If you don’t follow the web comic xkcd.com, you’re missing out. Simple stick figures come alive in moments of sarcasm and debate around current events to which no political cartoon can compare.
A few weeks back, xkcd.com drew up this little number:
The subject of TSA security has been the butt of jokes for years, with the inception of the 3-1-1 rule. However, this one box added a spin I was unfamiliar with – the small threat of laptop batteries. It was fresh, a new argument as to why we should all be allowed to walk free through security with our bottled water.
Yet the best thing about this comic is not the message, but the REACTION.
A few days later, TSA picked up on the strip and posted a response. They could have done a few things with this. I was expecting some snarky, or whiney comment about how we should all just comply with the rules “because we said so”.
Instead, TSA’s response was very informative and took the time to acknowledge that while batteries may be unsafe, there is a bigger picture. And I love the fact they used a web comic as a teachable moment.
It may be over the top and over-reacting to post a ‘response’ blog entry over an obviously sarcastic comic. But it shows that TSA is listening to what people say about their work, no matter in what form or where.
