Quote:
Originally Posted by ChangingEventually
I've never been harassed either and I've traveled a lot. As has my mother (Spanish and Hispanic) and my father (French and Caucasian). Neither of them were treated badly. I traveled before and after 9/11 and yes, security has gotten tougher but not many people I know were treated badly. Well, some people I know were but in my opinion, they deserved it a little bit because of their attitudes. I'm not saying that's the case here, but people don't truly know how they act or the vibe they give off.
Of course, some people abuse their power. That's for sure. But not always and not always in one area. I mean, after a while when more than two or so people at the airport are a little pissed off with you, isn't it time to look at yourself and see if it's not you who's the problem?
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Well, I am pretty sure it is not me. I have travelled to more than 50 countries over a period of 30-odd years and until recently, have never had the bad treatment -- or witnessed and heard about other people getting it -- that is commonplace now. Several other posters on this board who travel internationally on a regular basis have also commented on this -- I guess we all have a bad attitude, and just aren't aware of it. Not.
Last summer my husband and I were in and out of six countries in total, and in only one did we receive hostile treatment both coming and going, and that was the U.S. We went to Australia the year before and had the same experience. My husband is one of the most polite, mild-manned people on the planet who wouldn't say shit if he had a mouthful of it. He is also a criminologist and knows a bit about the mentality of a lot of customs officials.
I think terrorism gave a lot of these people an excuse to behave much more badly than usual. But then again, I guess it really is ALL my fault for having these experiences at LAX and nowhere else I've ever travelled, including a lot of Third World countries. I mean, what is the upside to atagaonizing people who can make your life difficult? Trust me, I am not that stupid and neither are the majority of people I know who have been hassled far beyond what is required for officials to do their jobs.
As for having two people pissed off at me in an airport, that isn't tough to do. A lot of people who travel are in a bad mood these days. I had someone yell at me for the audacity of politely asking them to move their luggage out of a doorway. And another couldn't understand why I didn't want to give them $20 just for having a drink and a sandwich. Call me crazy, but I guess that was my fault, too.
We should just stay home and let people who've never been unlucky enough to encounter these problems travel. We'll be hearing your horror stories soon enough, lol.