I have had this happen routinely for years, and hate to throw a wrench in but I have no dong at all… I am a woman. What I do have is a solid theory for you based on my own anecdotal experience. I have had what I would call thick thighs, and for many years the position of the stick figure was not a wide enough stance to create a big space between my legs. I also rarely sweat, so it seems unlikely to be a swampy situation. But I did loose a LOT of weight recently and for the first time in many many years I am now passing straight through with no red box over my box. Seems like it might be worth asking about the thickness of your subjects thighs. I sure would like to believe this is not an exclusively average dong problem.
This was a weird one - and I loved it! It went to weird places, a couple times tbh. Great interview with the engineer guy, that was a good way to get some unofficial info. Speaking of such - did you consider filing a FOIA for some of the info from TSA?
Hey PJ, just listened to the story. Wanted to clarify something as a physicist - you say in the episode that mm waves (EHF) ”bounces off” moisture, but it’s actually the opposite. EHF is strongly absorbed by water, so it appears opaque to an EHF detector like the airport scanners. That also means it effectively blocks the vision of the detector, so it’s a good detection heurestic to require manual search in this case.
I’d love to hear any tips! I am also a woman, and I cannot remember the last time I went to an airport when this did not happen to me. I am sitting in a Boston Logan terminal now after getting through another, anticipated pat down. It also happened to the woman behind me, which made the TSA agent roll his eyes in dismay and say “same thing again.”
After listening to the episode, I was almost inspired to ask the agents for advice, but the line of anxious holiday travelers convinced me otherwise. My parents were horrified when I sent them the episode, as I do any time a new one is released, but it’s become so routine for me that it doesn’t even phase me anymore.
I was really surprised that the guy who flies all the time DIDN'T have TSA pre-check. Here's a money-saving tip: sign up for Global Entry. It costs $120 for 5 years and INCLUDES TSA pre-check. So worth it, even for infrequent fliers, and especially if you think you might travel outside the U.S. at any point.
Female, 42 here. This just happened to me at SFO. I was on my period and had a pad. It was really embarrassing to have them swing the screen around with that red circle around my crotch ⭕️. Then the “pat down”. Now I understand exactly why that happened!
I always get flagged at TSA in the body scanner and have my ankles patted down. I cuff the top of my socks so the elastic doesn't cut into my skin. I guess it thinks I'm trying to care something nefarious through.
I had both my hips replaced in the past year. my first post surgery plane trip I learned that you have to declare this well before you're putting stuff on the belt because I'll always have to go through the hands up full body scanner. Once I'm directed to the proper scanner line, they have to rescan, not my hips, but my knee. There's nothing wrong with my knee as far as I know. it happened at both ends of my journey. WTF?
I have had this happen routinely for years, and hate to throw a wrench in but I have no dong at all… I am a woman. What I do have is a solid theory for you based on my own anecdotal experience. I have had what I would call thick thighs, and for many years the position of the stick figure was not a wide enough stance to create a big space between my legs. I also rarely sweat, so it seems unlikely to be a swampy situation. But I did loose a LOT of weight recently and for the first time in many many years I am now passing straight through with no red box over my box. Seems like it might be worth asking about the thickness of your subjects thighs. I sure would like to believe this is not an exclusively average dong problem.
OMG - PJ I was thinking we could make a drinking game by drinking every time you say dong. 😂
I love this show so much. Thank you for your authenticity every single episode. ❤️
This was a weird one - and I loved it! It went to weird places, a couple times tbh. Great interview with the engineer guy, that was a good way to get some unofficial info. Speaking of such - did you consider filing a FOIA for some of the info from TSA?
This happens often to trans women.
Hey PJ, just listened to the story. Wanted to clarify something as a physicist - you say in the episode that mm waves (EHF) ”bounces off” moisture, but it’s actually the opposite. EHF is strongly absorbed by water, so it appears opaque to an EHF detector like the airport scanners. That also means it effectively blocks the vision of the detector, so it’s a good detection heurestic to require manual search in this case.
Hi team,
This literally has nothing to do with dongs. I’m a woman and have been suffering from the constant TSA crotch pat down for years now!
I have intel from one kind TSA agent in Boston, who gave me some advice you didn’t cover in the episode. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk.
I’d love to hear any tips! I am also a woman, and I cannot remember the last time I went to an airport when this did not happen to me. I am sitting in a Boston Logan terminal now after getting through another, anticipated pat down. It also happened to the woman behind me, which made the TSA agent roll his eyes in dismay and say “same thing again.”
After listening to the episode, I was almost inspired to ask the agents for advice, but the line of anxious holiday travelers convinced me otherwise. My parents were horrified when I sent them the episode, as I do any time a new one is released, but it’s become so routine for me that it doesn’t even phase me anymore.
Love the show!!
The TSA agent suggested it had to do with body heat.
Her advice was to stand very wide, even wider than the little footprints.
And then she said I should sign up for TSA pre-check so I can avoid the scanner all together 😅
I was really surprised that the guy who flies all the time DIDN'T have TSA pre-check. Here's a money-saving tip: sign up for Global Entry. It costs $120 for 5 years and INCLUDES TSA pre-check. So worth it, even for infrequent fliers, and especially if you think you might travel outside the U.S. at any point.
Thank you very much!! I’ll work on my hip mobility for now 😂
Best wishes!
HAPPENS TO ME ALL THE DANG TIME I am so glad to see this pop up on the feed because it has been driving me nuts (sorry)
This happens to my friend, a slim cis woman. Her theory is she has a very dense...well, you know.
Incidentally she is also gay
As a sweaty dude, my damp back always gets flagged. Not sure what that says about my dong, though 🤔
Female, 42 here. This just happened to me at SFO. I was on my period and had a pad. It was really embarrassing to have them swing the screen around with that red circle around my crotch ⭕️. Then the “pat down”. Now I understand exactly why that happened!
I always get flagged at TSA in the body scanner and have my ankles patted down. I cuff the top of my socks so the elastic doesn't cut into my skin. I guess it thinks I'm trying to care something nefarious through.
I had both my hips replaced in the past year. my first post surgery plane trip I learned that you have to declare this well before you're putting stuff on the belt because I'll always have to go through the hands up full body scanner. Once I'm directed to the proper scanner line, they have to rescan, not my hips, but my knee. There's nothing wrong with my knee as far as I know. it happened at both ends of my journey. WTF?