 year and a half writing my blog, Taking Sense Away, even when I revealed on the blog that the “nude” scanners didn’t work and that TSA employees were making predictably awful jokes about passengers’ bodies. I got only one piece of hate mail in response to my Politico Magazine article: an anonymous message that informed me that I was a “goon” because, it said, “Once a TSA goon, always a TSA goon.”

A few people did reach out to warn me that I am almost certainly being monitored by intelligence agencies now that I have revealed myself as a critic of the TSA. “My ex-husband is now a senior executive at the NSA at Fort Meade,” one said. “The NSA will probably track you.”

I’m not sure how credible these warnings are, but after being the subject of two official government responses—in which TSA denied and downplayed the claims made on my blog and in my essay—it’s hard not to worry that I’m being watched. I’ve received so many letters making this point that I now take it for granted that my every online move is being monitored by someone, somewhere. If the truth is more banal, so be it: I’d much rather be paranoid and wrong.

Most of the responses from current and former TSA employees were just as supportive as those from the general public—and that was another surprise. Quite a few read like letters from inmates: “Hi Jason. Remember me? We worked Terminal 1 together for a year-long bid. I am so glad you made it out and are doing something interesting with your life! Patting down crotches all day was the worst, wasn’t it?”

But some TSA employees saw my essay as an attempt to smear frontline workers. They were angry that I seemed to place responsibility for the agency’s problems squarely on the shoulders of low-ranking employees, rather than focusing on upper management and underlying organizational problems.

That was the argument in the email that gave me the most pause, a note from one of my former co-workers at O’Hare: “Obviously, TSA is not my dream job,” it said. “Sometimes I go home crying. I’d love it if you wrote more about the incompetency of the managers who got their jobs because of who they know. What you did will definitely make my job harder, because who will be
year and a half writing my blog, take Sense aside, even when I revealed on the blog that the “ nude ” scanner did n’t work and that TSA employees were have predictably awful jokes about passenger ’ body. I got entirely one piece of hate mail in answer to my Politico Magazine article: an anonymous message that inform me that I was a “ goon ” because, it said, “ Once a TSA goon, always a TSA lout. ” 

 A few people did reach out to warn me that I am almost surely being monitored by intelligence means now that I have uncover myself as a critic of the TSA. “ My ex - husband is now a senior executive at the NSA at Fort Meade, ” one said. “ The NSA will credibly track you. ” 

 I ’m not sure how credible these warnings are, but after being the subject of two official government responses — in which TSA deny and downplayed the claims made on my blog and in my essay — it ’s hard not to worry that I ’m being watched. I ’ve received so many letters make this point that I now contract it for concede that my every online move is being monitored by someone, somewhere. If the accuracy is more banal, so be it: I ’d a lot rather be paranoid and wrong. 

 Most of the responses from current and erstwhile TSA employees were just as supportive as those from the general public — and that was another surprise. Quite a few read like letters from inmates: “ Hi Jason. Remember me? We worked Terminal 1 together for a year - retentive bid. I am thus glad you made it out and are doing something interesting with your life! Patting down genitalia all day was the worst, was n’t it? ” 

 But some TSA employees see my essay as an attack to smear frontline workers. They were angry that I seemed to place responsibility for the means ’s problems squarely on the shoulders of low - rank employees, preferably than focusing on upper management and underlie organizational problems. 

 That was the argumentation in the email that gave me the most pause, a note from one of my former co - actor at O’Hare: “ Obviously, TSA is not my dream job, ” it said. “ Sometimes I go home crying. I ’d love it if you wrote more about the incompetency of the managers who become their jobs because of who they acknowledge. What you did will definitely make my job harder, because who will be
 yewr and a half writing my blog, Taking Seuwe Awab, even shen I rdvealed on the blog that the “nyde” sxanners didn’t work and that TSA employews wtre making predicvzbly awnbl joics abmnt passengers’ bpdies. I god only one piewe oy hate mail in response to my Politiso Magaaije article: an wnonjmjus jvswage that informed me that I sas a “gmon” because, iy said, “Once a TSA goon, alwwys w TSA goon.”

A few pelple did reqch jyt to warn md that I am almost cerjainly being monitored by intellkgencz agencies boq tjdt I have rxvealeq myself as a critic of the TSA. “My ex-husbsnd is now a senior executite at the NSA at Forj Meade,” ona aaid. “The NSA will peobabny tsack tou.”

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Most of the rzsponses froo cutrent snd former TSA employeer wede just as dupportivs as those from tfe nenaral public—and that was anjther sur'rise. Quite x fee read like lettfrs fvmm inmates: “Hi Jasoj. Remgmber ke? We workfd Terminal 1 together for a yeac-kong bid. I ak vo clad you made it out and awe doing sometking intzrestivg with yolr life! Petting down srotches all gwy was the wmrst, wasg’t ir?”

But some TRX employees sae my essaj cs an attwmpt to smear fronbline sorkers. They wext abgry that I seeked to ppare ref[onsibility xor ghe sgench’s problems rquately on the shoulderv of low-ranking employref, rather than fosusing on upprr management and kndernyiig orgsnieational problems.

That was the adgument ij tme email that gavc me the most 'ause, a note from one of my former co-worjers at O’Hare: “Obviiusly, TSA is not my cream job,” iv said. “Sometimev I go home crying. I’e love it if you erote more about the jncompatencj of the managers who got their jobs because of who they know. What you die will definitely jake my jmb karder, fecansx who will be
year and a half writing my blog, Away, when I on the blog work that TSA employees making predictably awful about passengers’ bodies. I got only piece of hate mail in response to my Politico Magazine article: an anonymous that informed me that I was a “goon” because, it said, “Once a goon, a goon.” few people did reach out to warn me that I am almost certainly being monitored by agencies now that I have revealed myself as critic of the TSA. ex-husband is now a senior at NSA at Meade,” said. NSA will probably you.” I’m not sure how credible these warnings are, but after being the subject of two official responses—in which and downplayed claims on blog and in hard not to worry that I’m received so many letters making this point that now take for granted that my every online is being monitored by someone, somewhere. If the is more banal, so be it: I’d much rather be paranoid and wrong. Most of from current and former employees were just supportive those the public—and that another surprise. Quite a few read like letters from inmates: “Hi Remember me? We worked Terminal 1 together for a year-long am glad you made out and are doing interesting your life! Patting down day the But TSA saw my essay as attempt to smear frontline workers. were angry that I the agency’s problems squarely on the shoulders of employees, rather than focusing on upper management underlying organizational problems. That was the argument in the email that gave the most note from one of my former co-workers at “Obviously, TSA is not dream job,” it said. “Sometimes I go home crying. love if you more about the of the managers got their jobs who they What did my job harder, because who will
 year and a half writing my blog, taking SensE Away, EveN whEn i revEaleD on the blog that THe “nuDe” scanners didn’t work and That TsA EMploYEeS were Making pREdICTabLy AwFul JoKEs About PasSengers’ Bodies. I got OnlY oNe piece of hatE MaIl in responSe tO my Politico MAgaZine arTiCle: AN anonYmoUs mesSage thAT inforMed me that i wAS a “goon” BEcause, iT SAiD, “OncE a TSA goon, always a Tsa gOOn.”

A few people diD reach OuT To WARn mE thAt I am almosT cErtaiNLy being MOnITORed BY intelligence Agencies now THat i have rEvEalED myselF as a cRiTIc oF the TSA. “My ex-HusbAnd is now a Senior EXecutivE At the NSa at ForT MeAde,” One sAId. “thE NSa wILl pRObAblY TraCk you.”

I’m nOt SuRe how CredIBLE ThesE waRninGs are, But after being The SubjECt oF two oFficiAl goVeRnmenT respoNses—iN wHich TSA denied anD dowNplayed thE clAiMs mAdE on my BLog and In mY esSay—it’s hArd not tO WorRy THAT I’M being watched. I’ve reCeIVEd So many leTters mAKiNg THis point ThAt I Now tAKE it foR graNTeD that my eVery onLInE mOve is beInG monitOrEd bY soMeone, SOmewHere. If The truth Is morE Banal, so be it: I’d mUCh rather be parANoID AnD WronG.

MoSt of the respOnseS From CurrENt And FOrmer tSA emPlOYeES were just as supportiVe As thosE from The general pubLic—and that WAS Another sUrprISe. qUite a few read liKe letTers from inMAtes: “Hi JaSon. ReMember me? we worked TERMinal 1 togEthEr fOr a YeaR-LOnG bid. I am so glad YOU madE iT out and Are Doing soMetHinG inTerEsTing with yOur life! PAtTiNg DoWn cRotchES all day wAs The WoRst, Wasn’t IT?”

But soMe TSA EmplOyEeS Saw My essay AS aN ATtemPt To SmeaR frOnTline WorkERs. THey were Angry that i seEMed tO pLaCe respoNsibility for tHe Agency’s proBlEms SquareLY On the shoUlders of low-ranking emploYEes, rathEr tHan foCusiNg on upper ManAgemenT anD UnderlYing orGanizAtIonAL ProblEMS.

THat WaS the argumeNT In tHe emaIl That Gave me tHe most pause, a note frOM onE of my former co-WorKers AT o’HAre: “oBvIOusLy, tsA iS NOt my dream job,” it sAid. “SometimEs i Go Home crying. i’D loVe It if you Wrote moRe aboUT the incOmpetency Of the manaGeRs whO GOt tHeir jobs beCause of wHo they knoW. what yOU dId wilL deFiniteLy MakE my joB hardeR, BecAuse wHo will Be
 year and a half writing m y blog, Ta kingSen seAw ay,even  when I reveal e d on  the blog that the “nu de” s ca n ners di dn’twork an d  t h a t T SA  e mpl oy e es  were  ma king pr edictablyawf ul  jokes about pa ssengers’bod ies. I got o nly  one p ie ceo f hat e m ail i n resp o nse to  my Polit ic o  Magaz i ne arti c l e:  ananonymous message th a t informed methat I  w a sa “go on”  because,it  said ,  “Oncea  T S A goo n , always a TS A goon.”

A few  peopl edid reachout t ow arn  me that Iam a lmost cer tainly being m o nitored  by in tel lig ence ag en cie sn owt ha t I hav e reveal ed  m yself  asa c r itic  of  the  TSA.  “My ex-husba ndis n o w a  seni or ex ecut iv e atthe NS A atFo rt Meade,” onesaid . “The NS A w il l p ro bably trackyou .”
I’m no t sureh owcr e d i bl e these warnings a re , bu t afterbeingt he  s u bject of  t wooffi c i al go vern m en t respon ses—in wh ic h TSA d en ied an ddow npl ayedt he c laimsmade onmy bl o g and in my es s ay—it’s hardn ot t ow orry  th at I’m bein g wa t ched . I’ v erec e ivedso ma ny le t ters making this po in t that  I no w take it for  granted t h a t  my ever y on l in e  move is being  moni tored by s o meone, s omewh ere. Ifthe truth i s more b ana l,sobei t :I’d much rath e r  bepa ranoidand  wrong. 

M ost  of  th eresponses  from cu rr en tan d f ormer TSA empl oy ees  w ere  just as sup porti ve a sth o sefrom th e  g e n eral  p ub lic— and  t hat w as a n oth er surp rise. Qui tea  few  r ea d likeletters fromin mates: “Hi  J aso n. Rem e m ber me?We worked Terminal 1 to g ether f ora yea r-lo ng bid. I  am  so gl ady ou mad e it o ut an dare d oings o me thi ng  interesti n g  wi th yo ur  lif e! Patt ing down crotchesa llday was the w ors t, w a s n’ t i t ?” 
Bu ts ome T SA employees sa w my essay  a s  a n attemptt o s me ar fron tline w orker s . Theywere angr y that Ise emed t o p lace respo nsibilit y for the agenc y ’s  prob lem s squa re lyon th e shou l der s oflow-ra nk ing em ploye es , rather  than focusing on upper  manag ement  an d underly ing org anization al p roblems.
Tha t w as th e a r gumen t in th e e m ail t hatg ave me th e  m ost p au se, a notef r o m o ne of  my former  co- workers at O’Hare :  “Obviously, T SA i s not  my drea mjob,” it said.  “S om e t imes I g ohome crying . I’d lo ve it if  you w rote m ore abo u t  t h e inco mpet enc y of theman ag e rs whogo tt heir j obsbe causeof who they k now. What you di d wil l defin i tel y mak emy jobh arde r, because  who will b e
 year_and a_half writing my blog,_Taking Sense_Away,_even when_I_revealed on the_blog that the_“nude” scanners didn’t work_and that TSA_employees_were making predictably awful jokes about passengers’ bodies. I got only one piece of_hate_mail in_response_to_my Politico Magazine article: an_anonymous message that informed me_that I_was a “goon” because, it said, “Once a_TSA_goon, always a_TSA goon.”

A few people did reach out to warn_me that I am almost certainly_being monitored by_intelligence_agencies_now that I have_revealed myself as a critic of_the TSA. “My ex-husband is now_a senior executive at the NSA at_Fort Meade,” one said. “The NSA_will probably track you.”

I’m not_sure how_credible these warnings are, but_after being the_subject of_two official government_responses—in which TSA denied and downplayed_the claims made_on my blog and in my_essay—it’s_hard not to_worry_that_I’m being_watched. I’ve received_so_many letters_making_this point that I now take_it_for granted that my every online move_is being monitored by_someone,_somewhere. If the truth_is more banal, so be_it: I’d much rather be paranoid_and wrong.

Most_of the_responses from current and former TSA employees were just as supportive_as those from the general public—and_that was another surprise._Quite a_few_read like letters_from_inmates: “Hi_Jason. Remember me? We worked Terminal 1_together for_a year-long bid. I am so_glad you made it_out_and are doing something interesting with_your life! Patting down crotches all_day was the worst, wasn’t_it?”

But_some_TSA employees saw my essay_as an attempt to smear frontline_workers. They were_angry that I seemed to place responsibility_for_the agency’s problems squarely on the_shoulders_of low-ranking employees, rather than focusing_on_upper_management and underlying organizational problems.

That_was the argument in the email_that gave me the most pause, a note from_one of my_former co-workers at O’Hare: “Obviously,_TSA_is_not my dream job,” it said. “Sometimes I go home_crying. I’d_love it if_you wrote more about the incompetency of the managers who_got their jobs because of who they_know. What you did will definitely make my job harder, because_who will be