again the TSA keeping the country safe (sarcasm)
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/tsa-agents-examine-transgender-dnc-delegate-genitalia-article-1.2727236
security theater and civil rights violations just to fly.
The TSA is not known for hiring the very best or particularly friendly people (depends on the airport), and yes, it is not uncommon for TSA workers to pat people down because of things like this incident, or for people who have body piercings and such, and it isn’t just security, it often is there curiousity. A transgender friend of mine went through one of those scanners (the full body one), and the person looking at the screen laughed, called over a buddy, and said “look at the freak”, and when my friend complained to the supervisor, they just shrugged, as if it was no big deal. Not to mention that those scanners may very well be useless. I have gotten flagged, taken to a private room, and patted down because I wear something on my upper body (kind of brace, very similar to a sports bra) that gets flagged all the time, and sometimes they are not very polite about it, surprised they didn’t cuff me, too.
Someone I know who works for an airline calls the TSA agents “Paul Bart, Mall Cop” that you are giving power to people with very little checks and balances, and the abuses are what happens, not to mention simple unprofessionalism. It extends well beyond the scans, musicians tell stories routinely of TSA agents opening the case and actually taking the instrument out (which they are not supposed to do, not to mention that an xray clearly shows what it is), because they are curious, and on things like violins and cellos plucking them and so forth, and some of these instruments are very, very valuable (a run of the mill concert quality violin is in the 40k range). Problem is, despite all the complaints, no one cares, and the standard response is 'that is the price you pay for security", which is ridiculous.
I am fortunate–we have been treated with courtesy all the many times we have encountered TSA. Most of them seem to be doing their job as best they can. Maybe we are fortunate to live in Honolulu, where most of them seem to like their jobs.
@himom:
It seems to depend on the airport, too, when I flew to New Mexico with my son several years ago, the security people there were professional to deal with and were actually pretty nice. When you get the major hubs, like Newark Airport, let’s just say the way I have been treated and see people being treated it is not a great experience.
HIMom, it is definitely the Aloha spirit of your island state. 
I mentioned elsewhere that TSA folks in HI are the nicest in the agency. We often drive to BLI to avoid the lines and the nastiness of SEA. Can’t wait for Alaska to resume their winter schedule from BLI!
Funny that the original thread was about going barefoot at security and it being unsanitary, etc. The Daily News last year or the year before got these experts to look at what women were exposing themselves to by wearing flip flops and open sandals and such while walking around or in the subway, was pretty scary, they said they saw women wearing those kind of shoes who had their bottle of Purell with them, and said they likely were exposing themselves more from their shoes.
I fly thru a lot of airports, including HNL (of course), SFO, LAX, DCA, IAD, and DEN. Mostly, I find TSA a mild inconvenience, even tho I generally have to allocate more time than most folks because I have to wait while they wipe down my portable oxygen concentrator and test it for gunpowder and explosives. 8 years ago, when I 1st started flying with it, there was much more curiosity and it took longer; now it barely merits a 2nd glance and isn’t even always swabbed for explosives.
Maybe I’m just lucky, but I honestly haven’t had terrible experiences with TSA–it has been mostly pleasant or neutral.
I’m not worried about catching anything, but I hate being barefoot in gross places. It’s totally arbitrary with me, too. The gym, where there is a heightened risk of athlete’s foot, staph, etc., doesn’t bother me if I forget my flip flops, but the airport? That’s just nastier for some illogical reason. So I bring footies.
I’ve never gone through an airport barefoot/flip flops; always socks with sneakers or shoes.
My “home” airport of Newark has awful, obnoxious TSA workers.
I’ve found Denver to have the nicest.
Everyone in my family has TSA Pre-check.
We are still trying to get D to get her Global Entry so she can get TSA pre-check. She says lately they’ve had a lot of “yoga moves” instead of the invasive patdowns, which she says is more comfortable for her and the TSA employees.
The gym locker room: you can wash your feet with soap and dry them well before putting your shoes on. The yoga studio: you are stomping on your personal yoga mat. The TSA checkpoint: there will be at least 3 hours (if your flight is 30 min long and you live near the destination) until you can wash your feet. Unless you try to do it in the airport bathroom… Lol. My vote is for socks.