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> You only need to give up passwords and such if you are unlucky. Very comforting, isn't it? Especially when this is said about a legal process.

by js8 10y ago

kidmenot 10y ago
Frankly, I find the thought of having to give my passwords away to be baffling to say the least. No chance I will ever visit the US under these conditions, because I tend to dislike totalitarian countries.
- plandis 10y ago
  I think you misunderstand the definition of a totalitarian country.
staticelf 10y ago
Not really, no. Especially when you're used to just walking through an automated machine which I get to do for most of the time when I travel. First I thought I would bring my computer with pirated movies on it but when I read up online I decided not to bring a computer at all. People in the thread seems to think I am defending the process which I am not. I just state that people seem to hype the evilness of the border control.
- js8 10y ago
  > I decided not to bring a computer at all I also prefer travel without much electronics, since it's easy to get it lost or stolen. But it's not always an option - if you're traveling for business, you have to take the computer, and also everybody has a smartphone these days. > I just state that people seem to hype the evilness of the border control. Maybe to you it seems like a hype. But I was born in totalitarian country, and while it was pretty benign for ordinary people (I was a child), it's not something that I want to live through regardless. Asking about trip details or looking if I don't have weapons and so on is fine for a visit. But looking at my social media accounts (although I have almost none) and data on my devices - these are totalitarian practices. I understand that you don't feel that way, because you perhaps never experienced totality, but please you should also understand that many people feel differently (like the guy with the top comment).
  - staticelf 10y ago
    I do feel that way though. I wouldn't want my devices to be searched and is the only reason why I didn't bring my laptop. Trust me, I am against searching peoples computers and private lives as much as anyone but I still think it's a bit blown out of proportion.
    - js8 10y ago
      Fair enough. I have two questions, then: 1. Don't you think that to decide not to take electronic devices in 21st century for travel is a reaction that is out of proportions? It's pretty drastic measure, if you ask me. 2. How are the foreigners to change U.S. government's mind, if not by "blowing it out of proportions"? What other recourse is there? Maybe for U.S. citizens, and especially those that have to do with the tourism or international business or academia, yeah, it sucks that it's "blown out of proportions". But see - they are the citizens, they can pressure their government to take strong stance on the issue and forbid these practices as totalitarian (and obviously useless - no combination of bits on my phone or computer is by itself going to harm anyone).

> You only need to give up passwords and such if you are unlucky. Very comforting, isn't it? Especially when this is said about a legal process.

by js8 10y ago

> You only need to give up passwords and such if you are unlucky. Very comforting, isn't it? Especially when this is said about a legal process.

kidmenot 10y ago

Frankly, I find the thought of having to give my passwords away to be baffling to say the least. No chance I will ever visit the US under these conditions, because I tend to dislike totalitarian countries.

plandis 10y ago
I think you misunderstand the definition of a totalitarian country.

staticelf 10y ago

Not really, no. Especially when you're used to just walking through an automated machine which I get to do for most of the time when I travel. First I thought I would bring my computer with pirated movies on it but when I read up online I decided not to bring a computer at all. People in the thread seems to think I am defending the process which I am not. I just state that people seem to hype the evilness of the border control.

js8 10y ago
> I decided not to bring a computer at all I also prefer travel without much electronics, since it's easy to get it lost or stolen. But it's not always an option - if you're traveling for business, you have to take the computer, and also everybody has a smartphone these days. > I just state that people seem to hype the evilness of the border control. Maybe to you it seems like a hype. But I was born in totalitarian country, and while it was pretty benign for ordinary people (I was a child), it's not something that I want to live through regardless. Asking about trip details or looking if I don't have weapons and so on is fine for a visit. But looking at my social media accounts (although I have almost none) and data on my devices - these are totalitarian practices. I understand that you don't feel that way, because you perhaps never experienced totality, but please you should also understand that many people feel differently (like the guy with the top comment).
- staticelf 10y ago
  I do feel that way though. I wouldn't want my devices to be searched and is the only reason why I didn't bring my laptop. Trust me, I am against searching peoples computers and private lives as much as anyone but I still think it's a bit blown out of proportion.
  - js8 10y ago
    Fair enough. I have two questions, then: 1. Don't you think that to decide not to take electronic devices in 21st century for travel is a reaction that is out of proportions? It's pretty drastic measure, if you ask me. 2. How are the foreigners to change U.S. government's mind, if not by "blowing it out of proportions"? What other recourse is there? Maybe for U.S. citizens, and especially those that have to do with the tourism or international business or academia, yeah, it sucks that it's "blown out of proportions". But see - they are the citizens, they can pressure their government to take strong stance on the issue and forbid these practices as totalitarian (and obviously useless - no combination of bits on my phone or computer is by itself going to harm anyone).