Why does anyone go to America?

Austerity

Why does anyone travel to America when you have to undergo humiliating treatment from TSA staff, such as going through porno scanners or possibly have one of them feeling you up. I for one will never go to America if I have to take this kind of treatment. I'd much rather go to Canada instead. Canada feels much more civilized to be honest.

jimthemental

Very cheap beer and cost of living. Christ the J1 was a serious piss up!

LevelSpirit

Austerity wrote: »

Why does anyone travel to America when you have to undergo humiliating treatment from TSA staff, such as going through porno scanners or possibly have one of them feeling you up. I for one will never go to America if I have to take this kind of treatment. I'd much rather go to Canada instead. Canada feels much more civilized to be honest.

I suppose you'll have to go there to find out what it has to offer.
I like the place.
The body scanner doesnt bother me. Sure dont my mates see me naked in the gym. A body scanner isnt near as revealing.
Anyway most airports scan you as you are walking around. You dont know this, but I do. I worked on the implementation.
The idea is that you think the scanner is doing all the scanning, but its not really. So if you are a terrorist you will be less on your guard hiding stuff before you get to what you think is the real scanner, though this scans too.

And you could get "felt up" going anywhere.

But stay at home if you want. Its your choice.

easyeason3

Austerity wrote: »

Why does anyone travel to America when you have to undergo humiliating treatment from TSA staff, such as going through porno scanners or possibly have one of them feeling you up. I for one will never go to America if I have to take this kind of treatment. I'd much rather go to Canada instead. Canada feels much more civilized to be honest.

But if they were suspicious of you would that not happen anyway regardless of the country

LevelSpirit

jimthemental wrote: »

Very cheap beer and cost of living. Christ the J1 was a serious piss up!

Time of my life

LizT

I did a trip from New York to LA this year. I met some absoluetely amazing people, saw some amazing sights (Monument Valley, Grand Canyon) and had many fun drunken times (New Orleans, Vegas, LA ). I think a little bit of inconvenience at security was worth that.

When I arrived in NY, I was pulled aside for a random search. The guy was really nice, all they did was take my passport, type my details into a computer and then had a quick look through my bags. The excess security wouldn't put me off going at all.

'cause this country is going down the drain.

The only reason you'd be opposed to the searches is if you have something to hide. Do you have something to hide, OP?

KerranJast

Austerity wrote: »

Why does anyone travel to America when you have to undergo humiliating treatment from TSA staff, such as going through porno scanners or possibly have one of them feeling you up. I for one will never go to America if I have to take this kind of treatment. I'd much rather go to Canada instead. Canada feels much more civilized to be honest.

Because it's a fantastic country and they've had to take strict measures to protect their citizens?

Austerity

jimthemental wrote: »

Very cheap beer and cost of living. Christ the J1 was a serious piss up!

I could get a bus from Göteborg, Sweden to Prague, Czech republic. The trip would be fairly cheap I would see a bit of central Europe from the window of the bus. I could eat very cheap food and see some nice "good time girls" without breaking the bank.

drkpower

Austerity wrote: »

Why does anyone travel to America when you have to undergo humiliating treatment from TSA staff, such as going through porno scanners or possibly have one of them feeling you up. I for one will never go to America if I have to take this kind of treatment. I'd much rather go to Canada instead. Canada feels much more civilized to be honest.

The 7 hour+ flight is more of a disincentive that someone seeing a computerised image of my body or someone giving me a bit of a feel.

It's amazing what exercises people.

mandrake04

lizt wrote: »

I did a trip from New York to LA this year. I met some absoluetely amazing people, saw some amazing sights (Monument Valley, Grand Canyon) and had many fun drunken times (New Orleans, Vegas, LA ). I think a little bit of inconvenience at security was worth that.

When I arrived in NY, I was pulled aside for a random search. The guy was really nice, all they did was take my passport, type my details into a computer and then had a quick look through my bags. The excess security wouldn't put me off going at all.

+1

NY, Vegas, LA, SF and Hawaii...awesome time.

Spent 4 weeks in the US in January after a holiday home to Ireland over Xmas to see the folks, was only a few days after the Underpants bomb thing.

Security checks was a nightmare but a necessary evil all the same, 9/11 changed the world forever there is no turning the clocks back... we just have to live with it.

bonerm

Ever since google streetview was implemented I can't find a single reason to go back to that place.

LevelSpirit

Austerity wrote: »

I could get a bus from Göteborg, Sweden to Prague, Czech republic. The trip would be fairly cheap I would see a bit of central Europe from the window of the bus. I could eat very cheap food and see some nice "good time girls" without breaking the bank.

Good luck with that. Dont forget your cushion.

PirateShampoo

Id rather get felt up by America and not Raped by Ireland.

dubtom

Austerity wrote: »

I could get a bus from Göteborg, Sweden to Prague, Czech republic. The trip would be fairly cheap I would see a bit of central Europe from the window of the bus. I could eat very cheap food and see some nice "good time girls" without breaking the bank.

That bus journey sounds amazing but I think I'd settle for the body scan and a month in the good ole US of A, actually,they can search my anal cavity if they want too, I rather that than an amazing bus journey any day.

Austerity

mandrake04 wrote: »

+1

Spent 4 weeks in the US in January after a holiday home to Ireland over Xmas to see the folks, was only a few days after the Underpants bomb thing.

Security checks was a nightmare but a necessary evil all the same, 9/11 changed the world forever there is no turning the clocks back... we just have to live with it.

For some reason they never had these excessive security routines during the worst years of the Troubles...

dave1982

America no being in Ireland would probably be the main reason i say:rolleyes:

drkpower

Austerity wrote: »

For some reason they never had these excessive security routines during the worst years of the Troubles...

There is probably a few reasons for that - have a think about it.

mandrake04

drkpower wrote: »

The 7 hour+ flight is more of a disincentive that someone seeing a computerised image of my body or someone giving me a bit of a feel.

Ha nothing more than decent commute for some people.

tolosenc

Canada > USA

And please, stop calling it America.

Thanks,
All Canadians.

blorg

I would have more issues with US foreign policy than the security at the airport to be honest. Yes, it is a pain in the neck, yes, it is offensive, but I wouldn't let it stop me visiting the country.

Have you ever actually been to the US, OP?

@tolosec- every Canadian I have ever met refers to those south of the border as "Americans." Get used to it.

ScumLord

It's our generations empire, it's the home of some of the greatest artists of our time. Everything is huge over there, New York is like being on a different planet compared to Ireland. The list of reasons to go to the USA is literally endless.

Nodin

Austerity wrote: »

Why does anyone travel to America ...........

Canadian grass, firearms, titty bars culture and the chance to see the sights...

omahaid

TBH America is not tourist friendly. They really dont want us and tbh i can live without them

drdeadlift

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Id rather get felt up by America and not Raped by Ireland.

raped jeez,you economic downturn really feckt you over

Mike 1972

Only time Ive ever been through a body scanner was my first time coming OUT of the Netherlands where given the ample supply of high grade porn I wouldnt flatter myself by worrying about security guards drooling over blurry outlines of my dong. In fact I would go so far as to suggest that regardless of ones gender and sexual inclinations looking at thousands blurry outlines of random dongs on a daily basis would start to get rather boring after a while.

On the other hand.........

Deleted User wrote: »

The only reason you'd be opposed to the searches is if you have something to hide. Do you have something to hide, OP?

The boys from the Stasi will be around tomorrow to install cameras in your bathroom/bedroom. Im sure youll understand given that youve nothing to hide and all

ghostdancer

Austerity wrote: »

For some reason they never had these excessive security routines during the worst years of the Troubles...

yeah, i must have imagined our car being stopped every time we got to the border with British Army with machine guns examining the car and us...


the security checks in airports are a piece of piss really.

Hail 2 Da Thief

Austerity wrote: »

I for one will never go to America if I have to take this kind of treatment. I'd much rather go to Canada instead.

They're much the same in Canada. In fact I got more of a grilling from Canadian Immigration tbh.

Travelling to & around the US is not difficult in any way!

Biggins

Austerity wrote: »

Why does anyone travel to America when you have to undergo humiliating treatment from TSA staff, such as going through porno scanners or possibly have one of them feeling you up. I for one will never go to America if I have to take this kind of treatment. I'd much rather go to Canada instead. Canada feels much more civilized to be honest.

Why does anyone go to America? ...Because the plane is heading that direction.

You've never gone through Canadian security then have you?
They can (like most at times) be just as strict and inquisitive.

Austerity

When I went to Canada they asked me where I would stay and who paid the ticket. They also asked me about what kind of job I had. I didn't have to give up any fingerprints like when I took they Greyhound from Vancouver to Seattle. At the border to the USA I had to scan my fingerprints. Ridiculous, not I never had to do that in China even. Airport security seems to be a more pleasant experience in CHINA than in the US.... Land of the free... What a joke!

bnt

Well, I've been to the USA 4 times, and only once was it partly a destination of choice:

• 1995/12: Seattle on business (Microsoft);
• 2001/5: stopover on the way to Toronto, then had a few days in New York on the way back (flights were cheaper that way);
• 2007/3: Denver area on business (Fort Collins & Colorado Springs), though I did extend my stay for a few days of vacation;
• 2009/8: going to see friends living near Houston;

I don't drive, which makes visiting such a car-heavy culture problematic, but New York was fine. Security was OK before, too. But since paranoia now seems to be the rule at the TSA, I don't think I'll bother for a while.

Biggins

Austerity wrote: »

When I went to Canada they asked me where I would stay and who paid the ticket. They also asked me about what kind of job I had. I didn't have to give up any fingerprints like when I took they Greyhound from Vancouver to Seattle. At the border to the USA I had to scan my fingerprints. Ridiculous, not I never had to do that in China even. Airport security seems to be a more pleasant experience in CHINA than in the US.... Land of the free... What a joke!

So your judging a whole country of millions, of many different languages, of many ethnic regions, of many different areas - just because of the security on the way in?

Ever hear the saying "Cutting the nose off to spite your face?" or "Throwing the baby out with the bathwater?"

liah

Dunno. Canada's cleaner, cheaper, not as overpopulated (as long as you stay out of Toronto, it's a dump), has beautiful sights and scenery, is very, very diverse and mostly friendly-- you don't have nearly as much crime or ghettoization or racism in Canada. Not to say it doesn't happen (you could bring Vancouver into it, the Chinese have taken over parts of it to the extent that there's places they won't speak to non-Chinese people, it's getting kinda ugly, but overall this is very rare), it's just a new, much smaller (population-wise) country that hasn't had to deal with the problems caused by loads of people crunched together.

There's some great sights in America (Joshua Tree or most of Arizona in general, the Grand Canyon, New Orleans, etc).. but I never quite get why people settle there. The government has too many issues and has a lot to recover from after the Bush era.

I may be biased :pac: but I did live in the States too. And obviously there's plenty of really nice places in the states, but again, the way it's run just isn't ideal.. you actually have more human rights and freedoms in Canada than the US, despite propaganda. The US has lost a lot of them in the last decade.

krudler

I was there a few weeks ago, if I could move there tomorrow I would. In the space of a week I went to San Diego zoo, took a trip round the mountains of Sedona in a jeep, flew over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter, partied like a loon in Vegas, and saw some stunning scenery along the way. I've been to Canada as well and its a gorgeous country.

And the op is against all this because of....fingerprints? the security takes all of 5 minutes to get through, they ask you why you're there, where you're staying and when you're leaving, thats it. The people themselves in the country are amazingly friendly for the most part. Compare that to the "security" coming back through Shannon, where a guy sat at a desk barely takes a glance at your passport and grumbles something, its a joke.

FreudianSlippers

jimthemental wrote: »

Very cheap beer and cost of living. Christ the J1 was a serious piss up!

Anywhere that is worth going is not cheap.

FreudianSlippers

krudler wrote: »

I was there a few weeks ago, if I could move there tomorrow I would. In the space of a week I went to San Diego zoo, took a trip round the mountains of Sedona in a jeep, flew over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter, partied like a loon in Vegas, and saw some stunning scenery along the way. I've been to Canada as well and its a gorgeous country.

And the op is against all this because of....fingerprints? the security takes all of 5 minutes to get through, they ask you why you're there, where you're staying and when you're leaving, thats it. The people themselves in the country are amazingly friendly for the most part. Compare that to the "security" coming back through Shannon, where a guy sat at a desk barely takes a glance at your passport and grumbles something, its a joke.

Yeah, because that's what the ordinary person living in the US does on a daily basis. You visited it there.

High taxes, poor schools, no welfare... the list goes on with all the negatives for days.

krudler

OisinT wrote: »

Anywhere that is worth going is not cheap.

Thats one of the most ridiculous statements I've ever read.

FreudianSlippers

krudler wrote: »

Thats one of the most ridiculous statements I've ever read.

How so? Where in the US is cheap cost of living that is worth living? You were there on J1, hardly an expert on the place :rolleyes:
I'm so sick of idiots who post replies like this with no support.

krudler

OisinT wrote: »

Yeah, because that's what the ordinary person living in the US does on a daily basis. You visited it there.

High taxes, poor schools, no welfare... the list goes on with all the negatives for days.

So...the same as this country then? except with more stuff to do.

Hail 2 Da Thief

Austerity wrote: »

I didn't have to give up any fingerprints like when I took they Greyhound from Vancouver to Seattle. At the border to the USA I had to scan my fingerprints. Ridiculous

Your being a right little drama queen imo!
I also got a greyhound from Van to Seattle. It takes all of what? 60 seconds for them to take your prints & you're on your way again.
No big deal!

FreudianSlippers

krudler wrote: »

So...the same as this country then? except with more stuff to do.

We have lower taxes, better schools (by about a million percent) and very generous welfare payments. Not to mention free healthcare and free schools.

There is loads of stuff to do in this country too... but people tend to do things on holiday and not do things when they live somewhere. We have a zoo and helicopters and places to drink too.

blorg

Incidentally you probably would have a better US immigration experience flying from Ireland. Immigration is all done in Dublin or Shannon, on Irish soil, so the worst US immigration can do is not let you on the plane, you won't be off to Gitmo.

The US lets Irish and many other citizens in without a visa... I'd take that over the over a month wait, bureacracy and possible bribe-seeking I have had to deal with in other countries.

The fingerprinting is annoying but it is one finger and done electronically. I have been to countries that are far more thorough (all fingers of each hand plus knuckles) and do it with ink- not to me, but to the French person I was travelling with. Why? In retaliation- France fingerprints all tourist visa applicants. Wouldn't apply to you if you have EU citizenship but I would suggest on principle you stay out of France in future.

krudler

OisinT wrote: »

How so? Where in the US is cheap cost of living that is worth living? You were there on J1, hardly an expert on the place :rolleyes:
I'm so sick of idiots who post replies like this with no support.

Err, actually I wasnt. Try not making stupid assumptions, its quite easy.

Austerity

Biggins wrote: »

So your judging a whole country of millions, of many different languages, of many ethnic regions, of many different areas - just because of the security on the way in?

Ever hear the saying "Cutting the nose off to spite your face?" or "Throwing the baby out with the bathwater?"

A country which blatantly violates its own constitution time and time again is not a country under the rule of law. Countries that do that are generally banana republics and I stay away from such countries.

FreudianSlippers

krudler wrote: »

Err, actually I wasnt. Try not making stupid assumptions, its quite easy.

Misread someone else's post as yours. Not a stupid assumption. Good job backing up your viewpoint though.

You went there a few weeks ago on holiday. Went to Las Vegas (some shíthole full of prozzies, druggies and frat boys).

krudler

OisinT wrote: »

Misread someone else's post as yours. Not a stupid assumption. Good job backing up your viewpoint though.

You went there a few weeks ago on holiday. Went to Las Vegas (some shíthole full of prozzies, druggies and frat boys).

Now you're just being a dick for the sake of it, Vegas is an awesome place to visit once, anyone whos been there will tell you the same.

krudler

OisinT wrote: »

How so? Where in the US is cheap cost of living that is worth living? You were there on J1, hardly an expert on the place :rolleyes:
I'm so sick of idiots who post replies like this with no support.

Also,you said anywhere worth going isnt cheap, not anywhere worth living in, theres a huge difference.

FreudianSlippers

krudler wrote: »

Now you're just being a dick for the sake of it, Vegas is an awesome place to visit once, anyone whos been there will tell you the same.

I've been there. Found it awful, kitschy and annoying.

Looking at all the Americans going to the Venetian and Paris LV and commenting on how it's "better than the real thing" or making ignorant comments along those lines was hilarious. It's like disneyland full of idiotic fratboys and old people.

I stayed in a tower suite in the Wynne and was not impressed at all. The Bellagio is ok from the outside, but not nice on the inside and the Luxor (the most awesome hotel on the outside) looks as if it hasn't been done up since 1970s.

The strip is full of drunk idiots getting in fights and getting arrested at night.
The old strip is a good place to go get drugs if you're so inclined... or cheap hookers I hear!


Las Vegas is great for people who are into that sort of carry on and who have no sense of sophistication. If you're one of these people who can tick off Egypt, Paris and Venice because you "saw" them in Vegas then I'm sure you'll absolutely love the place.

FreudianSlippers

krudler wrote: »

Also,you said anywhere worth going isnt cheap, not anywhere worth living in, theres a huge difference.

OisinT wrote:

jimthemental wrote: »

Very cheap beer and cost of living. Christ the J1 was a serious piss up!

Anywhere that is worth going is not cheap.

I meant anywhere worth going (to live) does not have a cheap cost of living. I generally don't choose my living conditions on the price of beer though

blorg

Austerity wrote: »

A country which blatantly violates its own constitution time and time again is not a country under the rule of law. Countries that do that are generally banana republics and I stay away from such countries.

Er, you mentioned that you went to China?

krudler

OisinT wrote: »

I've been there. Found it awful, kitschy and annoying.

Looking at all the Americans going to the Venetian and Paris LV and commenting on how it's "better than the real thing" or making ignorant comments along those lines was hilarious. It's like disneyland full of idiotic fratboys and old people.

I stayed in a tower suite in the Wynne and was not impressed at all. The Bellagio is ok from the outside, but not nice on the inside and the Luxor (the most awesome hotel on the outside) looks as if it hasn't been done up since 1970s.

The strip is full of drunk idiots getting in fights and getting arrested at night.
The old strip is a good place to go get drugs if you're so inclined... or cheap hookers I hear!


Las Vegas is great for people who are into that sort of carry on and who have no sense of sophistication. If you're one of these people who can tick off Egypt, Paris and Venice because you "saw" them in Vegas then I'm sure you'll absolutely love the place.

wow, would you like some sugar lumps for that high horse of yours? dont assume anyone who enjoys going to America is some cultureless moron. I've been to Paris, and even though the museums and sights are amazing, the city itself is hole,its filthy and the people seemingly would rather stab you in the face than say hello. you can find negatives about any city or country in the world, Ireland has endless ones but it doesnt mean there arent places I dont enjoy visiting here as well, but I love visiting the States, so we'll agree to disagree.