# Homeland security deports British twenty-somethings based on "joke" tweets **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 30, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223 "2012-01-30T20:35:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/101 "2012-01-31T17:33:53Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Undoubtedly, but I don’t believe it makes the US a “tourist economy.” Take a look at some countries that I would, or might, classify as tourist econmomies: You’re the one who brought up the term ‘tourist economy.’ Nobody actually made that claim. Chessic Sense, if there are thousands of people turned away for reasons as ridiculous as this one, then there’s a real problem. If the reasons aren’t usually as ridiculous, then that’s why this story’s different. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/102 "2012-01-31T17:34:53Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Why are these two special? Because the story - bogus or true (re: post #92), ties perfectly in with the general trend - partly based on tons of anecdotes, partly based on press like this - of the rest of the world viewing US immigration officers, TSA employees and other security personnel as totally over the top WRT security. And your immigration systems - even for an occasional visitor going back home in a week’s time - are downright hostile. There’s only one country I’ve visited where I’m paranoid about what I say in public places. Guess which. Not even _French_ public servants are as arrogant and hostile as US’, and the new security regulations make more and more non-Americans avoid the USA both as vacation destination and business destination. That’s why these two are special. ETA: Or what SciFiSam said. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/103 "2012-01-31T17:36:47Z")
It would have more sense to send him back for that Toni and Guy/high street haircut. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/104 "2012-01-31T17:37:45Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > That’s ENORMOUS! 1% of a country’s GDP in a given industry is a whopping amount. I’d be amazed to find many industries of that scale in the US (car makers, probably, and some others). > > I happily admit I’m no economist, but when talking heads on the news talk about recessions they talk in terms of GDP shifts in that range. > > I did [Google this](http://www.web-books.com/eLibrary/NC/B0/B62/060MB62.html) although I’d rather an economist explain it to me in simple terms. But it says: “consider the decline in real GDP that occurred during the recession of 1990–1991. Real GDP fell 1.6% from the peak to the trough of that recession.” > > That’s just 1.6 from a prosperous peak to the depths of a recession’s trough. Auto industry is about 3 to 4 percent for the US. My only statement was that the US is not a tourist economy. For example, let’s talk about your 1.6% drop creating a recession. In the US, if we were to lose 10% of our international tourism revenues, our overall GDP would fall by about 0.1%, or 1/16 of the amount necessary to cause the type of recssion that you’re referring to. Whereas, in Greece, that same 10% loss would cause a total GDP loss of 1.5%%, or over 90% of that necessary to create the referred to recssion. For the Bahamas, that same 10% loss would equal a 6% loss in GDP - enough to create that recession 3 times over and then some. So, when I say that the US is not a tourist economy, that kind of sums up what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Baboonanza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f475e1/32.png) [@Baboonanza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baboonanza)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/105 "2012-01-31T17:38:03Z")
Perhaps we should enforce a new border policy of full-body cavity search for every employee of DHS entering the UK. And leaving. As others have said: US border controls are a joke, they are both incompetent and dangerously authoritarian. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/106 "2012-01-31T17:41:56Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > You’re the one who brought up the term ‘tourist economy.’ Nobody actually made that claim. The first response made differing with me regarding the importance of tourism in the US was made directly in reponse to my making that claim. But I see your point, so I’ll try to express myself more clearly. My belief is that, relatively speaking, the US is not particularly dependant upon international tourism. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/107 "2012-01-31T17:42:13Z")
For what it’s worth, I don’t really blame the front-line TSA officers for this kind of thing. I believe it’s a management problem. I don’t believe officers are adequately trained, supervised, or backed up by higher ups. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/108 "2012-01-31T17:43:15Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > My belief is that, relatively speaking, the US is not particularly dependant upon tourism when compared to other nations. Which is not really saying very much in this context. Undoubtedly, major dips in tourism have a serious affect on a nontrivial segment of the U.S. economy, which means Americans get hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/109 "2012-01-31T17:44:42Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Auto industry is about 3 to 4 percent for the US. My only statement was that the US is not a tourist economy. For example, let’s talk about your 1.6% drop creating a recession. > > In the US, if we were to lose 10% of our international tourism revenues, our overall GDP would fall by about 0.1%, or 1/16 of the amount necessary to cause the type of recssion that you’re referring to. Bear in mind that’s a high peak to a low trough - an extreme example. A recession can be half that; so 0.8% not 1.6%. > [@](#): > > So, when I say that the US is not a tourist economy, that kind of sums up what I mean. I’m not really sure what “a tourist economy” means. I don’t think anyone thinks the US _is_ one. We’re saying that tourism money appears to be more important than some folks are portraying it, and that therefore those saying “don’t like it, don’t come here” are being too stridently casual (heh - is that even a term? I know what I mean, and hope it came across correctly) about it. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/110 "2012-01-31T17:52:26Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > I’m not really sure what “a tourist economy” means. I don’t think anyone thinks the US _is_ one. We’re saying that tourism money appears to be more important than some folks are portraying it, and that therefore those saying “don’t like it, don’t come here” are being too stridently casual (heh - is that even a term? I know what I mean, and hope it came across correctly) about it. I don’t think “don’t like it, don’t come here” is even a remotely good idea. I would certainly prefer that tourists come here, although I do honestly feel that there are better places to check out, but different strokes, the grass is greener and all that. However, when you think about the politics in this country, trying to pit tourism against homleand security is probably a losing battle. Hopefully, most people realzie that Homeland Security was being ridiculous in the case, but the idea that the US would ‘lighten up’ on security or would try to be more “customer friendly” to travelers due to concerns around tourism, when considering the overall state of the nation in terms of immigration, terrorism, etc. - I just don’t think that’s likely - it doesn’t fit the political reality, IMHO. Now, if we had numbers like Greece or the Bahamas, where tourism was 15% or 60% of the GDP - you can be pretty sure we’d come up with something… ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/111 "2012-01-31T18:01:40Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Which is not really saying very much in this context. I think it does, when contemplating how much importance different countries are going to place on the impact to tourism when thinking about security procedures. I’m confident that countries that are heavily reliant upon tourism take close consideration of the impact on tourists of their various airport security measures, visa process, etc. It’s my opinion that the US doesn’t place much consdideration upon such items, but that it might if tourism was a larger sector in our economy. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/112 "2012-01-31T18:18:17Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I think it does, when contemplating how much importance different countries are going to place on the impact to tourism when thinking about security procedures. I’m confident that countries that are heavily reliant upon tourism take close consideration of the impact on tourists of their various airport security measures, visa process, etc. It’s my opinion that the US doesn’t place much consdideration upon such items, but that it might if tourism was a larger sector in our economy. I’m not sure other countries are relevant to the discussion. Sure, the issue might be worse for Greece, or better for Russia; but we’re talking about what would be a prudent course for the US, not for Greece or Russia. The fact that it might be different elsewhere doesn’t change what’s sensible for the US. And supporting an industry which is 1% of your GDP is sensible. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/113 "2012-01-31T18:19:42Z")
> [@PrettyVacant](#): > > The point is they posed no threat on the basis they were detained for. > > Using your argument, everyone entering the USA should be detained because no one here knows if they’re a potential terrorist. Uh… no. Only those people who send out electronic messages about destroying America. I’m not worried that that subset of travelers is not allowed into my country. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/114 "2012-01-31T18:21:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Uh… no. Only those people who send out electronic messages about destroying America. > > I’m not worried that that subset of travelers is not allowed into my country. The ones who are just joking around with their friends? Are you that spiteful? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/115 "2012-01-31T18:24:28Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The ones who are just joking around with their friends? Are you that spiteful? No. I’m not interested in spending any time or money to find out if they are “just joking around with their friends”. The vast majority of people in this world don’t joke around with their friends about destroying countries they plan to travel to. If it were a big problem, it might be worth the effort. But I don’t think it’s a big problem. Two knuckleheads don’t get come to the US. BFD. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/116 "2012-01-31T18:33:04Z")
It’s a BFD because someday someone might try to prevent you from doing something you want to do because of a petty, jocular comment you might have made at some point in your life. Everyone’s a knucklehead once in a while, so we should treat all knuckleheads with some degree of sympathy and rationality. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > The vast majority of people in this world don’t joke around with their friends about destroying countries they plan to travel to. Are you entirely sure about that? It seems to me that gallows humor is quite common, especially among young people, and rather innocuous. And what about their claim that “destroy” is their slang for “party in”? ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/117 "2012-01-31T18:34:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > No. I’m not interested in spending any time or money to find out if they are “just joking around with their friends”. The vast majority of people in this world don’t joke around with their friends about destroying countries they plan to travel to. If it were a big problem, it might be worth the effort. But I don’t think it’s a big problem. Two knuckleheads don’t get come to the US. BFD. What part of “it’s a different dialect - it means to party” did you not understand? Nobody joked about destroying America. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/118 "2012-01-31T18:38:41Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > What part of “it’s a different dialect - it means to party” did you not understand? Nobody joked about destroying America. If you have a problem with that phrase, take it up with the poster I quoted it from. It wasn’t my phrase. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/119 "2012-01-31T18:48:23Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If you have a problem with that phrase, take it up with the poster I quoted it from. It wasn’t my phrase. Huh? You are “John Mace” aren’t you? > [@John\_Mace](#): > > \*\* The vast majority of people in this world don’t joke around with their friends about destroying countries they plan to travel to. \*\* If it were a big problem, it might be worth the effort. But I don’t think it’s a big problem. Two knuckleheads don’t get come to the US. BFD. Or am I in a parallel dimension? You goatee-wearing mirror universe twin? ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223/120 "2012-01-31T19:08:52Z")
> [@Baboonanza](#): > > As others have said: US border controls are a joke, they are both incompetent and dangerously authoritarian. A joke? Incompetent? The same people that seize [1.6 million kilos of drugs per year](http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs38/38661/movement.htm) are a joke? > [@Acsenray](#): > > For what it’s worth, I don’t really blame the front-line TSA officers for this kind of thing. Again, what does TSA have to do with it? > [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s a BFD because someday someone might try to prevent you from doing something you want to do because of a petty, jocular comment you might have made at some point in your life. Again, you seem to think that refusing entry is some rare event that barely ever happens. Every country does it all the time. If you think getting into the U.S. is hard, you should look up Turkey’s practices. Hell, I remember _Canada_ giving Americans a hard time because the border agents were in a labor negotiation at the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-security-deports-british-twenty-somethings-based-on-joke-tweets/611223.md?page=7)