Why does anyone go to America?

Austerity · 13-11-2010 12:35PM #1

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 · 13-11-2010 12:38PM

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

LevelSpirit · 13-11-2010 12:39PM

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 · 13-11-2010 12:40PM

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 · 13-11-2010 12:44PM

jimthemental wrote: »

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

Time of my life

LizT · 13-11-2010 12:46PM

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.

13-11-2010 12:46PM

'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 · 13-11-2010 12:47PM

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 · 13-11-2010 12:49PM

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 · 13-11-2010 12:52PM

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 · 13-11-2010 12:54PM

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 · 13-11-2010 12:54PM

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

LevelSpirit · 13-11-2010 12:55PM

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 · 13-11-2010 12:55PM

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

dubtom · 13-11-2010 12:55PM

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 · 13-11-2010 12:56PM

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 · 13-11-2010 12:56PM

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

drkpower · 13-11-2010 12:57PM

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 · 13-11-2010 12:58PM

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 · 13-11-2010 01:07PM

Canada > USA

And please, stop calling it America.

Thanks,
All Canadians.

blorg · 13-11-2010 01:14PM

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 · 13-11-2010 01:16PM

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 · 13-11-2010 01:26PM

Austerity wrote: »

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

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

omahaid · 13-11-2010 01:26PM

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

drdeadlift · 13-11-2010 01:27PM

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 · 13-11-2010 01:36PM

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 · 13-11-2010 01:36PM

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 · 13-11-2010 01:47PM

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 · 13-11-2010 02:02PM

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 · 13-11-2010 02:14PM

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 · 13-11-2010 02:19PM

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.

Why does anyone go to America?

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