Five years of your social media just to visit the US on an ESTA, and 50,922 phone searches at the border in a single year with no suspicion needed. Part 1 of my Five Eyes series: who else gets to see it?

Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20261006003252/https://thearchitectautopsy.com/p/has-america-become-the-scariest-country

all 8 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 12 points 2 hours ago (1 child)

As a citizen, I can't fathom someone wanting to visit.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 4 points 1 hour ago*

    “No, dear, let us not vacation in America. It is too dangerous. Instead we shall visit the much safer Burkina Faso or Sudan”

  • source
  • Depends on your racial persuasion, and now also on the beliefs you espouse online since in some cities they can legally take your phone and check your social media accounts.

    Not dangerous but certainly annoying and expensive: they can also refuse entry at the border for no good reason (happened to my aunty, going from the UK to the US to visit family) and you just have to take a flight back.

  • source
  • [–] 1 point 1 hour ago

    Scariest in the world obviously not but like scariest of ones that have not quite stopped being a democracy yet. yes.

  • source
  • [–] 3 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

    It absolutely is not...

    Like, it sucks and people should absolutely not visit. But there's a shit ton of countries that are worse.

    People measure dangerousness not "scariest" but I'd be surprised if there's a lot of difference.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Peace_Index#Global_Peace_Index_ranking

    Russia would be way scarier than America, but so would most of the ~30 countries more dangerous

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 4 points 1 hour ago (1 child)

    Well that's comparing apples with oranges. Global peace index is whether you're likely to become part of a warzone.

    "Scariest" in this context (ie the article) is whether your personal liberty, safety and privacy are at risk.

    Very different thing.

    Having said that your broad point that there are countries that are far worse for randomly incarcarating foreigners, general corruption and violence. However there are fewer than there used to be as the US tumbles down the ratings.

    TL;DR I've lived there and I definitely won't return while the current regime is in power. It is scary for a foreign national. Not as scary as Afghanistan or Colombia but a helluva lot more worrying than say, Canada.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 1 point 42 minutes ago

    Well that’s comparing apples with oranges

    Yeah...

    People measure dangerousness not “scariest” but I’d be surprised if there’s a lot of difference.

    I mean, even your example:

    Not as scary as Afghanistan or Colombia but a helluva lot more worrying than say, Canada

    That lines up with the GPI: Canada is 14, US 134, Colombia 141, Afghanistan 157

    Obviously Canada is less scary as well...

    Like, your tone is disagreement, but you seem to be agreeing with me exactly?

  • source
  • parent