Netpolitics: Thoughts about travel ban

[Lanhelin]

Today I met a friend and she told me that an european writer was banned from travelling to the States, because he did already criticize in the past and recently (together with a few other writers) launched an online petition against the surveillance of internet activities by NSA and other agencies.

This made me think about why a democratic nation would have an interest to not let a person physically travel to it: naturally because of her/his ideas, thoughts, opinions and to prevent this person from spreading these among the nation's inhabitants to make them think about it too. It's not because of some fear of terrorism, especially in this case where a writer is the target, it'd be because of what he would write or could say of course.

But (besides it's the internet): What if this writer creates an avatar in DDO or any other MMO with servers in the States, where she/he settles down, starts a life, interacts with other people, could chat, talk, discuss, influence decisions, make others think about his thoughts, and so on - in fact nearly really be (not physically but virtually) in the nation he won't be allowed to travel to and do the same things there she/he'd do if she/he would be there physically? What would be the difference? One can say it won't have an impact on the whole nation, because it's just a virtual reality - but even in real life no one could affect the whole nation at the same time, it alwas starts small and then grows. Would this be a possibility to flank a travel ban?

[Teh_Troll]

Come on, like serious conversations every happen in this game?

Like Americans take seriously anything said by anyone in Europe?

[Livmo]

The article is dated 10/01/2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/1...n_4024595.html

From the article,

"While U.S. authorities did not provide Trojanow with a formal explanation, he believes he has been banned from the US because of his outspoken criticism of the NSA’s surveillance programs. "

"News of Trojanow’s denied entry into the U.S. coincided with the announcement that the U.S. government had been shut down by Congress. "

This is merely hearsay and conjecture.

I would not classify a nation of people, or govt., etc. based on hearsay and conjecture.

[Darkrok]

"News of Trojanow’s denied entry into the U.S. coincided with the announcement that the U.S. government had been shut down by Congress. "

Wait, when did Congress get the ability to shut down the U.S. gov't...I thought corporations ran everything now?

[BattleCircle]

I was going to reply, but thought better of it.

[Darkrok]

I was going to reply, but thought better of it.

I, do reply, it's politics on a gaming forum - it's here to have people rage!

That's the beauty of my post - everyone will hate me. The people on the left will think I'm joking and making light of corporate power while those on the right will think I'm a pinko commie. I get to offend everyone equally in a twitter-length post. :P

[Livmo]

I, do reply, it's politics on a gaming forum - it's here to have people rage!

That's the beauty of my post - everyone will hate me. The people on the left will think I'm joking and making light of corporate power while those on the right will think I'm a pinko commie. I get to offend everyone equally in a twitter-length post. :P

I thought it was hilarious and clever!

Also I'm surprised that nobody mentioned that the OP was trolling with a troll. Ilija Trojanow, "believes he has been banned from the US because..." bawhahahahaha, there is reason why many other news entities did not run this and Der Speigel should be ashamed. Unless the reason is known and was fact checked/vetted, any comentary is only speculative at best. It's probable he was denied for some other reason...

[Red_Knight]

Come on, like serious conversations every happen in this game?

Still reading the thread, but yes. Yes serious conversations do happen in DDO. They usually happen around 2am central time. I've gotten into really good political, religious, and history debates. Other times I've been in really good, if weird conversations about things ranging from cartoons people grew up watching, to favorite books and/or authors. It doesn't happen every day, but it happens. But as I said, it's usually around 2am when it happens.

[Gizeh]

[...]

Like Americans take seriously anything said by anyone in Europe?

Or the other way around?

[Red_Knight]

Or the other way around?

Like anyone takes anything said in a forum (other then insults) seriously?

[Cordovan]

This conversation has been fine, but as a rule we do not allow discussion about politics (or religion) on the forums, so closing the thread. Thanks!