Lily Allen: ‘I’m a US customs target’

[pacific breeze]

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?

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.

[ChangingEventually]

I didn't say that it was always you, but sometimes it very well could be. Some times it may have just been the person's fault and other times, maybe it was really yours. Like I said, different people perceive others differently. In my own experiences, and I've traveled a lot, no one has harassed me. I'm very nice to the people there and usually compliment them and make small talk while going through the process. The airport is boring anyway, so why not make a new friend while you're there?

[pacific breeze]

I always smile and make small talk. I have excellent people skills. I guess you will never believe that sometimes it just doesn't matter what YOU do. Sheesh. You live in a bit of a bubble.

As a journalist and teacher, I spend my life interacting with others and I am good at it. It is my livelihood. But when somebody literally rips my passport out of my hand, and asks me belligerently, "What makes you think you can visit the U.S.?" when it's clear that I AM IN TRANSIT to another country, I do feel that is hostile. Then when I answer politely that I am passing through, but I always enjoy visiting the United States, and am told to "Shut up," I interpret that as hostile. My husband and I both had our luggage searched THREE times in a secure zone, along with several other people, all as bewildered as we were. When one of us, not me, dared to ask what the problem was, we were all threatened with physical violence. But hey, I guess it really is all my fault for not having the right attitude. After that experience at LAX last summer, we are done with our neighbours to the south for a while.

I still like Americans and want to travel to the U.S. But it will have to wait until this administration and its bully boys -- it flows from the top, remember -- are booted out of office.

[ChangingEventually]

Originally Posted by pacific breeze

I always smile and make small talk. I have excellent people skills. I guess you will never believe that sometimes it just doesn't matter what YOU do. Sheesh. You live in a bit of a bubble.

As a journalist and teacher, I spend my life interacting with others and I am good at it. It is my livelihood. But when somebody literally rips my passport out of my hand, and asks me belligerently, "What makes you think you can visit the U.S.?" when it's clear that I AM IN TRANSIT to another country, I do feel that is hostile. Then when I answer politely that I am passing through, but I always enjoy visiting the United States, and am told to "Shut up," I interpret that as hostile. My husband and I both had our luggage searched THREE times in a secure zone, along with several other people, all as bewildered as we were. When one of us, not me, dared to ask what the problem was, we were all threatened with physical violence. But hey, I guess it really is all my fault for not having the right attitude. After that experience at LAX last summer, we are done with our neighbours to the south for a while.

I still like Americans and want to travel to the U.S. But it will have to wait until this administration and its bully boys -- it flows from the top, remember -- are booted out of office.

You are a VERY ignorant person. I'm coming straight out and saying it. I have repeated MANY times over that sometimes, it isn't your fault and you still continue to assume that I'm saying it's always your fault.

One: Them searching your luggage three times isn't anything bad. So what if they do? Did you really have to open your mouth?

Two: They DO ask you why you feel like you should visit the US. Get over it already. It's part of their job.

Three: You were told to "shut up". Oh wow, call the police.

If you are anything like this in real life, I would be rude to you too. You are ignorant, you take things too far, you put yourself above others, and you just give off a vibe.

[pacific breeze]

Oh, grow up. You give off quite an unpleasant vibe yourself. And it's pretty obvious you never read my post either.

Good luck with YOUR friendly attitude.

[ChangingEventually]

Originally Posted by pacific breeze

Oh, grow up. You give off quite an unpleasant vibe yourself. And it's pretty obvious you never read my post either.

Good luck with YOUR friendly attitude.

You know, I thought I was the only person on here who couldn't stand your personality.

That is until I got many PM's from people agreeing with me.

And I don't care if you get an unpleasant vibe from me. I don't like to associate with ignorant people who put themselves above others. But I'm sure you'd have tons of fun with Paris Hilton.

[pacific breeze]

I have an opinion that doesn't agree with yours, based on years of experience and travel. If that makes me ignorant, guilty as charged. I'm not the one calling names here.

I don't put myself above you or anyone else. I simply stated my experience, which you never once acknowledged except to attack me.

I think you are projecting just a little bit. And when a poster I have never interacted with before tells me they are getting PMs from others about what a horrible human being I am -- as if anybody here really knows anybody else -- I know that they are well, let's just say, full of it. That is the lamest excuse ever and not even worthy of someone in grade school. As an adult, I don't need others to back me up.

I had two very unpleasant experiences that had nothing to do with anything either my husband or I did. If you don't want to believe me, that's fine. But why on earth would you give a damn? That's what fascinates me. Why can't you just accept that sometimes shitty things happen that don't have anything to do with the person involved? If I was hit by a car that was speeding through a red light, would I still be at fault? I think that's called blaming the victim. It's absolutely no different than what happened to us, and a whole lot of other people, at LAX recently.

I'm not even complaining; just telling what happened and voting with my feet and my pocketbook. Sorry if that makes me ignorant and above you, but that's your perception, not mine. I don't even know you.

And Paris Hilton isn't somebody I've ever given a second thought to, and don't intend to start now.

Here's a link to a thread on GossipRocks where LOTS of other people have reported having unpleasant experiences at LAX and elsewhere: http://www.gossiprocks.com/forum/new...l-tourism.html

[haggard]

I always get hassled by security...but my sister told me "Well you sort of look like a drug addict...thats probably why." So yeah, I make an extra effort to be nice and courteous, but I sometimes still get shit in return. I had one woman decide to search my carry ons because I apparently hadnt placed them on the xray belt thing properly, so I must have been trying to hide something...

But all the security personel at the airport has always been older white people...so I dont really know what you guys mean when you're talking about younger hispanics giving old people the stink eye. Maybe it depends on where you live...

[ChangingEventually]

Originally Posted by pacific breeze

I have an opinion that doesn't agree with yours, based on years of experience and travel. If that makes me ignorant, guilty as charged. I'm not the one calling names here.

I don't put myself above you or anyone else. I simply stated my experience, which you never once acknowledged except to attack me.

I think you are projecting just a little bit. And when a poster I have never interacted with before tells me they are getting PMs from others about what a horrible human being I am -- as if anybody here really knows anybody else -- I know that they are well, let's just say, full of it. That is the lamest excuse ever and not even worthy of someone in grade school. As an adult, I don't need others to back me up.

I had two very unpleasant experiences that had nothing to do with anything either my husband or I did. If you don't want to believe me, that's fine. But why on earth would you give a damn? That's what fascinates me. Why can't you just accept that sometimes shitty things happen that don't have anything to do with the person involved? If I was hit by a car that was speeding through a red light, would I still be at fault? I think that's called blaming the victim. It's absolutely no different than what happened to us, and a whole lot of other people, at LAX recently.

I'm not even complaining; just telling what happened and voting with my feet and my pocketbook. Sorry if that makes me ignorant and above you, but that's your perception, not mine. I don't even know you.

And Paris Hilton isn't somebody I've ever given a second thought to, and don't intend to start now.

Here's a link to a thread on GossipRocks where LOTS of other people have reported having unpleasant experiences at LAX and elsewhere: http://www.gossiprocks.com/forum/new...l-tourism.html

That proved to me how ignorant you are. You completely disregarded my post to you telling you that it differs in different situations. Now I KNOW what I'm dealing with.

Oh, and by the way, I wasn't mentioning the PM's as back up because certain people don't want to be mentioned and I definitely won't mention them. I was just informing you that I'm not the only one who thought you were an ignorant person who put herself above others. I don't have much experience with you, but they do. And it just proves my theory. Just felt like mentioning that.

[sophie]

I always get singled out. usually customs singles you out if you buy your ticket within four days of the flight, but no matter when i purchase my ticket....im always the person asked to step to the side....which follows in my being repeatedly groped, and fondeled, whilst all the other passengers get to go scott free, without so much as removing their shoes. i guess it's because im hot....lol

[Mira]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mira
Yeah, it was obnoxious, because I felt your opinion about my post was rather uncalled for as well.

Why? Can't I post my opinion as well. Even though I'm not as prolific of a poster as you, I still have a right to voice my opinion, whether you feel it's uncalled for or not.

Quote:
As for your thinking I'm paranoid, there again that is your opinion as you have no idea who I am, what I'm like and what the situation was.
My opinion was based on what you wrote.

Quote:
Christ I'm sorry I brought it up. Now I'll probably get bashed by god knows who for taking Jesus's name in vain even though there are others on this board who do it.
Please, stop with the victimization whine. Your post revealed your racist attitude. I called you out on it. No one is picking on you. Your sorry that you revealed more about yourself than you'd like others to know. You stereotype and generalize. End of story.

Quote:
Obviously we disagree about this issue and I'm not going to waste my time arguing with you about it.
Finally! We agree about something.

____________________

You really, really blow my mind Picara. I stayed out of this thread all evening - without reading anything past my last post - because I wanted to let things die down and fade away because obviously we weren't ever going to get anywhere. And the bottom line is, I'm here to have fun and discuss things - NOT get into confrontations with people. That was taking the high road. Then I come back and find that I am called a racist, a whiner, a stereotyper, and generalizer.

You just go ahead and believe what you want to believe because obviously you are the type that will anyway, regardless of whatever goes on. What a rigid mindset.

What I really object to is that it is obvious to me you don't read my posts thoroughly and then stop and think before reacting. You need to consider what you write before writing - respond instead of react.

You call me out in all kinds of threads in recent weeks and then you mock me as being a "whiner". Where the fuck do you get off calling someone a whiner when they are standing up for their opinions and beliefs?

Your opinions about me are not based upon what I wrote. Your opinions about me are based upon who YOU are and how you REACTED to what I wrote.

Based on my experience of different message boards (of which this is one of the very best) you're the type of person who enjoys going onto message boards and calling people out because you like confrontation - that much is blatantly obvious. You're not interested in really discussing things, you prefer to call people out. That doesn't take a lot of intelligence. True debate does.

Oh, and I never said that you can't post your opinion.

Go pick on someone else, Picara. You're really tiresome. I've taken more than my quota from you.

And since people might be wondering, I've been PM'ing very nicely with ChangingEventually. Which is where I think this should be handled. (PM's). I am DONE with this thread and with this confrontation. So anything you write in reaction will just make you look like an ass.

Oh, one more thing: MARS/EFFING/PLUTO. Bigtime.

[moomies]

Originally Posted by moomies

Take it easy people.

It's fine to share opinions and experiences but you can't expect everyone else to feel the same and agree, their experience and opinion are different from yours, your truth is not their truth.

[ChangingEventually]

I PM'd with Picara and with Mira to get some things clear on here. I didn't come into this thread to fight and definitely didn't intend on it. I only really had a problem with one person on here and she said she put me on ignore so all is good.

I think for right now, we should just leave this alone and let it cool down for a while.

[sputnik]

i definitely noticed a change in the way US customs officials treat you and it started right after 9-11. and it can't be any kind of 'vibe' i'm letting off because i've never had any problem anywhere else, and i never had a problem in the US before 9-11. and it's not like i've gotten into arguments or anything now since you basically have to shut up and take it but there is no denying that US customs officials have definitely become really rude and aggressive and treat people like shit. i realise security has changed and all that but where does it say you can't do your job and be polite?

[Picara]

Mira, Mira. I'm not going to continue this. But I have to let you know that I too got PM's (from people not posting in this thread) thanking me for calling you out on your racist posts. I guess this isn't the first time you've gone off with your racist beliefs. Hun, go back and read your posts. When you write about minorities being raised to hate Whitey, that's racist. When you write about hispanics being "jealous" of you because you're white, that's racist. When you write about hispanic men always becoming angry just at the site of your "attractive" white face, that's racist. You may post here every two minutes, but that doesn't mean you're right. I'm sure there are hispanic posters on this board who didn't appreciate your silly, outdated stereotyping. Maybe your silly astrological dabblings can give you an insight as to why you compulsively post at every board you belong to. Seriously, get some help for that.

Mira I'd much rather be considered to be an ass by someone like YOU than be a racist like YOU. I'm not the only one who feels that way. Sorry to burst your delusional bubble.