Dandy and the underworld - denied entry to US

[oscarthewild]

More from our dandy friend, Sebastian Horsley.
Heard his interview/monologue on npr last night.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=88685073

Some excerpts:

The only way of tolerating existence is to lose oneself in a perpetual orgy of absurdity.

Dandyism is social, human and intellectual. It is not a suit of clothes walking about by itself. Clothes are merely a part "” they may even be the least important part of the personality of the dandy. Dandyism isn't image encrusted with flourishes. It's a way of stripping yourself down to your true self. You can only judge the style by the content and you can only reach the content through the style.

He was turned away.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts...-Deported.html

 

[Manton]

I feel safer.

 

[gdl203]

The immigration forms in the US are so 1975... The box about having ever engaged in communist activities always gives foreigners a good laugh.

I may be alone here but, honestly, how lame and backwards is it to deny entry into the land of liberty and freedom on grounds of "moral turpitude"? If he was carrying drugs, I would understand...

I am not jumping to conclusions either as it may very well be a publicity stunt on his part, i.e. he gave all the wrong answers to make sure he gets kicked out. But who knows?

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by gdl203

I am not jumping to conclusions either as it may very well be a publicity stunt on his part, i.e. he gave all the wrong answers to make sure he gets kicked out. But who knows?

That's my guess.

 

[SoCal2NYC]

My what an ugly knot that is.

 

[dopey]

I am glad immigration didn't let him in. Let him crawl across the border from Mexico like everyone else. Besides, who needs him? We have plenty of useless people here already who can do nothing and take drugs just as well as he can. Why should they have to lose their joblessness, sober up and work so some foreigner can come here and do their nothing?

 

[oscarthewild]

Heard he bases his outfits on advice from some obscure book called "The Suit" read while under the influence of mind altering substances.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by oscarthewild

Heard he bases his outfits on advice from some obscure book called "The Suit" read while under the influence of mind altering substances.

Not to mention written under the influence of ...

 

[Manton]

Seriously, I had no idea that they asked these questions on entry to the US. Is there really a form for foreigners to fill out that asks about lifestyle/morality questions?

 

[oscarthewild]

Actually I see Horsley's book less as the estranged Doppelgänger of "The Suit" than another path to sartorial awareness. "The Suit" informs you of the rules, the history etc. Its audience is primarily one who have swallowed the sartorial pill. SB writings reach out to an audience that would probably not have been so aware of the wonderful and financially ruinous world of dressing. (Note to self: Check on funding opportunities for sartorial outreach programs). However, it may start many on the path to learning which may take them toward "The Suit".

-

 

[jpb]

I believe it's actually standard on just about all visas forms these days to ask if you have been a terrorist or supported terrorism, been an illegal drug/human trafficker, plotted to overthrow any government, etc. Certainly all the ones I've seen the last few years do. It isn't anything unique to the United States.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Manton

Seriously, I had no idea that they asked these questions on entry to the US. Is there really a form for foreigners to fill out that asks about lifestyle/morality questions?
It's not as bad as it used to be, at least in written form. This is the arrival form: http://usadutch.com/images/I-94_back.jpg

IIRC, there used to be a question on whether you've ever been a member of the Communist party. That was when I was younger, maybe 15 years ago. Drug use is still on the form

Verbally though, the immigration officer has virtually unlimited powers to deny entry because of all the leeway given to him/her by immigration laws. e.g. membership of Communist party is still a ground for denial even if it's not a box on the form any more

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by jpb

I believe it's actually standard on just about all visas forms these days to ask if you have been a terrorist or supported terrorism, been an illegal drug/human trafficker, plotted to overthrow any government, etc. Certainly all the ones I've seen the last few years do. It isn't anything unique to the United States.

Do they also ask if you are a liar? I am sure the terrorists lie and don't admit they are terrorists, so how will we know unless we also ask if they are liars?

 

[RJman]

All Cretans are liars, says a Cretan. True or false?

Maybe they should have boxes to check off in case you are an atheist or a homersexual, or an islam.

 

[Manton]

So that's the arrival form under Visa Waiver? Wow.

I'm used to forms with questions like "Have to been to a farm recently?" and "Are you travelling with your pet fruit flies?"