<font color="#ffccff">I do not beleive I ever once excused bad or rude behaviour. I was trying to (apparently failing) get accross that we have one side of a story here, and apparently all those who dislike my view point have traveled extensively to the US and had universally bad experiences. Sorry for that, guess you should stop coming since the trip is so bad...Wish I could change it but I can't.

For my own experience (extensive) traveling in and out of CONUS I have never once been harrassed or treated incourteously no matter how many metal detectors I set off with my shoulder. The only exceptions were Greece and Italy during the 80's when they were having regular terrorist bombings. Coming back to the US I never had a problem. I did however witness many people who did have problems, people who did not follow the rules and people who were rude or impatient. Personally I think it is all a matter of attitude and your own karma coming back to bite you in the behind. "Serenity Now"

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<font color="#ffccff">Yeah what Nacht said! </font>

Magik and Nachtrafe: excellent points, and I agree. Security is security, especially in today's circumstances.
But it's not hard to say 'we're so sorry about all of this. Please accept our humblest apologies. We were just doing a necessary job.', and even perhaps chip in for a new laptop.
There's following standard procedure with bluntness and rude disregard for human dignity, and there's following standard procedure with respectful politeness and tact.

LOLOL!!!

So Ray, got any room in that bunker? I think that I might need to duck in there with you soon. [img]smile.gif[/img]

<font color="#ffccff">I agree. </font>

LOLOL!!!

So Ray, got any room in that bunker? I think that I might need to duck in there with you soon. [img]smile.gif[/img] </font>[/QUOTE]<font color="#ffccff">Yup, got several cases of MRE's and Gallons of water down here ;) </font>

Thanks for what you said, Melusine. I have PM's turned off just because on other boards I've had to deal with either people harrasing me or guys writing me asking for boob size (oh yeah, that's a turn on, seesh).

While I agree there's a need for security, I think we've gone to the extreme in some cases. We as a society have a tendency to do that after a tragedy, and then come to a happy medium after a while. Hopefully we'll soon get to that point, where we're able to have effective security and still have people not feel harrased. I stick by my feelings that with all the technology we have today, there must be a less evasive way of searching someone without a cavity/strip search. Xrays, MRI's, something else?
Before anyone thinks I'm too removed from what happened, I'm originally from Long Island. I can't count how many people I know who've lost someone (and one person who lost 12 family members). I'm also about an hour away from where they arrested the "Lakawana" suspects. My parents live an hour from D.C., so if something big ever happens there, they'll probably be affected or worse. Yet, with all this, I still manage to keep from treating every foriegner like a suspect or have the attitude of "If your innocent, prove it". I wouldn't want to be treated that way when visiting another country and in fact we become annoyed when we hear of US citizens being treated that way in other contries, so I find it very hypocritical of us to do the same in the name of safety. Just because one isn't protected under our constitution doesn't mean we still shouldn't treat them with dignity and respect.
Does any one know the answer to the question in my previous post in this thread?
Thanks,

[ 02-20-2003, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: harleyquinn ]

OK, that's fair. And, I totally agree that Animal deserves(at the very least) an apology. I was just trying to point out that the folks at Customs are doing there best, and, like all human beings, they probably get tired of being treated rudely, so begin to be rude in return. Yes, it's petty, but it happens. Human nature, I guess. I've worked in customer service jobs my whole life, and, I'll tell you, after day after day of putting up with whiny/bitchy/rude/arrogant people, you sometimes just snap, no matter what your native level of politeness.

I, too, have seen the attitude of most people going through security/customs checkpoints, and let me tell you, it's less than stellar. Politeness/respect works BOTH ways! If people would consistently work just a little harder at trying to be patient and polite, I'd be willing to bet that the security/customs folks would too.

Animal, assuming your story is accurate, as it is all I can do, none of us can KNOW it right now, your treatment was poor. The extra time and documents that you provided should have been the proof, or at least close enough, to accord you some decent treatment. If they had questions, they could have called the providers of the documents to verify them. I empathize with you as well.

I do agree with MagiK and Nachtstrafe (sp?) that customs HAS to treat everyone like this, some freakos can be the smoothest, friendliest folks, because they trained to be so. How about when you get pulled over for speeding, and the cop treats you like a serial-murderer? Because 1 in 500,000 they pull over IS, and they can't tell if it's you. Same with customs, plenty of folks feel like it is only them, and what did they do, and can't they SEE I'm not doing anything?

That being said, if we paid they right money, and hired the right folks, this work WOULD be done in an effective manner, and with politeness all around. We aren't, and in Animal's defense, the screeners at Logan are some of the worst no-ethic, hack, assclowns in the industry. Logan STILL fails tests, they have screeners who STEAL cash and valuables (and they do nothing about it), everything about it at Logan is second (or tenth) rate. I, too, fly out of Providence if at all possible.

It was invented thousands of years ago, it's called showing a little goddam respect to your fellow man!</font>[/QUOTE]<font color="#ffccff">I thought you were an atheist?</font>[/QUOTE]I am a little confused by this comment - what in the universe being or not an atheist and showing or not respect to your fellow man have to do with each other ? :confused: