I’m dead against the proposed new airport body scanners that can see through clothes.
It’s not that I’m a prude. If someone is desperate enough to want to see me in the nick then go for it. Take a free shot – but be prepared to be disappointed. But it’s the imposition of the authoritative gaze of the government into yet another part of our lives that grates me. The same goes for gratuitous body searches. I’ll put up with my luggage being x-rayed, I’ll even put up with the bullshit of not being allowed to take a nail file or nail clippers on board (how absurd: Eeek, stop the plane, he’s got a pair of – gasp – nail clippers. Good god!) but to have some dude running their hands up my inner thigh pretending to look for drugs – enough is enough.
Sure, if the government has a reason to suspect a person of posing a security threat go ahead and frisk and x-ray. But don’t target the average person going about their daily business. Airport authorities should need to show just cause why a personal search is warranted and not have it be one of the costs of traveling on an aeroplane.
Rant over.