Oh, how I wish airport security people were as cool as a lady I dated for a while. This is back in '75, & she worked as a private security guard at a small airport. She told me that if the searchee looks a little uncomfortable when she went though his suitcase, she'd look up and say, "I'm only looking for bombs, relax!") Won't happen now!

But to reply to your words, he made no mention that it was "optional." He simply told me where to stand and all that... He didn't seem particularly thug-like...besides, in the state I was in...and all that...

(It was about 5:00 AM, and I'd stayed up all night after getting home from partying!!!)