Questions about the T

[prairiestate]

I'm considering a visit to Boston. Also, I would expect Chicago to implement this eventually. We'll be hosting NATO and G8 summits in May. If there ever was a time to start this, those events would be it. So I was interested in learning how people cope.

[tickybox]

You know, prairiestate, I'm of the opinion that the bag searching isn't effective, possibly violates certain civil liberties, and that it's not realistic to say we can just avoid it if we don't want to play along (some of us only have the one station nearby), but I would say the way you phrased your initial question was what I would call "leading."

If you are just asking for research purposes, why not phrase the question in more neutral language, rather than imply with your question that embarrassment and humiliation must be involved? It did convey itself in a way that suggested you were personally frustrated and upset by the system, or had possibly had bad experiences.

[prairiestate]

I am upset by the system, I am afraid of having a bad experience, and I would be angry and humiliated if subjected to the experience. I assumed this would be a common perspective.

[Cantabridgienne]

Why would you be humiliated?

You don't seem to understand that the "search" takes about 10 seconds. Feel free to disagree with it on a philisophical level, but acting like it's a huge disruption is silly.

[prairiestate]

Perhaps humiliation is more of a personal issue. I really treasure my privacy. I get cranky when a chatty library clerk wants to discuss the materials I'm checking out.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

I assumed this would be a common perspective.

No it is not, or at least not a normal or rational one.

Originally Posted by prairiestate

I get cranky when a chatty library clerk wants to discuss the materials I'm checking out.

We all have times when we are rushed and just "don't have time for any of that". If that is your everyday reaction however, it sounds like you have deeper issues going on down there.

I find this kind of neurotic paranoia a greater threat to our civilization than any of these so called invasions to our privacy. Get a grip and learn how to get along in this increasingly crowded and dangerous world.

With that said I do find these searches to be pointless, they would not stop any serious terrorist. The only solution I see would be having much more extensive surveillance and police presence, which of course will not happen given the T's current budget disaster.

[lovelife11]

This is new to me. I ride the T everyday and I have never seen anyone's bag searched. When did this start?

[Cantabridgienne]

A couple of years ago. I only see it at morning rush hour and they rotate stations. They (the MBTA cops) use a clicker to count people passing by just before entering the fare gates and flag every ____ person (I don't know the number).

[lovelife11]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

A couple of years ago. I only see it at morning rush hour and they rotate stations. They (the MBTA cops) use a clicker to count people passing by just before entering the fare gates and flag every ____ person (I don't know the number).

Oh okay.