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jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
Thu Mar 17, 2016, 03:05 AM Mar 2016

I can understand going to North Korea for shits and giggles [View all]

But if you do that, you have to understand that, just like Disney World, it is a magic kingdom of illusion ruled by an exploitative and despotic rodent. You smile and nod, bow at whatever wants bowing at, look concerned and serious at appropriate times, don't ask difficult questions of your minders, act like you believe whatever they tell you, and save the shits and giggles until you are out of the country. You don't stand by the parade telling kids on Main Street, "It's just a guy in a mouse suit".

It's really not difficult to understand. And if you establish trust with the minders that you aren't going to cause any problems for them, then they will loosen up a little bit on a person-to-person level. Just don't talk politics.

Yes, their entire society is premised on bullshit. But I think anyone with the wherewithal to travel to China in order to then travel to Pyongyang should be somewhat informed about what they are getting into, or at least bone up on the subject of fundamental do's and dont's if they want to carve that notch on the "fucking weird places I've seen" bedpost.

They even have a bike tour that seems like it would be a hoot:

http://uritours.com/tours/north-korea-bike-tour

I would like to know how on earth it is possible for a college-educated person who has made a conscious decision and substantial investment in travel expenses to think it would be - in any conceivable reality - a neat idea to try to steal a propaganda banner?

Granted, that is what is merely alleged. But as was explained to me while being cited for "driving too fast for conditions" on a snowy turnpike one time, when I asked the officer the basis for his belief I had been in fact driving too fast for conditions - "You see that road up there? You see the cars up there driving on it? You are the only son of a bitch who slid off of it into this ditch."

A report on CNN suggested, on the basis of similar convictions, that he's going to be working on a farm and planting and sowing vegetables for as long as they decide to keep him. Fifteen years is clearly excessive - utterly and absolutely. But if the privileged circumstances of his upbringing, admission to a highly respected school, and apparent financial means were insufficient to provide him with an atmosphere in which he could develop any sense of good judgment - in circumstances entirely of his own choosing and volition - then a couple of months of digging potatoes might do him some good.

Visiting North Korea strikes me as one of those "don't laugh" contests, in which someone does outrageous things designed to make you laugh. If you think you might laugh, then it's probably not a good idea to attempt a visit to North Korea.

Next up: Let's pretend we're Muslim, go to Mecca during Hajj, and get a selfie next to the Kaaba making an obscene gesture.

57 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Afraid I have to agree Scootaloo Mar 2016 #1
Yep jberryhill Mar 2016 #3
And if you enter with out a Visa or Passport oneshooter Mar 2016 #17
People shouldn't give their money to a genocidal regime Baobab Mar 2016 #26
Then you are obviously a spy and get 20 years of jail. Duh. DetlefK Mar 2016 #30
Yeah, I thought "Why would anybody even go there who doesn't HAVE to?" lagomorph777 Mar 2016 #29
Guess, the but in my country argument didn't work huh. Kalidurga Mar 2016 #2
"like being home for the holidays" jberryhill Mar 2016 #4
I'm a lifelong committed traveler... Paka Mar 2016 #5
When you go somewhere like that you need to keep your nose clean. Bad Dog Mar 2016 #6
Quite tangent to the OP, but why are those crackers illegal in Dubai? (n/t) Jim Lane Mar 2016 #7
see the word "poppy"? hobbit709 Mar 2016 #8
What's the issue -- the connection to drugs, or some prohibition in Islamic dietary law? (n/t) Jim Lane Mar 2016 #13
Poppy seeds are a no no because of the link to opium, etc. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #14
Poppy seeds. Bad Dog Mar 2016 #27
North Korea and Muslim countries awoke_in_2003 Mar 2016 #39
Depends on the country. Bad Dog Mar 2016 #41
The atheist in me awoke_in_2003 Mar 2016 #42
It can't be much fun living in America then. Bad Dog Mar 2016 #46
Yeah, Texas is great fun awoke_in_2003 Mar 2016 #47
It's not a problem here. Bad Dog Mar 2016 #48
It would be easier to go to Siberia and get banners, North Korean Logging camps in Russia snooper2 Mar 2016 #9
Those logging camps are basically for members of the "core" elite caste Baobab Mar 2016 #35
Why would ANYBODY voluntarily go to N. Korea for ANY reason? Proud Liberal Dem Mar 2016 #10
People can 'go to North Korea' by watching these videos Baobab Mar 2016 #28
You are assuming he actually tried to steal it. B2G Mar 2016 #11
That's odd jberryhill Mar 2016 #19
Your entire OP seems to be giving NK the benefit of the doubt, B2G Mar 2016 #21
Was he there by accident? jberryhill Mar 2016 #23
I am not disputing that he was there. B2G Mar 2016 #24
agreed La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2016 #38
in the story i read shanti Mar 2016 #49
, said the North Koreans. Nt B2G Mar 2016 #50
there IS a photo n/t shanti Mar 2016 #53
Where? B2G Mar 2016 #54
here (link) shanti Mar 2016 #55
Thank you B2G Mar 2016 #56
I just started reading "The Orphan Master's Son" by Adam Johnson. randome Mar 2016 #12
"(A) magic kingdom of illusion ruled by an exploitative and despotic rodent" Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2016 #15
And rides! jberryhill Mar 2016 #22
Not to worry ryan_cats Mar 2016 #16
I read somewhere that it was a dare leftyladyfrommo Mar 2016 #18
"hard for me to believe any ordinary US citizen would even consider" jberryhill Mar 2016 #20
Boy, that was wonderful. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2016 #25
Cowbell? immoderate Mar 2016 #32
Helicopter parents have always fixed things. oldandhappy Mar 2016 #33
Every time this happens oldandhappy Mar 2016 #31
"put a stop to all Americans traveling to North Korea" jberryhill Mar 2016 #34
Cuba would like a word. nt liberaltrucker Mar 2016 #57
I wish they would, too. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2016 #45
Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2016 #36
Any talk of Dennis Rodman intervening? (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2016 #37
You would have to be out of your mind to want to go to NK for shits and giggles. Rex Mar 2016 #40
Do you want to know how many times I've sat across from this type of client msanthrope Mar 2016 #43
I would never advise anyone to go to North Korea at all at present LeftishBrit Mar 2016 #44
ultimate balls out answer to where ya going for vacation dembotoz Mar 2016 #51
Best viewed from Google Earth. JonathanRackham Mar 2016 #52
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