It's as Plain as the Nose on Your Face

I have written on the constantly changing state of airport security numerous times on my blog. It seems that just when we get used to certain security procedures, the TSA and Homeland Security come up with something new to put passengers through the proverbial grinder when going through security. The latest effort to keep us safe has to do with reading the expressions on your face as you pass through security. Yes, so called 'micro-expressions' are supposed to give insight into what you're thinking and whether those things are terroristic in nature.

Now while I think that TSA has a difficult enough job keeping us safe, is this really going to make us any safer? I mean I will never confess to being an expert in facial expression interpretation. Had I studied that in college perhaps I would be smiling and raking in the dough now but I decided to go the 'traditional' route and study a subject like economics and finance. So now in addition to having our shoes, socks, metals, phones, laptops, toiletries, baby formula, breast milk, medicines and boarding passes examined, we'll also have our faces examined too. It just strikes me that this is a highly subjective thing isn't it? I don't think I'm all that unpleasant to look at yet I was very recently looked upon by a fellow passenger (nervous as she was) as if I was about to jump up and hijack a plane before the beverage service had even taken place. If a jumpy passenger can do that then what about a stressed out security guard at the checkpoint.

Most of us try to make the job easier for the TSA screeners. You think it's tough going through security when going someplace? Imagine working there for hours on end. Despite all the signs and notices and announcements and reminders, there are still those cluelessly happy passengers who seek to act ignorant of the rules and go through security with all banned items and their shoes firmly on their feet. You get annoyed when one person ahead of you does that. Imagine having to deal with it multiple times an hour! I think the TSA have enough on their minds that we don't need to add facial reading to their gamut of skills.

I was recently told by some friends of mine that they passed through security with bottled water accidentally left in their hand baggage and a pocket knife in another hand bag. Now granted this wasn't the type of knife that Rambo would carry but it was still a knife and it was water and it managed to get through security undetected. Was the TSA agent not so good at reading x-ray scans or was it just a case of them saying, 'let it go'? Whatever it is, when we have inconsistent enforcement of basic rules that have been in place for a long time what are we going to do when it comes to something as subjective as facial expression interpretation.

These days flying has become so much more stressful and it's not all due to terrorists and their plots. You have to get to the airport even earlier because you never know how long it will take to check in for your flight. It can take anywhere from five minutes to two hours. When I flew out of Dulles recently the line at United on a Saturday morning looped around the terminal several times. That's just plain ridiculous. Then you have to deal with security. After that is when you'll find out whether your flight is on time or delayed. After that you'll board your flight and hope like Hell that you don't end up stranded on the tarmac or held up on the field while waiting for a gate to open up. After that you'll pray once again that you get your bags at your destination. And through it all you're supposed to keep a cheery disposition? Easier said than done.

I think that the TSA is doing good things and I think that the efforts they undertake for the most part are beneficial but there are times when I am curious about their motivation. The TSA is probably one agency that has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years. They are probably more successful in recruitment than the military and because of the new skillsets that they are constantly seeking, they are always getting larger and larger staffs. They are hopeful that by the end of 2008, there will be up to 500 Behavior Detection Officers in place to perform the facial expression analysis. Attention all palm readers, your skills may be needed soon too! Close up the fortune telling shop and get ready to earn your government pension safeguarding the friendly skies!