Full-body scanner's 99.9% threat-elimination overshadowed by mild insecurities; genitalia embarrassment.

"Hey! In 1992, we invented a device that can significantly reduce invasive physical searches, and virtually eliminate every threat posed by terrorists on airplanes."

"Really? How does it work?"

"Well, it either uses millimeter wave scanner, or backscatter X-ray technology. One makes a skeletal, stick-outline of the body; the other creates a lumpy, vague virtual image of the person. The images are  both highly ambiguous, and only your closest friends and family would have even a slight chance of identifying the image as you. However, almost any foreign object can be detected."

"That sounds inappropriate."

"How so?"

"Well, I'm a woman, and it the image would depict my naked breasts. This is not desirable."

"This is partially true. However, the millimeter wave scanner would not produce this depiction. It's a skeletal, stick-outline, as I stated before. The backscatter X-ray technique would depict your breasts, in a very distorted, lumpy fashion. Your face would be nearly unrecognizable. Wearing a tank top would be significantly more exposing."

"Why should my breasts be exposed? Your penis would also be exposed."

"Well, you're about to board a flight on an airplane. Sometimes, people hijack airplanes or terrorize them using weapons that they bring on board. If this happens, you would most likely die. These body scanners virtually eliminate the possibility of sneaking weapons onto flights, and you will be much safer and probably won't die. In response to my penis being exposed, I'm willing to deal with a TSA official getting a 3 second look at my highly-distorted genitalia so that I won't die."

"It seems invasive."

"Is being patted down a better option for you?"

"No, that's physically abusive."

"Ok. How about standing in 3 hour lines while we wand everyone? This will catch metal objects, but not objects made from other materials. It's not nearly as safe."

"This is also not desirable."

"Right. These scans are much more effective, and take 15 seconds to perform."

"What if someone puts my picture on the Internet?"

"The images are not transmitted over a wireless connection, they are moved via physical wire to a computer and monitor in a closed room. TSA officials view these images. They are then deleted."

"That sounds pretty secure. But what if someone used a USB stick to save my image and put it on the Internet for everyone to view?"

"There are no drives on this special computer that would allow the transmission of images. Also, that's ridiculous."

"I guess. I still feel like this is invasive."

"It IS invasive. That's what a search is. It's less invasive than the previous methods of screening, however. You aren't touched at all, and you aren't subjected to wanding in public while people watch you. Remember, you're getting on a huge airplane and you might die if we don't do this. It's hardly an inconvenience."

"I suppose. I'm going to sue the TSA for an invasion of privacy."

"Why?"

"This is invasive."

"I don't think you understand. You might die. You're going to be screened, one way or another.  One, possibly two people will see thousands of these images everyday. The images are then deleted. You will not be ridiculed, or remembered. But you will land safely at your destination, alive. If you are blown up on an airplane, you will not be alive to enjoy your privacy."

"This is not desirable."

"Right."