Stupid (but sincere) Questions about the USA

[midwestyankee]

Earlier in the thread, someone mentioned that you don't need a passport to take a day trip in and out of Canada. That has not been my experience for at least the last 8 years. I had to get my first passport for my first trip into Canada after the law changed, which I believe was in 2005 or thereabouts.

I tried paying a bill once using the Penny method of slipping in a couple of topless pictures. They were not amused.

Among the many dissimilarities in laws between states, there is a fair amount of variation in the legal age for a woman to marry as well as to have consensual sex. Highway speed limits sometimes vary a bit from state to state; in fact, at one time in recent years the state of Montana had no posted speed limit on its interstate-quality limited-access highways. That has recently changed.

 

[Primalex]

Checks are still pretty common on TV, so I've thought they're still pretty common there in general.

Regarding wire transfer we are about 20 years behind Europe, as we have handled it in a different order. We went from paper (bills and checks) straight to the credit card (and individuals don't accept credit cards), while in Europe you have electronic payment straight from your bank account and afterwards they got the credit cards. So while Europe catches up with credit cards, we are catching up with individual person-to-person wire transfer.

 

[IrisAlthea]

Maybe that's why the Scandinavian detective books are so popular all over the world right now?

there has to be some reason I guess. =)

I'm glad I started this thread as well!

$140 for a passport sounds like a lot! No wonder you don't want to get it if you don't absolutely need it. I don't have any other ID anymore now that my ID card expired, so I just have my passport with me all the time.

ID card is enough to travel within the Schengen countries in Europe, so you don't absolutely need a passport here, either, but a driver's license won't do, though. They rarely check for ID on the borders anymore, but if they do and you don't have it, it'll be a lot of trouble for you.

In the Nordic countries you can legally cross the borders without any papers at all. I'm not sure how that works with airlines though, because they say you need to show valid ID to board. But on land and sea borders nobody cares.

Happy about this thread too!
I think the driver's license is valid though. At least mine or I need to send warm thoughts to some German customs officials.

Ignorance of the law is not a valid defense if you are arrested for a crime.

I think that one is international though.

 

[midwestyankee]

Regarding wire transfer we are about 20 years behind Europe, as we have handled it in a different order. We went from paper (bills and checks) straight to the credit card (and individuals don't accept credit cards), while in Europe you have electronic payment straight from your bank account and afterwards they got the credit cards. So while Europe catches up with credit cards, we are catching up with individual person-to-person wire transfer.

It's also worth noting that American credit cards are not nearly as secure as most European credit cards, and ours contain far less data. I know there's a bevy of technical explanations of the differences, but they're beyond me at the moment.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

So, are there different laws in different states?

That could get confusing if you have been doing something lawfully in one state, move house then get arrested!

Usually, the type of activity that might have different governing laws in different states is not something you would get arrested for. I.e., the bicycle laws that KoPilot mentioned earlier. At most you would get a ticket, or you may just get a warning. All the heavy crimes are illegal everywhere. Except maybe Vegas, Detroit, or Hell, Michigan

 

[LallyH]

It's also worth noting that American credit cards are not nearly as secure as most European credit cards, and ours contain far less data. I know there's a bevy of technical explanations of the differences, but they're beyond me at the moment.

It surprises me that, in the US, you still sign when paying by credit card instead of keying in a PIN number like over here.

 

[midwestyankee]

It surprises me that, in the US, you still sign when paying by credit card instead of keying in a PIN number like over here.

Many people here use a debit card that draws directly from a checking or savings account, and those all require a PIN. It makes me crazy that our legislature can't get up enough moxie to stand up to the banking lobby and insist on more secure cards for our commercial transactions. We have far too much identify theft due to our ridiculously primitive credit/debit card system.

 

[DVS]

I'm of the belief that if the NSA's monitoring this site, they're really run out of "higher-value" targets.

What? You don't think there are any perverts in the NSA?

 

[DVS]

I still use checks to pay small business owners. My massage therapist, my hair stylist, the guy that cleans out my gutters or power washes my house, my plumber all are paid by check because they don't take credit cards. Credit card companies charge them a fee so to keep costs down they simple don't take credit. They are also service that require immediate payment at time of service. I don't ever keep that much cash on me, so checks are necessary.

Yes, it's really not fair for the credit card companies to charge these merchants to use their system. Sure, the merchants benefit, but so do the credit card companies. And who has the most money of the two and can easily absorb any costs?

Incidentally, the last plumber I hired was very high tech. The guy had an ipad and I paid with my debit card. He even sent a copy of the receipt to my email address. The only thing that still seems low tech was the signature. I signed with my finger and it didn't look at all like a signature, let alone words.

Now, just think of a plumber with an ipad. Wonder how often he has to clean off that screen.

 

[seela]

Happy about this thread too!
I think the driver's license is valid though. At least mine or I need to send warm thoughts to some German customs officials.

You're right. A driver's license is valid. I was in a group once that had to turn back to get a passport on the Austrian border, because one person only had a driver's license. I thought that was the norm, but maybe there was something strange about the license, or the dudes at the border made a mistake.

 

[DVS]

It surprises me that, in the US, you still sign when paying by credit card instead of keying in a PIN number like over here.

In some cases, it depends on the purchase price. When using a debit card, you always put in your pin, or you can also use it as a credit card and sign your name in that electronic signature box. Credit cards now allow you to purchase some things in some places without any signature OR pin required. I don't remember the threshold off the top of my head, but I think it's about $100. Such power, to buy something, and not sign for it, put in a pin. You just walk out of the store, as if you got something for free. DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT!!!! They know where you are.

There is also an increase of using one's thumb print for some transactions. That makes me wonder if the person can't write or can't remember their pin number and goes back to the days of signing with a big X.

 

[DVS]

You're right. A driver's license is valid. I was in a group once that had to turn back to get a passport on the Austrian border, because one person only had a driver's license. I thought that was the norm, but maybe there was something strange about the license, or the dudes at the border made a mistake.

I've never been a world traveler, so I don't know anything about regs across the pond. But in the U.S. a driver's license with a photo, or some other valid state issued photo ID is the main requirement of identification. Not carrying such ID is frowned upon by police, in the event of an accident or if they need to know who you are.

It's not legal for them to just detain you and ask you to cough up identification, but it's still done. And when they do find out who you are, they just enter that info into their data base so if or when your ID comes up in some other incident, they can develop a time line of where you were at one point and start to fabricate what they assume was your path and intent behind it. Police are inquisitive by their nature.

That's how they find many of their offenders. They pull you over for a traffic offense and find out you have a stack of outstanding warrants. I'm sure it's similar to how it's done over there, with a few minor differences. We live in an ever increasing world of data. For the most part, that doesn't mean much to the regular person. But, if you break the law, that data can help officials find you. And in the event some hacker breaks into a computer that holds your data, you can be found that way, too. With just your social security number, someone can create a new identity and suck you dry. Oh, the wonderful world of data.

 

[IrisAlthea]

You're right. A driver's license is valid. I was in a group once that had to turn back to get a passport on the Austrian border, because one person only had a driver's license. I thought that was the norm, but maybe there was something strange about the license, or the dudes at the border made a mistake.

Austria can be complicated with that kind of thing. They changed to the EU license only recently and I think the old paper licenses are still valid as driver's license. They will not make any border officials happy though.

 

[Mrdarkblueeyes]

What? You don't think there are any perverts in the NSA?

Nah, the pervs are all running airport scanners for the TSA.

 

[Loverskitten]

Usually, the type of activity that might have different governing laws in different states is not something you would get arrested for. I.e., the bicycle laws that KoPilot mentioned earlier. At most you would get a ticket, or you may just get a warning. All the heavy crimes are illegal everywhere. Except maybe Vegas, Detroit, or Hell, Michigan

This is not true. City to city laws could only get you a ticket but differing State laws could certainly get you arrested like concealed/open carry weapon laws, age of consent, drug laws, and in some states physician assisted suicide is legal, certainly not all. Those are a few major ones.

For example prostitution is a law that varies by county (in Nevada), and you certainly will get arrested for it or solicitation.

 

[Ahlam]

Nah, the pervs are all running airport scanners for the TSA.

I can declare without a doubt that there are perverts working at the NSA.

 

[Ahlam]

In my work, I interact with foreigners quite a lot. I have been asked numerous times these two questions:

1.) Are American women as promiscuous in real life as they appear to be on television?

2.) Are American women as prudish in real life as they appear to be on television?

These are quite different ideas about American women. So I wonder, how are we viewed in other countries? Do we really seem slutty? Or uptight?

 

[wicked woman]

It surprises me that, in the US, you still sign when paying by credit card instead of keying in a PIN number like over here.

Every time I travel to the US and get asked do a signature when using my credit card, I go 'oh yes, I forgot you don't use PINs.' We do here in Canada, as well as no PIN or signature if its less than $50.

 

[LWulf]

Every time I travel to the US and get asked do a signature when using my credit card, I go 'oh yes, I forgot you don't use PINs.' We do here in Canada, as well as no PIN or signature if its less than $50.

The same is done here, at least it was (up to $25) about 7 years ago. Recently I noticed the local food market doesn't require a signature for anything under $50. When that changed, I don't know because I don't usually buy under $50. Pins are typically used by a bank's debit card here. If you have a credit card then signatures are still required.

Now I understand how Sam & Dean go around using credit cards while not having any form of income.

 

[KoPilot]

It surprises me that, in the US, you still sign when paying by credit card instead of keying in a PIN number like over here.

Sometimes they ask for the zip code of your billing address. :V

 

[LWulf]

Sometimes they ask for the zip code of your billing address. :V

Which is sophomoric, since credit card companies categorically deny confirmation or denial of anything more than the presence of an account and who is authorized to use it.

Edit: I was talking about the store that collects the zip codes being sophomoric. Stores collect and sell data and try to pass it off as an added security.

 

[Endless_Night]

Incidentally, the last plumber I hired was very high tech. The guy had an ipad and I paid with my debit card. He even sent a copy of the receipt to my email address. The only thing that still seems low tech was the signature. I signed with my finger and it didn't look at all like a signature, let alone words.

I've found this more and more common for any type of home service. Its certainly much more convenient and will eventually eliminate any need I have for checks.

As far as debit cards, we don't use them. They're just so easily hackable, and then provide access to your bank account. We've gone to using a credit card. Everything goes on it, and then we pay it off at the end of the month. Its also a great way to track expenses.

Cash, at least for us, is almost as obsolete as checks. We live in a large city though, which is probably more electronic than smaller towns.

 

[IrisAlthea]

In my work, I interact with foreigners quite a lot. I have been asked numerous times these two questions:

1.) Are American women as promiscuous in real life as they appear to be on television?

2.) Are American women as prudish in real life as they appear to be on television?

These are quite different ideas about American women. So I wonder, how are we viewed in other countries? Do we really seem slutty? Or uptight?

I don't think i've heard much about any of it. The slutty thing I've only heard once from a Lebanese guy who had watched Sex and the city.
The prude thing I've mostly heard when people talk about no sex ed in school, abstinence only and things like that.

Then again, Swedish women get to hear of the Swedish sin and promicuity a lot. Maybe enough to shut up about others.

 

[seela]

The credit-debit discussion is interesting. I only use debit in my day to day life. I use credit basically only abroad and for buying stuff online. I find tracking debit purchases every bit as easy as tracking credit purchases, for both cases can see everything online. I also don't like the idea of potentially accumulating debt, so I stick with debit and only use credit if debit for some reason is not a possibility. I even hate my student loan (whopping 2000 euros).

Question du jour:

Voter registration. Why is it needed? Are there no registers of citizens where they could check who's allowed to vote and who isn't? Do you have to register only once and then you can vote in all elections for the rest of your life or do you have to register for each election separately? I assume you at least have to register again if you move to another state, but how about for national elections?

 

[seela]

Then again, Swedish women get to hear of the Swedish sin and promicuity a lot. Maybe enough to shut up about others.

Yep. This. Except replace Finnish for Swedish. There was some international poll recently (sorry, don't remember details) and apparently Finnish women had the highest number of sexual partners. Even a lot of Finnish guys went nuts on message boards, calling Finnish women sluts.

I don't think Americans have any particular "image" here, when it comes to sex. At least I've never heard anybody comment on that.

But if I should pick either-or, I'd venture to say rather more prudish image than sluttish, it has a lot to do with the abstinence only sex ed which we hear about all the time.