it's not a job I would want to do because the guilt I would have if I missed something and it caused an incident. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412219 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:58:52 +0000 Mama Bird 2412219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd be annoyed and grumble about it, but I wouldn't call it an assault. I can see DH reacting like that though, he has very little patience for other people being stupid (and I'm sure that's how he'd see TSA patting down a kid). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412214 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:56:20 +0000 ElbieKay 2412214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: "it's still part of a process" -- In my opinion everyone should be questioning the process. Maybe this is the dad's way of challenging a process that he doesn't agree with. I used to fly a lot, and it has gotten so unpleasant now. I think the TSA has really lowered people's standards in terms of how they expect to be treated. I am ok with people calling them out on that fact.</p> <p>ETA: Don't you think the TSA should be accountable to the American people for their mediocre results? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412212 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:54:12 +0000 catomd00 2412212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's part of the process of traveling. If you want to be exempt from the rules then don't fly. I wouldn't be upset unless I truly thought they were doing it to be a creeper. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412210 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:51:48 +0000 ms.line 2412210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: Exactly! That's what pisses me off about "security" measures at airports to begin with. They're effective in inconveniencing the 99.999% of passengers who are just trying to travel, and that about it. The fact that we're still taking our shoes off even IN CONJUNCTION WITH full body scans makes me irate. I think this dad totally overreacted, but I always end up pissed when I have to go through airport security. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412199 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:34:53 +0000 looch 2412199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: If you read the reports about how the agents don't catch most of the planted items, then yes.</p> <p>But it's still a part of the process. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412196 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:33:31 +0000 ElbieKay 2412196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: there is a already very little point to having them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412194 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:31:32 +0000 JoJoGirl 2412194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't get what the big deal is with this - it looked totally normal and professional to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412183 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:17:28 +0000 BandDmommy 2412183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not be upset at TSA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412182 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 07:14:52 +0000 looch 2412182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Yes, me too. I mean, my son, who is 5, knows that people have to remove their shoes, take off their coats, etc. He also knows that we bring a lot of liquids on board for him during the flight and I am sometimes subjected to the swipe test.</p> <p>People really need to educate themselves about the procedures around flying. I think the biggest thing is that some people think rules don't apply to them and if we allowed everyone to do what they wanted during the security screenings, there'd be no point to having them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412176 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 06:55:06 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2412176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'd be more annoyed with my kid than TSA because the pat down could have been avoided if the child removed the contraband. I'm pretty sure we would have discussed quite a bit about airport rules before arriving, while waiting during security, and when prepping the x-ray machines for stuff and self.</p> <p>The pat down looked reasonable to me. Two minutes seems longer than any pat down I received, so maybe the TSA agent did narrate what was going to happen at each step. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412165 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:58:50 +0000 Truth Bombs 2412165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and I saw the video on the news together. I thought it was a professional and appropriate pat down and that the dad was over reacting. My husband said he would be equally as upset as that dad if our daughter received that pat down at that age. My husband is a very reasonable dude and I normally get much more worked up about stuff with the kids than he does. Maybe it's just a father/daughter protection instinct thing. In the morning I'll have to ask him if he would be upset if our son was given a pat down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412144 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 03:43:02 +0000 hellobeeboston 2412144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I saw that video in the news, hardly an assault, just a thorough pat-down. I've had a few, NBD. I would be totally fine with my children having one and making sure to explain why it's necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412143 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 03:40:36 +0000 Bubbles 2412143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A bit different, but my then 6mo DS was patted down last time we flew. DH carried him through the metal detector and it went off. No big deal at all to me - I'd rather they were as security conscious as possible. For an older child id hope it would be explained well to them though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412140 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 02:56:09 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2412140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have been ok with it in this situation. Sounds like the dad overreacted so I'm not surprised between that and just being a preteen in an awkward situation, the daughter said she felt like screaming. That said, I hope that she was walked through it to be as comfortable as possible. Other than that I would chalk it up to the inconveniences of flying. My three year old hates going through security too, so it's not fun, but it's necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412138 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 02:42:37 +0000 mrbee 2412138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: +1 for Capri Sun, I loved those things!</p> <p>I don't get the big deal about a pat down though... unless it was somehow inappropriate or unprofessional? As parents, we always get rid of liquids and metal items when we travel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-tsa-patted-down-your-child-how-would-react#post-2412121 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 00:50:06 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2412121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A dad was very upset and called the pat down of his 10 year old daughter an assault. How would you react? Have you seen a child get a pat down?</p> <p>Dad angry after TSA pats down girl<br /> <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/politics/tsa-pat-down-10-year-old-girl/index.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/06/politics/tsa-pat-down-10-year-old-girl/index.html</a></p> <p>*The pat down was prompted by a drink box in the girl's back pack and a cell phone. </p>