In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set || First feminist blog on the internet

Your tax dollars at work.

This is what TSA will do when they inspect a bag you checked and find a, um, “personal item”:

TSA inspection slip with the words "Get your freak on girl" written across it

Total violation of privacy, wildly inappropriate and clearly not ok, but I also just died laughing in my hotel room.


582 thoughts on Your tax dollars at work.

  1. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!

    *pause to wipe tears from face*

    AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. I got randomly searched when I had several glossy magazines of a “male” persuasion inside one of my bags. It was more mortifying than amusing. The TSA agent never let on his true feelings about what he must have found, much to my relief.

    1. I got randomly searched when I had several glossy magazines of a “male” persuasion inside one of my bags. It was more mortifying than amusing. The TSA agent never let on his true feelings about what he must have found, much to my relief.

      This is exactly why I put the “personal item” in my checked baggage and not my carry-on — I didn’t want to deal with an agent pulling it out at security (especially since a few months ago, an agent in Cameroon pulled a tampon out of my bag and manhandled it for a while before smelling it and then asking me what it was. A male colleague had to explain, in French, and it was bad for all involved). I figured in checked baggage it would be less objectionable. I guess not!

  3. Jill: especially since a few months ago, an agent in Cameroon pulled a tampon out of my bag and manhandled it for a while before smelling it and then asking me what it was.

    This is, like, the very definition of awkward situational comedy. Are you sure you don’t live in a sitcom?

    1. This is, like, the very definition of awkward situational comedy. Are you sure you don’t live in a sitcom?

      Honestly, sometimes I’m not sure.

  4. Wow. I’m guessing it took all the willpower in the world for that TSA agent not to include their phone number!

  5. Florence:
    I’m just a hair curious what exactly you had in there that excited said TSA officer so much.

    Me too. I’ve been known to travel with a small arsenal of *personal items* and never had anyone comment on them when they were in my checked bags. (Carryon is kind of another story.)

    1. Me too. I’ve been known to travel with a small arsenal of *personal items* and never had anyone comment on them when they were in my checked bags. (Carryon is kind of another story.)

      So my parents read this blog and they don’t need to know the details, but I swear it wasn’t, like, a ball gag and nipple clamps. It was about the most basic lady-thing you can imagine.

      This stuff also happens to me ALL THE TIME, though. I don’t know why, but I swear to God the tagline of my life is “hijinks.”

  6. Well hell, since we’ve apparently lost all sense of even pretending anyone has any right to privacy, next time you might as well bring your “item” on the plane in case you get bored during the flight. If any flight attendants complain, show them your permission slip from TSA. “Look, it says right here all official-like that I may get my freak ON. I would also enjoy a glass of champagne whenever you get a chance, thanks.”

    1. Well hell, since we’ve apparently lost all sense of even pretending anyone has any right to privacy, next time you might as well bring your “item” on the plane in case you get bored during the flight. If any flight attendants complain, show them your permission slip from TSA. “Look, it says right here all official-like that I may get my freak ON. I would also enjoy a glass of champagne whenever you get a chance, thanks.”

      I’ll give that a shot on my return flight. Fingers crossed they upgrade me so I have more room.

  7. I have often wondered what they would do. I live in Australia and have traveled to the USA a couple of times in the last year. I have a few “personal items” and was tempted to take one with me just to see what the TSA would do. That’s bloody hilarious.

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  9. I’d be just a tad worried the item may have received more than just a looky. And I’d be johnny on the spot with the alcohol wipes. Just sayin’.

    1. I’d be just a tad worried the item may have received more than just a looky. And I’d be johnny on the spot with the alcohol wipes. Just sayin’.

      Oh I know. The “personal item” is now officially retired.

  10. I’m guessing it probably triggered the metal detector or looked weird going through the X-Ray? Haha. They were probably awkward about it too, really. That note’s fairly hilarious.

  11. Jillespecially since a few months ago, an agent in Cameroon pulled a tampon out of my bag and manhandled it for a while before smelling it and then asking me what it was. A male colleague had to explain, in French, and it was bad for all involved). I figured in checked baggage it would be less objectionable. I guess not!

    I can remember several spy novels where someone hid a secret message or some kind of contraband in a tampon box, on the theory that the male security agents at whatever country they were going into would think it was icky and wouldn’t touch it. I guess that doesn’t work in real life.

  12. At Buffalo Airport (surprise, surprise?) the security guy who checked my passport hit on me by saying he couldn’t believe I was 25 and was going to call my dad and tell him his young daughter had run away. Like, you realize by hitting on me saying I look like a child you’re implying some pretty inappropriate things about yourself, right?

  13. At Buffalo Airport (surprise, surprise?) the security guy who checked my passport hit on me by saying he couldn’t believe I was 25 and was going to call my dad and tell him his young daughter had run away. Like, you realize by hitting on me saying I look like a child you’re implying some pretty inappropriate things about yourself, right?

  14. About six months ago on a flight to NY I checked an old duffel and received a kind note from TSA informing me that the condoms in the bag had expired. Considering they were from circa 2004 I was not surprised, but I did keep the note as a reminder.

  15. About six months ago on a flight to NY I checked an old duffel and received a kind note from TSA informing me that the condoms in the bag had expired. Considering they were from circa 2004 I was not surprised, but I did keep the note as a reminder.

  16. Michelle: At Buffalo Airport (surprise, surprise?) the security guy who checked my passport hit on me by saying he couldn’t believe I was 25 and was going to call my dad and tell him his young daughter had run away.

    That is not what I said.

  17. Humor is probably the best response under the circumstances. Kudos to you Jill. On the other hand, security theater like this is symptomatic of the re-appropriation of individual liberties by powerful entities that characterizes our current social discourse.

  18. Mr. Kristen J.: About six months ago on a flight to NY I checked an old duffel and received a kind note from TSA informing me that the condoms in the bag had expired. Considering they were from circa 2004 I was not surprised, but I did keep the note as a reminder.

    The TSA is really worried about our sex lives, apparently. THANK YOU US GOVERNMENT.

    Truth be told, it has to be one of those jobs where you take home a thousand weird/gross/awesome stories. I have some horrifying stories just from working food service and retail; I can’t imagine the horrors of being made to go through other people’s personal items.

  19. Mr. Kristen J.:
    About six months ago on a flight to NY I checked an old duffel and received a kind note from TSA informing me that the condoms in the bag had expired.Considering they were from circa 2004 I was not surprised, but I did keep the note as a reminder.

    Personally, I’d feel guilty as hell if I was a screener and didn’t leave a note upon noticing that something important (medications, condoms) was expired. Any sort of note is a creepy reminder that somebody’s rummaging through your stuff on behalf of the state, but the intent behind them can at least run the gamut from “golden rule benevolence” to “panty-sniffing creeper malevolence.”

  20. Michelle:
    At Buffalo Airport (surprise, surprise?) the security guy who checked my passport hit on me by saying he couldn’t believe I was 25 and was going to call my dad and tell him his young daughter had run away. Like, you realize by hitting on me saying I look like a child you’re implying some pretty inappropriate things about yourself, right?

    Sadly, he probably thought he was being complimentary by saying that.

  21. Great. I’m surprised this didn’t happen to me the last time I flew with this kind of thing after a shopping trip while on vacation.

    On the one hand: hilarious. On the other hand: next time I go shopping while on vacation, I should just have that stuff mailed.

  22. Ruchama: I can remember several spy novels where someone hid a secret message or some kind of contraband in a tampon box, on the theory that the male security agents at whatever country they were going into would think it was icky and wouldn’t touch it.I guess that doesn’t work in real life.

    That was how we snuck in our contraband in high school, after the school’s “resource officers” instituted bag checks. Cigarettes at the bottom of the makeup bag, tampons at the top, and the cops never got past the protective Kotex barrier. Of course, the craftiest of us discovered that an unused tampon applicator is a perfect hiding place for a loosie, if you’re really desperate.

  23. Mr Kristen – Well, at least you can infer a compliment that there was expectation of usage. It almost makes me nostalgic for when I would reasonably be provided with such an article. Alas, were I to travel now, I fear that the only note I’d get would say, “Who are you kidding?” or something to that effect.

  24. I hate getting those little tags in my luggage. I’ve never had a personal note, thank goodness, but just the presence of the item saying “Hey, we pawed through your underwear” is creepy enough.

    When I was in college, I was flying home for the holidays and had a clipboard in my bag full of blank paper and drawings. (The papers at the top were blank to protect the drawings underneath.) Being a starving college student, some of the drawings at the back were commissions I was working on of a very adult nature. My bag was flagged for a search, and you can imagine my utter horror when I made my way over after retrieving my purse and shoes to find two male TSA agents flipping through my clipboard (and lingering on the drawings in the back), grinning and making lewd comments to each other. Pretty sure I was red as a beet as I meekly collected my bag and hightailed it out of there. Not sure what “hazardous material” they expected to find between sheets of paper, but apparently they felt entitled to take a look.

  25. When I was about 22, I flew carry-on with “personal items” in my bag. The TSA screener running my things through the X-ray not only stared at the screen and openly giggled, but called his buddy over from another station to “get a load of this.” While I was standing there. It was intensely embarrassing, and made much worse by the implicit threat that if I protested they’d delay me and humiliate me more.

    In the long run, I wish “personal items” weren’t considered things for amusement and judgment, that they inspired as much reaction as “oh wow, she’s got a toothbrush in her bag, I bet she’s gonna clean her teeth with that thing.” In the short run, I just wish the TSA would train its agents to act like grownups.

  26. Jill: Oh I know. The “personal item” is now officially retired.

    Please, dear Heaven, tell me you’re going to write an angry letter (and place a few phone calls) to the airline and/or the airport demanding that they reimburse you for it!

    I think this could be a new front of civil disobedience!!

  27. Hm, the general consensus (here, and in the media reports that have been picking this story up) seems to be that this was reflective of objectification/sexual perversion on the part of the TSA agent, and while I certainly agree that leaving the extra comment on the notice was intrusive above and beyond the technically legal searching and handling of someone’s luggage, without knowing more about the actual agent who did this and the circumstances, it’s hard for me to imagine specifically who they are and what they were thinking. It could very well have been a well-meant (if awkward) show of solidarity from another woman proud of her own toys! Again, still unsettling and it doesn’t make the airport security invasions of privacy any less creepy (the one time I got a note, having been randomly selected for a thorough screening, I was upset to a degree that surprised me – I would almost rather that they didn’t tell me that they’d checked my luggage), but hard for me to see it as definitively creepy. I can see it either way.

  28. I was stopped by airport security (in the post-9/11, pre-TSA period) for having a “personal item” in my carryon. Which I’d forgotten I had even packed, so I just stared blankly at them when they asked me what kind of a “motor” I had packed in there.

    Ever since then, I figure I can get along without any personal items for a week or two.

  29. Never got busted for a “personal item”, but apparently something about me screams TERRORIST because I’m always the person who gets their luggage gone through in public.

    I was trying panickedly to explain to the agent, “Yes, you can go through my luggage… yes, but you see, there’s three weeks of clothes in one suitcase, it’s high-pressure… OH GOD” and the suitcase EXPLODED and covered the entire table in dirty panties. The agent was as embarassed as I was.

    Another time I was on Exotic Shopping Trip to Japan with my friend, a petite blonde, who was pulled out of line because of her suspicious customs form. They didn’t believe she’s spent ALL the money she brought on clothes–til they opened her bag and dozens of alternative fashion dresses exploded all over the place.

  30. As a post-op transsexual, I find myself obliged to carry a dilator (a dildo with measurement markings on it) with me when I travel for post-op maintenance of the surgery. I just carry them in my carry-on bag.

    Coming through Frankfurt earlier this year, one of the baggage inspectors freaked out about my dilator. So, I calmly pulled it out of its case while stating that it was for medical use.

    I’ve never seen someone blush that shade of red before 😀

  31. Well, you do know that the TSA hasn’t actually caught any terrorists, but they have caught many people with drugs?

    Also, being federal agents, they reserve the right to read any media you may carry in and out of the states. Someone thought it rather smart to let them have the same leeway as customs agents.

    So… Yeah, they do get to look at papers.

    Can we change the law now, please? I’ve gotten my share of notes – and popped locks pre-note-era.

  32. Total violation of privacy
    Bags get xrayed, xrays don’t always reveal the contents of something at which point would need to be checked by a person.
    If the xray couldn’t show what was inside the ‘personal item’ then the agents wouldn’t be able to tell if it held a pair of AA batteries or something explosive/toxic/etc

    Would you have preferred if they’d thrown the entire bag in an incinterator just to be safe?

  33. So, I could really live without so many blogs who are running with this feeling such a huge need to dig up and post sexy-blogger pics “just in case anyone was wondering what sexy-bloggeress-notegetter looks like.” You know, just in case.

    1. So, I could really live without so many blogs who are running with this feeling such a huge need to dig up and post sexy-blogger pics “just in case anyone was wondering what sexy-bloggeress-notegetter looks like.” You know, just in case.

      Right? I could live without that too.

  34. I was throwing bags for a smaller airline a few years back and a bag came through with a riding crop handle sticking out of the corner. The crop was too long for the bag so it was just zipped up with it sticking about 4″ out. As the passenger was arriving, I could tell that the throwers on the other end of the line had pulled open the bag (and ripped it a little) to discover what was inside. One of my coworkers was so interested in this, that he went inside to discover who picked it up off the carousel.

    At this job I would occasionally watch TSA sort through peoples’ stuff after the machine throws a red flag. Most were good and went right for the flagged item, swabbed it, tested for explosives and signed off. Some though paged through wedding albums, dug through toiletry bags, checked bra tags for information, laughed when high heeled boots would come through, and overall be immature and useless. I came in contact with about 15 TSA agents, and 13 of them were great folks who did their job as they should. One took it WAY too seriously and acted like he should be wearing black shades and a suit, and the other was as immature as they come….

  35. Michelle:
    At Buffalo Airport (surprise, surprise?) the security guy who checked my passport hit on me by saying he couldn’t believe I was 25 and was going to call my dad and tell him his young daughter had run away. Like, you realize by hitting on me saying I look like a child you’re implying some pretty inappropriate things about yourself, right?

    I gave up on a guy I’d been flirting with for months when I told him I was 29 (same as him) and he was really shocked, because he thought I was under 20. I thought it creepy that a 29 y/o would flirt with someone he thought was a teen.

  36. Congrads girl ! You rock. You are such a good sport to take this with a sense of humor. Some people would be pissing and moaning a bunch of bs. Rock on Irons Forever \oo/

  37. Crissa:
    Well, you do know that the TSA hasn’t actually caught any terrorists, but they have caught many people with drugs?

    Also, being federal agents, they reserve the right to read any media you may carry in and out of the states.Someone thought it rather smart to let them have the same leeway as customs agents.

    So… Yeah, they do get to look at papers.

    Can we change the law now, please?I’ve gotten my share of notes – and popped locks pre-note-era.

    I’ve gotten those slips before but my drugs always make it through safely. You just have to know how to hide them.

  38. You know…you don’t know it BUT… you’ve probably done more for the war on terror than any Payless shoe inspection at any airport. Now, terrorists know that check-in baggage IS inspected, and they may think twice about doing something insidious.
    Thanks! You’re a genuine patriot! 😉

  39. That’s really funny! Having worked security jobs before I can state, with little reservation, that many are very horny and frustrated. It pisses me off that TSA can invade people’s privacy this way but it is hilarious on another level!

  40. The last time my bag was searched (about two years ago), my inspection note was pointedly wrapped around a rather substantial “personal item”.

    No note, but it still seemed pretty pointedly discomfort-making.

  41. they can also seize your computer just because they want to (no reasonable cause required at border checks) and send it off to be inspected and are allowed to archive every document on your hard drive indefinitely.

    NOW can we change the law???

  42. Wow.
    They’ve just dropped all pretense, haven’t they?
    First the great “complete sacrifice of privacy” scare of winter ’10, now they’re getting downright unprofessional.
    I should probably be worried about my Christmas schedule, if they aren’t sacking hacks like this on the spot.

  43. Just be glad we live in a country where you get a funny note instead of being arrested or vilified for daring to own such a “device”. I might pack some stuff away now to get my own note…I’m jealous!

  44. Now that you are talking about more room…I am getting an Idea of what your “basic lady thing” is…I am pretty sure it is NOT basic! LOL

    Jill: I’ll give that a shot on my return flight. Fingers crossed they upgrade me so I have more room.

  45. Jill, I have to admire you for being a good sport about it… But seeing the amount of media attention this has received, it’s kind of unfortunate that you weren’t a little more angry in your initial post. Can you imagine the reaction of the TSA guy who left the note if he saw this on the news? “Wait… So she’s a feminist blogger… AND A LAWYER!?! OH SHIT!” 🙂 (Yes, I have a very warped sense of humor. 🙂 )

  46. They write blogs about women and sex and rape and masturbation. And you idiots believe that a TSA wrote that? Lame. To pretty of hand writing.

  47. Psyche:
    The last time my bag was searched (about two years ago), my inspection note was pointedly wrapped around a rather substantial “personal item”.

    No note,but it still seemed pretty pointedly discomfort-making.

    I had the exact same thing happen to me and I was not happy because I thought it was disrespectful and it stained my toy, too. 🙁 I was tempted to complain… but, yeah.

  48. Fire the TSA agent who wrote the note. The ignorant TSA agent was unprofessional. TSA agents will continue to get away with sexually abusing passengers with the wands that they use and inappropriate touching as long as stupid people like Jill Filipovic finds humor in this abhorrent invasion of privacy.
    I guess there is a special code of honor between nasty freaks.

  49. Truth: Fire the TSA agent who wrote the note. The ignorant TSA agent was unprofessional. TSA agents will continue to get away with sexually abusing passengers with the wands that they use and inappropriate touching as long as stupid people like Jill Filipovic finds humor in this abhorrent invasion of privacy.
    I guess there is a special code of honor between nasty freaks.

    God Jill, why do you have to ruin everything for everybody? I mean, when you aren’t personally ruining feminism you’re going after air travel? Worst ever.

  50. I’ve gotten those slips before but my drugs always make it through safely. You just have to know how to hide them.

    I have a friend who has the same name as someone else on the no-fly list (it’s about as generic of a white-bread name as James Martin). He travels pretty frequently, once or twice a month, gets regularly stopped for additional security play-acting, and always packs weed in his checked luggage. Never been caught.

  51. Just be glad we live in a country where you get a funny note instead of being arrested or vilified for daring to own such a “device”.

    I’m not glad of that at all. I won’t be happy until I live in a country where notes are not left with my luggage. Until then, I’m pissed, and rightfully so. There’s nothing about this situation that makes a person feel glad to live in the US.

  52. So just so we’re all clear here, no one thinks this is faked? I’m a male who has traveled with “personal items” before and not once had anyone mention it. I’ve been searched plenty of times, including once when I had my wifes clothes in the bag too. Do you know how incredibly easy it is for someone to write that on a tag, and cause all this controversy? I am disgusted that not one single person I have read has raised the possibility of her taking a pen, and writing that on the inspection tag. Get real people. This is the internet. It’s not even that hard to fake something as stupid as this.

    1. I’ve also traveled many times before with “personal items” and not once had anyone mention it. Until this time. I mean, look, it’s the internet — anyone can fake anything. And there’s nothing I can really do to convince you that it isn’t fake, other than to say “it isn’t fake” (and also to say that I’m a lawyer, and I wouldn’t risk getting disbarred for 2 minutes of internet “fame”).

  53. Risk getting disbarred? Someone has to prove it first. The only way I can think of would be handwriting analysis, but lets be honest, its in block letters anyway, so that’d be a tough route to take. And you may be 100% telling the truth, but what grinds my gears is the hundreds of people that have read this story that have never once questioned it. When did we stop questioning things we don’t see with our own eyes? When did we start accepting what we read online as gospel?

  54. So let me get this straight. A chick blogger who just started her own feminist website brought a vibrator with her on a plane and magically found a note that said “Get Your Freak On Girl” from TSA in her luggage. She then runs to Forbes magazine to tell her story and suddenly it’s viral. Well how fucking convenient. Sure KFC is falling hook line and sinker for this story over on Barstool NYC, but he’s still a young pup. There is zero chance this really happened. Zero. This is launching a new blog 101. Just make up shit and hope it sticks. Makes me sick. Hey Jill you want to be play in the big leagues? I’ll shove that vibrator right up your ass. Literally. Then you can blog about it and be famous. But cut the shit with this fake garbage. I’ve been in the smut game far too long to just sit by and watch these young sluts tarnish what I’ve worked so hard to build.

    1. Sorry Dave, but you don’t have it straight. A “chick blogger” who has been writing on the internet for 7 years (5 of them at this website) brought a vibrator on a plane and then found a note that said “GET YOUR FREAK ON GIRL” from TSA in her luggage. She then laughed about the note, emailed it to four friends, and tweeted it. Then she threw up a one-off post on Feministe. The one media outlet she did contact was The Hairpin, a lady-publication she’s written for in the past, and who she thought would find the anecdote amusing, since they often publish stuff like this. They aren’t a gossip site, and certainly aren’t one of the websites known for making things go viral. The blogger thought their audience would get a kick of out it, so she forwarded the Feministe link and said something like, “The best time TSA found my vibrator.” She wasn’t even sure they’d post it.

      A little while later, a reporter at Forbes who happens to be a friend of the blogger saw the tweet and g-chatted the blogger saying, “This is a joke right?” The blogger said no, it’s real, and the woman at Forbes asked a series of question which the blogger answered. Woman at Forbes then posts the story.

      In the meantime, a fried of the blogger — one of the blogger’s best friends, actually, and one of the four women who she sent the photo to — thought it was entertaining and sent the tip to Gawker. Gawker ran it, and a bunch of other media outlets picked it up.

      It’s also worth noting that the blogger — me — had a twitter following of lots of internet and media people to begin with. So Xeni Jardin of Boing Boing, for example, saw it when I tweeted it.

      So no, this is not “launching a new blog 101,” since this isn’t a new blog and I’m in no way a new blogger. But thanks for the weird rape threat? You seem totally cool and normal.

      1. Also this whole thing is… weird… and has gotten very out of control. I’ve been writing about feminism and politics for almost a decade; I’ve worked pretty hard to establish myself as writer, a thinker and an activist. I’ve also worked really hard to pursue a career as an attorney. I’d rather not be known as Vibrator Girl. When I put up this post, I had no idea it would spread so far so quickly, and I’m trying to figure out how to proceed. I’ve been trying to recenter the conversation on privacy issues and the security state, but really, everyone wants the funny vibrator story.

        So! I’m stepping away for today, as best I can, to think about this and to let things die down. There are really important issues about privacy and security that are worth discussing here and I’m almost always glad to have a platform to talk about them, but I’m not sure that message is getting out, and I’m not sure I want the kind of attention this is bringing — owning a vibrator is not really what I’ve worked hard to be known for.

        Anyway, these are very of-the-minute thoughts, but I do need a breather. If I’m not around to respond to comments, that’s why.

  55. Oh no, another barely literate, barely graduated high school, underqualified TSA agent got a cheap (and creepy) thrill. Hmm, might lose his $15/hour job and his position of “power” over others (in an otherwise pointless existence). Still pretty funny in a twisted kinda way though. So glad I left the US and now in Australia. No TSA agents, body scanners, or Fox News telling everyone there’s a terrorist around every corner!

  56. Wow, Billy Budd, it must be nice to live on that high horse of yours and group an entire career of people into some little box that your clearly bigoted mind has made for them. Keep at it buddy, I’m sure if you keep ripping on others, one day you’ll feel better about yourself.

  57. Hey Jill you want to be play in the big leagues? I’ll shove that vibrator right up your ass. Literally. Then you can blog about it and be famous. But cut the shit with this fake garbage. I’ve been in the smut game far too long to just sit by and watch these young sluts tarnish what I’ve worked so hard to build.

    This is piggybacking on someone else’s internet fame 101. Cut the shit with this fake trolling attempt.

  58. I gotta agree Natalia. I hope no one found my response as offensive as I found that. I was simply trying to question the legitimacy of such a situation. His response was definitely not warranted, and very angry. Makes you wonder where his pent up tension comes from. Maybe he needs to borrow someones “personal items”.

  59. MgS:

    As a post-op transsexual, I find myself obliged to carry a dilator (a dildo with measurement markings on it) with me when I travel for post-op maintenance of the surgery. I just carry them in my carry-on bag.

    Coming through Frankfurt earlier this year, one of the baggage inspectors freaked out about my dilator. So, I calmly pulled it out of its case while stating that it was for medical use.

    I’ve never seen someone blush that shade of red before 😀

    Interesting that this happened in Frankfurt. German inspectors are 1) much more intrusive and 2) much more ill-humored than their TSA counterparts.

  60. Dave, how about you take the righteous indignation this rather fluffy and humorous post inspired in you and shove it right up your own ass? Might keep you occupied and keep you from posting rape threats. Better yet, stuff it in your mouth so we don’t have to hear your incessant whining any longer.

    ***Cue Skeptical’s next post, questioning if Dave even exists and if it’s just another attempt at a Feministe blogger trying to get attention.

    ***Cue Skeptical’s post after that, questioning if zie really exists or is just a fake persona created by a Feministe blogger trying to get attention.

    THEN WATCH–both Skeptical and Dave cancel each other out, like matter and anti-matter.

    JILL I SEE WHAT YOU’RE DOING HERE. CREATING FAKE PERSONAS THAT CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT. YOU ARE EVIL. YOU SHOULD BE DISBARRED.

  61. Skeptical:
    I gotta agree Natalia. I hope no one found myresponse as offensive as I found that. I was simply trying to question the legitimacy of such a situation. His response was definitely not warranted, and very angry. Makes you wonder where his pent up tension comes from. Maybe he needs to borrow someones “personal items”.

    You came off like an asshole and a douchebag, an impression not really mitigated by the suggestion that Rapethreat McGee up there just needs to jack off more. That you don’t come across as offensively as the guy making rape threats over “internetfame! *froth, foam, froth again* something something lady-bloggers! my smuuuuuuuuut is taaaaarnished!”…not exactly a huge point in your favor, y’know?

  62. Oh, I definitely think Dave exists. And its sad that there are people out there that think like that. I in no way condone what Dave said, and i would hope that Jill wouldn’t be so callous as to find humor in pretending to be someone who says what he said.

    Also, if you read what I wrote, you’ll realize that I never claimed she was trying to get attention. There are thousands of bloggers out there that post humorous but not true stories all the time. All I pointed out is that no body has questioned it.

    I’m thinking maybe next time before you try to put words in my mouth, you might want to start questioning why you are so easily convinced of something you read online.

    Another point, I would bet a good amount of money that of all the people believing this without any hesitation, if you were to get the same piece of paper from one of your friends, more then half the time, you would say they’re making it up. However, because Jill has a rather popular blog, you take to the story without ever giving it proper evaluation.

  63. preying mantis: You came off like an asshole and a douchebag, an impression not really mitigated by the suggestion that Rapethreat McGee up there just needs to jackoff more.That you don’t come across as offensively as the guy making rape threats over “internet fame!*froth,foam,froth again* something something lady-bloggers! my smuuuuuuuuut is taaaaarnished!”…not exactly a huge point in your favor, y’know?

    I agree with you that it’s not really in my favor, but how did I come across as a douchebag or asshole? When I mentioned that very few people have questioned the legitimacy of this story? Unless I’m misreading her response, Jill didn’t seem too offended by my comment. If she is, the I apologize, but I wasn’t trying to attack anyone. I was commenting on the fact that people are flocking to this story without questioning it.

  64. Sympathies for the appalling creepiness?

    Of the trolls, not the TSA.

    But that, too.

    I got pulled aside for a spot-check of carry-on luggage not long after 9/11 when I was 19 or so. Was carrying lingerie and a vibrator. The inspector got very smirky. It was awkward, but I think it was awkward for him, too; I was watching him take the stuff out; he knew I knew he knew what it was… I mean, stoicism would probably have been the better option for everyone, but sometimes shit is awkward.

    On the other hand, about a year ago, a reasonably well-known sci fi author opened her luggage to find that the TSA agent had left her an inspection note… and also stolen a pair of her panties.

  65. Skeptical: I agree with you that it’s not really in my favor, but how did I come across as a douchebag or asshole? When I mentioned that very few people have questioned the legitimacy of this story? Unless I’m misreading her response, Jill didn’t seem too offended by my comment. If she is,the I apologize, but I wasn’t trying to attack anyone. I was commenting on the fact that people are flocking to this story without questioning it.

    Possibly because they or someone they know has experienced something similar (although perhaps not as hilarious). Besides, there is the whole blogs under her real name, activist career, and law license to consider. Do you know how hard it is to be taken seriously sometimes? Law = reputation. Making this shit up would not be a smart move and Jill happens to be a very smart woman.

  66. Skeptical: how did I come across as a douchebag or asshole?

    Dude, you popped up on a blog to do little more than allege that the writer was lying. In a particularly dickish way. Like you just couldn’t fucking believe that nobody else was looking at Jill and raising an eyebrow and thinking that this is all just so convenient that she happened to get this note and happened to take a picture and then happened to have access to an internet that hates the TSA and thinks vibrators are kind of funny and you know what?

    You’re right. It totally sounds like she made it all up.

    The odds of a pervy agent making it onto the internet are just astronomical. It’s like the no-plane theory of 9/11 up in here.

    And! You especially don’t at all sound like a dick when you wank on about something that couldn’t be proven to a doubting third-party one way or another, while acknowledging the same. You really do sound like you’re just asking questions, because you’re curious! Like a charming child, even.

    I also now see nothing generally assholish about deciding that the place to challenge society at large to be less credulous and more critical before accepting claims about an agency with such a spotless (spotless!) record as the TSA because sometimes people lie! is the specific blog of a respected individual currently making a credible claim. My mind has been changed about that! Really. It has.

  67. My stuff was searched really thoroughly when I was coming back into the country from Mexico – pre-9/11 – when I was 20 or 21. I’m pretty sure they were looking for drugs. Anyway, the search came to a humiliating end when the customs agent arrived at my diaphragm. The awkwardness on his part would seem to indicate they don’t come across personal items of all sorts all the time, and yet, people travel with personal items of all sorts all the time. You would think at some point they’d develop some professionalism around it to preserve their own dignity, if nothing else.

  68. Creepy trolls are creepy. I’m trying really hard to understand what would offend someone about Jill telling this story, and I’m not coming up with anything other than “Some woman thinks she’s hot shit because people are linking to her.” And getting upset about that is really fucked up. I’m not also not sure what Jill could say or do to “prove” that the note is real. Does anyone seriously expect the TSA to confirm this or something?

  69. No, Skeptical, I would believe them because I don’t hang out with liars. (Also–if you don’t like it when I make a snarky joke at your expense because of your utter douchery, perhaps you should be consistent and not assume what we’d all think if a friend told us something like this happened, or that we all believe Jill because she’s got a popular blog.) And I also wouldn’t be friends with someone who would assume that I was lying about something like that. If you’re skeptical about everything a friend tells you, well then, either they’re liars and you’re dumb for hanging out with them or you’re kind of a shitty friend.

    Also–people here believe Jill because similar things have happened before, and have happened to people posting here. So maybe they believe her because similar things have happened to them. Unless you think everyone here might be lying.

  70. Jill: Oh I know. The “personal item” is now officially retired.

    Am I the only one willing to replace it for her?
    Is it bad that I want to replace it for her? I mean, I wouldn’t dream of delivering it personally (well okay I would dream of it and probably dream of her offering to show me how it works, but that’s as far as it would go, unfortunately) and I would not want her feeling like I was trying to be creepy.

  71. chingona:
    I’m also not sure what Jill could say or do to “prove” that the note is real. Does anyone seriously expect the TSA to confirm this or something?

    I don’t know about you, but I’m really enjoying my new-found skeptical enlightenment. I’m currently disbelieving in pretty much everything on Boing Boing’s front page, including but not limited to: giant lego men, Florida, Cory Doctorow’s belt buckle, the psychological phenomenon of inattenional blindness, and Tom Waits’s new album. I mean, seriously, that last one isn’t even slightly credible.

  72. I love all the “it’s faked” comments (here and elsewhere). Riiiight. Feminazi blogger slut probably offered the TSA agent the best BJ of his life to write the note… or had a friend do it after she got home.

    Or maybe the Angel Moroni wrote it.

  73. Or maybe the Angel Moroni wrote it.

    BLASPHEMY. It was the Flying Spaghetti Monster. GET IT STRAIGHT.

  74. Personally, I think all those questioning the validity of the TSA note and daring to criticize the blog author for telling her story are either not concerned for their civil liberties, working for the damn TSA, or just too mentally challenged to comprehend what has happened to this country. The USA is sadly a shell of it’s former self and it appears the terrorists have won because we no longer have the luxury of enjoying the right to privacy as we did back in the days before 9/11. This is what the terrorists wanted so they should be real proud and anyone who supports these types of blatant violations on the American people should be ashamed of themselves! I can appreciate that the blog author Jill somehow managed to find humor in this situation because I surely could NEVER see anything funny if my rights were being violated in this manner so good for her. I’m just not that mild-mannered. I would have hunted down that TSA perv who authored the note, handed the idiot my “personal item”, and told he or she where to stick it! Then, I would file a complaint against the airline. If that didn’t work, I would take the matter to court and give the TSA perv the indignity of explaining his or her actions to a judge and jury. That sure would be justice making the TSA perv suffer all the same humiliation as he/she dealt out LOL:)

  75. @Hick–Oh noez! NOT THAT. Jill, you should be ashamed of yourself for not behaving with proper ladylike decorum. A LADY would be humiliated and join a convent after receiving such a note from the TSA.

    This makes me want to take a trip and stuff my luggage full of Playgirls.

  76. Sheelzebub:
    This makes me want to take a trip and stuff my luggage full of Playgirls.

    Hee. Toys, mags, and some strategic spring-loading. Maybe a ton of glitter packets, too, just for bonus surreal-incident points.

  77. Internal security services, once established, tend to morph beyond their initial mandate. TSA started out as security theater to make people less uncomforatable about a terrorist threat that they can’t do much to reduce. But they’re becoming a fully integrated part of the war on drugs and the general surveillance culture. As an aside, I don’t believe there there’s no archiving of images on the Rapiscan backscatter machines and I won’t go through them — I opt out and take the pat-down.

    Those who trade essential liberty for a little temporary security, to paraphrase Franklin, will end up with neither.

  78. Also, Jill, I’ll say it again: the banhammer is your friend. You are under no obligation to tolerate this abuse on your own blog, and they have no right to show up in your space and call you a liar. Banhammer.

  79. I’m wondering how a woman with a dildo in her bag for a vacation overseas where she could just buy a new one for $5 could be so outraged that a guy with a minimum wage job could make that comment. You KNOW your bags are getting checked, you could have left the thing at home if someone’s reaction would provoke the outrage it did from you and the attempt you’re making at the person’s job by leveling a complaint. If you want something kept private, don’t bring it through airport security. And the guy was joking, it’s just your feminism that’s preventing you from letting it go. Personally, I think YOU caused the uncomfortable situation as you KNEW your bags would be checked. YOU made his job uncomfortable. Not the other way around. I don’t agree with his comment, but maybe he was just dealing with the situation in a way that lessened his uncomfortability as you put something in your bag that you KNEW someone would see, make them uncomfortable, and YOU couldn’t deal with the aftermath. I bet you’re the same type of woman who gets mad on the subway when a guy stares at your breasts when you wear a top which shows everything but the nipple. Put it out for people to see, they’ll either look or comment. Period. And if I see you in the subway, you can BET I’ll stare at them too.

  80. Thomas is right, you don’t have to put up with their shit, but also they are kinda funny. “Oh, you just made this up because it would get your new blog more attention. I’m not dumb, I know how the internet works! Am I the only one not brainwashed by these feminazis?!”

    I suppose I can live with the trolls, but what’s really sad is that this is the article that is being hung up all over the internet…

  81. “The Motivator” is pure troll gold! It’s your fault that people are being creepy and intrusive, you manipulated them into it by carrying your personal belongings, and they were just too interesting! Also, you’d think it’s funny, but that damn feminism-thing kills all humor! Oh, wait…

  82. LOL, Motivator, you sure are angry. You should calm down. All this chest-clutching on your part over a vibrator (different from a dildo, silly). It’s a big world out there, cupcake, and if the very mention of such things gets you all in a dither, you may want to stay off the internet, and in your house. Maybe with cotton wool in your ears, socks in your mouth, and a paper bag over your head.

  83. In case you were wondering, Jill, TSA goes through baggage. I don’t pack anything I don’t NEED on a vacation and if it’s in the least bit affordable and disposable, I get it at my destination. Do us all a favor and say you didn’t know your bags would be checked. Please. I’m waiting for something more stupid than your actions have already been. I REALLY think you wanted attention for your blog. There’s no other reason why someone would carry a metal vibrator through a screening checkpoint other than for attention OR if they don’t care about reaction, which you OBVIOUSLY do!

    1. Yes you’re right, I packed a small vibrator in my checked luggage so that I could get more attention for my blog. Despite the fact that I have packed this same vibrator in my checked luggage many many times without incident, I knew that THIS time, I would get a note from a creep, which I would then put on Twitter, which would then blow up on the internet and get my blog more traffic. Sounds like a fool-proof plan! I don’t see how it couldn’t have been planned.

      It’s just like that time I brought tampons through the security check in my purse, and a TSA agent pulled one out and asked what it was, and a male colleague had to explain (in French). Clearly I decided to start menstruating just so I could take the tampons on a plane, and clearly I read minds in order to find a TSA agent who had never seen one before. I tweeted about that too, but it didn’t go viral or get my blog more attention. PLAN FOILED!

      You give me too much credit, seriously. Look, I don’t care about someone’s personal reaction; I am aware that if I pack a vibrator in my bag, an agent might see it. I am also aware that many, many adult women use vibrators and pack them, along with all sorts of other things that you don’t necessarily want commented on — birth control, condoms, hell, even clothing with a size tag on it (I don’t think anyone would appreciate a note from TSA saying “GO ON A DIET” because they packed larger-sized clothes). I assume TSA agents have seen some shit in their day. I mean, it was a vibrator, not a box of nipple clamps and a Richard Nixon mask, you know? (And even if it was, still not appropriate to leave written commentary).

      If a TSA agent wants to think to themselves, “Get your freak on, girl!” they can. That’s their business. I object to leaving me a note about it.

  84. Also: There’s no other reason why someone would carry a metal vibrator

    You’re cute but dumb. No reading comprehension. Also, I’ve never seen a metal vibrator. Maybe that’s your thing. . .

    But you amuse me, troll. Keep dancing.

  85. PrettyAmiable:
    lol @h ow certain I am that The Motivator is going to get fired from his job for harassment

    Another lol @ the idea that the complainer is making a run at somebody’s job over skeevy and unprofessional behavior, but the complaint-generator is completely blameless for any job-ruination that occurs. Besides, how seriously could someone possibly take their job if they’re willing to risk it just to leave a puerile and creepy note in some stranger’s bag?

    Bonus points for the extracreepy “I will stare at your tits if I see you in public! See if I don’t!” comment. Per above, it makes him seem like a totally normal and cool guy.

  86. Slow down, crazy feminists attacking the honest guy on here. Do you really think a passing comment to someone who illicited it in the first place deserves this kind of rebuke? If this Jill is so offended by the incident, why is she posting it all over the web on her blog and answering questions for international news agencies? If this is embarrassing as you say it is, why spread it around? Sounds like attention is what you wanted and quite frankly, big deal, you got embarrassed, that’s life. I’ve been embarrassed several times in my life and never sought to get someone fired over it, especially when THERE WAS A SEX TOY IN THE LUGGAGE! What else did she expect was going to happen? Everybody knows their luggage is inspected. So what, the guy said something about it. If he didn’t put the note in her luggage, he’d have been joking about it all day with his friends. If he said it to her verbally, this would be no issue at all. But since he wrote it down, it’s a big deal. Ridiculous. I’ve had to strip down for TSA and the guy mentioned I have a “gut for a serviceman.” I laughed and went on my way, because guess what, it’s FUNNY! STOP expecting everyone to be sensitive towards your feelings and political correctness. This is AMERICA and people can say what they want. Even the KKK gets protection and the things they say are ludicrous. Big deal already, if this woman wasn’t a “feminist,” this would have never seen the light of day and if she wasn’t a blogger, her name would have NEVER been put out there if it DID come out.

    1. I don’t think it was embarrassing, and I’ve never used that word to describe it. I don’t think it’s embarrassing or shameful to have a vibrator in my luggage. I mean, we’re mostly adults here, right?

      I have said it was an inappropriate action on behalf of the TSA agent. That’s why I’m talking about it — initially because I found it funny, and then because the more I thought about it the more I realized how wholly intrusive it was.

  87. I’m sorry, preying mantis, but do you REALLY think that MOST guys don’t look at exposed breasts in the confines of the subway? Boy, are you naive.

  88. Also, I imagine d00ds would be really pissed if a TSA agent scrawled a note on their porn.

    (Moty, how do you know how much a vibrator costs, anyway? And how do you know that the note-writer was a d00d? Also, you might want to wipe some of that foam off your shirt, that shit will stain, son.)

  89. Jill:
    PLAN FOILED!

    Clearly the next step, if this didn’t work, was to bring a dildo and hope they glued googly eyes and Mr. Potatohead feet on it.

  90. Do you really think a passing comment to someone who illicited it in the first place deserves this kind of rebuke?

    BAWWWWWWW

    Oh, my dear little shrinking violet. Aren’t you a whiny little boy when you have to take what you dish out?

    You’re so cute when you’re outraged. Here’s a hankie, wipe that spittle off of your shirt and dance for me.

  91. Jill: If a TSA agent wants to think to themselves, “Get your freak on, girl!” they can. That’s their business. I object to leaving me a note about it.

    That’s what concerns me. It is such a violation of your privacy. You have every right to put that (or anything else that is not explicitly banned) in your luggage. Full stop. End of discussion. The TSA agent crossed the line, and he/she was wrong. You didn’t do anything wrong, and I know in alot of these cases the instinct is to laugh it off but I also think you have every right to file a complaint as well.

    And to echo Thomas, you also have the right to use the banhammer (love that word!), because this to me just smells of spillover from the Greenstreet thread. It’s the internet equivalent of a temper tantrum.

  92. How can you be sure the TSA agent was a male? It could have been a fellow Feministe sending a sincere message and urging you to serioulsy “get your freak on”.

  93. “I’m sorry, preying mantis, but do you REALLY think that MOST guys don’t look at exposed breasts in the confines of the subway? Boy, are you naive.”

    Hands up, everyone who sneaks peaks at breasts. Hands down, everyone who does not throw a tantrum and scream “You can’t stop me from staring at your tits, bitch! This is what happens when you don’t cover up to my standards!” whilst engaging in the aforementioned peak-sneaking.

  94. Oh noes, Jill, you broke the Internet! Joking aside, wow, some of these commenters are … wow.

    Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Just think of the stories you can tell your grandkids some day. Hijinks indeed!

  95. I laughed and went on my way, because guess what, it’s FUNNY!

    Here’s what Jill said, in the one line she wrote about this, that you apparently can’t comprehend: “Total violation of privacy, wildly inappropriate and clearly not ok, but I also just died laughing in my hotel room.

    It’s so hard to read one whole sentence. You have to like, stop staring at women’s boobies and stuff.

    Instead of trying to post things that confirm your stupidity, just dance. You’ll at least be more appealing. Also, you’re just so bitter and angry, maybe this will help you lighten up.

  96. Seriously, like what the actual fuck? What are you people accusing Jill of? Read the original post. She acknowledged that it was inappropriate but found it very funny, and shared it with her readers who she thought would share in the laugh. Now all of sudden she’s some PC shrew who deliberately places sex toys in her luggage in order to entrap TSA workers into making crass comments so she can strike a blow against freedom of speech.

    @’The Motivator’ If you were at all honest, you would post under the name ‘The Complete Shithead.’ The only thing you motivate me to do is laugh at what a stupid prick you are.

  97. “Seriously, like what the actual fuck? What are you people accusing Jill of?”

    Living while female, presumably.

  98. preying mantis: Hands up, everyone who sneaks peaks at breasts. Hands down, everyone who does not throw a tantrum and scream “You can’t stop me from staring at your tits, bitch! This is what happens when you don’t cover up to my standards!” whilst engaging in the aforementioned peak-sneaking.

    Can I stop now? My arm hurts.

  99. I’m wondering how a woman with a dildo in her bag for a vacation overseas where she could just buy a new one for $5 could be so outraged that a guy with a minimum wage job could make that comment. You KNOW your bags are getting checked, you could have left the thing at home if someone’s reaction would provoke the outrage it did from you and the attempt you’re making at the person’s job by leveling a complaint. If you want something kept private, don’t bring it through airport security. And the guy was joking, it’s just your feminism that’s preventing you from letting it go. Personally, I think YOU caused the uncomfortable situation as you KNEW your bags would be checked. YOU made his job uncomfortable. Not the other way around. I don’t agree with his comment, but maybe he was just dealing with the situation in a way that lessened his uncomfortability as you put something in your bag that you KNEW someone would see, make them uncomfortable, and YOU couldn’t deal with the aftermath. I bet you’re the same type of woman who gets mad on the subway when a guy stares at your breasts when you wear a top which shows everything but the nipple. Put it out for people to see, they’ll either look or comment. Period. And if I see you in the subway, you can BET I’ll stare at them too.

    Oh dear God, please tell me this post is a joke.

  100. “I can’t imagine the horrors of being made to go through other people’s personal items.”

    Understand well that many of these “people” take this job specifically because they *want* to do things like that. Both for slightly unhealthy reasons and those that are just born snoops and now have a legal way to get their jollies.

    Just the same as a foot fetishist is going to gravitate towards a shoe store.

    There are a few “true beleivers” who earnestly think they are genuinely increasing security but rather more than a few of these people are exactly NOT what you want in a position of power over private citizens in a formerly free state.

    Nos you know why there is no requirement those little cards put into your luggage have any way to identify *who* was pawing your used undies. There is no logical reason to not put down an identifying number like those little “Inspected by” notes in new clothing.

    TSA will tell you that would be a security risk or it would lead to needless complaints that would hamper the mission. (Gives you some idea of the problem here.) What it really does is free those anonymous inspectors from any responsibility since there is no way tot ag something back to them. Try and find out how many TSA officers are dismissed for thefts from baggage…go ahead, try. It’s “sensitive” information and they won’t tell you.

    Always remember, if they can take something out of yoir baggage, they can put something *into* your baggage.

  101. The Motivator:
    I’m sorry, preying mantis, but do you REALLY think that MOST guys don’t look at exposed breasts in the confines of the subway? Boy, are you naive.

    The subway, that well-known bastion of toplessness.

    Such naivete these trolls are displaying about the way the internet works. It’s like they’ve never forwarded a video of thriller cat without being directed to by the original poster of the video.

  102. k:
    they can also seize your computer just because they want to(no reasonable cause required at border checks) and send it off to be inspected and are allowed to archive every document on your hard drive indefinitely.

    NOW can we change the law???

    Cite?

  103. zuzu: The subway, that well-known bastion of toplessness.

    Never mind the obvious idiocy of his ‘breasts exposed’ on the subway comments. A woman at a topless or nude beach shouldn’t be stared at or commented about.

  104. The Motivator: Put it out for people to see, they’ll either look or comment. Period. And if I see you in the subway, you can BET I’ll stare at them too.

    I would BET any amount of money that you wouldn’t stare at ‘them’ if said woman were accompanied by a guy who is bigger/stronger than you, because you clearly get your kicks out of intimidating women in a way that has nothing to do with a typical heterosexual male appreciation of the female form.

  105. Dear FSM the pearl clutching going around the internet over a vibrator is ridiculous. They used to sell these things in the Sears catalog…OH WAIT…the still do…Right, next to your manly tools. They also sell them at your local drug store. Some surveys show as many as 80 percent of women own one or something similar. But FSM forbid a woman mention it.

  106. I can’t remember the last time I read an entire comment threat. But this one is full of reasons why most bloggers don’t even allow comments anymore and why I can’t remember the last time I read a comment thread.

    This one is rather simple folks. Jill isn’t ashamed or embarrassed, or even upset that I can tell, that someone saw her packed vibrator. It’s that someone who saw her stowed away vibrator took the time to write a note telling her they saw it.

    Jill’s caution about the story is right on as well. She’s an attractive girl writing about owning a vibrator (not so much in that sense but that’s the story that results). The story gained traction by the MSM simply for that reason. That’s not her fault or her intention. The better comparison, and maybe the underlying purpose for this blog, is not if she had packed a different item and been left a comment about it. But if she weren’t attractive would anyone care.

    I’m not trying to interpret her blog, her issues or any of this actually. I’m just saying the double standard isn’t the media picked up on the personal item and the note. It’s that she’s hot and now the whole world knows something personal about her. That’s what disguises the issue of privacy and what should be the true focus that that makes it all so frustrating, especially for Jill.

    But hey, what do I know…

  107. Is it hilarious or is it inappropriate? Can it be both? If you’re embarrassed about it perhaps you shouldn’t have posted it online for the entire world to see. I can’t help but see it as a cash grab – at least attention grabbing for your site.

    Would it be better if it were a female who wrote that note – not that you know either way. TSA does random bag searches, and while they shouldn’t comment on what passengers have in their bag, I don’t think this is nearly as harmful or sexually explicit as the media makes it out to be. If anything, it’s a supportive declaration of self-exploration, so who gives a shit. This TSA agent wouldn’t have known you from Amanda in Omaha or Megan in Tupelo. Now they do.

    1. I can’t help but see it as a cash grab – at least attention grabbing for your site.

      If there’s cash involved, can someone please tell me where it is? Because I haven’t gotten any of it.

  108. I’m loving (and by loving I mean ‘Oh please can I throw a brick at’) these people in other articles who are all ‘OMG.. if she was so embarassed why did she post about it?’

    Saying something is a gross violation of privacy is not the same as being embarassed. I think posting about it is a clear indication that Jill is not embarrased, because as she said herself in this thread.. we’re almost all adults here.

  109. Is it hilarious or is it inappropriate? Can it be both?

    Um, yes, she did say it was both. Holy fuck son, you are dumb.

    Would it be better if it were a female who wrote that note – not that you know either way.

    Isn’t it lucky that Jill never declared that it was a man. She just said that she found the note on the form. Again, you aren’t very bright.

    If you’re going to be stupid, roll around in glitter and dance.

  110. I can’t help but see it as a cash grab – at least attention grabbing for your site.

    And yet you’re posting here. CHA-CHING. THANKS, D00D.

    Now dance.

  111. holy shit, jill, you really are on fox news… and well done for obviously insisting on the bigger picture, i.e. the tsa privacy violation and intrusiveness – you must have repeated that about 10 times for fox news to actually include it in their article (you know, besides the “lady has a vibrator *drooll*”), i presume…

  112. Sigh. This thread leaves me outraged twice. Outraged that the TSA did this– I’m glad Jill can find humor in this, but I basically view it as the ultimate unprofessional breach of our human dignity when the person whom the government FORCES us to disclose our personal belongings to makes comments on what we happen to carry– and outraged that some trolls decided to pick on Jill for sharing this story.

  113. If it were a cash grab for the site, what would be wrong with that? Heaven forbid you post things that people might read and link to! So gauche. Certainly, no one else on the internet ever does that.

  114. Looking at all the articles that trackback to this one, I’m wondering why any libertarian blogs haven’t picked up on this one. Are they that incapable of siding with a feminist?

  115. Justin: I wouldn’t dream of delivering [a replacement] personally ( well okay I would dream of it and probably dream of her offering to show me how it works … ), and I would not want her feeling like I was trying to be creepy.

    Bit late for that “not feeling like you were trying to be creepy” thing.

  116. And once again I’m mystified at how a seemingly inoffensive post on feministe becomes troll-bait of the highest calibre. Troll caviar, if you will.

    Seriously, The original post was written in the least confrontational tone possible. Certainly a whole lot more reserved than I would have been under the circumstances. This airport security thing *may* have gone a little too far…

  117. I saw this post this morning and thought, “Awesomely inappropriate and hilarious.” Then I scrolled through the comments and saw how this post brought a bunch of misogynist trolls out of the woodwork.

    (And that is why I shall always pack as conspicuous a vibrator as possible when passing through TSA checkpoints!)

  118. “And once again I’m mystified at how a seemingly inoffensive post on feministe becomes troll-bait of the highest calibre.”

    At least part of it is probably on account of this having been linked back to by so many places. Plenty of their trolls are seeing “feminist lady-blogger” and having knee-jerk “Must…condescend…at…immediately!” reactions.

  119. Richard:
    And once again I’m mystified at how a seemingly inoffensive post on feministe becomes troll-bait oft he highest calibre. Troll caviar, if you will.

    Seriously, The original post was written in the least confrontational one possible .

    Troll Caviar. LOVE.

  120. Jim:
    Understand well that many of these “people” take this job specifically because they *want* to do things like that. Both for slightly unhealthy reasons and those that are just born snoops and now have a legal way to get their jollies.

    I don’t agree with the above quote and think it’s really unfair to the TSA workers who are completely professional and are just taking the jobs they can in this economy, but…I just remembered that there’s a Jelvins song about this very topic! It’s called “The Lighter Side of Global Terrorism.”

  121. Oh God, I broke everything. I’m sorry about the block quote snafu up there.

    [Tech Goddess Note: no worries, it’s not just you – I’m going through and fixing the snafus and will start a thread shortly to try and find out what you all have in common compared to those who aren’t getting this blockquote snafu ~ tigtog]

    By the way, ditto everything Jill, Sheelzebub, Preying Mantis, Mandolin, et al. have said.

  122. Dave Portnoy:
    So let me get this straight. A chick blogger who just started her own feminist website brought a vibrator with her on a plane and magically found a note that said “Get Your Freak On Girl” from TSA in her luggage. She then runs to Forbes magazine to tell her story and suddenly it’s viral. Well how fucking convenient. Sure KFC is falling hook line and sinker for this story over on Barstool NYC, but he’s still a young pup. There is zero chance this really happened. Zero. This is launchinganewblog101. Just make up shit and hope it sticks. Makes me sick. Hey Jill you want to be play in the big leagues? I’ll shove that vibrator right up your ass. Literally. Then you can blog about it and be famous. But cut the shit with this fake garbage. I’ve been in the smut game far too long to just sit by and watch these young sluts tarnish what I’ve worked so hard to build.

    Jesus Christ.

    I admit, I’ve posted comments that were inappropriate. And as time passed, I immensely regretted saying such mean things. But I never made outright threats of violence. Not only is this derogatory, I’m curious whether it’s also illegal.

  123. Once I didn’t have a check bag, so I put two of my glass dildos in my carry-on luggage– BIG mistake. Can you guess how many TSA employees it takes to verify my sex toys were not weapons of mass destruction? Four. Two of them to speak in hushed tones while looking at the x-ray images of my dildos, one of the two to examine my underwear for several minutes and finally remove the toys from their cases and (literally) wave them around the security checkpoint (like magic wands), and two more to give a second opinion in front of the metal detector line. While I’m grateful that the experience makes for a great story, the way that the TSA employees responded seemed kind of inappropriate. It was clear that I was not a threat at any point. The x-ray images showed that there was a pair of solid cylindrical objects in my bag. If they were bombs, knives, or any type of automatic weapons, they would look drastically different. I know that this isn’t representative of the TSA as a whole, but it’s too bad that a few employees make the agency look so unprofessional.

  124. Jill: I’ve been writing about feminism and politics for almost a decade; I’ve worked pretty hard to establish myself as writer, a thinker and an activist. I’ve also worked really hard to pursue a career as an attorney. I’d rather not be known as Vibrator Girl.

    I agree, that particular nickname is not flattering, but there’s something positive to be said for giving the message that it’s ok for women to pleasure themselves as much as men. Not defending the note-writer, I just think it was an important story for you to share even if you do become known as ‘Vibrator Girl.’

  125. The note was unprofessional. Should never have happened. I hate to lose my sense of humor because I love to smile, laugh, and joke around but it’s just as bad as if your GYN had made an inappropriate comment during an exam. When I first read the article I laughed and then I started to think (Takes a while sometimes) and soon I felt a little invaded myself. This person may have to give me a physical exam some day and I don’t want him to joke with his friends about something he might encounter. We give these agents access to our luggage and our persons. I expect them to be professionals. If they can’t they need to find another job. It’s not a feminist issue. It’s a trust issue.

  126. Sheelzebub, I love you. You make all the things better!

    Also, Jill, fuck the haters. I busted a gut laughing at this.

  127. You can toss me into the “I’m not buying this story” crowd.

    It doesn’t make any sense. I’ve seen, first hand, the assembly line-like TSA checked-baggage searches, and there is no way in hell any agent had the time, nor gall, to do something like that.

    And, to top it off, it conveniently happens to a feminist blogger?

    Get real, people. And I’m equally as disappointed, yet not surprised, by the gullible media outlets who carried this story.

    Sorry, Jill, not all of us beilieve this crap, and you should publicly apologize to the TSA, as a whole.

  128. Whatever… You wrote that yourself and are pretending just to get some attention for your blog.. I suppose you did succeed a little but you aren’t fooling anyone.

    In Cameroon a border police at the airport pulled out your tampons and smelled it?? You expect people to believe that? What is the “sous-entendue” here? That Cameroon is a backward African country and someone whose job is to inspect baggage EVERYDAY hasn’t seen a tampon before? Yeah, those Africans, they wouldn’t even know what a spoon looks like, eh?

    Stop being a such a hack please..

  129. Yes, the frontpage of barstoolsports currently has 3 “Guess that Ass” features. Although I’m sure there were not there to gin up page views.

    1. In Cameroon a border police at the airport pulled out your tampons and smelled it?? You expect people to believe that? What is the “sous-entendue” here? That Cameroon is a backward African country and someone whose job is to inspect baggage EVERYDAY hasn’t seen a tampon before? Yeah, those Africans, they wouldn’t even know what a spoon looks like, eh?

      Um. Look, I don’t really need to justify myself to a random stranger on the internet, but for the Cameroon thing there were a few people around who saw what happened. I’m not going to bring them into this comment section to defend me to a stranger, but if this were a court of law, there were witnesses.

      And yeah, I’m not sure tampons are that common in Cameroon? It’s not because Africans are ignorant and “wouldn’t even know what a spoon looks like,” but if something isn’t commonplace in your culture, it isn’t commonplace in your culture. The point of the story wasn’t “OMG ignorant Africans!” it was “actually weird TSA stuff happens pretty regularly, and I’ve written about it before and there was no internet explosion.”

      But again: There is literally no way for me to prove that I didn’t make this up. All I can tell you is that I didn’t. I blog under my real name; I have a reputation both online and off that would be seriously harmed if this were a lie. In fact, my reputation online and off is ALREADY being harmed by the fact that this went viral! Which is exactly why I’m turning down TV and radio appearances and honestly just trying to let this thing die. Could I go on the Today Show and make a bigger deal about this and then sue TSA and get a ton of exposure and maybe money? Yes. Am I going to? No. Because when I posted this, I did not in any way want or expect this kind of massive reaction, and it’s honestly totally freaking me out.

      I mean really, I do not care if you think I’m lying or not. I can tell you that i have very little to gain — and a lot of lose! — from the way this has all played out.

  130. Call me wacky, but I’m reading some serious projection into these UR ONLY DOIN THIS 4 ATTENSHUNZ troll comments. Making up something this odd and random just to try to get people to follow them on Twitter or read their blog is what these loser fucks would do, so they can’t imagine that other people aren’t as childish as they are.

    I mean, seriously – if Jill wanted to get MOAR FAMOUS I’m sure she’d come up with an idea that would be sliiiiiightly less mortifying to know your parents are reading about on Facebook.

    Never has the phrase “haters gonna hate” seemed more true.

    1. I do understand why people who’ve never heard of Jill think this is just some Wacky Hijinks for Hits thing, but a little bit of homework on their own part, like looking at how far back the archives go on this site, and even doing a bit of general googling on Jill, would make it clear that the reason this story got picked up by Forbes/Gawker and other high-profile sites in the first place was because it wasn’t just some Random Feminist Blogger who posted this, but because it was Jill who posted this. Jill has a history on the internet as a well-established blogger and people who have been reading her and interacting online with her for years know that she doesn’t just make up stuff for the LULZ.

      Also, while this number of hits on a post is unusual (64, 000+) it’s not totally out of left field. The Greenstreet post from last week has had 35,000 hits and the one from the week before that got nearly 24,000 hits. We regularly (most weeks) have posts that get 5-6,000 hits. We regularly have posts that garner hundreds of comments. We’re not desperate for the hits here.

  131. “In fact, my reputation online and off is ALREADY being harmed by the fact that this went viral! Which is exactly why I’m turning down TV and radio appearances and honestly just trying to let this thing die.”

    I’m sorry you’re going through so much bullshit over this, but if it’s any comfort, it sounds (from comments on the various posts about it) like you’re putting a spotlight on a pretty common behavior that the TSA typically gets away with because the victims are too embarrassed to come forward.

    1. I’m sorry you’re going through so much bullshit over this, but if it’s any comfort, it sounds (from comments on the various posts about it) like you’re putting a spotlight on a pretty common behavior that the TSA typically gets away with because the victims are too embarrassed to come forward.

      I appreciate it. And yeah, that was kind of my thought process when it first started getting picked up and I answered some basic questions from reporters. But the whole thing is so so so out of control at this point that any semblance of the political point I was trying to make is being lost. Which is why I feel like no good comes of me continuing to talk about it, you know?

  132. Skeptical:
    Wow, Billy Budd,it must be nice to live on that high horse of yours and group an entire career of people into some little box that your clearly bigoted mind has made for them. Keep at it buddy, I’m sure if you keep ripping on others, one day you’ll feel better about yourself.

    @Skeptical, I think you just need a good poop. That’ll put you right. But don’t take too long, lest you miss your daily dose of Bill O’Reilly…or be late for your 1st day on the job as a TSA agent.

    If they’d not stolen things out of my bags before, needlessly hassled me for trivial sh*t, then perhaps I’d be a bit nicer to them.

    TSA qualifications: http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/11675-qualifications-tsa-screener.html
    Starting salary: $23,600 up to $35,400. Can’t attract real talent for that type of McWage.

  133. “Which is why I feel like no good comes of me continuing to talk about it, you know?”

    I dig. There’s always the balance of “how much good is this doing” versus “how much is this costing me,” and you’re the only one capable of doing that analysis here since you’re the one this is all landing on.

  134. You’re right, Marie. If I respond, I’m being defensive. If I don’t respond, it’s clear I’m lying. If I accidentally type “TSA” when I meant “airport security,” that is proof positive. You win!

  135. “And once again I’m mystified at how a seemingly inoffensive post on feministe becomes troll-bait of the highest calibre. Troll caviar, if you will.”

    Well, THAT explains the trackback to The Food Network!

  136. You’re the one stretching with offensive interpretations, Marie. All Jill said was that he asked what it was. Here in Australia a few years ago we had an award-winning ad where a guy didn’t know what his girlfriends tampons were and she came back home to find him using them as toys for the cat – nobody thought that it was totally unrealistic that a young man might not know what one looked like – seeing as most tampon ads only ever show the box they come in, not the tampons themselves.

  137. Okay, so can we get a ban on Marie and a clean-up of the mess she left on the Heroes thread? Because holy fucking shit, what is wrong with people.

  138. So what happened? He took out the tampon, looked at it, smelt it, recited incantations in Creole, lit a fire, danced around it screaming asking Gods for guidance on how to deal with it?

    Sure, and then he offered her father a goat for her hand in marriage, put on a colorful mask, rode a zebra, started an archeology dig, was exploited by Europe, and then became a good marathoner. Is this a list-African-stereotypes game? Did I win? 😀

  139. It’s weird to me how super dubious and suspicious all the trolls are acting about this. Really, is this the most unrealistic and wackiest true story you’ve heard on the internet? Are you new here? (With all the people believing this is fake I feel like I should make a “TSA note? NOPE, Chuck Testa!” joke here…)

    But yeah my reaction at seeing that note is about the same as Jill’s, I believe, as illustrated below:

    ^_^

    *dawning realization*

    ‘_’

    >_>;

    1. So for the record, I understand why people would think this was made up. I mean, it was REALLY bad luck that the TSA agent or airline employee or whoever left that note in the bag of a blogger who writes about sexuality issues and is willing to use the word “vibrator” in public. It does seem totally implausible. I can’t blame people who have never heard of me before for not believing the story. And that’s their prerogative — some skepticism is probably healthy, you know?

      But good lord they don’t have to be assholes about it, or come onto my blog to be like, “LIAR!!!!1!!!1!” I mean, again, same message I would have for the TSA agent / airline employee: Think your thoughts, but you don’t have to leave a note about it.

  140. OMG, Marie, let it go already. If you had actually ever travelled to any of the many African countries that do not have tampons, you would have known that it is commonplace for some people not to know what a tampon actually is, much less certain kinds of tampons (e.g. applicator tampons, they aren’t even commonplace in Europe, so some TSA – oh noes, I mean, security guards at Frankfurt, dammit, ruined my argument… – people would stop at them here as well). People have weird shit happening to them all the time. That nothing intrusive/creepy ever happened to you whilst travelling, apparently = congrats. You’re part of almost a minority by now, even though it might not have been as preposterous as for Jill for many of us. So, coming over to a blog to simply and repeatedly shout “LIAR!1!!” (*strict Nancy Pelosi gaze in response*) is just an asshole thing to do. And whoa, Jill – who would have thought this would cause such a shit storm? I hope they’ll leave you alone soon!

  141. There are more than enough documented accounts on the feminist blogosphere of TSA agents pulling vibrators out of luggage and rudely showing them around — enough, in fact, that Jill’s story of simply finding a scrawled note is relatively mild, compared to what TSA agents have been known to do to breast cancer patients and people with disabilities.

    (Also, Mary’s comment about glass dildos and the TSA makes me want to carry one with me, just to see what happens next time I fly on a plane.)

  142. Jill: (especially since a few months ago,an agent in Cameroon pulled a tampon out of my bag and manhandled it for a while before smelling it and then asking me what it was. A male colleague had to explain, in French, and it was bad for all involved).

    Twenty years or so ago, I was traveling to Jordan. I was on the pill and have enough filled prescriptions to last the duration of my trip (ah, the days before HMOs), along with a paper copy of the prescription, should there be any problems. Well, there was a problem, mainly because the packaging of birth control pills (those little plastic compacts) doesn’t exactly read as “medication,” especially when you’re in a region where birth control may not be in as common usage as it is in the US. Language- and cultural-barrier-related hilarity ensued.

  143. Looking at all the articles that trackback to this one, I’m wondering why any libertarian blogs haven’t picked up on this one. Are they that incapable of siding with a feminist?

    You don’t get much more libertarian than Radley Balko:

    http://www.theagitator.com/2011/10/24/tsa-story-of-the-day/

    I’ve seen it making the rounds elsewhere in that world, too. I think part of the problem is that you’re getting a lot of links to links to links rather than straight trackbacks. This is libertarian bread and butter, though: intrusive and unaccountable low level functionary in a faceless bureaucracy which exists to waste money and provide no real service intrudes upon the life of private citizens with judgement/creepiness/commentary far beyond the scope of even their security theater job, c’mon, throw in eminent domain abuse or the war on drugs/PIC and you’ve practically got an issue of Reason.

  144. Marie: You are also just a random stranger on the internet for the rest of us hun, and methinks one is being too defensive about the whole thing…

    You know what’s hilarious? The tone you’re taking here? Kind of the tone I’m using when I read your commenst. Like, “It’s so cute how you think anyone gives a shit about your opinion.” Only you’re applying it to someone who’s at least been published. And you’re an actual nobody. It’s quaint.

  145. “I mean, it was REALLY bad luck that the TSA agent or airline employee or whoever left that note in the bag of a blogger who writes about sexuality issues and is willing to use the word “vibrator” in public.”

    I’m thinking this is less phenomenally bad luck and more like a simple numbers game. Pull enough shit with those stupid notes (wrapping them around dildos, slipping them into toy cases, scrawling inappropriate messages on them), eventually it’s going to happen to someone who can hang it on you. If not feminist blogger lawyer lady, then a senator’s daughter or a senior editor for The Advocate or the spokeswoman for the Vaginismus Foundation or you get the idea. That individual agent happened to draw the short straw, assuming the TSA doesn’t stonewall on the complaint, but if something’s going on with enough frequency, it’s going to bite one of them eventually.

  146. Thanks William, I was just about to post how ridiculous it was for Fat Steve to write that. I found out about this story from Radley Balko, a libertarian and a tremendous journalist who also runs one of the few blogs I read everyday.

  147. preying mantis:
    “I mean, it was REALLY bad luck that the TSA agent or airline employee or whoever left that note in the bag of a blogger who writes about sexuality issues and is willing to use the word “vibrator” in public.”

    I’m thinking this is less phenomenally bad luck and more like a simple numbers game. Pull enough shit with those stupid notes (wrapping them around dildos, slipping them into toy cases, scrawling inappropriate messages on them), eventually it’s going to happen to someone who can hang it on you. If not feminist blogger lawyer lady, then a senator’s daughter or a senior editor for The Advocate or the spokeswoman for the Vaginismus Foundation or you get the idea. That individual agent happened to draw the short straw, assuming the TSA doesn’t stonewall on the complaint, but if something’s going on with enough frequency, it’s going to bite one of them eventually.

    Yes, but all of these people are LIARS with an AGENDA! I mean, feminist LAWYERS are bad enough, but GAY people? And we all know that the offspring of senators are the MOST subversive of all! /sarcasm

  148. By the way, re: the Cameroon tampon incident…the part that I’m stuck on is how Jill’s friend explained what a tampon was. I’m a fluent but not native French speaker and I really don’t know how I would explain the concept to someone who didn’t understand the word for tampon (conveniently, it’s “tampon”)…all I can think of is “a thingy for when you have your period.”

  149. Wow Jill you’re post inspired a conversation on vibrators on The View which in turn inspired The Daily Show’s moment of Zen

    The internet is kinda scary in terms of how quickly something can spread

  150. Jill, I’ve recently had my personal and professional reputation harmed by something similar that went internet-viral. I feel for you. Remember that you are the victim, and none of this would have happened if TSA didn’t chose to act like this.

  151. Amelia ze lurker:
    I’m a fluent but not native French speaker and I really don’t know how I would explain the concept to someone who didn’t understand the word for tampon (conveniently, it’s “tampon”)…all I can think of is “a thingy for when you have your period.”

    Kind of reminds me of that age-old mental game: describe water to someone who has never seen or encountered it.

  152. Sheelzebub:
    @Marksman,considerthesource.He’swell-knownforhisdouchery,andIsuspectthisisadesperateattempttogetsomehitsforhispatheticsite.

    I followed that link. It was depressing. Not only did it remind me of how many asshole-idiots exist in the world, but it’s frustrating to see that a few are actually enjoying success as a result of their juvenile behavior.

    Oh, well. Fuck him. I would choose Feministe over his raggedy-ass site any day of the millennium.

  153. hubbit: Kindofremindsmeofthatage-oldmentalgame:describewatertosomeonewhohasneverseenorencounteredit.

    “It’s wet.”
    “‘Wet’?”
    “Like water. Ah, fuck…”

    FTR, the phrase I had in mind was “C’est un truc pour quand on a ses règles.” It’s hard to use “menstruate” as a verb in French without sounding pretentious.

  154. @Billy Bud:

    Starting salary: $23,600 up to $35,400. Can’t attract real talent for that type of McWage.

    Um, Billy, I understand the point you’re trying to make, but I’m a college graduate scraping by on $10,000 a year. My best paying job ended almost six months ago and I was making $26,000 a year, and I was fucking thrilled–till I got laid off due to budget cuts.

    I mean, those are poverty-level wages for a family, but when minimum wage full time work is under $18,000, that’s some awesome pay.

  155. Ack I can see how it would make you want to keep your head down. This whole kerfuffle sounds like a nightmare. You might want to close this thread before it gets worse.

    As far as cultural differences go, my boyfriend in the UK never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich until I made him eat one when I visited, and he found it utterly appalling, because the concept of it was just so alien and…weird to him. So even if something as banal as that can be a hurdle between two English, European-ish cultures, something related to specific menstrual practices could be a different matter across differing cultures. And it’s not a matter of “primitive” or “backward”, it’s just a different way of handling one’s period, for crying out loud.

  156. @Jill

    The doubting Thomases about the tampon story have clearly never traveled internationally. When I was in Japan I couldn’t recognize deodorant or the tampon/pad boxes for the life of me. I finally had to ask a Japanese-fluent friend for help, and she silently pointed at some bizarre-looking boxes that made NO sense at all.

    Not to mention some cultures encourage things like soft cups or insertion-sponges. A friend uses soft cups and I was like WHAT ARE THESE GIANT CONDOM THINGS IT’S LIKE PROTECTION FOR HORSES.

  157. Goddess above. The obviously male trolls here make me glad I’m single.

    Jill,

    Got sent here via The Fold Blog. Can’t add much other than support, but I’d like to also add my voice to the “Don’t put up with their bullshit” crowd. You seem like a nice person…You shouldn’t have to deal with jerks and threats.

  158. Jill: I mean, it was REALLY bad luck that the TSA agent or airline employee or whoever left that note in the bag of a blogger who writes about sexuality issues and is willing to use the word “vibrator” in public. It does seem totally implausible.

    But strangers to Feministe have to realize that the odds aren’t really that low: you travel a lot, and TSA–judging by other people’s comments here–does this kind of shit all the time.

    It’s bizarre that this story has gotten picked up so much (the Food Network? WTF?). But Jill, from the articles I’ve read that feature your comments, I think you’ve done a really good job responding to the press and shaping the discussion (to the extent you can). Trolls here keep trying to ascribe embarrassment to you, but in the press it’s clear that you aren’t embarrassed to own a sex toy, just irritated that TSA did its job unprofessionally. It’s great to see even Fox News accurately portraying that sentiment.

  159. karak:
    @BillyBud:

    Um,Billy,Iunderstandthepointyou’retryingtomake,butI’macollegegraduatescrapingbyon$10,000ayear.MybestpayingjobendedalmostsixmonthsagoandIwasmaking$26,000ayear,andIwasfuckingthrilled–tillIgotlaidoffduetobudgetcuts.

    Imean,thosearepoverty-levelwagesforafamily,butwhenminimumwagefulltimeworkisunder$18,000,that’ssomeawesomepay.

    Here, here.

  160. Jill, thanks for posting this; I’m sorry that so many people are obviously missing the point you were trying to get to from the resulting coverage.

    It’s not shocking that TSA agents go through bags, handle vibrators on a daily basis, or joke about them as they handle them (unless they do any of the handling without gloves). It’s shocking that a supposed security agent, ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, would so abuse the anonymity and authority of their position, and the relative inability of the victim to respond in any way, to leave a potentially (but luckily, this time, not actually) embarrassing note and suffer no consequences. It’s good that Jill wasn’t/isn’t embarrassed, because she has no reason to be, but it’s fuuuucked up that the TSA agent felt OK leaving a note like that, or a note of any kind, whether they were male or female, whatever spirit the note was left in.

    TSA agents, joke all you want to each other, I guess, but seriously, we are all PEOPLE just like you. We trust you to handle our bags and our private stuff, on the terms (which the TSA has so graciously defined for us) that we MUST allow you to look through our private stuff for you to keep us all safe. We are trusting you to treat us like humans as we try to get where we’re going; the process of getting through security and travelling by air has become increasingly dehumanizing over the years as it is. We are already reduced to shoeless, occasionally naked, nameless number-and-letter combinations, and on top of it all we’re increasingly forced to acknowledge that we’re the butt of jokes the whole way through.

    Please, airports, security people, TSA agents, please refrain from making us feel like we’re cattle who are being judged and laughed at throughout the entire airport security process–even if it’s apparently, sickeningly, sometimes truly the case. I’m deeply troubled by the fact that an agency run by our government has a system in place that allows such blatant and callous disregard of the personhood of innocent travelers. It’s truly a shame that a few horrible people are abusing their position and dragging good workers down into the muck with them.

  161. To the people who think Jill made this up: she initially described it as inappropriate but funny (hence the part where said “died laughing”). And the phrase is one that could easily have been intended as encouragement. How much does that really square with an agenda to make the TSA look bad or garner victim points for herself? Skepticism isn’t a one-way street.

    But while the note might have been meant in a friendly way, it takes just as much intrusiveness to leave it there as it would a more malicious one, which is why it gets disturbing after some reflection. It’s not rocket science.

  162. Marie, for someone who thinks Jill is lying to get hits, you sure were happy to post obsessively and up her hit count. You’re not very bright. That’s kind of a common trait among trolls like you, and Michael, and Skeptical, and Dave “rape threat” Portnoy and Motivator.

    If you’re going to make yourself look stupid, wear a funny hat or something. At least then you’d be amusing. Right now you’re a bore.

  163. I LOL’d. At the OP and the dipshit trolls who have fewer brain cells than ameobas (get it?!)

    Comedy Gold, Jill. Well done.

  164. Amelia ze lurker:
    By the way, re: the Cameroon tampon incident…the part that I’m stuck on is how Jill’s friend explained what a tampon was. I’m a fluent but not native French speaker and I really don’t know how I would explain the concept to someone who didn’t understand the word for tampon (conveniently, it’s “tampon”)…all I can think of is “a thingy for when you have your period.”

    “Disposable sponge for menstrual blood” just about covers it, but that’s still going to get you a “Wait, what?” from most people (especially dudes) if a culture doesn’t do intra-vaginal period solutions. The “fun” women have had trying to explain their divacups to befuddled customs and security people (“So…it’s a medical device?”) inside the US is a bit illustrative of the issue.

    It’s not even like you have to allege that Cameroon’s airport security has never seen tampons in foreign women’s luggage before. It could very well be that the more experienced agents decided to sit back and have a laugh at the new guy while he publicly floundered with the nefarious secrets of feminine hygiene.

    1. So the Cameroon story: It was a young guy who was checking our carry-ons right before we got to the gate (we were traveling with a UNITAID delegation, so we were in this holding room before getting on the plane, and didn’t go through standard airport security). He may have been new. He may have never seen the kind of tampon I was carrying — as I understand it, a lot of women around the world don’t use tampons with applicators. Also, having lived in other countries, I’ve seen first-hand that what’s “normal” to you is not at all standard elsewhere, and a trip to the drugstore outside of your homeland can lead to a lot of “WTF is this thing?! This goes WHERE?!?!” It’s not because anywhere is ignorant or backwards, just that we have different ways of doing things, and different populations have different needs and demands (the shape of milk cartons in Germany, for example, is totally different than in the U.S. because of consumer preference). Also if you’re security personnel and you’ve never seen a tampon with an applicator in wrapping before, I can see how you’d be like, “Uh, this looks suspicious.”

      It was simply an amusing anecdote, and it’s weird to see it used as further proof that I’m lying (I mean, I tweeted about it at the time, and this was back in August, so I guess I really constructed this prank well, huh?).

  165. Well, I must be either lying or imagining my trip back to Osaka from Pohnpei when my luggage was searched and the customs agent asked me about a small piece of paper that somehow fell in there when I was packing. (I think it was a piece of my paystub, but I’m willing to bet the guy thought it was a rolling paper, maybe? And that he’d probably never really seen rolling papers before.) I kinda thought it was funny, but kept my wiseassery to myself.

    Sometimes weird but kinda funny shit happens (like then), sometimes inappropriate yet funny shit happens (like with Jill) and sometimes just plain horrific shit happens.

  166. Jill: ThisisexactlywhyIputthe“personalitem”inmycheckedbaggageandnotmycarry-on—Ididn’twanttodealwithanagentpullingitoutatsecurity(especiallysinceafewmonthsago,anagentinCameroonpulledatamponoutofmybagandmanhandleditforawhilebeforesmellingitandthenaskingmewhatitwas.Amalecolleaguehadtoexplain,inFrench,anditwasbadforallinvolved).Ifiguredincheckedbaggageitwouldbelessobjectionable.Iguessnot!

    Sorry I’m laughing here imaging him holding the tampon up and smelling it.

  167. Jill:
    (the shape of milk cartons in Germany, for example, is totally different than in the U.S. because of consumer preference).

    Heh, I get friends in the U.S. that are like ‘You keep milk in plastic bags? Lolwhut?’

  168. andie: Heh,I get friends in the U.S. that are like ‘You keep milk in plastic bags? Lolwhut?’

    Not everywhere we don’t! I fricking miss my bags – keeps more milk fresher longer. 🙁 Damn the prairies.

    This whole incident is completely fucked up. I also seriously regret my earlier comment, which sounds way too similar to all this bogus, “What are you complaining about? Totally wasn’t a big deal!” B.S. And I can’t even start on the rest of them. Sorry, Jill.

  169. after reading all the comments here and over at boingboing, i wish to thank you Jill for sharing your experience !
    (and yes, i would have also had a good “lmbo-laugh” as well 😉

    as far as methinks i am pretty much with @Katie/211

    and personally this incident got me thinking : would i buy a new/replace that particular vibrator ? yes.
    as a goofy-geeky-feminist i actually destest this; imagine instead it was a costly lelo-or-other-brand-toy since it means imho an unnecessary expense/purchase either way i look at it.

    what other/conclusions did i draw/analyze for myself from your experience ?
    1. i would pack my/a sex-toy in a clear/zip-bag, label it and foto-document it
    before i travel, incl. an attached typed warning/disclaimer if “my toy” was taken out of “my packaging”.
    2. if i had to travel intra-US a lot i would travel with a soc. starter-gun (which i use for/at private sports-events as a referee/starter anyway)
    fyi, description here :
    http://boingboing.net/2006/09/24/secure-your-checked.html

  170. Jill:
    CLEARLY that is because you are backwards and primitive. Right?

    Everyone who doesn’t store their milk using the same configuration and method as I do is backwards and primitive! (I tried to figure out how to work that to the tune of Satisfaction, but no dice.)

  171. My sympathies to Ms Jill – what an explosion! My original reaction was much the same as yours; it seemed funny at first and became increasingly disturbing at each future thought. And there’s something sinister about the way the Fox News article puts “sex toy” in quotation marks that also seems to mix amusing and creepy.

    At least it doesn’t seem to be turning out to be quite so bad (so far, hoping it doesn’t get worse) as that obnoxious “tip” in Seattle, in which an attempted public shaming ended up misidentifying its target, resulting in some nasty threats towards someone with the same name as the perpetrator and leaving both the offended party and Mr Savage with a bit of egg on their faces.

  172. Dave Portnoy:
    Soletmegetthisstraight.Achickbloggerwhojuststartedherownfeministwebsitebroughtavibratorwithheronaplaneandmagicallyfoundanotethatsaid“GetYourFreakOnGirl”fromTSAinherluggage.ShethenrunstoForbesmagazinetotellherstoryandsuddenlyit’sviral.Wellhowfuckingconvenient.SureKFCisfallinghooklineandsinkerforthisstoryoveronBarstoolNYC,buthe’sstillayoungpup.Thereiszerochancethisreallyhappened.Zero.Thisislaunchinganewblog101.Justmakeupshitandhopeitsticks.Makesmesick.HeyJillyouwanttobeplayinthebigleagues?I’llshovethatvibratorrightupyourass.Literally.Thenyoucanblogaboutitandbefamous.Butcuttheshitwiththisfakegarbage.I’vebeeninthesmutgamefartoolongtojustsitbyandwatchtheseyoungslutstarnishwhatI’veworkedsohardtobuild.

    Wow Dave. Really, is that how you made it big? I don’t even understand why Jill justified your garbage with a serious response. Sounds like some pretty disgusting stuff going on in that mind.

  173. So, I read the latest, and now await the new troll invasion about what a bitch you are for getting an innocent TSA screener fired and/or disciplined for just letting off some steam.

    3. . .2. . .

  174. Jill, I’m sorry this happened, and I’m sorry for all the ridiculous trollery you’re being subjected to. I guess it’ll be a long wait for apologies from the people who assumed that you made the whole thing up.

    I’m sure you’ll be happy to know that you now seem to be the #1 result when one types “Jill” into Google, just ahead of “Jill Zarin fired.”

  175. Can we get a handwriting analysis expert to determine if the TSA agent in question was likely a male or female?

  176. preying mantis:
    I’msorryyou’regoingthroughsomuchbullshitoverthis,butifit’sanycomfort,itsounds(fromcommentsonthevariouspostsaboutit)likeyou’reputtingaspotlightonaprettycommonbehaviorthattheTSAtypicallygetsawaywithbecausethevictimsaretooembarrassedtocomeforward.

    I think the trolls and media are missing the that Preying Mantis raises and that I want to echo: this kind of behavior makes people feel embarrassed or ashamed to carry a vibrator. I’m certain the agent in question felt it was certain that the passenger would be too mortified to complain to TSA.

    If it happened to me, there’s no way I would post it on social media because I honestly would be too chicken shit to assert publicly that there’s nothing wrong with owning a vibrator, but that there is something wrong with embarrassing women and violating personal boundaries in a way that is entirely unrelated to transit safety and homeland security.

    I’m sorry this happened to you Jill, but thank you for being brave enough to publicly say this is inappropriate – because way too many would be too afraid to.

  177. p.s. sry, after re-reading the boingboing-post it seems better/correct to say “starter pistol” instead of what i typed (starter-gun)

    and methinks also yes @Jenn/231 – esp. “it is wrong to embarrass women” in this way …
    ahwell.

  178. Skeptical: Oh, I definitely think Dave exists. And its sad that there are people out there that think like that. I in no way condone what Dave said, and i would hope that Jill wouldn’t be so callous as to find humor in pretending to be someone who says what he said.

    Also, if you read what I wrote, you’ll realize that I never claimed she was trying to get attention. There are thousands of bloggers out there that post humorous but not true stories all the time. All I pointed out is that no body has questioned it.

    I’m thinking maybe next time before you try to put words in my mouth, you might want to start questioning why you are so easily convinced of something you read online.

    Another point, I would bet a good amount of money that of all the people believing this without any hesitation, if you were to get the same piece of paper from one of your friends, more then half the time, you would say they’re making it up. However, because Jill has a rather popular blog, you take to the story without ever giving it proper evaluation.

    Dave Portnoy is real. He runs barstool sports, a sometimes funny, always offensive, website.

  179. Sarah: OhdearGod,pleasetellmethispostisajoke.

    Either it’s a very bad joke, or written by some prude who thinks you can walk into any store in the world and pick up a good dildo for $5. I’m sure overseas they sell dildos in the local supermarket right next to the milk and cucumbers.

    Anyone who’s ever bought a sex toy knows that it’s a major purchase that must tailor to your specific wants and needs. It takes time to find the right one, and when you do, you want it working perfectly and safely, so you’re sure to pay way more than $5.

    Also, a TSA agent isn’t some gawker at a public subway. He/she knows that they are going through the personal items of people when going through SEALED LUGGAGE. They are getting paid to handle weird and whacky stuff they find in people’s private baggage. It’s an occupational hazard. They are also paid to make us feel safer, not to make us feel uncomfortable or guilty for bringing a perfectly legal item along inside our personal luggage. Jill had every right to bring that item with her. The agent overstepped his/her bounds when he/she is full aware that stuff like that would likely be found.

  180. The TSA has found the screener and wants to apologize to Jill. All the assholes who called Jill a liar will apologize in 3 … 2 …

    **holding her breath**

  181. I think it’s funny. I mean, you’re always gonna find someone who HAS to comment on what you have. I think it was meant to be like “you go girl” (wow, even online I cannot pull that off)

  182. Bacon:
    Totalviolationofprivacy
    Would you have preferred if they’d thrown the entire bag in an incinterator just to be safe?

    Seriously, inspecting a bag is one thing, for safety. But leaving notes like this behind in the process isn’t necessary. Good thing Jill has a good sense of humor. I know plenty of women who would have gone bat shit in this situation.

    I remember traveling to North Carolina a few years back. I found one of those notes in my bag upon opening it in my hotel room. That bag was packed with recreational toys that probably made the TSA agent’s sphincter clench like a vise. Maybe that’s why I wasn’t lucky enough to get a note like Jill.

    Good to see you have a sense of humor, Jill. It’s one of those catch 22 situations. Thanks for sharing.

  183. I see a lot of haha comments but not much about the violation of our right of protection from searches and our privacy. Flying on a private carrier you contract with the carrier to abide by their rules and if the carrier chooses, assuming you agree, they (the carrier) can search. But the government should never be involved unless they have a warrant. It is a clear violation of the fourth amendment. They now grope you, search your belongings and who knows what they did with that vibrator, I’m glad it was “retired”. The TSA has begun roadside searches on behalf of law enforcement in Tennessee and Arizona. http://www.brasschecktv.com/videos/defending-civil-liberties/tsa-operating-roadside-checkpoints.html Obama said we need a civilian security force as strong as the military http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s “paperS pleaSe”

  184. I owe you a big apology, I thought you were self-promoting. I’m sorry! I was wrong about that!

    Lady,

    You know, what’s weird is that this incident put a human face, very briefly, on an agency whose employees and very existence I absolutely loathe.

    OK, back to hatin’.

    Adrian

  185. So interestingly enough, People On Twitter (who I realize are not all real people and shouldn’t be taken seriously) are still convinced I made this up, and/or wrote the note myself. Apparently I am powerful enough to plant someone in the TSA who will take the fall for this. Amazing.

  186. Those are TSA employees, Jill. Who in the hell else could it be? These guys are pretty much universally hated with the possible exception of the government union organizing them.

  187. Jill, your powers are made possible by the Worldwide Feminist Cabal. Please give credit where credit is due. 😉

  188. This reminded me of that Louie episode where Louis CK is going through security, and they pulled out a bottle from his carry on and asked him , “Sir, what is this?”, and he explained, “That’s lube…it’s lubricant–for masturbating with.”

  189. What sort of idiotic female is this , she roams international airports with personal items , vibrator and Tampons and egotistically likes them to be discovered to make a name for herself , this idiot can only be from America and being paid by some idiotic American magazine to portray American women in an idiotic way , America , wake up to yourself and stop displaying your stupidity for all the world to see
    Ian Felton Australia

    1. What sort of idiotic female is this , she roams international airports with personal items , vibrator and Tampons and egotistically likes them to be discovered to make a name for herself , this idiot can only be from America and being paid by some idiotic American magazine to portray American women in an idiotic way , America , wake up to yourself and stop displaying your stupidity for all the world to see
      Ian Felton Australia

      Hahahaha I’m sorry I usually would have deleted this comment, but it’s too amazing. Yes, I intentionally “roam international airports” with tampons because I want them to be discovered — not because, you know, I sometimes need them? It’s just ego that makes me menstruate I guess.

  190. Well, you know, Jill, it’s only we silly American women who menstruate.
    What I actually thought of when I read Ian Felton’s comment was some sort of particularly fabulous hat made of tampons, vibrators and other “personal items” (strangely euphemistic there at the end, our troll. I wonder what he considers more embarrassing than tampons and vibrators?), which you wear while roaming international airports (presumable with a pack of similarly-behatted women).

  191. Jill: It’s just ego that makes me menstruate I guess.

    Maybe it’s that nobody actually menstruates. This is just some giant practical joke we’ve all been playing for the past ten thousand years or so. Maybe instituting it was one of the first uses of complex vocal communication by our ancestors? Anyway, the point is that period sex is accomplished by using squib packs.

  192. You know…they sell tampons at many airports. *gasp* Also…many airports have Brookstone stores that sometimes sell…PERSONAL ITEMS. *pearl clutch*

  193. Y’all don’t understand! Women aren’t supposed to travel! They are supposed to stay at home and not menstruate, ie, be pregnant ALL THE TIME until menopause. That’s their duty as women. Duh.

    (sarcasm disclaimer)

  194. Ian Felton:
    Whatsortofidioticfemaleisthis,sheroamsinternationalairportswithpersonalitems,vibratorandTamponsandegotisticallylikesthemtobediscoveredtomakeanameforherself,thisidiotcanonlybefromAmericaandbeingpaidbysomeidioticAmericanmagazinetoportrayAmericanwomeninanidioticway,America,wakeuptoyourselfandstopdisplayingyourstupidityforalltheworldtosee
    IanFeltonAustralia

    Say, Ian… women in the industrialized world are more likely to own a vibrator (vast numbers of women own more than one) than to be married.

    Maybe they should travel without husbands as well: those things and the places they get put are pretty damned personal.

  195. Silly American women, with their sexuality and menstruation and lady parts! Everyone knows that non-American women don’t like sex and don’t menstruate.

  196. Are there seriously this many people that travel with vibrators with them even though everyone knows there’s a chance it could be discovered abd handled by a.stranger during a bag search? I mean geeze, is it really that necessary to travwl.with a dildo? Seems weird that anyone would take such items with them

  197. Well, Ms. Filipovic has ensured herself years of being mocked by her male colleagues over this. I’m a court reporter in NYC and I interact with attorney’s on a daily basis. Many of them are older, perverted men or younger ultra-macho types, but one thing they all have in common is the way in which they make fun of/bash their adversaries as soon as he or she steps out of the room. Congrats, Jill, you’re now Dildo Girl. Hope it was worth it. It’s just very amusing to me how you cry invasion of privacy and then POST ABOUT IT ON THE INTERNET. Now the whole world knows that you travel with a vibrator and thinks that you’re an attention whore, and for what? Everyone already thinks the TSA is a shit agency, there are no new revelations here. All you’ve done is humiliated yourself just because you crave attention.

  198. Everyone knows that non-American women don’t like sex and don’t menstruate.

    Especially Australian women! If the internet has taught me anything, it’s that way too many horrifying animals live in Australia for anyone to risk bleeding on that continent. 😀

  199. Adrian: Those are TSA employees, Jill. Who in the hell else could it be? These guys are pretty much universally hated with the possible exception of the government union organizing them.

    TSA employees are non-unionized. The Republicans in Congress held up the legislation and funding for DHS until they got their way on the union issue.

  200. Yes, I intentionally “roam international airports” with

    So now I have an image of David Attenborough doing a piece on air travellers.

  201. Let us not forget our periods! And tampons! And vibrators! are not only unladylike and slutty, but they are WMDs intended to make The Menz uncomfortable with all our femaleness. Us Amurrcan females should be detained for our high crimes against civilization (men).

  202. What’s with all the union bashing on these threads? I mean seriously…unions create due process…and sure due process is the enemy of immediate gratification…but I’m fairly certain its still one of those things most USians support as a general concept.

  203. Kristen J.:
    What’s with all the union bashing on these threads?

    Because unions cause lazy pervs to be retained when the true crusaders of capitalist meritocracy would kick them out left to their own devices. Duh.

    Of course, the Repubs blocked the possibility of the TSA unionizing, presumably based on the idea that a well-trained agency full of practitioners who know procedures, receive proper training on all the rules, and can’t be transferred to shit they’re not trained for without notice or over-worked will mean the terrorists have won.

  204. Apple: Well, Ms. Filipovic has ensured herself years of being mocked by her male colleagues over this. I’m a court reporter in NYC and I interact with attorney’s on a daily basis.

    Do they make fun of you on a daily basis for your use of “attorney’s”? I’d rather be “Dildo Girl” than an idiot with no command of the English language.

  205. /delurking

    OHNOES! Some dickbag lawyers in NYC who are, most likely, complete sociopaths have come up with an amusing name for Jill! TEH HORRORZ!

    I’d just post that people suck for the most part, until I read zuzu at post #263. I nearly had internal hemorrhaging from laughing so hard at that. Simply wonderful.

    I will now go back to lurking and feeling shame for my gender due to the MASSIVE stoopit it shows way, way too often.

  206. I THINK THIS IS BULS**!!!! THIS IS MANIPULATION AT IT FINEST. HE/SHE PROB THOUGHT JILL WOULD BE TOO EMBARASSED TO SAY ANYTHING…I GUESS WE ALL PROB FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS IN JILL’S SUITCASE, AND WHAT THAT NOTE REFERRED TO. ITS BAD ENUF THAT THEY GO THROUGH OUR STUFF…”IN THE NAME OF SAFETY”, THATS ALL THE TSA SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH AND I THINK THAT PERVERT SHOULD BE FIRED!!!! 3 CHEERS TO JILL!!!!!

  207. PrettyAmiable: Dotheymakefunofyouonadailybasisforyouruseof“attorney’s”?I’dratherbe“DildoGirl”thananidiotwithnocommandoftheEnglishlanguage.

    *SMACK!* LOL! Amicable, Gurrrrl, just put DOWN that can of ‘WhuuppAss!’ (Sorry, but i’ve had a hard day. i rarely post but your comment had me laughing sideways … sooo right, it wasn’t wrong.)

    I came to send this story to a friend for fun. I have read this blog for a long time and find it interesting that after years of many unique, insightful, inspirational, and informative pieces Jill has written … this is the one to garner responses from international media. (*wink*)

    Pretty funny, Huh? Even within the realm of a multitude of experiences shared by strong, intelligent, pro-active females on this blog … it is still ‘sex that sells’. Must be next in line below ‘if it bleeds it leads’.

    No matter what, (all publicity …) i believe we can ALL agree that the behavior of the TSA officer was “wildly inappropriate” because it was simply outside the mandated role of that persons job AS A FLIPPIN’ SECURITY OFFICER (Secure your ego and libido at the door before you touch me or ANY of my s***!!, TSA person). Then again, what can we expect when they place their ads on Pizza Boxes?? (remember Boing Boing)

    Nice post, Jill. Sorry it had to happen to you. Quite horrific. Nevertheless, job well done.

  208. One thing I feel the need to comment on is the ridiculous statement that instead of traveling with a vibe, someone should just buy one when they get where they are going. I ask you: WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY FLY HOME? They either have to take it on the plane home, or throw it away. Or, yes, they could ship it to their home address, but add that to the cost of buying a new vibe every time you travel and this is sounding more than a little ridiculous. I worked in an adult store for about two months last summer and you can get a decent, basic vibe for about $20, but if you have sensitive skin? Want something seamless? Rechargeable? Waterproof? 100% silicone? You are looking at $50 minimum. And that’s the one store I worked in, I have no idea what prices run across the country or the world. Also I believe Jill mentioned she was in Ireland? I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t know where the nearest adult store is when I go ANYWHERE, let alone another COUNTRY. And I know it’s been said a lot already, and very well, but to say again: IT’S NOT THE BAG SEARCH THAT JILL OBJECTS TO. It’s reasonable to think that something battery-powered and wired is going to need to be inspected, but “leaving personal note” goes way beyond inspection. Enough with the bullshit of “Well what did she expect!” SHE PROBABLY DIDN’T EXPECT AN INVASIVE, UNPROFESSIONAL NOTE. SO SHUT THE FUCK UP.

  209. Ledasmom:
    Well,youknow,Jill,it’sonlywesillyAmericanwomenwhomenstruate.
    WhatIactuallythoughtofwhenIreadIanFelton’scommentwassomesortofparticularlyfabuloushatmadeoftampons,vibratorsandother“personalitems”(strangelyeuphemisticthereattheend,ourtroll.Iwonderwhatheconsidersmoreembarrassingthantamponsandvibrators?),whichyouwearwhileroaminginternationalairports(presumablewithapackofsimilarly-behattedwomen).

    Ahahaha trying to explain to the other people in the room with me why I was laughing so hard just now may have been more complicated than explaining what a tampon is.

  210. Are you happy the employee is now fired while you are in the hotel room laughing about your note and enjoying a sex toy!

  211. You’re a good sport Jill, the dude is getting fired as he should be for being an idiot. I have to say though, if I was the TSA agent I would feel pretty damn dirty going through some girls stuff and coming across that item. Just seems wrong but in this day and age I guess we have no choice but to have strangers rifling through our stuff before it gets loaded on a plane.

  212. The thing is- you laughed about it and thought it was hysterical, yet cry about how “unprofessional” it was and violating your privacy. If you didn’t like it- then you wouldn’t be laughing would you?

    Since you boasted about “privacy” – you go an post this crap online, –on the internet no doubt. Now it is in the news. Where’s your privacy now?

    Isn’t that kind of an oxymoron? HA HA! (dying laughing)

  213. That’s not true. They also caught my 83 year old Jewish grandma with cuticle scissors. 🙂

    Crissa:
    Well,youdoknowthattheTSAhasn’tactuallycaughtanyterrorists,buttheyhavecaughtmanypeoplewithdrugs?

    Also,beingfederalagents,theyreservetherighttoreadanymediayoumaycarryinandoutofthestates.Someonethoughtitrathersmarttoletthemhavethesameleewayascustomsagents.

    So…Yeah,theydogettolookatpapers.

    Canwechangethelawnow,please?I’vegottenmyshareofnotes–andpoppedlockspre-note-era.

  214. hate to see someone lose a job over this note, he/she shouldn’t done it but the work has got to be boreing to say the least. it pays to have a job you enjoy. peace

  215. This was a very bad move from the agent. I’m glad TSA is taking action on this matter, it doesn’t matter what kind of vibrator it was, it is personal and he should had never say anithing about it.

  216. If I got this note, it would have actually made me laugh and I wouldn’t have had filed a complaint. Then again, I wouldn’t have brought any personal items with me. But hey, I smoke weed so I’m a little more chill about these kind of things. Whoever wrote that was awesome. 🙂

  217. Hard to say how I would feel if I were in Jill’s shoes..? But from my perspective, this has to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard. Doubt I would be outraged by it or want someone’s head on a platter like some of you (who seem a bit wound up and could probably use a bout with that ‘personal device’), unless the TSA agent had used it herself.

  218. Funny, two years ago I was traveling to Austin TX from Seattle, and the TSA agent (Male) decided to search my bag for whatever reason (more than likely the x-ray showed my toy) and he actually pulled out my underwear and waved a bra around in a PACKED Sea-Tac airport. Needless to say I was mortified and when I told him to put my things back, I was told to “simmer down”. I simmered down by calling over a female supervisor who of course never followed up with me on my complaint…Should’ve blogged it! 🙂

  219. TSA leaves documentation when they steal stuff out of your checked luggage?? I want my scissors back!

  220. Though I did laugh as I read your blog, I am SCREAMING mad!! Last week my son-in-law came through JFK and checked his bags only to have his $800 camera, all the gadets that goes with it, and a brand new watch stolen out of his bag. They opened the camera case and emptied it! He contacted the airline and TSA and was told to file a report, as if it were no big deal and they would have little recourse. Now, to read that some freak left a stupid note in your bag and TSA flies into action for a full-scale investigation to find the culprit makes me enraged!!! They didn’t give a s*#t that over a $1000 worth of personal items were stolen… but the note, THAT makes them snap to attention!??? WTF???

  221. Caasi:
    Ihaveoftenwonderedwhattheywoulddo.IliveinAustraliaandhavetraveledtotheUSAacoupleoftimesinthelastyear.Ihaveafew“personalitems”andwastemptedtotakeonewithmejusttoseewhattheTSAwoulddo.That’sbloodyhilarious.

    This is my favorite reaction to this. Now I’m hoping to get one of these notes just so I can do this on the plane.

  222. I first heard this story on Chelsea Lately. It’s good to know that you had a sense of humor about the whole thing since someone else might have already started plotting a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
    I do commend that you wanted this to become a more than the note, for it to be about how far invasion of privacy has gone since 9-11. I understand that there are needs for security measures to minimize the possibility of it happening again, but it makes you feel like someone will always be peeking into your life.

  223. Someone lost their job over this…regardless of the note they were doing their job by searching the bag. By reporting this you were expecting and seeking punishment for the behavior, despite your claims to have no satisfaction in hearing they may lose their job.

    In the end the note was completely harmless, you had a great laugh, and may have even been from a female with a fantastic sense of humor.

  224. like, underwear? tampons? bras? plenty of things are personal items and you don’t want the world to know…or the tsa.

    Khan:
    1stRuleoftravel–Nevertakeanythingwithyouthatyouwouldn’tbeseeninpublicwith.

  225. Holy fucking shit, trolls. You are so goddamn predictable that I am raking in the dough with the bets I’m placing on what you inbred goat douches will say next. When someone acts unprofessionally on the job, it’s not all that shocking that they may LOSE their job. You mental giants who screech about how Jill should have expected this seem to forget that when you act inappropriately on the job, um, you should expect to possibly get fired for it. Perhaps you are all getting so terribly offended and outraged because you pull shit like this?

    Also? Enough with the chest clutching over a vibrator. Holy fuck, you’d think that some of you inbred douchebags were right-wing dominionists what with your vapors over a woman getting off. Horrors. Pull the stick out of your asses and grow up, already.

  226. Tim: Someonelosttheirjoboverthis…regardlessofthenotetheyweredoingtheirjobbysearchingthebag.Byreportingthisyouwereexpectingandseekingpunishmentforthebehavior,despiteyourclaimstohavenosatisfactioninhearingtheymaylosetheirjob.Intheendthenotewascompletelyharmless,youhadagreatlaugh,andmayhaveevenbeenfromafemalewithafantasticsenseofhumor.

    Tim … have you lost your mind! The TSA agents are a chain in the link to protect our very lives. Had you lost a loved one in a crash because that particular agent ‘missed’ something in the luggage while writing that stupid note your asinine comment would’ve been far different. Stop making excuses for a gross lack of personal responsibilty, work ethic and professionalism. Not everything is funny.
    And for you Jill … just because you are a female you are not automatically by gender a Lady! (this goes for men too who bring ‘things’ traveling with them) You mean to tell us that you cannot travel without ‘your friend’. How self-indulgent, self-centered and just plain stupid considering the searches we go through since 9/11. You deserved what you got and so did the TSA agent. Instead of remembering to pack your sex toy you would be better served in the future saying a prayer for safe travel.

    1. And for you Jill … just because you are a female you are not automatically by gender a Lady! (this goes for men too who bring ‘things’ traveling with them) You mean to tell us that you cannot travel without ‘your friend’. How self-indulgent, self-centered and just plain stupid considering the searches we go through since 9/11. You deserved what you got and so did the TSA agent. Instead of remembering to pack your sex toy you would be better served in the future saying a prayer for safe travel.

      Luckily I have never claimed to be a capital-L Lady.

      And seriously, it’s self-indulgent, self-centered and stupid to pack personal items in your bag BECAUSE 9/11? So 99% of the time I hate to pull this card, but Dana, where you were you on 9/11? Just curious.

  227. Dana, adjust your corset and wipe the spittle off of your blouse. You’re spewing everywhere.

    I’m thankful I’m not a “lady” like you, since that apparently means a bitter, judgemental, puritan who thinks it’s shameful and selfish (?) that a traveler packs personal items in her bag. OH THE HORROR.

    Real ladies sit on a block of ice and pretend they aren’t at all sexual. A real lady would join a convent or hang herself from the shame from this, since good people don’t pack personal items (including vibrators). Jill should have been on her knees praying to God instead of living her life as if she was worthy of being treated with basic dignity and respect. Blah, blah, blah.

    You really are a vile person.

  228. Pingback: orlandofuture.com
  229. So I wonder what they would have done seeing something ‘personal’ in my bag.

    I’m no pervert except probably to people that are to afraid to use ‘hardware’ during sex with their wives.

    Does that make me a pervert? Does that make me an object for ridicule? Does that give a total stranger (even after 9/11 for f**ks sake) the ‘right’, or ability, to thump me because THEY think it’s perverted? 9/11/2001 didn’t make cops and the TSA gods over our lives. They are there mainly for the show and less for the effect. We *feel* safer. We *feel* protected.

    The TSA is, or was, a large part of the ‘Security Theater’ show created by the embarrassed Bush administration when they were caught obviously totally disconnected with any definition of reality when 9/11 happened UNDER THEIR NOSE! They blew it.

    You also can’t deny that the TSA was also a genius way to bilk the Treasury of even more money so that the Bushies could hasten the country to the poor house. Who funded the TSA, et al? All of our children. Yet another Bush straight to the deficit plan. They were genius at blowing huge amounts of money.

    A friend of mine is a commercial airline pilot and his rants against the TSA agents are so funny, disgusting, tragic, mind numbing…

    Maybe IF this country grows up, we can better address what caused 9/11 and how to keep us safer.

  230. OMG…Jill get over yourself. Oh no someone left a note about your vibrator and now you are going crying to someone in authority so you can feel all empowered. Who cares. Get over it and move on. Don’t make someone lose their job over it. Get a life!!

    This is just another example of how precious everyone has become. “I feel so violated and my privacy has been invaded”. Give me a break

  231. It’s intrusions and knowing humiliations and invasions of civil-liberties like this that mean I’ve avoided flying since 9/11. The person who was fired probably meant no harm, but the fact he thought it would fly unscathed shows how untouchable some agents feel they are.

  232. Again: I did not “make” someone lose their job. I didn’t even “cry to authority” about it — I never filed a complaint. All I did was put the photo on Twitter.

  233. Luke, you’re so cute when you’re angry. But you do need to relax a bit, son.

    Now dance for me.

  234. Luke is not in touch with reality. The TSA employee in question deserves to lose their job. Many other, more professional, people would love to have that job.

    Government intrusion is bad enough…..it should not be compounded by that employee inserting their personal expressions. Have we forgotten who is supposed to work for whom?

  235. Mandolin:
    Sympathiesfortheappallingcreepiness?

    Ofthetrolls,nottheTSA.

    Butthat,too.

    Igotpulledasideforaspot-checkofcarry-onluggagenotlongafter9/11whenIwas19orso.Wascarryinglingerieandavibrator.Theinspectorgotverysmirky.Itwasawkward,butIthinkitwasawkwardforhim,too;Iwaswatchinghimtakethestuffout;heknewIknewheknewwhatitwas…Imean,stoicismwouldprobablyhavebeenthebetteroptionforeveryone,butsometimesshitisawkward.

    Ontheotherhand,aboutayearago,areasonablywell-knownscifiauthoropenedherluggagetofindthattheTSAagenthadleftheraninspectionnote…andalsostolenapairofherpanties.

    My mum once got pulled aside and they went through all her luggage and for some reason all of her panties were missing from her luggage. Nothing else. Just her panties.

  236. Luke: OMG…Jillgetoveryourself.Ohnosomeoneleftanoteaboutyourvibratorandnowyouaregoingcryingtosomeoneinauthoritysoyoucanfeelallempowered.Whocares.Getoveritandmoveon.Don’tmakesomeonelosetheirjoboverit.Getalife!!Thisisjustanotherexampleofhowpreciouseveryonehasbecome.“Ifeelsoviolatedandmyprivacyhasbeeninvaded”.Givemeabreak

    I totally agree with you, Luke. I thought the gesture was quite funny, and that obviously SOMEONE does not have a sense of humor and made a “BFD” out of it. Should have just laughed it off and enjoyed the joke. But NOOOOOO, Let me whine, cry and piss and moan and draw attention to it and get the TSA worker fired. Personally, I enjoyed the joke, and found a new site to check out: babeland.com to get some new items for my GF.

    1. I totally agree with you, Luke. I thought the gesture was quite funny, and that obviously SOMEONE does not have a sense of humor and made a “BFD” out of it. Should have just laughed it off and enjoyed the joke. But NOOOOOO, Let me whine, cry and piss and moan and draw attention to it and get the TSA worker fired.

      Actually, “laugh it off and enjoyed the joke” is EXACTLY WHAT I DID. But thanks for playing.

  237. mary: ITHINKTHISISBULS**!!!!THISISMANIPULATIONATITFINEST.HE/SHEPROBTHOUGHTJILLWOULDBETOOEMBARASSEDTOSAYANYTHING…IGUESSWEALLPROBFIGUREDOUTWHATWASINJILL’SSUITCASE,ANDWHATTHATNOTEREFERREDTO.ITSBADENUFTHATTHEYGOTHROUGHOURSTUFF…”INTHENAMEOFSAFETY”,THATSALLTHETSASHOULDBECONCERNEDWITHANDITHINKTHATPERVERTSHOULDBEFIRED!!!!3CHEERSTOJILL!!!!!

    Are you a lesbian ? ? ? Sounds real “manly” of you.

  238. So? ? ? Now the world knows you use a teensy vibrator to tickle you cootchie….What’s the BFD ? ? Afraid your mom & Dad may find out? ? Bet they already knew it. Now, go get yourself a boyfriend, and quit your pissing and moaning. I thought it was a funny thing, and I have a sense of humor.

  239. I’m sure lesbianism has a lot of bearing on this discussion (along with basic reading comprehension… of the original post).

  240. Jill: And seriously, it’s self-indulgent, self-centered and stupid to pack personal items in your bag BECAUSE 9/11? So 99% of the time I hate to pull this card, but Dana, where you were you on 9/11? Just curious.

    Don’t listen to her, Jill. If you stop travelling with vibrators, you’re letting the terrorists win!

  241. MilitaryRetiree: use a teensy vibrator to tickle you cootchie

    Ugh. Until I get that particular turn of phrase out of my head, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to masturbate again…

  242. Someone’s looking for a banning.

    I’m going to cast a vote for banning MilitaryRetiree. (Does the Feminist Cabal allow voting? Probably not since it’s a cabal. Anyway…)

    I’m usually fairly blase about the trolls on Feministe, but that last comment creeps me out.

  243. Harlz:
    Get…a…BOYFRIEND!

    Reasonably sure you’d get more than an inappropriate note if you tried to pack a boyfriend in your luggage on a trans-Atlantic flight.

  244. JILL – Unfortunately, your post caused the TSA agent to lose her job. I read that you are an attorney. I’m sure that she can use an attorney, pro bono. It is the honorable and sisterly thing to do!

  245. Carol Demech: JILL – Unfortunately, your post caused the TSA agent to lose her job. I read that you are an attorney. I’m sure that she can use an attorney, pro bono. It is the honorable and sisterly thing to do!

    Let’s ignore the conflict-of-interest elephant in the room, shall we? All’s fair in the service of making a stupid point, I suppose.

  246. Carol- I’m pretty sure the actions of the TSA agent are what caused the agent to lose their job. If I slap a customer in the face and they report me and I lose my job, it wasn’t the customer that lost me my job, it was MY ACTIONS.

    You’re all idiots and should shut the hell up. Come back when you learn some reading comprehension.

  247. outrageandsprinkles: Carol- I’m pretty sure the actions of the TSA agent are what caused the agent to lose their job. If I slap a customer in the face and they report me and I lose my job, it wasn’t the customer that lost me my job, it was MY ACTIONS.

    But in THIS ECONOMY even assholes should be protected from their sins! Is this hypothetical customer HAPPY FOR THEMSELVES?

    Meanwhile, I would like to thank Jill for CREATING a job for someone who won’t be inappropriate as a TSA agent.

  248. Dana: Instead of remembering to pack your sex toy you would be better served in the future saying a prayer for safe travel.

    I don’t understand, Dana. How would saying a prayer get Jill off?

  249. Are you a lesbian ? ? ? Sounds real “manly” of you.

    Did you stay up all night thinking of that one?

    I thought it was a funny thing, and I have a sense of humor.

    But apparently no reading comprehension or intelligence, retiree.

    Roll around in glitter and dance, cupcake.

  250. EG: I don’t understand, Dana. How would saying a prayer get Jil loff?

    I’ve found a couple of, “Oh God, Oh God, please, yes, more”s help if there’s another person involved. Maybe the problem is a lack of sentient vibrators.

    Also, in the interest of not spamming the shit out of these posts, outrageandsprinkles, I’m still laughing at your $7 bagel line from the other post. Thanks for making my morning, haha

  251. Dana: … just because you are a female you are not automatically by gender a Lady!

    I will call myself a lady if I fucking WANT to call myself a lady. I’m taking this term, what now?

  252. Ugh…after reading some of the trackbacks, I need a shower. The internet is the creepiest place on earth.

  253. I don’t understand, Dana. How would saying a prayer get Jill off? strong>- EG

    It’s all about picking the right deity.

  254. Jill: It’sjustegothatmakesmemenstruateIguess.

    OhMAhGahd, Jill, you make me laugh so hard. That was priceless. I must be REALLY egotistical because I’ve been menstruating for a month and a half! Eat that Ian!

    You are so calm and sensible through this Jill.

    I am sorry you’ve had to endure so much BS, after having your personal item and sense of “safety” violated. (That’s the best way I can think to describe it… it was an invasion, through not to your physical safety, it crossed the line). You were victimized and now you are being blamed and name-called?

    Jesus, have many of us women (and men) who have been victimized heard this story before?

    How on EARTH is Jill to blame for this?
    She did NOTHING WRONG.
    She can’t control what goes viral, and the only person who shoyuld be embarassed is that damn TSA agent.

    For chrissakes.

    Yet you can still bring humour into it, Jill.

    You’re pretty amazing. I mean that.

    Trolls be damned!

  255. Jill: LuckilyIhaveneverclaimedtobeacapital-LLady.Andseriously,it’sself-indulgent,self-centeredandstupidtopackpersonalitemsinyourbagBECAUSE9/11?So99%ofthetimeIhatetopullthiscard,butDana,whereyouwereyouon9/11?Justcurious.

    The ‘capital’ was to make a point (much like your use of BECAUSE) … and by the way, I believe the appropriate terminology is uppercase. I would think an attorney would know that. My location on 9/11 is immaterial to the point which you missed (premeditated stupidity?). The point being that since 9/11 anything and everthing we carry is subject to search. So if you pack it there’s a good chance someone will find it. Some ‘things’ are better left at home. And now the world knows … you must be so proud.

    1. Dana, I am aware that the things we travel with are subject to search. My point is that it’s inappropriate to leave a note about the items you find in that search. I’m not offended that someone saw what was in my bad; I think it’s unprofessional to comment on it. Apparently the TSA agrees. Why is this difficult?

  256. Jill: Dana,Iamawarethatthethingswetravelwitharesubjecttosearch.Mypointisthatit’sinappropriatetoleaveanoteabouttheitemsyoufindinthatsearch.I’mnotoffendedthatsomeonesawwhatwasinmybad;Ithinkit’sunprofessionaltocommentonit.ApparentlytheTSAagrees.Whyisthisdifficult?

    Jill,
    Of course it’s inappropriate and unprofessional for any agent to do what was done to you. I have already stated that from the outset. But the difficulty is not on my part but rather, yours. You are not comprehending that a bit of self-discipline would have kept your private life private. Don’t you get what that says about you as a person … you cannot even manage a trip without – you know. And people wonder why our country is in such a mess … there’s no discipline … no self-sacrifice of any kind anymore. Yes, I would be furious at that agent if I were you and I would’ve reported it but none of this would have happened if you kept your personal habits private. This goes for men too! Have we turned into such a self-serving society that we are absolutely incapable of discretion? Do we ALWAYS have to do what we want to do when we want to do it? Isn’t that kind of behavior called childish! I’ll bet you believe in giving trophies to losers too. I’m weary of this ‘it’s all about me’ attitude with people in general. It’s time to grow and grow up Jill.

    1. Don’t you get what that says about you as a person … you cannot even manage a trip without – you know.

      Huh? Of course I CAN manage a trip without “you know.” But um… “you know” is fun, and it feels good. I can also manage a trip without having a glass of wine, or without eating good food, or without sleeping in a comfortable bed, or without wearing a warm sweater. But why would I if I don’t have to? Pleasure is a good thing. Why in the world should I have to sacrifice that? Especially on vacation, where the whole point is to relax and indulge and have fun.

      What’s childish is “it’s all about me” behavior at the expense of other people. I really fail to see how bringing a vibrator on vacation does any harm to anyone; all it does is add a little bit of fun to my own vacation. Why should people deny pleasure just for the sake of denying pleasure? If that makes you feel more grown-up and self-sacrificing, I’m sorry. It sounds like you live a very sad life.

  257. Say it Dana…. VIBRATOR.

    What does it say about her as a person? That she’s a human being that likes to get off once in a while?

    What do you think it says about you that you seem to have such a problem with her so-called lack of discretion (because packing a small appliance in your luggage is totally the same as waving it around at the airport) that you can’t even bring yourself to type the word vibrator?

    Yes, the country is in a shambles because people touch themselves.

  258. Andie:
    SayitDana….VIBRATOR.

    Whatdoesitsayaboutherasaperson?Thatshe’sahumanbeingthatlikestogetoffonceinawhile?

    Whatdoyouthinkitsaysaboutyouthatyouseemtohavesuchaproblemwithherso-calledlackofdiscretion(becausepackingasmallapplianceinyourluggageistotallythesameaswavingitaroundattheairport)thatyoucan’tevenbringyourselftotypethewordvibrator?

    Yes,thecountryisinashamblesbecausepeopletouchthemselves.

    It’s not about choosing to type or not type a word. It’s about the me me me attitude of people like you. The ‘I’m gonna do what I want to’ because I want to. Do not misquote me. I never stated our country is in a shambles because of masturbation but because we have lost (deliberately) all sense of discipline. The fact that men and women cannot take a trip without bringing their sex toys is beyond pathetic. But it’s obvious it’s beyond you to comprehend that. I’ll bet you were one of the losers who got trophies so you could feel better about yourself too.

  259. Dana: by the way, I believe the appropriate terminology is uppercase. I would think an attorney would know that.

    Speaking as an English professor, they are both correct. But I wouldn’t think someone who has the vapors at the idea that women masturbate would know that.

    Dana: You are not comprehending that a bit of self-discipline would have kept your private life private. Don’t you get what that says about you as a person … you cannot even manage a trip without – you know. And people wonder why our country is in such a mess … there’s no discipline … no self-sacrifice of any kind anymore.

    WOMEN WHO MASTURBATE ARE RUINING THE COUNTRY! What does that say about you as a person, Jill? Don’t you understand that every time you have a self-induced orgasm, ten more people are laid off? Why can’t you lay off the vibrator until our economy is back on its feet? WHY MUST WOMEN WHO ENJOY COMING RUIN EVERYTHING WITH THEIR FILTHY, FILTHY ORGASMS?

    Dana: Yes, I would be furious at that agent if I were you and I would’ve reported it but none of this would have happened if you kept your personal habits private.

    See, Jill, if you had kept your freakish personal habit of masturbation private, perhaps by stowing any accoutrements you needed for it in your personal luggage or something, none of this would have happened.

    Dana: I’ll bet you believe in giving trophies to losers too.

    Only if the trophies are vibrators, Dana.

  260. Dana: The fact that men and women cannot take a trip without bringing their sex toys is beyond pathetic.

    Why is that, precisely? Unless one’s sex toy collection is taking up so much room in one’s suitcase that one starts to travel without a spare pair of shoes or toothbrush or something, I fail to see the problem.

    I’ll bet you were one of the losers who got trophies so you could feel better about yourself too.

    Also, CHILDREN WHO LOSE AT SPORTS DO NOT FEEL ENOUGH LIKE SHIT! They are LOSERS and they should have the word “LOSER” tattooed on their foreheads so they feel like the LOSERS they are! LOSER LOSER LOSER! NANNY NANNY BOO BOO, YOU LOSER!

    What was that you were saying about childish behavior, Dana?

    Jeez. What kind of jerk begrudges positive reinforcement for kids?

  261. Nahida: IwillcallmyselfaladyifIfuckingWANTtocallmyselfalady.I’mtakingthisterm,whatnow?

    You are not the former four letter word but the latter fits you rather well. I’ll bet you use the ‘F’ word as a noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, etc. Your brilliance is blinding!

  262. EG: SpeakingasanEnglishprofessor,theyarebothcorrect.ButIwouldn’tthinksomeonewhohasthevaporsattheideathatwomenmasturbatewouldknowthat.

    WOMENWHOMASTURBATEARERUININGTHECOUNTRY!Whatdoesthatsayaboutyouasaperson,Jill?Don’tyouunderstandthateverytimeyouhaveaself-inducedorgasm,tenmorepeoplearelaidoff?Whycan’tyoulayoffthevibratoruntiloureconomyisbackonitsfeet?WHYMUSTWOMENWHOENJOYCOMINGRUINEVERYTHINGWITHTHEIRFILTHY,FILTHYORGASMS?

    See,Jill,ifyouhadkeptyourfreakishpersonalhabitofmasturbationprivate,perhapsbystowinganyaccoutrementsyouneededforitinyourpersonalluggageorsomething,noneofthiswouldhavehappened.

    Onlyifthetrophiesarevibrators,Dana.

    As a self-proclaimed, so-called English prof you should know that using capital is more apropos to primary school-aged ‘children.’ But I wouldn’t think someone of your intelligence who misquotes me or falsely accuses me of having the vapors regarding masturbation would know that!

  263. Dana: The fact that men and women cannot take a trip without bringing their sex toys is beyond pathetic. But it’s obvious it’s beyond you to comprehend that.

    Why is it pathetic? Enlighten me. You’re right, it’s totally beyond my comprehension as to why it’s pathetic to think that outside of weapons and hazardous materials one should be able to pack whatever they like in their bag.

    It’s beyond my comprehension as to why you seem to agree that the TSA agent behaved inappropriately but Jill is what is wrong with the world these days because she ‘can’t’ go on a trip without her vibrator. (by the way, I’m willing to bet that it’s not that she CAN’T but that she didn’t think that there was any good reason NOT to pack it because OH HELLO! OUTSIDE OF WEAPONS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS PEOPLE CAN PACK WHATEVER THEY WANT TO TAKE ON VACATION!! but far be it from me to play psychic ;-))

    And it’s beyond my comprehension why people shouldn’t do what they want to if it’s not hurting anyone.

    So you’re right. I’ll take my trophy now.

  264. EG: Whyisthat,precisely?Unlessone’ssextoycollectionistakingupsomuchroominone’ssuitcasethatonestartstotravelwithoutasparepairofshoesortoothbrushorsomething,Ifailtoseetheproblem.

    Also,CHILDRENWHOLOSEATSPORTSDONOTFEELENOUGHLIKESHIT!TheyareLOSERSandtheyshouldhavetheword“LOSER”tattooedontheirforeheadssotheyfeelliketheLOSERStheyare!LOSERLOSERLOSER!NANNYNANNYBOOBOO,YOULOSER!

    Whatwasthatyouweresayingaboutchildishbehavior,Dana?

    Jeez.Whatkindofjerkbegrudgespositivereinforcementforkids?

    I apologize for assuming you as an English PROFESSOR (of course) had some concept of what I was discussing. Really … we should give everyone everything for absolutely nothing. So what happens when the kid has their first disappointment? When they’re told NO for the first time. When they lose a loved one or go through a divorce or a pet dies. I’ve always heard about people like you but hoped they didn’t really exist … you do much to my dismay! You were one of the losers too – weren’t you.

  265. … okay.. I think I get it now.. children have no discipline because Jill has a vibrator?

    Maybe it’s because I’m just a lowly sociologist and not a lawyer or an english professor. *sigh*

  266. Dana: As a self-proclaimed, so-called English prof you should know that using capital is more apropos to primary school-aged ‘children.’

    Nah, not self-proclaimed. Deemed so by the university that sends me my paychecks. And despite many years of teaching undergrads, I have never heard any such nonsense as that which you are proclaiming now. That’s your opinion; it’s got no basis in actual English usage rules.

    Dana: Really … we should give everyone everything for absolutely nothing. So what happens when the kid has their first disappointment? When they’re told NO for the first time. When they lose a loved one or go through a divorce or a pet dies.

    What happens when a kid is told “no” for the first time? Given that most kids are told “no” well before they’re of an age to be receiving trophies of any kind, I don’t see what the one has to do with the other. Here’s what happens the first time a kid is told “no”:

    Child of a few months old reaches for Grandma’s glasses.
    Grandma catches child’s hand and says “No, sweetheart, those are my glasses, not a toy. Can you say “glasses”? They’re grandma’s glasses. They help me see.”

    How whether or not the child in five or six years’ time receives a trophy after a game could possibly have any impact on this, I do not know.

    What happens when something more serious happens, when the child loses a loved one? I would guess that what happens is what has always happened. The kid has a difficult time, and, it is to be hoped, gets helped through out by supportive and loving friends and family. Or are you seriously suggesting that feeling like a loser at kickball is somehow integral to being able to process the death of a loved one? Because that’s just…bizarre.

    Dana: You were one of the losers too – weren’t you.

    Seriously, are you an actual adult? What kind of alleged adult thinks that whether or not another adult lost at sports in gym class decades ago is some kind of horrible insult or even a particularly telling descriptor of her/his character?

    But, in answer to your question, yes, I lost at sports quite a lot as a kid. So I can tell you from firsthand experience that losing at sports and feeling lousy about it (mostly because of other kids who took you as their role model in terms of how they behaved about it) was not at all helpful either when my parents divorced, or when my best friend died. Set your mind at ease. Giving trophies to kids who lose games will not rob them of the skills necessary to get through such trials.

  267. Jill: Why should people deny pleasure just for the sake of denying pleasure?

    Because pleasure is inherently bad, Jill. Don’t you get it? Also, your self-proclaimed pleasure is DESTROYING THE COUNTRY.

  268. Andie: Whyisitpathetic?Enlightenme.You’reright,it’stotallybeyondmycomprehensionastowhyit’spathetictothinkthatoutsideofweaponsandhazardousmaterialsoneshouldbeabletopackwhatevertheylikeintheirbag.
    It’sbeyondmycomprehensionastowhyyouseemtoagreethattheTSAagentbehavedinappropriatelybutJilliswhatiswrongwiththeworldthesedaysbecauseshe‘can’t’goonatripwithouthervibrator.(bytheway,I’mwillingtobetthatit’snotthatsheCAN’Tbutthatshedidn’tthinkthattherewasanygoodreasonNOTtopackitbecauseOHHELLO!OUTSIDEOFWEAPONSANDHAZARDOUSMATERIALSPEOPLECANPACKWHATEVERTHEYWANTTOTAKEONVACATION!!butfarbeitfrommetoplaypsychic;-))

    Andit’sbeyondmycomprehensionwhypeopleshouldn’tdowhattheywanttoifit’snothurtinganyone.

    Soyou’reright.I’lltakemytrophynow.

    OK … here’s your enlightenment. It’s not that Jill cannot or should not take her toys with her (now pay attention ’cause this is the last time I’m stating this) it’s about self-discipline. Self-discipline regarding sex, food, TV, etc. If you’re honest with yourself (I’m guessing that won’t happen) you know that people are so self-involved. We lack the character of those who came before us. We only want the benefits of a free society but none of the responsibility nor the discipline required to maintain that society. Yours and others’ responses are evidence of what I am saying. I do not deny Jill or anyone their right to do what they want if it does not infringe on another’s rights but some things are better left in the privacy of our own homes. Yes, Jill should be able to have a toy and an agent search her luggage without any repercussions. But there are stupid people who have no character nor discipline like the agent and look what has happened. Are your trips not so filled up and fulfilling that you have to bring entertainment with you? I mean really … just about it with your mind and not your typed response.

    1. Ok, but Dana, what you haven’t answered is what good comes out of “self-discipline” just for self-discipline’s sake? And who gets to draw these lines? A vibrator is ok at home but not when you travel, is that the rule? Does the same go for sex — you can have it at home but not on vacation? Because if that’s the case, the honeymoon industry (and the hotel industry generally) is in trouble.

      How in the world does traveling with a vibrator challenge one’s responsibility to society?

  269. Dana: But I wouldn’t think someone of your intelligence who misquotes me or falsely accuses me of having the vapors regarding masturbation would know that!

    I didn’t misquote you, by the way. I copied and pasted directly from your comment. What I did was quote you.

    As to “falsely accusing” you of having the vapors regarding masturbation, hey, you’re the one who couldn’t even bring herself to type the word earlier, when you asked Jill if she couldn’t go without…”you know.” I may have exaggerated a bit for comic effect, but falsely accused? Nah. I think it’s fairly accurate.

  270. Dana: it’s about self-discipline. Self-discipline regarding sex, food, TV, etc. If you’re honest with yourself

    Why do you believe that “self-discipline” is a good in and of itself? Why should Jill have exercised self-discipline here?

    Dana: We lack the character of those who came before us.

    Hmm. The character of people who owned slaves? The character of people who condoned Jim Crow? The character of people who made sexual harassment a routine part of work for women?

    OK, you can have that one. I totally lack that kind of character. And I’m proud of it.

    Dana: But there are stupid people who have no character nor discipline like the agent and look what has happened.

    It’s true; we should all live our lives around the potential actions of stupid people who do thoughtless things. How else can a free society function? We must always cater to the lowest common denominator.

    Dana: Are your trips not so filled up and fulfilling that you have to bring entertainment with you?

    It’s not a matter of “have to.” It’s a matter of “want to, and don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t.”

  271. Lady Dana,

    A few questions related to your recent posts, which I have enjoyed immensely.

    Dana: I’ll bet you use the ‘F’ word as a noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, etc.

    1) How might use fuck as an adverb or pronoun?

    Dana: So what happens when the kid has their first disappointment? When they’re told NO for the first time. When they lose a loved one or go through a divorce or a pet dies.

    2) Would you recommend throwing one’s vibrator at one’s child when the child’s pet dies?

    Dana: As a self-proclaimed, so-called English prof you should know that using capital is more apropos to primary school-aged ‘children.’

    3) Are you aware that your choice of the word apropos, which you used incorrectly while criticizing the purportedly incorrect word choice of another commentator, was ironically apropos?

    Regards,
    Norma

  272. *Pardon me, I meant to ask at 1), How might oneuse fuck as an adverb or pronoun. That was one fuckly bad typo!

  273. EG: Ididn’tmisquoteyou,bytheway.Icopiedandpasteddirectlyfromyourcomment.WhatIdidwasquoteyou.

    Asto“falselyaccusing”youofhavingthevaporsregardingmasturbation,hey,you’retheonewhocouldn’tevenbringherselftotypethewordearlier,whenyouaskedJillifshecouldn’tgowithout…”youknow.”Imayhaveexaggeratedabitforcomiceffect,butfalselyaccused?Nah.Ithinkit’sfairlyaccurate.

    My my … a professor who claims exaggeration for his own comic effect, but does NOT recognize it in others. The “you know” was to make the point emphatic akin to using the word ‘ain’t’ when clearly we both know it’s bad grammar. Dear professor … take your ball and go home if you don’t know how to play the game or can’t keep up (because you ain’t gettin no trophy from me).

  274. Ah! It all makes sense now. Dana is an ascetic. Perhaps a Jainist. Very moving. She is simply attempting to help us attain virtue.

  275. SunlessNick: So now I have an image of David Attenborough doing a piece on air travellers.

    Considering how wild and wooly air travel’s gotten, I’m sure something like that’s in the works. Although I think Ken Burns would be a bit more appropriate as narrator.

    Also, next time I travel by air, if ever, I’m going in a swimsuit, and there will be no underwear in my suitcase.

  276. It’s not that Jill cannot or should not take her toys with her (now pay attention ’cause this is the last time I’m stating this) it’s about self-discipline.

    So…she can take them but she’s not supposed to use them?

    Self-discipline regarding sex, food, TV, etc. If you’re honest with yourself (I’m guessing that won’t happen) you know that people are so self-involved.

    Unlike you, who make it a point to be involved in other people’s business.

    We lack the character of those who came before us. We only want the benefits of a free society but none of the responsibility nor the discipline required to maintain that society.

    Must…..not…..masturbate….Or society…..will….fall…….

    I do not deny Jill or anyone their right to do what they want if it does not infringe on another’s rights but some things are better left in the privacy of our own homes.

    Instead of the privacy of our hotel rooms?

    Yes, Jill should be able to have a toy and an agent search her luggage without any repercussions.

    So what’s the big fucking deal?

    But there are stupid people who have no character nor discipline like the agent and look what has happened.

    How’s that Jill’s fault?

    Are your trips not so filled up and fulfilling that you have to bring entertainment with you?

    Dammit, if you had taken that bike tour none of this would’ve happened!

  277. Angel H.: OMG!Thisissohilarious!

    Canwekeepher?Pweeez?

    I guess I missed the ‘free speech’ and ‘freedom of thought’ part in the constitution where it states ONLY if I agree with the likes of you. No thanks … I’d rather be silent.

  278. Norma: 1) How might use fuck as an adverb or pronoun?

    I think I’m going to start using ‘Fuckingly’ as an adverb.

    Dana: We only want the benefits of a free society but none of the responsibility nor the discipline required to maintain that society.

    Speak for yourself. I’m pretty cool with taking responsibility, and having discipline where necessary. I practice discipline by going to bed at a decent time so I can go to work and be a productive member of society. I practice discipline by not drinking when I know I have to drive somewhere so as not to be a danger to those around me. I practice discipline by not buying things with credit unless it is an emergency so as not to contribute to my own personal debt.

    And when you can prove to me how masturbating on vacation is harmful to the maintaining of our society then I’ll consider your viewpoint on it. But for now, I find your puritanical pearl-clutching and promotion of asceticism to be far more detrimental than someone taking a toy on vacation.

  279. I guess I missed the ‘free speech’ and ‘freedom of thought’ part in the constitution where it states ONLY if I agree with the likes of you.

    Oh please. Free speech on a blog forum only goes as far as a moderator’s banhammer.

    No thanks … I’d rather be silent.

    Please, don’t. I haven’t laughed this hard in ages!

  280. Dana: I guess I missed the ‘free speech’ and ‘freedom of thought’ part in the constitution where it states ONLY if I agree with the likes of you. No thanks … I’d rather be silent.

    And yet…

  281. Angel H.: So…shecantakethembutshe’snotsupposedtousethem?

    Unlikeyou,whomakeitapointtobeinvolvedinotherpeople’sbusiness.

    Must…..not…..masturbate….Orsociety…..will….fall…….

    Insteadoftheprivacyofourhotelrooms?

    Sowhat’sthebigfuckingdeal?

    How’sthatJill’sfault?

    Dammit,ifyouhadtakenthatbiketournoneofthiswould’vehappened!

    The only one making a point of sticking their nose in other people’s business is you as you felt it necessary to make a comment to me when the conversation was between Jill and myself. Free speech does not mean ‘as long as you agree with me.’ Oops, there’s that ‘me’ word again that I’m sure you’re familiar with.

  282. Dana: The only one making a point of sticking their nose in other people’s business is you as you felt it necessary to make a comment to me when the conversation was between Jill and myself.

    Um.. no. You’re commenting on an open forum. If you wanted to have a conversation between yourself and Jill, an email would have been the way to go.

    As for playing the ‘free speech’ card, I don’t see any governments here trying to imprison or lay sanctions on you for your opinions. “Free Speech” also doesn’t mean that your statements are immune to critique and/or mockery.

  283. Dana:

    It’s called the World Wide Web for a reason. If you’re so interested a nice little personal chat, you would’ve e-mailed Jill directly. Don’t get pissy with me because you left yourself wide open for criticism.

  284. Angel H.:
    Dana:

    It’scalledtheWorldWideWebforareason.Ifyou’resointerestedanicelittlepersonalchat,youwould’vee-mailedJilldirectly.Don’tgetpissywithmebecauseyouleftyourselfwideopenforcriticism.

    And don’t get pissy with me either by saying I make it a “point to be involved in other people’s business.” That’s exactly what we are all doing … after all it’s called the World Wide Web for a reason. It isn’t just your Web. We all have the same right to make comments so practice what you preach (if you can follow your own logic).

  285. Norma: How might use fuck as an adverb or pronoun?

    Adverb: “Well, isn’t this just fucking perfect?”

    Pronoun: “I’m totally entertained by a commenter.” –> “I’m totally entertained by that fuck.

  286. Dana: ‘freedom of thought’ part in the constitution

    4) Are you aware that this phrase does not appear in the US Constitution?

  287. Caperton: Adverb: “Well, isn’t this just fucking perfect?”

    I have always understood that to be an adjective, since it sounds like it’s describing a thing and not an action.

    I’m totally on board with your pronoun example, however. I’d also think it’d work in the concept of ‘Zie owes me five bucks’ –> ‘Fucker owes me five bucks’

  288. Jill: Huh?OfcourseICANmanageatripwithout“youknow.”Butum…“youknow”isfun,anditfeelsgood.Icanalsomanageatripwithouthavingaglassofwine,orwithouteatinggoodfood,orwithoutsleepinginacomfortablebed,orwithoutwearingawarmsweater.ButwhywouldIifIdon’thaveto?Pleasureisagoodthing.WhyintheworldshouldIhavetosacrificethat?Especiallyonvacation,wherethewholepointistorelaxandindulgeandhavefun.

    What’schildishis“it’sallaboutme”behaviorattheexpenseofotherpeople.Ireallyfailtoseehowbringingavibratoronvacationdoesanyharmtoanyone;allitdoesisaddalittlebitoffuntomyownvacation.Whyshouldpeopledenypleasurejustforthesakeofdenyingpleasure?Ifthatmakesyoufeelmoregrown-upandself-sacrificing,I’msorry.Itsoundslikeyouliveaverysadlife.

    Jill,
    I say this to your with all due respect as you have been pretty decent considering … if I have to explain the need for self-discipline, self-respect, self-sacrifice and self- restraint (at times and not always) then, you are lost. Just because it ‘feels good’ doesn’t mean we should do it (and I’m speaking generally not just to your situation). I agree in part with many of your points but the fact that you cannot grasp any of mine speaks volumes to your lack of open-mindedness. I thought that was a tool that comes in handy when practicing law.
    As far as my life being sad … well now, I’m not the one with the vibrator – am I.

    1. I say this to your with all due respect as you have been pretty decent considering … if I have to explain the need for self-discipline, self-respect, self-sacrifice and self- restraint (at times and not always) then, you are lost. Just because it ‘feels good’ doesn’t mean we should do it (and I’m speaking generally not just to your situation). I agree in part with many of your points but the fact that you cannot grasp any of mine speaks volumes to your lack of open-mindedness. I thought that was a tool that comes in handy when practicing law.

      I can understand the need for self-discipline, self-respect, self-sacrifice and self-restraint at times. Self-discipline etc is valuable in situations where, were you not to exercise it, you would be doing some harm to yourself or others. For example, there are days when I want to eat an entire cake. But if I did that regularly, it would do harm to my body, even though it would feel good in the moment. I exercise the self-restraint to not do that, because there’s a potentially harmful outcome. Or some mornings, I want to punch people who are annoying me on the subway. I do exercise the self-discipline not to do that, because that would harm them. There are some people who find pleasure in masturbating in public, but that does harm to people around them who feel threatened or disgusted by their behavior, and so potential public masturbators should exercise restraint.

      What you seem to be proposing, though, is denial of a pleasure that does no harm, simply for the sake of denying pleasure. That’s what I don’t agree with (and fyi, I do grasp your points, I just think they are illogical and I disagree with them). Where do you draw the line when it comes to self-discipline and pleasure denial? Is masturbation ever ok, or is it only ok in your own home? Is sex ok in a hotel, or like masturbation is it only ok if you’re in your own bed?

      I’m asking these questions seriously, because without the harm structure that I outlined above, I don’t understand the lines of where one should or should not deny themselves pleasure simply for the sake of it. And I don’t understand the purpose of self-restraint and self-discipline if it serves no good (i.e., avoiding harm). What is the value in self-discipline simply for self-discipline’s sake, and not purposed for harm-avoidance?

  289. Dana: if I have to explain the need for self-discipline, self-respect, self-sacrifice and self- restraint (at times and not always) then, you are lost.

    Translation: I don’t actually have a good argument for this, so I’m going to go with the ‘well, if you don’t know I’m not going to tell you’ approach.

  290. Dana: We all have the same right to make comments so practice what you preach (if you can follow your own logic).

    What? No, nobody is guaranteed the right to make comments on anyone’s blog, and more than people have the right to take a poop on someone’s coffee table. The First Amendment applies to intrusion by the government, not moderation by a blog owner. And even where truly free speech is concerned, your right to free speech doesn’t negate anyone else’s right to come along behind you and talk about how ridiculous your speech is.

  291. Dana: I thought that was a tool that comes in handy when practicing law.

    Much like a vibrator!

    Thanks folks, I’ll be here all night.

  292. Andie: I have always understood that to be an adjective, since it sounds like it’s describing a thing and not an action.

    Adverbs can used to describe verbs or adjectives. In this case, “perfect” is an adjective describing “this,” and “fucking” is an adverb describing exactly how perfect “this” is.

    [cue: “The more… you… know!”]

  293. Jill:
    Ok,butDana,whatyouhaven’tanswerediswhatgoodcomesoutof“self-discipline”justforself-discipline’ssake?Andwhogetstodrawtheselines?Avibratorisokathomebutnotwhenyoutravel,isthattherule?Doesthesamegoforsex—youcanhaveitathomebutnotonvacation?Becauseifthat’sthecase,thehoneymoonindustry(andthehotelindustrygenerally)isintrouble.

    Howintheworlddoestravelingwithavibratorchallengeone’sresponsibilitytosociety?

    Really Jill,
    I know you’re not dumb but you need to follow the arguments (you’re a lawyer). The vibrator in and of itself doesn’t “challenge one’s responsibilities to society” as you so aptly put it. It the lack of self-discipline that becomes the challenge. How many times do I have to repeat that. Following your thought process – is there nothing that you could go without if you had to?

    1. Following your thought process – is there nothing that you could go without if you had to?

      There are plenty of things that I could go without. There are plenty of things that I have gone without. I have gone without my vibrator on many vacations, actually. But again: If it’s not hurting anyone, and it’s only adding pleasure and value to your life, and it’s not costing you anything, what is the point of denying pleasure for denying pleasure’s sake?

  294. Dana: Following your thought process – is there nothing that you could go without if you had to?

    Dana, please see:

    Jill: Huh? Of course I CAN manage a trip without “you know.” But um… “you know” is fun, and it feels good. I can also manage a trip without having a glass of wine, or without eating good food, or without sleeping in a comfortable bed, or without wearing a warm sweater. But why would I if I don’t have to? Pleasure is a good thing. Why in the world should I have to sacrifice that? Especially on vacation, where the whole point is to relax and indulge and have fun.

  295. Andie: IthinkI’mgoingtostartusing‘Fuckingly’asanadverb.

    Speakforyourself.I’mprettycoolwithtakingresponsibility,andhavingdisciplinewherenecessary.IpracticedisciplinebygoingtobedatadecenttimesoIcangotoworkandbeaproductivememberofsociety.IpracticedisciplinebynotdrinkingwhenIknowIhavetodrivesomewheresoasnottobeadangertothosearoundme.Ipracticedisciplinebynotbuyingthingswithcreditunlessitisanemergencysoasnottocontributetomyownpersonaldebt.

    AndwhenyoucanprovetomehowmasturbatingonvacationisharmfultothemaintainingofoursocietythenI’llconsideryourviewpointonit.Butfornow,Ifindyourpuritanicalpearl-clutchingandpromotionofasceticismtobefarmoredetrimentalthansomeonetakingatoyonvacation.

    Wow Andie
    All that for masturbation … I (and I say this without condescension) feel sorry for you.

  296. And don’t get pissy with me either by saying I make it a “point to be involved in other people’s business.” That’s exactly what we are all doing … after all it’s called the World Wide Web for a reason. It isn’t just your Web. We all have the same right to make comments so practice what you preach (if you can follow your own logic).

    It’s your “logic” people have a problem with. You posted on a public forum, and when people call you on your shit you say that we should mind our own business because it was a private conversation. When we call you on *that* shit, you say you can say whatever you want because it’s a public forum.

    Stay out of those circles. You’re making yourself dizzy.

  297. Guys, I do have to agree with Dana on one thing – self discipline is awesome. It really makes masturbation much more enjoyable. You know, just going right up to the edge, drawing it out… I heartily recommend a thorough application of self-control in everyone’s self-pleasuring.

  298. Oops. I’ve toppled civilization several times this week already!

    It’s as good a time as any to say:

    “Excuse me. I’ll be in my bunker.”

  299. Angel H.: It’s as good a time as any to say:

    “Excuse me. I’ll be in my bunker.”

    “Excuse me. I’ll be in my bunker,” she said fuckingly.

  300. Norma: Dana,pleasesee:

    Point being that had Jill exercised self-discipline then the toy would not have existed to be found but a clearly too immature for her job description agent. There are things in my life that are simply no ones business. For instance, financial papers. I would never take them with me for some goof to go through them and possibly lift private info. There’s an old saying, “If you don’t want the whole world to know don’t put it in writing.” That is now true for the airlines. There are going to be bad presidents, judges, lawyers, stockbrokers and yes TSA agents.

  301. Norma: Dana,pleasesee:

    Point being that had Jill exercised self-discipline then the toy would not have existed to be found by a clearly too immature for her job description agent. There are things in my life that are simply no ones business. For instance, financial papers. I would never take them with me for some goof to go through them and possibly lift private info. There’s an old saying, “If you don’t want the whole world to know don’t put it in writing.” That is now true for the airlines. There are going to be bad presidents, judges, lawyers, stockbrokers and yes TSA agents.

  302. EG: Nah,notself-proclaimed.Deemedsobytheuniversitythatsendsmemypaychecks.Anddespitemanyyearsofteachingundergrads,Ihaveneverheardanysuchnonsenseasthatwhichyouareproclaimingnow.That’syouropinion;it’sgotnobasisinactualEnglishusagerules.

    Whathappenswhenakidistold“no”forthefirsttime?Giventhatmostkidsaretold“no”wellbeforethey’reofanagetobereceivingtrophiesofanykind,Idon’tseewhattheonehastodowiththeother.Here’swhathappensthefirsttimeakidistold“no”:

    ChildofafewmonthsoldreachesforGrandma’sglasses.
    Grandmacatcheschild’shandandsays“No,sweetheart,thosearemyglasses,notatoy.Canyousay“glasses”?They’regrandma’sglasses.Theyhelpmesee.”

    Howwhetherornotthechildinfiveorsixyears’timereceivesatrophyafteragamecouldpossiblyhaveanyimpactonthis,Idonotknow.
    Because someone has to lose. And it’s OK to lose. I have had disappointments in life. Sometimes it was not because I didn’t do a great job at something but rather, the other person did a better job. It makes the good times even better when you have a ‘standard’ to compare it to. If you ‘win’ at everything … there is no standard. And it scares me to think you’re are helping to form kids minds. Not getting everything we want is OK. Who says we are ‘entitled’ to always win anyway.

    Whathappenswhensomethingmoreserioushappens,whenthechildlosesalovedone?Iwouldguessthatwhathappensiswhathasalwayshappened.Thekidhasadifficulttime,and,itistobehoped,getshelpedthroughoutbysupportiveandlovingfriendsandfamily.Orareyouseriouslysuggestingthatfeelinglikealoseratkickballissomehowintegraltobeingabletoprocessthedeathofalovedone?Becausethat’sjust…bizarre.

    Seriously,areyouanactualadult?Whatkindofallegedadultthinksthatwhetherornotanotheradultlostatsportsingymclassdecadesagoissomekindofhorribleinsultorevenaparticularlytellingdescriptorofher/hischaracter?

    But,inanswertoyourquestion,yes,Ilostatsportsquitealotasakid.SoIcantellyoufromfirsthandexperiencethatlosingatsportsandfeelinglousyaboutit(mostlybecauseofotherkidswhotookyouastheirrolemodelintermsofhowtheybehavedaboutit)wasnotatallhelpfuleitherwhenmyparentsdivorced,orwhenmybestfrienddied.Setyourmindatease.Givingtrophiestokidswholosegameswillnotrobthemoftheskillsnecessarytogetthroughsuchtrials.

  303. Dana: Point being that had Jill exercised self-discipline then the toy would not have existed to be found by a clearly too immature for her job description agent. There are things in my life that are simply no ones business. For instance, financial papers. I would never take them with me for some goof to go through them and possibly lift private info. There’s an old saying, “If you don’t want the whole world to know don’t put it in writing.” That is now true for the airlines. There are going to be bad presidents, judges, lawyers, stockbrokers and yes TSA agents.

    Yeah, but what if you bring a book with you. A perfectly ordinary book (okay, maybe a little trashy) for purely entertainment purposes. Not because you have to, but because you want to, because not everything in life is about being as miserable as possible as a show of “self-discipline”. And it’s a book that you are okay knowing that someone checking your luggage might see it (although you are not a fan of the whole luggage opening security theatre thing for larger reasons). Maybe a slight bit embarrassed because it’s a trashy novel, but not so embarrassed that you don’t want to bring it, because you know you’re really going to enjoy that novel and it will make the trip all around slightly more pleasant. That doesn’t meant you are going to be okay with the TSA agent writing a sexual comment on that book and exacerbating the already uncomfortable violation of privacy going on.

    Vibrator /= private financial papers.

  304. Dana:

    Oops – computer went wacky. It’s OK to lose. It builds character. It also provides a ‘standard’ for comparison. How would we know what good felt like if not for some bad or hard or difficult times? I’m not trying to be disrespectful but, it scares me to think you’re having an impact on young people’s minds with your kind of thought process. Who says that we are ‘entitled’ to everything. It’s OK to not have everything we want. You should know that from your life experiences.

  305. Dana: I would never take them with me for some goof to go through them and possibly lift private info.

    Dana, I assume you recommend exercising enough self-discipline not to carry a passport, driver’s license, computer, work documents, printed itinerary with address information, camera with vacation photos, health insurance card, mobile phone, or prescription drugs with you when you flown. Otherwise, should a TSA agent swipe one of these when you’re going through security, you’d be responsible, right?

  306. Jill: Icanunderstandtheneedforself-discipline,self-respect,self-sacrificeandself-restraintattimes.Self-disciplineetcisvaluableinsituationswhere,wereyounottoexerciseit,youwouldbedoingsomeharmtoyourselforothers.Forexample,therearedayswhenIwanttoeatanentirecake.ButifIdidthatregularly,itwoulddoharmtomybody,eventhoughitwouldfeelgoodinthemoment.Iexercisetheself-restrainttonotdothat,becausethere’sapotentiallyharmfuloutcome.Orsomemornings,Iwanttopunchpeoplewhoareannoyingmeonthesubway.Idoexercisetheself-disciplinenottodothat,becausethatwouldharmthem.Therearesomepeoplewhofindpleasureinmasturbatinginpublic,butthatdoesharmtopeoplearoundthemwhofeelthreatenedordisgustedbytheirbehavior,andsopotentialpublicmasturbatorsshouldexerciserestraint.

    Whatyouseemtobeproposing,though,isdenialofapleasurethatdoesnoharm,simplyforthesakeofdenyingpleasure.That’swhatIdon’tagreewith(andfyi,Idograspyourpoints,IjustthinktheyareillogicalandIdisagreewiththem).Wheredoyoudrawthelinewhenitcomestoself-disciplineandpleasuredenial?Ismasturbationeverok,orisitonlyokinyourownhome?Issexokinahotel,orlikemasturbationisitonlyokifyou’reinyourownbed?

    I’maskingthesequestionsseriously,becausewithouttheharmstructurethatIoutlinedabove,Idon’tunderstandthelinesofwhereoneshouldorshouldnotdenythemselvespleasuresimplyforthesakeofit.AndIdon’tunderstandthepurposeofself-restraintandself-disciplineifitservesnogood(i.e.,avoidingharm).Whatisthevalueinself-disciplinesimplyforself-discipline’ssake,andnotpurposedforharm-avoidance?

    Jill,
    I know you are asking seriously and not just for sake of semantics. I will try to address your questions. You have previously stated (and I had already assumed as you are a seasoned traveler) that you are well aware of the stringent security measures in place. If you know this why take a chance at someone finding something private (and I don’t mean private like undergarments which are a necessity). There are immature and unprofessional people in all walks of life and it’s just a matter of time before something happens. There are things I just don’t do because it simply is no one’s business.
    As far as masturbating at home or on vacation … you don’t need to bring any ‘proof’ (for lack of a better word – you get my point) of anything to pleasure oneself so that would’ve taken care of the discretion factor (in the event of an unscrupulous agent).
    In Christian faiths, it is believed to be sinful (for men and women alike) to ‘waste any seed.’ So although it is not directly harmful to you or others some believe it is harmful to one’s soul. I have to respect all people’s views not just yours or mine.
    So in that case discipline in necessary. But when people don’t think or have justified away their behaviors then, there is no sin so hence, nothing is off limits.
    There are non-Christian faiths who believe in self-discipline just for the sake of it as you put it.
    I hopes this helps.

  307. If you were a dedicated ascetic you would not need frivolous undergarmets. Indeed some ascetics have proven themselves so dedicated to discipline and self-denial that they eschew clothing altogether. Your desire for clothing is harmful and will undoubtedly lead to the fall of our society.

  308. Angel H.: You’vebeendisrespectfulthisentiretime.Don’ttrytoapologizeforitnow.
    You really are dumb … let me type slower for you. I wasn’t apologizing – just making a statement of fact that wasn’t meant to hurt. Since the professor only sees the words I send him/her and not my tone of voice nor facial expressions I wanted him/her to know that I truly was not being disrespectful. But concerned he/she didn’t get it. As for being disrespectful … do you live in a mirrorless house? Go look at yourself. You have a filthy dirty mouth and have had no original ideas of your own.

  309. In Christian faiths, it is believed to be sinful (for men and women alike) to ‘waste any seed.’ So although it is not directly harmful to you or others some believe it is harmful to one’s soul. I have to respect all people’s views not just yours or mine.

    Oh no you don’t. Don’t you dare think that you can speak for *this* Christian.

    Besides, what business is it of anyone else as long as what you’re doing isn’t illegal or hurting anybody? The last thing on my mind when I masturbate is what some random person believes I should or shouldn’t do.

  310. “Free speech” is a RIGHT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AND JILL IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT THIS IS SO STUPID I HAVE TO YELL. The First Amendment starts “Congress shall make no law …”

    Jill is not Congress.

    It applies to the States through the 14th Amendment, under the incorportation doctrine where certain rights of the people against the federal government are also rights against the state governments.

    Jill is not a state government. Jill is not any government, nor an agency thereof, nor is this blog.

    In fact, nobody has any more right to get their point of view printed here than they have a right to get in printed in the New York Times or Wall Street Journal, other publications which pick and choose which reader input they will and will not print.

  311. Oh, look, a religious antimasturbation crusader. So all the talk about self-discipline isn’t really about what one packs, it’s just another excuse to argue we shouldn’t masturbate.

    Let me tell you something, Dana: I do not subscribe to your faith, or any other. I excercise self-discipline when I determine it is warranted, and I masturbate when I determine it’s wanted. Since that’s your real beef here, everything else you said can be safely ignored.

  312. Dana: It’s not about choosing to type or not type a word. It’s about the me me me attitude of people like you. The ‘I’m gonna do what I want to’ because I want to.

    You hate us for our freedom, Dana.

  313. Jill,
    If I may add something and this is meant to make you aware of what some other people may think (outside of this site) and not meant to hurt you or condemn you …
    I was with a large mix of people (male/female/races/cultures) when I heard this story and the words I heard were derogatory (dumb, stupid, sl**, wh***, etc.). I asked quite a few why they felt that way towards you (even though many acknowledged they’re aware masturbation is alive and well). I think the problem people had with it was that (and this is assuming you believe masturbation is not sinful) why would anyone put it ‘out there.’ And after the vibrator was found by the agent and you found the note … why then did you tweet it? I think this large group thought that was inappropriate. I think we tell too much about ourselves. We give so much away for free that nothing is sacred anymore. I know you want to be respected and appreciated for your work in the legal field (as you previously stated) but things of this nature, as well as other non-sexual info, can harm you.

  314. Dana: I apologize for assuming you as an English PROFESSOR (of course) had some concept of what I was discussing. Really … we should give everyone everything for absolutely nothing. So what happens when the kid has their first disappointment? When they’re told NO for the first time. When they lose a loved one or go through a divorce or a pet dies. I’ve always heard about people like you but hoped they didn’t really exist … you do much to my dismay! You were one of the losers too – weren’t you.

    And the self-proclaimed Grammar Queen can’t quite comprehend that you indicate a question with a question mark.

    Your argument is invalid.

  315. Thomas MacAulay Millar:
    Oh,look,areligiousantimasturbationcrusader.Soallthetalkaboutself-disciplineisn’treallyaboutwhatonepacks,it’sjustanotherexcusetoargueweshouldn’tmasturbate.
    The quick and the stupid. Read carefully before you type. You’re just assuming I’m anti-masturbation. I never stated one way or the other. I was speaking generally about Christian and other faiths and what their beliefs are. I was trying to honestly answer Jill’s sincere questions.
    Also, I did not reveal my faith … if I even have one. And for those who do believe it is sinful who are you to mock their belief system. Furthermore, if it is in fact sinful then the rest of us (maybe me or maybe not) are the idiots.
    And Thomas it did not go unnoticed that you ‘need’ to masturbate. If you weren’t so hostile maybe you could find someone.
    PS
    If you are “safely” ignoring me then why the second post. The Constitution protects ALL speech and NOT just want you want to hear.

    Letmetellyousomething,Dana:Idonotsubscribetoyourfaith,oranyother.Iexcerciseself-disciplinewhenIdetermineitiswarranted,andImasturbatewhenIdetermineit’swanted.Sincethat’syourrealbeefhere,everythingelseyousaidcanbesafelyignored.

  316. Dana: Just because it ‘feels good’ doesn’t mean we should do it (and I’m speaking generally not just to your situation).

    I’m sure it makes you feel good to be a busybody moral scold, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise a little self-discipline and zip it.

  317. Dana: It’s OK to lose. It builds character. It also provides a ‘standard’ for comparison. How would we know what good felt like if not for some bad or hard or difficult times? I’m not trying to be disrespectful but, it scares me to think you’re having an impact on young people’s minds with your kind of thought process. Who says that we are ‘entitled’ to everything. It’s OK to not have everything we want. You should know that from your life experiences.

    So because someone’s gotta lose at T-ball, Jill shouldn’t bring her vibrator on trips?

    Explain that one, por favor.

  318. zuzu: Andtheself-proclaimedGrammarQueencan’tquitecomprehendthatyouindicateaquestionwithaquestionmark.

    Yourargumentisinvalid.

    ZuZu,
    I never ‘proclaimed’ to be a grammar expert just making a point to Jill after her point to me. Some sentences do not require a question as they are either rhetorical in nature or more of a statement of fact or personal opinion to make one’s point and not to solicit an answer. I made that argument to the professor to ponder as I believe rarely can we ever change people’s minds. It is my experience that the more liberal (not politically speaking) a person’s thinking – the more closed minded they are. I am always open to new ideas. Just as Jill did not agree with my points nor I hers (not all of them), it did not close our minds off.

  319. Dana: In Christian faiths, it is believed to be sinful (for men and women alike) to ‘waste any seed.’

    Which is a complete misinterpretation of the story of Onan, but whatever.

    JILL, WHY DON’T YOU FOLLOW DANA’S RELIGION EVEN IF IT’S NOT YOUR OWN?????

  320. zuzu: I’msureitmakesyoufeelgoodtobeabusybodymoralscold,butthatdoesn’tmeanyoushouldn’texercisealittleself-disciplineandzipit.

    Hitting too close to home. Feeling a bit guilty about some things. For your advice to “zip it” … Ditto!

  321. Dana: I never ‘proclaimed’ to be a grammar expert just making a point to Jill after her point to me.

    No, you declare yourself an expert when you huffily correct someone’s grammar as a means of belittling them. And when you pull that, you damn well better have pristine prose your own self and know what the hell you’re talking about.

  322. Thomas MacAulay Millar: Jill is not Congress.

    Jill is not a state government. Jill is not any government, nor an agency thereof, nor is this blog.

    I sure as hell wish Jill were Congress, or at least a state legislature.

    Can you imagine? Wine, cheese and vibrators issued in schools, birth control in the water, and abortions for all!

    Dana would plotz.

  323. Dana: I was with a large mix of people (male/female/races/cultures) when I heard this story and the words I heard were derogatory (dumb, stupid, sl**, wh***, etc.). I asked quite a few why they felt that way towards you (even though many acknowledged they’re aware masturbation is alive and well). I think the problem people had with it was that (and this is assuming you believe masturbation is not sinful) why would anyone put it ‘out there.’ And after the vibrator was found by the agent and you found the note … why then did you tweet it? I think this large group thought that was inappropriate. I think we tell too much about ourselves.

    Well, Dana, you certainly have told us quite a bit about the quality of the people you hang out with, that’s for sure.

    1. Can I just also point out that I’ve been called a slut and a whore tons of times in response to this incident? Which I’m sorry, but that amuses me to no end. I mean, the vibrator was for my individual personal use on this trip. I guess now “slut” and “whore” means “any woman who thinks about sex,” and has nothing to do at all with actually having sex?

      I mean, that’s not news, but it’s interesting to see if played out so clearly.

  324. Dana: And Thomas it did not go unnoticed that you ‘need’ to masturbate. If you weren’t so hostile maybe you could find someone.

    He’s been happily married for well over a decade, Dana.

  325. Dana: And after the vibrator was found by the agent and you found the note… why then did you tweet it?I think this large group thought that was inappropriate. I think we tell too much about ourselves. We give so much away for free that nothing is sacred anymore.

    Let me get this straight – this large group thought that Jill tweeting a picture of a note was more inappropriate and should be subject to more derision than the person who wrote the note in the first place? That sounds like a group with skewed priorities.

    Also, I missed the memo that said notes from the TSA should not be given away for free, but should instead be horded in secret in order to preserve their sacredness.

    In Christian faiths, it is believed to be sinful (for men and women alike) to ‘waste any seed.’ So although it is not directly harmful to you or others some believe it is harmful to one’s soul. I have to respect all people’s views not just yours or mine.

    You’re not really respecting Jill’s though. You’re criticizing her based on a criteria formed from someone else’s views. If you claim to respect everyone’s views, that’s a pretty poor way to demonstrate it.

    There are immature and unprofessional people in all walks of life and it’s just a matter of time before something happens.

    What you’re basically saying here is that Jill has to go above and beyond exercising “self-discipline” because someone else won’t?

    And you’re decrying the lack of self-discipline on the part of Jill when you yourself acknowledge right here that it is others’ lack of respect and discipline that is the problem?

    And if it is others who lack in self-discipline, why does that become my problem? Why should I deviate from what I want to do and what I want to pack on the chance that someone may do or say something untoward about it? Shouldn’t they – and only they – be the ones scolded for their lack of self-control and lack of respect for others?

  326. And if it is others who lack in self-discipline, why does that become my problem? Why should I deviate from what I want to do and what I want to pack on the chance that someone may do or say something untoward about it? Shouldn’t they – and only they – be the ones scolded for their lack of self-control and lack of respect for others?

    B-b-but, that would mean [gasp!] it would *make sense*!

  327. “And after the vibrator was found by the agent and you found the note … why then did you tweet it?”

    Silly Jill, don’t you know the only thing worse than being harassed is talking about it?

    I mean, I know it sucks that perfect strangers feel that it’s ok to do things like comment on your private life, but calling attention to such harassment gives other perfect strangers more things about your private life to comment on! Therefore, next time you should clearly think twice before doing something as silly as having a public conversation about harassment. That stuffs supposed to be kept on the down-low, ya know?

    ******

    Yes, Dana, clearly the problem is that Jill both has a private life and is willing to call out harassment. Not that the world is full of assholes who are given cultural permission to be judgey about other people’s private lives. You and your friends included. The latter of which may not be harassers themselves, but by using their words to try to shame Jill into silence, you certainly fit the bill. Also, next time you pull a douchey move like this, at least be a grown-up instead of hiding behind your friends.

  328. Jill: I guess now “slut” and “whore” means “any woman who thinks about sex,” and has nothing to do at all with actually having sex?

    Well, you’re having sex with yourself, which is TOTALLY GAY.

    You slutty whore.

  329. Dana,

    The fact that you and the legion of fascist loving trolls out there would shame Jill and others for packing personal items in their luggage allows abuses by the TSA (and the government) to continue. Silencing and shaming people for not being a LADY (BTW? your initial post was not very lady-like or gentlemanly) or for not being smart enough to leave personal or confidential things at home means that people will not speak up when power is abused, thus eroding our liberties. I, for one, am glad that Jill put it out there. If it makes you uncomfortable, you are free to ignore the story and read other things on the internet. It’s not as if there is a dearth of other things in the news, right now.

    Frankly, I have had to take confidential paperwork with me when I travelled–either for work or for personal business. There are all sorts of things that we take with us that is personal, that we don’t want everyone to know about, but that we have to take with us (medication is one example).

    I refuse to take the blame if an inspector was to take it and use the information, as that person would be in the wrong, and I had to take that with me. I also refuse to take the blame if a government employee, paid out of my tax dollars act inappropriately because of something private but perfectly legal that I packed, be it a breast pump, a push-up bra, a vibrator, Playgirls, some freaky articles by David Icke, or footy pajamas.

    Frankly, your lectures about Jill’s need to show self-restraint are immaterial. Jill isn’t doing anything harmful or illegal in travelling with a vibrator. I think you’re more troubled at the thought of someone masturbating than of our basic civil liberties being protected. But while you go on and on about your freedom of speech on this thread (you haven’t been censored, BTW, you’re drowing in straw on that one) you seem to think that Jill should curtail hers. That Jill shouldn’t have “put it out there.” And that we should all give up our freedoms, our expectations to be treated with basic human dignity based upon your ideas of what appropriate items to pack are. Thankfully, most people who love liberty understand that it should extend to all people, even those who do not act or live their lives as they do. Decent and good people believe that everyone should be treated with basic human dignity. That includes the man who packs porn, the woman who packs a vibrator, or the commenter who packs a wide variety of fringey books.

    Unfortunately, you are showcasing for all to see the doublethink that has overtaken large swaths of the population of this country. We should give up our freedom and our expectation to be treated with dignity and respect in order to protect our freedom. This makes no sense. Either we are a free society or we are not. If people like you had your way, we would be living in a far more repressive society where the government would have free reign to nose around in our personal affairs and use them against us. Good luck with that. However, it is not particularly freedom-loving to promote this, to blame Jill for the actions of a government employee who acted inappropriately, or to expect that Jill and others who have been victimized by the TSA keep it to themselves and allow the abuses to continue.

  330. In Christian faiths, it is believed to be sinful (for men and women alike) to ‘waste any seed.’ So although it is not directly harmful to you or others some believe it is harmful to one’s soul. I have to respect all people’s views not just yours or mine.

    This has zero to do with Jill’s personal business, however. Jill is free to do what she likes on her own time, she does not have to refrain from masturbating, wearing pants, or eating certain foods because your religion or other religions deem these things wrong. We do not live in a theocracy. We are not all Christian. I use birth control and eat meat on Fridays during Lent, much to the chagrin of the Catholic church. If an inspector made a big deal about my pills or a reciept that showed a steak dinner on a Friday in my bag, I’d get pretty stroppy about it. It’s none of their business. Many of us are getting mighty tired of people like you who would shove your personal morality down our throats.

    The TSA agent should have done their job and left the personal note out of it. It was a firing offense. That this is even controversial is. . .well, not surprising, considering what I know of the more repressed false-liberty lovers of the US, but still quite sad.

  331. Another Christian here reminding you, Dana, that you and your ilk don’t speak for all of us. Self-righteosness, hypocrisy, judgment, etc don’t cut it for me.

  332. Sheelzebub: Silencing and shaming people for not being a LADY

    Which I totally don’t get. I mean, obviously I’m a lady–I have ladybits, right down there in my ladyregion. What do you think the vibrator is for?

  333. Caperton: Which I totally don’t get. I mean, obviously I’m a lady–I have ladybits, right down there in my lady region. What do you think the vibrator is for?

    You may have ladybits, but do you have uppercase Ladybits? Because it’s pretty clear they’re not going to get any respect from Dana unless they’re doing needlework and calling for the servants to fetch more tea.

  334. “I also refuse to take the blame if a government employee, paid out of my tax dollars act inappropriately because of something private but perfectly legal that I packed,”

    oh…oh…OH! Thanks, Sheezlebub, for succinctly describing just why exactly this incident – and the pushback Jill has gotten from assholes like Dana – pisses me off to no end.

    I am paid with tax dollars and as part of my employment I also have access to people’s private information. It is a point of professional pride bordering on zealousness that I not only do not divulge said information but also do my absolute utmost to convey complete impartiality and not giving a fuck when presented with said information.

    My job – my vocation – does not just involve choosing stories to read and shelving books, it involves being there when teens have questions about sex or mental illness or abuse or anything else. It requires helping frustrated, functionally illiterate (or functionally computer illiterate) patrons fill out forms and navigate the internet. If I start being judgy about the kinds of music teens listen to or what sites adults want to visit, it means they (understandably, justifiably) will not trust me to simply help them without – judgement or roadblocks – when they need it.

    By leaving that note – by arguing that such instances should be dealt with internally and not as part of the public discourse – these assholes are making my job harder. They are teaching the public that not only should they not expect privacy and respect from TSA agents, but that they should expect the same kind of judgy treatment from ALL government employees.

    I hate the whole security theater and much of what TSA does on general principal, but – as a fellow government employee – I am deeply offended and frustrated that they are not only creating a bad rep for all of us, but also teaching my patrons that I am not there to help them.

  335. Dana, you’re being totally disingenuous. Do you think you’re fooling anyone by not explicitly saying that you’re anti-masturbation? You’re not. It is the patently evident subtext of what you’ve written. You’re not sufficiently clever to conceal it.

    You have no purpose here. You’re playing hide-the-ball with your real agenda and being personally insulting, all of which would be tolerable to an extent if you were actually advancing arguments that anyone here had any common ground with — but you’re not. You’re trying to argue for a religious restriction without coming right out and saying that you’re arguing for a religious restriction. That doesn’t advance the debate at all.

    I’m done engaging with you.

  336. I’m quite interested in getting Dana’s chapter-and-verse on female masturbation.

    I mean, if the Bible has quite a bit to say about women spilling their seed, then she’d know just where to find those verses, right?

  337. Dana: a professor who claims exaggeration for his own comic effect, but does NOT recognize it in others.

    I’m a woman, you dolt.

    But go ahead and enlighten me. When precisely did you use exaggeration for comic effect?

    Dear professor … take your ball and go home if you don’t know how to play the game or can’t keep up (because you ain’t gettin no trophy from me).

    So…am I to take this to mean that you don’t actually have any responses to the arguments I made against your so-called points? That you can’t actually elucidate any connection between feeling bad about losing a volleyball game and dealing with the death of a loved one? I’m shocked. For future reference, when you find yourself in what we will for the sake of kindness call a debate, and you are unable to counter your opponents’ arguments, that means that you are the one who cannot keep up. But don’t worry! You’ve worked hard and you did your best and we all had fun, and that’s what matters after all.

    Dana: We all have the same right to make comments so practice what you preach

    Nobody is saying you have no right to comment. What we are doing is making fun of your comments because they are silly. I realize that conservatives often confuse “I have the right to say this” with “Nobody has the right to criticize or mock me for saying this,” but it is an important distinction to remember.

    Dana: if I have to explain the need for self-discipline, self-respect, self-sacrifice and self- restraint (at times and not always) then, you are lost.

    Why should one exercise self-discipline, self-sacrifice, and self-restraint when not doing so causes no harm? And what on earth does travelling with a vibrator have to do with self-respect?

    Just because it ‘feels good’ doesn’t mean we should do it (and I’m speaking generally not just to your situation).

    And the fact that something feels good doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do it. You have provided no evidence that taking a vibrator on a trip causes any harm. In the absence of harm, and the presence of pleasure, why exactly shouldn’t Jill have done this?

    I agree in part with many of your points but the fact that you cannot grasp any of mine speaks volumes to your lack of open-mindedness.

    Nah. It speaks volumes about Jill’s intelligence and reasoned arguments and your lack thereof.

    As far as my life being sad … well now, I’m not the one with the vibrator – am I.

    True fact: people who own vibrators spend at least four hours a day weeping for every horrible, shameful, country-destroying orgasm they provide for themselves. The more you know.

    Dana: It the lack of self-discipline that becomes the challenge.

    But you have advanced no evidence that Jill–or anybody else here, or those darn kids who don’t have the character of those who came before and won’t get off your lawn–lacks self-discipline. All you have to work with is the knowledge that she saw no reason to exercise it when it came to travelling with her vibrator. Right now, I am choosing not to use my television. That isn’t actually evidence that I don’t have a television. I do. I’m just not using it right now because I see no reason to. If someone were to call me and say “Hey, EG! They’re showing Jaws on TCM!” then I would decide it was time to use my television. Similarly, I suspect that if a trustworthy friend had phoned Jill up before her trip and said “Hey, Jill! It turns out that every time you use your vibrator outside the borders of the US, a child breaks a limb!” and had been able to provide some reasonable chain of logic or evidence for this obviously silly idea, she would have decided that it was time to exercise her self-restraint.

    Dana: Because someone has to lose. And it’s OK to lose. I have had disappointments in life. Sometimes it was not because I didn’t do a great job at something but rather, the other person did a better job. It makes the good times even better when you have a ‘standard’ to compare it to. If you ‘win’ at everything … there is no standard.

    So true. If kids are made to feel good even if they don’t win at volleyball, HOW WILL THEY EVER LEARN TO COPE WITH DISAPPOINTMENT? I mean, it’s not like children ever have to deal with, you know, actual disappointment. Life provides disappointments aplenty, trust me. There is ample opportunity to learn how to cope.

    And it scares me to think you’re are helping to form kids minds.

    Boo! How did you guess my Halloween costume? I went as “An encouraging teacher who tells small children that not winning at volleyball doesn’t mean that they should feel bad, because they gave it their all and worked together as a team and had fun.” Unfortunately, I was so terrifying that I had to go change, as women screamed and strong men fainted in the street. (Actually, I went as the Minoan Snake Goddess.)

    Dana: It’s OK to lose. It builds character.

    Evidence? I mean, I’ve heard this a lot, that being unhappy “builds character,” but I’ve never actually seen any evidence, I suspect because “building character” is such a squishy and ill-defined concept. Being treated with kindness builds character, because it’s a way of modelling how people should behave toward each other. Having limits set for one builds character because it creates a place of safety in which to grow and explore. Being taught to value other people’s happiness builds character because it imbues one with good values. How does losing build character, precisely?

    You seem to think that being unhappy or depriving oneself of pleasure is in itself a virtue. That’s a very Calvinistic outlook, but it’s not one that I see as having any basis in reality.

    Dana: It’s OK to not have everything we want. You should know that from your life experiences.

    Which ones? Being a professor? Because that is actually precisely what I have wanted for years. My best friend’s death? No, because that was, emphatically, not OK.

    Dana: you don’t need to bring any ‘proof’ (for lack of a better word – you get my point) of anything to pleasure oneself so that would’ve taken care of the discretion factor (in the event of an unscrupulous agent).

    How, precisely, do you believe you know so much about what Jill needs to “pleasure” herself?

    In Christian faiths, it is believed to be sinful (for men and women alike) to ‘waste any seed.’

    You…know anatomy, right? Because women don’t actually “waste any seed” when we masturbate. Our masturbation has nothing to do with seed of any sort. Our seed is “wasted” when we menstruate. So…should Jill stop menstruating?

    So although it is not directly harmful to you or others some believe it is harmful to one’s soul. I have to respect all people’s views not just yours or mine.

    Why on earth should Jill take other people’s beliefs into account when making personal decisions that do not affect them? I’m an atheist. The whole point is that I think religious injunctions are nonsense. Why would I live my life according to them?

    So in that case discipline in necessary. But when people don’t think or have justified away their behaviors then, there is no sin so hence, nothing is off limits.

    Bringing vibrators on vacation! Cats and dogs, living together! Is NOTHING off limits?

    There are non-Christian faiths who believe in self-discipline just for the sake of it as you put it.

    Yes, there are. And the reason that a non-believer should follow those beliefs is…?

    Dana: I was with a large mix of people (male/female/races/cultures) when I heard this story and the words I heard were derogatory (dumb, stupid, sl**, wh***, etc.).

    See, Jill, Dana hangs out with misogynist assholes, so you should change your behavior. It makes total sense.

    Dana: And for those who do believe it is sinful who are you to mock their belief system.

    Someone who realizes that it is silly.

    1. Nobody is saying you have no right to comment.

      So other commenters have addressed this, but just to be clear: No one has a “right” to comment in this space. The Feministe bloggers pay for this space, and it’s privately owned. We allow people to comment here, because we value our community and we love the majority of the comments we get, even if those commenters don’t agree with us. But commenting isn’t a right. And if people act foolish, we ban them.

  338. Um, EG? I hope this isn’t too forward and I’m sure it would bother Dana that I’m engaging in something that shows major lack of self-restraint, but I think I love you. A doesn’t-require-a-vibrator kind of love, but still. Hearts for days, Lady. (Capitalized!)

  339. Aw, thanks, Alison. And because reading that compliment felt nice, I’m just going to go ahead and read it once more, even if entire civilizations topple!

  340. zuzu: I mean, if the Bible has quite a bit to say about women spilling their seed, then she’d know just where to find those verses, right?

    Yeah, what did that even mean? Like, having periods without babying-it-up? How the fuck am I spilling my seed when I take a vibrator to my clit?

    Also, I just want to point out that all of Dana’s commentary has been ridiculously absurd. I choose to believe zie is a troll, because omfg. It basically boils down to, “If you were an ascetic, the internet would not be assholes,” right? Which is a hilarious interpretation of modern-day victim-blaming?

  341. Angel H.: Ohnoyoudon’t.Don’tyoudarethinkthatyoucanspeakfor*this*Christian.
    I was not speaking for any specific group(s) but, giving examples to Jill for clarification purposes. You are so transparent, “don’t you dare think” that’s the real problem – someone who has an opinion that differs from your own. They have no right to think. Police state?! And if you were a ‘real’ Christian, I believe you would know that they believe masturbation is in fact sinful (although that was not my point to Jill).

    Besides,whatbusinessisitofanyoneelseaslongaswhatyou’redoingisn’tillegalorhurtinganybody?ThelastthingonmymindwhenImasturbateiswhatsomerandompersonbelievesIshouldorshouldn’tdo.

  342. zuzu:
    I’mquiteinterestedingettingDana’schapter-and-verseonfemalemasturbation.
    Ummmm, I thought we wanted equality… yup, I’m sure I heard that somewhere before. Sin doesn’t just apply to one gender only.

    Imean,iftheBiblehasquiteabittosayaboutwomenspillingtheirseed,thenshe’dknowjustwheretofindthoseverses,right?

  343. Jill:
    CanIjustalsopointoutthatI’vebeencalledaslutandawhoretonsoftimesinresponsetothisincident?WhichI’msorry,butthatamusesmetonoend.Imean,thevibratorwasformyindividualpersonaluseonthistrip.Iguessnow“slut”and“whore”means“anywomanwhothinksaboutsex,”andhasnothingtodoatallwithactuallyhavingsex?

    Imean,that’snotnews,butit’sinterestingtoseeifplayedoutsoclearly.

    Jill,
    I don’t find those words amusing at all. And I agree with you that the words have to do with behavior and should not be used to label a woman. The point was if a mix of people (not all males or a group that is anti-masturbation for example) feels that way regarding this situation, it’s a good bet a lot of others feel the same way. And if that is the case, this could hurt you in the future. That’s why I stated (and still strongly believe) that discipline or restraint or better judgment should’ve been used. Is it fair … absolutely not. Should you have to anticipate every jerk you’ll ever run across – of course not. Have there been more obscene things in luggage – probably. But none of those stories made the world news. Hopefully, the label “vibrator girl” (as you put it) will soon fade away.

  344. Dana: Ummmm, I thought we wanted equality… yup, I’m sure I heard that somewhere before. Sin doesn’t just apply to one gender only.

    AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. *wipes eyes*

    Look, normally, hey, I’d agree with you. Equality, yay! But also, “spilling your seed” refers to what humans are doing with their gametes, right? So the fact that women’s masturbation does fuck all to their gametes and whether or not they hang around means the seed-related-sin is kind of male-human-specific. Now, if the christian bible had managed to include proscriptions against masturbation that weren’t couched in terms of its relationship to reproductive biology…

  345. Dana: Ummmm, I thought we wanted equality… yup, I’m sure I heard that somewhere before. Sin doesn’t just apply to one gender only.

    No. You cant pull that shit when mentioning specifically that the Christian bible has certain rules. Because the Christian bible is notoriously not equal. So I want you to point out this missing 11th commandment that says, “Ladies, Thous Shalt Not Get Thine Freak On Either, Not Just The Dudes”. I want you to cite your source.

  346. Dana:

    So we should now read the bible by replacing every ‘he’ with ‘they’? Certainly makes any mention of ‘he begat this fellow who begat some other guy’ more sensible.

    Also, yay for ignoring what the sin of Onan really was!

    Also for ignoring that masturbation only became a Major Sin (TM) around the same time as people started selling miracle cures for it.

  347. jennygadget:
    “Andafterthevibratorwasfoundbytheagentandyoufoundthenote…whythendidyoutweetit?”

    SillyJill,don’tyouknowtheonlythingworsethanbeingharassedistalkingaboutit?

    Imean,Iknowitsucksthatperfectstrangersfeelthatit’soktodothingslikecommentonyourprivatelife,butcallingattentiontosuchharassmentgivesotherperfectstrangersmorethingsaboutyourprivatelifetocommenton!Therefore,nexttimeyoushouldclearlythinktwicebeforedoingsomethingassillyashavingapublicconversationaboutharassment.Thatstuffssupposedtobekeptonthedown-low,yaknow?

    ******

    Yes,Dana,clearlytheproblemisthatJillbothhasaprivatelifeandiswillingtocalloutharassment.Notthattheworldisfullofassholeswhoaregivenculturalpermissiontobejudgeyaboutotherpeople’sprivatelives.Youandyourfriendsincluded.Thelatterofwhichmaynotbeharassersthemselves,butbyusingtheirwordstotrytoshameJillintosilence,youcertainlyfitthebill.Also,nexttimeyoupulladoucheymovelikethis,atleastbeagrown-upinsteadofhidingbehindyourfriends.

    Douchey ? Really … is that a word. Before you pull another “douchey” thing like misquoting me why don’t you read before you type?! I never said they were my friends I said a mix. Had you read the original point you’d get it … probably not as many others don’t.

  348. thinksnake: Soweshouldnowreadthebiblebyreplacingevery‘he’with‘they’?Certainlymakesanymentionof‘hebegatthisfellowwhobegatsomeotherguy’moresensible.

    Also,yayforignoringwhatthesinofOnanreallywas!

    AlsoforignoringthatmasturbationonlybecameaMajorSin(TM)aroundthesametimeaspeoplestartedsellingmiraclecuresforit.

    The ‘original’ sin of Onan was thought to be masturbation. It later became a different meaning but, there is still belief in the original meaning by many Christians. Just reporting what’s out there … check it out with some Christians.

  349. Dana: I was not speaking for any specific group(s) but, giving examples to Jill for clarification purposes. You are so transparent, “don’t you dare think” that’s the real problem – someone who has an opinion that differs from your own. They have no right to think. Police state?! And if you were a ‘real’ Christian, I believe you would know that they believe masturbation is in fact sinful (although that was not my point to Jill).

    Gotta love a ‘no true Scotsman’ argument as well.

    If you are saying that ‘Xists think this’, you are speaking for that group. That’s how language works. You have repeatedly denied being Christian yourself (I think? There’s some differing things you’ve said on that), but have yet to explain why Jill should pay any attention to these ‘Christian’ rules.

    Why should people believe you are anything other than a troll, at this point?

  350. Thomas MacAulay Millar:
    Dana,you’rebeingtotallydisingenuous.Doyouthinkyou’refoolinganyonebynotexplicitlysayingthatyou’reanti-masturbation?You’renot.Itisthepatentlyevidentsubtextofwhatyou’vewritten.You’renotsufficientlyclevertoconcealit.

    Youhavenopurposehere.You’replayinghide-the-ballwithyourrealagendaandbeingpersonallyinsulting,allofwhichwouldbetolerabletoanextentifyouwereactuallyadvancingargumentsthatanyoneherehadanycommongroundwith—butyou’renot.You’retryingtoargueforareligiousrestrictionwithoutcomingrightoutandsayingthatyou’rearguingforareligiousrestriction.Thatdoesn’tadvancethedebateatall.

    I’mdoneengagingwithyou.

    Thomas,
    Actually you are wrong. I am not arguing pro or con. It was an example used solely for the purpose of explaining to Jill when she asked about discipline just for the sake of discipline. You should know that an individual should be able to argue a point without disclosing personal info which has no bearing on anything. As for your disingenuous comment, quite the contrary, I got a laugh out that one. If I wanted to argue ant-masturbation I simply would. I am NOT blaming Jill for anything. OK do you get that?! But, and I say this for the umpteenth time, had she left the toy home none of this would have happened.

  351. Dana: The ‘original’ sin of Onan was thought to be masturbation. It later became a different meaning but, there is still belief in the original meaning by many Christians. Just reporting what’s out there … check it out with some Christians.

    I do not think that you actually know the story of Onan. His wickedness was in disrespecting the spirit of the Levirate marriage by repeatedly withdrawing during sex with his widowed sister in law and ‘spilling his seed’ on the ground. The story of Onan is, in fact, not at all to do with masturbation but rather specific cultural practices that no longer exist in most contemporary societies. Even taken at its most literal and ahistorical meaning, the story of Onan would be a biblical injunction against the withdrawal method of birth control, not of masturbation.

  352. Dana: The ‘original’ sin of Onan was thought to be masturbation. It later became a different meaning but, there is still belief in the original meaning by many Christians. Just reporting what’s out there… check it out with some Christians.

    Genesis 38:9 “But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother.” (NIV)

    I’m fully aware that the meaning of Onanism has become masturbation. But that meaning is *not* the original meaning.

    But please. Continue dancing.

  353. Dana: But, and I say this for the umpteenth time, had she left the toy home none of this would have happened.

    Wrong, if that TSA agent had not violated Jill’s privacy none of this would have happened.

  354. thinksnake: Gottalovea‘notrueScotsman’argumentaswell.

    Ifyouaresayingthat‘Xiststhinkthis’,youarespeakingforthatgroup.That’showlanguageworks.YouhaverepeatedlydeniedbeingChristianyourself(Ithink?There’ssomedifferingthingsyou’vesaidonthat),buthaveyettoexplainwhyJillshouldpayanyattentiontothese‘Christian’rules.

    Whyshouldpeoplebelieveyouareanythingotherthanatroll,atthispoint?

    Wrong snake. Never denied being a Christian or claimed to be one. Used as an example of self-restraint. Pay attention.

  355. Dana: I am NOT blaming Jill for anything. OK do you get that?! But, and I say this for the umpteenth time, had she left the toy home none of this would have happened.

    “I’m not blaming her for it, but it was her fault” really isn’t a logical position.

  356. librarygoose: No.YoucantpullthatshitwhenmentioningspecificallythattheChristianbiblehascertainrules.BecausetheChristianbibleisnotoriouslynotequal.SoIwantyoutopointoutthismissing11thcommandmentthatsays,“Ladies,ThousShaltNotGetThineFreakOnEither,NotJustTheDudes”.Iwantyoutociteyoursource.

    Although the Bible is not equal in the he/she sense, the purpose is for all to follow it. And you can check that out with any Christians that you may know. I believe you’ll find out that I’m right. And if you really are the librarygoose maybe you could find a different word than shit.

  357. Dana: Wrongsnake. Never denied being a Christian or claimed to be one. Used as an example of self-restraint. Pay attention.

    Let’s pay attention then. You told Jill to show self-discipline (while insinuating she was ‘unLadylike’. She asked why that was necessary in this instance. After a while ignoring that request, you came up with ‘spilling seed is wrong according the Christians!’ (and ignored that no seed is spilt).
    You then failed provide any further justification for your initial statement. In the meantime, you’ve attacked your critics for grammatical errors (which turned out not to be the case – Lady only needs to be capitalised when as a title), said that they have horrible personalities which is why they masturbate, committed several logical fallacies (such as No True Scotsman, in the post I was responding to there) and done your best to derail the conversation by making it about side comments rather than the topic up for debate.

    Are we done here?

  358. thinksnake: “I’mnotblamingherforit,butitwasherfault”reallyisn’talogicalposition.

    Logically, it is. If we make different choices than that produces different outcomes. No doubt Jill was betrayed. But I would’ve made a different choice (which by the way is my right to do so and feel strongly about that position) probably because I don’t have the faith in many people. You know as I stated before … no work ethic, unprofessional, etc. People are disappointing and Jill and the rest of the world (that picked up the story) knows. And I’m just not willing to put myself out there like that or in other ways. I believe we actually do control at least some percent of our privacy.

  359. Dana: AlthoughtheBibleisnotequalinthehe/shesense,thepurposeisforalltofollowit.AndyoucancheckthatoutwithanyChristiansthatyoumayknow.Ibelieveyou’llfindoutthatI’mright.Andifyoureallyarethelibrarygoosemaybeyoucouldfindadifferentwordthanshit.

    I already found the chapter and verse for you. Go and read it. Work out where it says the SLIGHTEST thing about female masturbation.

    Go on, we can wait.

    (and there goes another ‘No True Scotsman’, plus more insulting people’s handles. how much more of this can there be?)

  360. Dana: Although the Bible is not equal in the he/she sense, the purpose is for all to follow it.

    My point was that this “seed spilling” rule is not meant for women, as the whole “husband ruling over you” thing is obviously not for men. It gives very gendered guidelines that if you’re going to try and change you might as well ignore.

    Dana: And if you really are the librarygoose maybe you could find a different word than shit.

    I’m not the thesaurusgoose.

  361. thinksnake: Genesis38:9“ButOnanknewthatthechildwouldnotbehis;sowheneverhesleptwithhisbrother’swife,hespilledhissemenonthegroundtokeepfromprovidingoffspringforhisbrother.”(NIV)

    I’mfullyawarethatthemeaningofOnanismhasbecomemasturbation.Butthatmeaningis*not*theoriginalmeaning.

    Butplease.Continuedancing.

    One passage, in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), describes the death of Onan. It was a widespread belief that Onan was killed by God because he masturbated. This event was the source of the term “Onanism” — once used as a synonym for masturbation.
    Your turn on the floor.

  362. DanaUmmmm, I thought we wanted equality… yup, I’m sure I heard that somewhere before. Sin doesn’t just apply to one gender only.

    Hey, you’re the one telling Jill she should be ashamed of herself for traveling with a vibrator because Christians consider women spilling their seed to be sinful.

    So let’s have the chapter-and-verse on that.

  363. Dana: The point was if a mix of people (not all males or a group that is anti-masturbation for example) feels that way regarding this situation, it’s a good bet a lot of others feel the same way. And if that is the case, this could hurt you in the future. That’s why I stated (and still strongly believe) that discipline or restraint or better judgment should’ve been used.

    How about you and your friends exercising a little self-discipline and self-restraint when it comes to being judgmental? Judge not, lest ye be judged and all that jazz.

  364. Here’s the whole story in King James.

    38:8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

    38: 9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

    38:10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: therefore he slew him also.

    Not that we’d use the actual text of the Old Testament to determine what it says…

  365. librarygoose: Mypointwasthatthis“seedspilling”ruleisnotmeantforwomen,asthewhole“husbandrulingoveryou”thingisobviouslynotformen.Itgivesverygenderedguidelinesthatifyou’regoingtotryandchangeyoumightaswellignore.

    I’mnotthethesaurusgoose.

    Since you insist on this I recommend you ask a minister or priest or whomever. I’m sure you’ll find that the Bible is ‘supposed’ to be followed equally. Wasting a seed doesn’t only pertain to men because of the way in which they orgasm, the reference or maybe I should say the belief by many (but probably not all) Christians is that it is sinful.

  366. Dana: I am NOT blaming Jill for anything. OK do you get that?! But, and I say this for the umpteenth time, had she left the toy home none of this would have happened.

    I’m not blaming Jill… but it’s all her fault.

  367. zuzu: Wasting a seed doesn’t only pertain to men because of the way in which they orgasm, the reference or maybe I should say the belief by many (but probably not all) Christians is that it is sinful.

    ‘Wasting seed’ doesn’t apply to masturbation at all because the story of Onan from which that phrase comes is about Levirate marriage practices and doesn’t mention masturbation. I swear we just covered this.

  368. Dana: Although the Bible is not equal in the he/she sense, the purpose is for all to follow it.

    Christians wish that everyone has to follow it, but shit in one hand, wish in the other, and see which fills up first.

    Besides, you don’t even know your Bible, Dana. You can’t point to a single verse telling women not to masturbate, and you completely misrepresent the story of Onan. Even IF the Bible really applied to everyone, you can’t come up with one single verse justifying your argument.

    Sad, really.

  369. Dana: Different choices … different outcomes. Don’t ever sit for jury duty.

    They usually let me go when they find out I’m a lawyer, Dana.

    The only one whose choices we should be focusing on is the TSA agent who overstepped the bounds of his or her authority.

  370. Dana: I’m sure you’ll find that the Bible is ‘supposed’ to be followed equally.

    Both men and women are supposed to follow it yes. BUT they are given different rules, hence the not equal thing. Also, I really don’t think women can spill seed. And you know the problem with going to speak with a Minister, or Pastor, or Priest? You’d get a dozen ideas from a dozen men. That’s the problem with trying to judge everyone’s lives with a book of old and subjective rules.

  371. thinksnake: Let’spayattentionthen.YoutoldJilltoshowself-discipline(whileinsinuatingshewas‘unLadylike’.Sheaskedwhythatwasnecessaryinthisinstance.Afterawhileignoringthatrequest,youcameupwith‘spillingseediswrongaccordingtheChristians!’(andignoredthatnoseedisspilt).
    Youthenfailedprovideanyfurtherjustificationforyourinitialstatement.Inthemeantime,you’veattackedyourcriticsforgrammaticalerrors(whichturnedoutnottobethecase–Ladyonlyneedstobecapitalisedwhenasatitle),saidthattheyhavehorriblepersonalitieswhichiswhytheymasturbate,committedseverallogicalfallacies(suchasNoTrueScotsman,inthepostIwasrespondingtothere)anddoneyourbesttoderailtheconversationbymakingitaboutsidecommentsratherthanthetopicupfordebate.

    Arewedonehere?

    Lady was uppercase to make a point much as Jill’s BECAUSE was. And it is unladylike to put everything out there. It’s also ungentlemenlike to put everything out there. And if someone wants to be critical of me that’s fine but get off your high horse before you call me on it – as I can give as good as I get. Your problem is that (as with others) I don’t agree with you. And that kind of thinking is detrimental to all feminist thought.

  372. librarygoose: Bothmenandwomenaresupposedtofollowityes.BUTtheyaregivendifferentrules,hencethenotequalthing.Also,Ireallydon’tthinkwomencanspillseed.AndyouknowtheproblemwithgoingtospeakwithaMinister,orPastor,orPriest?You’dgetadozenideasfromadozenmen.That’stheproblemwithtryingtojudgeeveryone’sliveswithabookofoldandsubjectiverules.

    I do understand your point but, as for the old and subjective part … why is the Bible the best selling book of all time? (I know – I was a bit surprised at this too)
    Here’s an example: women obey your husbands and husbands love your wives. Both are supposed to love each other and listen to each other.

  373. Dana: And it is unladylike to put everything out there.

    Putting something in your luggage is putting “everything out there”?

    Do tell.

    So you’d make different choices than Jill did. It does not, however, follow that because Jill made different choices than you would have, that she in any way caused the agent to leave her an unprofessional note.

    Do you recommend that people with medical conditions travel without their adult diapers or colostomy bags because some TSA screeners are shitheels?

  374. Dana: I do understand your point but, as for the old and subjective part … why is the Bible the best selling book of all time?

    Just because something sells a lot of copies doesn’t mean it’s any good. I mean, Dan Brown and Nicholas Sparks books sell like hotcakes.

  375. Dana: And it is unladylike to put everything out there.

    Seriously, how is talking about the inappropriate actions of a government worker “putting everything out there”? What is wrong with this discussion is not that people don’t agree with you, it’s that you see no problem in victim blaming a woman because she broke some taboo of a religion and offended the sexist notion that women shouldn’t find pleasure in being sexual.

  376. Dana: women obey your husbands

    I’m pretty sure only the women is expected to obey. Otherwise “Both” or “Partners” would have been used in that.

  377. zuzu: Just because something sells a lot of copies doesn’t mean it’s any good. I mean, Dan Brown and Nicholas Sparks books sell like hotcakes.

    Or that anyone actually bothers to read it properly.

  378. Dana: I do understand your point but, as for the old and subjective part … why is the Bible the best selling book of all time?

    Being sold does not diminish it’s age nor does it mean people don’t treat the contents subjectively.

  379. Li: ‘Wastingseed’doesn’tapplytomasturbationatallbecausethestoryofOnanfromwhichthatphrasecomesisaboutLeviratemarriagepracticesanddoesn’tmentionmasturbation.Iswearwejustcoveredthis.

    One passage, in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), describes the death of Onan. It was a widespread belief that Onan was killed by God because he masturbated. This event was the source of the term “Onanism” — once used as a synonym for masturbation.
    I believe you … but I’m passing on what I have FYI and suggests you speaks to some Christians on their views of masturbation. I’m just saying… check it out.

  380. librarygoose: Beingsolddoesnotdiminishit’sagenordoesitmeanpeopledon’ttreatthecontentssubjectively.

    But you stated that people use it subjectively. Some do – no denying that but, if they are true to their faith they know what’s right and wrong. I’m not talking about cafeteria Christians who pick and choose what they’ll follow. People get that book – a better statement would be that they choose not to.

  381. Dana: if they are true to their faith they know what’s right and wrong.

    Which sect of Christianity are you talking about? Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Protestants, etc…The list goes on. Or do you mean they all know what is right according to their sect? Because that only proves the subjective nature with which the bible is treated.

  382. Dana: I’m not talking about cafeteria Christians who pick and choose what they’ll follow.

    And they’ll just make shit up, like believing Onan was killed for masturbating when the Bible says he wasn’t. Or believing that that passage has anything to do with female masturbation.

  383. zuzu: TheyusuallyletmegowhentheyfindoutI’malawyer,Dana.
    Aren’t a lawyer’s tools their spoken and written words … might want to reconsider yours ’cause you fooled me.

    TheonlyonewhosechoicesweshouldbefocusingonistheTSAagentwhooversteppedtheboundsofhisorherauthority.

    I don’t disagree with this point at all. Although I didn’t feel joy at someone losing their job, it was absolutely warranted. But Jill made a choice too. Doesn’t mean she didn’t have a right to that choice or a right to privacy but still, a choice nonetheless.

  384. Dana: Aren’t a lawyer’s tools their spoken and written words … might want to reconsider yours ’cause you fooled me.

    Well, since you can neither read, nor blockquote properly, I’m not surprised you can’t follow along. Do try to keep up, dear.

    Dana: I don’t disagree with this point at all. Although I didn’t feel joy at someone losing their job, it was absolutely warranted. But Jill made a choice too. Doesn’t mean she didn’t have a right to that choice or a right to privacy but still, a choice nonetheless.

    So you concede that Jill has a right to privacy, that the TSA agent violated that right to privacy. What, exactly, is your problem with Jill’s choice, then?

    I mean, the only thing you’ve been able to come up with is that you think masturbation is unladylike, that Jill should have exercised the kind of self-restraint when it comes to pleasure that you refuse to engage in when it comes to being a busybody moral scold and yukking it up with your buddies about what a whore trash slut Jill is, and that you will misquote Scripture for your own purposes. Is that right?

  385. librarygoose: WhichsectofChristianityareyoutalkingabout?Catholics,Lutherans,Presbyterians,Protestants,etc…Thelistgoeson.Ordoyoumeantheyallknowwhatisrightaccordingtotheirsect?Becausethatonlyprovesthesubjectivenaturewithwhichthebibleistreated.

    Not referring to a particular sect. The different sects only represent different man-made laws to follow within their respective sect. Supposedly, all those you listed call themselves Christians. I’s speaking generally of Christians knowing right from wrong but, making personal choices not to behave like the very thing they claim to be.

  386. zuzu: Andthey’lljustmakeshitup,likebelievingOnanwaskilledformasturbatingwhentheBiblesayshewasn’t.Orbelievingthatthatpassagehasanythingtodowithfemalemasturbation.

    You mean like you claiming to know what the Bible says.

  387. Dana: The different sects only represent different man-made laws to follow within their respective sect.

    They all interpret the Bible differently, and how it should be followed. Otherwise they would all still be just “Christians”.

  388. zuzu: I mean, the only thing you’ve been able to come up with is that you think masturbation is unladylike, that Jill should have exercised the kind of self-restraint when it comes to pleasure that you refuse to engage in when it comes to being a busybody moral scold and yukking it up with your buddies about what a whore trash slut Jill is, and that you will misquote Scripture for your own purposes. Is that right?

    All of this. A thousand times, all of this.

  389. Dana: You mean like you claiming to know what the Bible says.

    Li reproduced the entire story of Onan here for you, and you persist in insisting that it really says something about masturbation. And I’m the one who doesn’t know what it says?

    Besides, I’m waiting for you to chapter-and-verse me on the women spilling seed business. Surely if you know your Bible inside out, you’ll be able to do better than, “This one time, at Old Testament camp…”

  390. librarygoose: TheyallinterprettheBibledifferently,andhowitshouldbefollowed.Otherwisetheywouldallstillbejust“Christians”.

    Actually, their foundations are more similar than you may think.

  391. librarygoose: Allofthis.Athousandtimes,allofthis.

    Moral scold … can we have another word. Haven’t you used that already. Blatant misquote “buddies” never said that. Another blatant misquote, “yukking it up” and “whore trash slut.” Choices – choices and you have made one to remain ignorant. Doesn’t mean you have to agree with me but, can’t comprehend anything beyond your opinion (and really – that’s all it is).

  392. Brett K: Well,unlikeyou,zuzuseemstohaveactuallyreadtheBible.

    Apparently, you missed the following:
    One passage, in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), describes the death of Onan. It was a widespread belief that Onan was killed by God because he masturbated. This event was the source of the term “Onanism” — once used as a synonym for masturbation.
    I believe you … but I’m passing on what I have FYI and suggests you speaks to some Christians on their views of masturbation. I’m just saying… check it out.
    Do not presume to know what I have read or not read.

  393. Dana: Apparently, you missed the following:
    One passage, in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), describes the death of Onan. It was a widespread belief that Onan was killed by God because he masturbated. This event was the source of the term “Onanism” — once used as a synonym for masturbation.

    [citation needed]

  394. Well, um, I’ve got a citation for onanism being used to refer to masturbation.

    “Onania, or the Heinous Sin of self-Pollution, And All Its Frightful Consequences, In Both Sexes, Considered: With Spiritual and Physical Advice To Those Who Have Already Injured Themselves By This Abominable Practice.” Published anonymously in 1723. First confirmed use of the ‘Onanism’ to refer to masturbation in English. This publication lead to the erroneous belief that the ‘sin of Onan’ not only was masturbation, but it was extremely harmful to both body and soul.

    Theologians at the time attacked it for misrepresenting the ‘sin of Onan’.

    Dana: Actually, their foundations are more similar than you may think.

    Um. What? What are you even saying here? Christianity began as a single sect of Judaism, and over the following ~2000 years has developed different interpretations?
    I’m really not sure what your point is there but anyway.

    You also didn’t respond to my point earlier, that you had ignored any request for ANY reason Jill shouldn’t have done as she did, beyond Christianity.

  395. Apparently, you missed the following:
    One passage, in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), describes the death of Onan. It was a widespread belief that Onan was killed by God because he masturbated. This event was the source of the term “Onanism” — once used as a synonym for masturbation.

    “Onanism” was used as a synonym for masturbation due to ignorance – ignorance of the sort that you’re displaying here. Many Christians are actually incredibly unaware of what it is the Bible says – on various topics! No surprises there.

    Based on the scripture, Onan most likely practiced coitus interruptus while having been specifically instructed by God to do otherwise. Hence, God kicked his ass. Now will you MOVE ON?

  396. Dana: One passage, in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), describes the death of Onan. It was a widespread belief that Onan was killed by God because he masturbated. This event was the source of the term “Onanism”—once used as a synonym for masturbation.

    Dana, just because you can copy and paste from Yahoo Answers (you lifted your answer from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111001151953AAgsFOT) doesn’t mean you’ve actually read and analyzed the Biblical text.

    The Christians who march around yelling at everyone about the literal truth of the text of the Bible tend to be the ones who haven’t actually read much of the book.

  397. Huh, I’ve always interpretted that passage as the consquences of disobedience rather than masturbation or pulling out. I mean…OT God was super smitey of anyone who showed the least bit of initiative in arranging their own affairs. But, you know NT God is all about the love and the joy and the compassion…too bad Dana doesn’t follow those dictates. OT God would be feeling mighty smitey right about now.

    M wants to know if she’s a *truly* devoted ascetic why she hasn’t joined the sokushinbutsu.

  398. Dana,

    I do not believe in God. I do not believe that what the Bible says is true, and I have not been a Christian for many years. There are also travelers who are religious but who are not Christian, and who do not follow any of the three Abrahamic faiths. It is beyond arrogant of you to foist the beliefs of one segment of society upon the rest of us. I don’t care if you think a Bible passage forbids masturbation, and therefore Jill shouldn’t have done it. It is no concern of yours. She has every right to do this, and she has every right to expect to be treated with dignity when she travels. I am glad she put it out there and made it easier for all travelers–including judgmental, self-righteous Christofascist busybodies–to come forward when they are not treated professionally or courteously.

    As far as “this offended some people, so it can hurt you in the future, I’m just trying to be heeeelpful” advice, it should be obvious to you from this thread that there are also many people who were more offended by the TSA inspector’s note and the reactions to Jill posting about it. Oddly enough, none of us seem to count in your (il)logic.

    At this point, you seem to prefer to pick fights, pass judgement, and hold your nose up in the air. Good luck with that. But just remember to thank Jill for being such a sinful and unladylike harpy when you’re taken seriously if something like this happens to you (say, if someone scrawls THERE IS NO GOD on a note in your luggage if you have a religious object or bible in it). She had the guts to say something. That you would cower in shame is your own problem.

  399. Dana: had she left the toy home none of this would have happened.

    Sure. And as my father used to say, if frogs had wings, they wouldn’t bump their asses on the ground. What does that have to do with what actually happened?

    Your repeated discussion of Christian injunctions against masturbation or in favor of self-discipline for its own sake are only relevant if Jill practices that religion. You have yet to make an argument that has any relevance for those of us who do not. You are doing the equivalent of pointing out that if Jill kept kosher, then the grocer couldn’t have sold her rotten bacon. It’s true, but irrelevant; grocers shouldn’t sell rotten food of any kind, and TSA agents shouldn’t leave people notes.

    Dana: And if you really are the librarygoose maybe you could find a different word than shit.

    You object to “douchey,” you object to “shit.” If swearing and the vernacular use of language really upsets you so much, you should find another blog.

    Further, you really have to address the fact that no seed is spilt when women masturbate. None. Not even a tiny piece of one seed. It’s not how we work, biologically.

    zuzu: Ummmm, I thought we wanted equality… yup, I’m sure I heard that somewhere before.

    And who said we wanted Christianity?

    Dana: Wasting a seed doesn’t only pertain to men because of the way in which they orgasm, the reference or maybe I should say the belief by many (but probably not all) Christians is that it is sinful.

    So…the Bible doesn’t say it, but that’s what it means? Now you’re claiming that not only should non-Christians give a shit what the Bible says, but we should give a shit about what Christians mistakenly think the Bible says? Why is that, exactly?

    Dana: I can give as good as I get.

    No. No, you can’t, really. Unless you’ve been holding out on us.

    Dana: why is the Bible the best selling book of all time?

    Because Christians spread their religion with sword, gun, and various implements of torture, thus ensuring a mass audience.

    Dana: women obey your husbands and husbands love your wives. Both are supposed to love each other and listen to each other.

    “Obey” does not mean “listen to.” For somebody who acts so persnickety about language and grammar, you really have no idea how they work, do you? Leaving that aside, could you show me Biblically and historically, where Christianity advocates husbands obeying their wives and wives loving their husbands?

    Dana: if they are true to their faith they know what’s right and wrong. I’m not talking about cafeteria Christians who pick and choose what they’ll follow.

    You mean the kind of Christians who don’t actually read the Bible or understand it, but just pick and choose different bits as suits their own desires, like claiming that Onan masturbated when he very clearly did not, that women are covered under the “no spilling seed” rule, even though that would actually be an injunction against menstruation, and so is absurd, and that husbands are suppsed to obey–oh, sorry, listen to–their wives? Yeah, those cafeteria Christians really burn me up.

    Dana: Blatant misquote “buddies” never said that. Another blatant misquote, “yukking it up” and “whore trash slut.”

    Those…aren’t supposed to be quotations. That’s why they weren’t in quotation marks. They are meant to be insulting paraphrases. Do you actually understand what a quotation is and how we mark one?

    Further, and I’m going to all-cap this because you don’t seem to be able to remember that people keep asking you this:

    WHY SHOULD SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN GIVE A SHIT WHAT CHRISTIANITY ESPOUSES REGARDING MASTURBATION?

  400. Zuzu, sorry about that. I messed up the blockquoting. I didn’t mean to mark you as the originator of one of Dana’s incredibly stupid comments. (If this goes through, it refers to a comment that’s in moderation.)

  401. And if you were a ‘real’ Christian, I believe you would know that they believe masturbation is in fact sinful (although that was not my point to Jill).

    Do you honestly think I’m going to take lessons on how to be a “real Christian” from someone who doesn’t claim to a believer?

  402. Huh, I’ve always interpretted that passage as the consquences of disobedience rather than masturbation or pulling out.

    Exactly. It’s Old Testament morality at work. Don’t get uppity with the Lord, your God.

  403. Do not presume to know what I have read or not read.

    You guys. YOU GUYS. She’s right. She probably has a lot more time to read than us, given that she doesn’t waste her time masturbating.

  404. I never said they were my friends I said a mix.

    So…it was only the people that weren’t your friends that said douchey things? In which case, that would be your fault for mentioning them along with the other people, yes? Certainly not reading comprehension failure on my part.

    (hint: focusing on the fact that you have friends that would say such shit does not mean I did not notice that you have acquaintances or what have you that would say such shit too.)

  405. Tom Foolery: You guys. YOU GUYS. She’s right. She probably has a lot more time to read than us, given that she doesn’t waste her time masturbating.

    Pfft, are you saying you can’t read and masturbate at the same time?

  406. Also, as thinksnake said, the use of the term “Onanism” to refer to masturbation is clearly due to a misreading of the Bible. Dana, you have been lawyered (and, um, historian-ed). Please stop.

  407. Just saw this on CNN.com. Epic Vibrator Girl, your story has truly captivated a nation. The fact that some entry level schlub wearing a blue uniform could commentate on your recreational device is terrifying. I keep a lot of pictures of my right hand in my luggage and I am scared that I might get a similar note. This is the brave new world Huxley warned us about. First, the cheeky notes start. Next, they( and by “they” I mean the evil powers that want to do us harm and know all our sex stories so they can control and mock us) have you sucking down soma pills and under mandatory 24 hour surveillance. Thank you for bringing to light this egregious breach by our U.S. government.

  408. You know, for all her talk of masturbation and restraint and discipline and sex toys and sticking things in people’s “business,” you’d think Dana would be a more fun person to hang out with.

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