It really depends on what part of the USA. New Mexico, New York,texas,etc are very different experiences. Some good some bad
this post was submitted on 02 Jun 2025
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Asklemmy
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Having to explain how you ended up in a death camp in El Salvador when you came to visit legally as a tourist.
Dude. We fear this as pasty-white Canadians. I cannot imagine what the fear should be like with less Republican-esque looks.
Trying to create an answer that is more universal than our current political situation.
It's too damn big. There isn't any such thing as visiting the USA. You can see a little tiny bit, and what you choose will color your viewpoint.
It's 50+ countries in a trenchcoat. Pan-Americanism, in the US context, is laughable at best and absolutely a shambling nightmare at worst. There's several reasons why our government sucks. But the sheer size of this fucking empire is the top of the list.
Before the end of the century, it's going to Balkanize hard.
The USA.
*Gestures broadly*
Everything happening right now.
Dude just open a newspaper it's plainly obvious why not.
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Spending your vacation money in the US is sending some of that money to Donald Dump and friends.
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Seeing how tourists have actually been detained by ICE, it's not even a hypothetical, I'd say the chances of it happening to you are at the very least nontrivial. Given the choice of countries for my vacation, I choose the one where the chances of that are, in fact, trivial.
Letβs put it this way, Iβm a mid 50s Cis white dude β¦ so about as safe as one could get. And I would feel weird about leaving the country if I had to get back in. At the very least I would not have my own phone on me if I travelled.
Having insufficiently pale skin.
gestures around broadly wellll
It's expensive and hard to get around
It's risky if you're any of the following:
- Black/brown, or from a non-white country
- Queer (ESPECIALLY if you're trans/NB, I left because it got that bad)
- A woman
- Disabled
- Have made left-leaning posts on social media
Even if you're none of those, there's always the chance that your next trip to the mall or store will become the next major event in your life. There's also the slim chance that you might get an all-expenses paid trip to El Salvador. Don't do it, it's not worth it.
Basically if you're anyone except a white cishet man, then don't go there. Even then, you probably don't wanna go there.
If you're white or have a posh Northern European accent, then you'll probably be ok.
If you're brown and have a Southern or Eastern European accent, then you'll be considered "Mexican". And possibly mistreated as the hired help or favored slave.
If you're black, you may get shot by police or persecuted by ICE.
It can happen to anyone, even an Australian police officer who married a man in the army.
it's kitsch.
I guess if you look brownish, it can be a risky endeavour, depending on where you want to visit exactly. But what do I know, I've never been there
Disclaimer: this depends a lot on where you are travelling from, I'm just relaying things I've heard from friends
If you are travelling with women, they (and you) are likely to be questioned to check for "sex trafficking" reasons. You are likely to have to strip for no other reason than the officer wanting to (regradless of the previous point) If you don't pass as white, or dare speak a latin language, you are likely to face hostility. The food is bad
Hey now. I actually like pineapple on pizza.
Iβm sorry. I only downvoted you for slandering our food. The rest is accurate.
Bruh as someone who grew up in the US then left, US food is trash. It's loaded full of artificial dyes and corn syrup. You know how Mexican Coke tastes better than American Coke? That same principle applies to everything, eg: compare Canadian Heinz (ironically made in the US) to US Heinz. The US is slowly poisoning its whole population in the name of profits
Anecdotally, I also don't know exactly why, but produce seems fresher where I live now. Produce bought in the US always goes bad in like 2-3 days. Also our eggs only cost a few bucks.
I will absolutely slander food in the US
I think fruits & vegetables in the US are bred specifically to go bad quickly. At least, some varieties go bad faster than others, and the ones that are fresh for a shorter time seem to dominate store shelves. Where I live, it's possible to buy varieties of some things that stay good for a long time, but they're farmed locally, not by a big company.
Ok, fair.
In my defense, I wasnβt thinking of mass market brands, but things like korean bbq taco trucks, NY style pizza, smoked beef brisket, cajun seafood boil, pumpkin pie, and other crazy fusions created by a mingling of the worlds immigrants making due with they can get.
Unfortunately⦠gestures everywhere
Bit of a shithole innit
Trump
Guns
Trump supporters with guns
I'd recommend wiping your phone before going. And some of our busiest airports have gotten more dangerous lately.
Other than that, you'll be fine.
Do you recommend alcohol wipes, or like Clorox wipes, or...?
Well, yes, but also.
Half the people are high on something talking to themselves lol
That was my takeaway from Seattle 3 weeks ago
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