Helpful Human Behavioral Hack: The Silent Stare
My book, "Good Manners for Nice People Who Sometimes Say F*ck," which I hope you'll buy, is largely about hacking our behavior and that of jerks, bullies, and the semi-conscious to make life go a little better.

I loved this behavioral hack from an anti-TSA blog, that of a guy who did some sort of activism and property damage years ago that had the government dub him a "terrorist." His name is now on "The List," and he is now four-S -- with "SSSS" printed on his boarding pass. And he now searched pretty much down to the short and curlies every time he flies.

Jetsetting Terrorist writes:

A consistent theme through this site is the TSA having no idea what they're doing and just making up rules to flex their muscles. The most pathetic example of this came early on in my jetsetting terrorism career, shortly after being added to The List.

He got through the gate -- one of those where you board the plane from the tarmac -- and then:

Right where the canopied portion of the walkway ended, a sole TSA agent was waiting.

"Mister ____, I need to see your ID."

"No," he said. "Passport. I need your passport."

"Domestic flight." I said.

"I need your passport."

"Domestic flight." I said.

"I need a passport before I can let you board this plane."

You know when someone is so objectively wrong and their retarded request is so objectively baseless that you aren't even inspired to dignify it with a response? It was one of those times.

I laughed at him. Then I folded my arms and stared.

Not speaking is among the most powerfully intimidating things you can do to a challenger. You should try it. Bullies can't stand it.

I was sort of intentionally blocking passage to the tarmac, and as a line of people formed behind me, pressure mounted on this bozo to make a move.

He handed me my ID back and scurried off. What a clown.

Hey TSA doofus: Now your feeble attempt at bullying has a worldwide audience. Wave to your mom.

And no, as an aside: I'm not for people damaging property as a form of activism. Speech, not destruction of others' goods, buildings, or lands, is how you get to protest.