The weird things people travel with

Washington: David Johnston stands over a table full of peculiar items confiscated at Dulles International Airport – a glittery clutch with brass knuckles as a clasp, perfume bottle shaped like a grenade, rusted circular saw blade, pocket-sized pitchfork. None of those are quite right. Then Johnston looks further – a guitar shaped like a semi-automatic rifle. Bingo. It will do nicely for the Transportation and Security Administration’s (TSA) social media accounts.

Johnston, TSA’s social media director, is following in the footsteps of Curtis “Bob” Burns, who created unlikely internet buzz for the not-always-beloved agency by showcasing the weirdest stuff travellers pack in their carry-ons. He died suddenly in October at age 48.

TSA is growing its social media staff, bringing in three more workers to expand its social media presence. The staff will continue to use fodder sent in by officers around the country, who seize all manner of unusual items people try to bring onboard. But it’s hard to find people who have both the government know-how and a sense of humour that resonates.

Curtis “Bob” Burns, who believed there was public negativity around TSA and wanted to change that through TSA’s social media, using a humorous tone. (Photo: AP)

Johnston said the thing that made Burns’ posts so special was Burns himself. “When you look at his posts, you’re seeing a window into his soul. It really was from his heart, he was a fun, happy guy,” he added. Burns’ sister-in-law, Candy Creech, said he had a dry sense of humour and a hefty dose of patriotism. Burns had served in the Gulf War and worked in airports before taking over social media.

Burns believed there was public negativity around TSA and he wanted to change that. “And I think he felt he could change that by communicating with people in a way that wasn’t scolding. He was one of a kind,” she said. During a TSA Facebook live, “Ask Me Anything” episode last year, Burns said the success of the account was partly due to the shock value.

“People don’t come to a government Instagram account and expert to see humour,” Burns had said, “And they also don’t expect to see these crazy things that people are trying to bring on a plane.” At Dulles, in the prohibited items section, Johnston sees a few possibilities for TSA’s YouTube series called “They Brought What?” including a large snow globe with a white fairy imprisoned in some kind of liquid (It’s creepy and it has liquid, so they can highlight the liquid restrictions.)

He passes over the four pairs of nunchucks (Yawn. You can’t believe how many people bring those) and a handful of pocket knives. He stops at a large bullet from Afghanistan that has been converted into a cigarette lighter and pen. “The things people think of,” he says.

Turning more serious for a moment, Johnston notes the importance of showing off these items, especially to people who aren’t well-travelled. “The bottom line is our social media pages makes travellers better informed so they have a better experience and it frees up our officers to do what they need to do – look for the bad actors,” he says.