Recently, the Transportation Security Association has begun a new airport security measure.

While in line to have carry-ons checked, passengers are approached by TSA security guards, who strike up conversations about the details of their travel.

This new terrorism-prevention method is called “Chat-downs.”

Honestly, who would say, “I’m going to XYZ state to commit XYZ crime”? The odds are slim to none. But the TSA is also working on training their workers to read body language signs and the inflection of the passenger’s voice. It’s hard to say how well this will work, but it’s not hard to tell people are upset about it.

As American citizens, we have the fundamental rights to freedom of speech and privacy. Now sure, they are limited in various facets — you can’t yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater or deny access to a police officer with a warrant — but overall, we are allowed to think and speak freely. When we feel this inherent privilege even slightly threatened, we freak out.

Certainly the TSA has questionable measures that scare people. There are stories of people like former Miss USA winner, Susie Castillo, who felt violated during a pat-down because the worker touched her private area four times. Or the infamous tale of a 6-year-old child having to go through a pat-down. Or the elderly woman who was forced to remove her disposable diaper. Naturally, these are extreme situations, but they were allowed to happen, and the TSA repeatedly stands behind their employees.

We understand that they are only trying to protect us, but in that same breath we must ask ourselves: How far is too far? If I am a mourning person boarding a flight to go to the funeral of my best friend or an adopted child going to meet my biological parent, I don’t want to rehash my emotional burden to a stranger that already gets to riffle through my luggage.

Surprisingly, the TSA is allowing patrons, upon request, to keep their answers private. They are even working with airlines to develop a special way for frequent fliers to go through security more conveniently.

These protection measures are still in the testing phases, but will most likely become permanent fixtures to how we fly for the rest of our lives. And honestly, I am on the fence about them. Preventative measures walk a thin line, but as long as I’m still alive, breathing and not overly offended by the end of my flight, I guess I have to say that everyone is doing alright.

Kimm Johnson is an environmental design sophomore.