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"return to sender - subversive materials"
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uberscheisse



Joined: 02 Dec 2003
Location: japan is better than korea.

PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 10:06 pm    Post subject: "return to sender - subversive materials" Reply with quote

my friends do magazines back home ('zines, for the uninitiated) covering the hardcore scene. in february, my friend sent me a package with one 'zine and four cds.

the main feature in this one zine was an interview with the band TERROR from LA. he also sent me cds by the bands napalm death, slayer, at the gates and a mixed cd.

so my other friend sent me another package about 2 weeks ago. this 'zine also featured the band TERROR (biggest band in hardcore right now, everyone's interviewing them i guess) and a cd with the bands death sentence and trouble.

the second package was returned to him "return to sender, subversive materials".

it's obvious that the band name TERROR got them antsy (if they knew the band was named 4 months before 9/11 maybe they'd make a better decision)) but it's just weird and i'm wondering if any of it had to do with recent stepping up of security due to kim sun-il, the whole iraq boondoggle, etc. etc. ad nauseum.

has anyone had this happen to them? i've heard stories of it happening with stuff like condoms, pornography (obviously) and weird things like herbal tinctures and vitamins.

it's mostly just funny... i just miss that death sentence cd. classic vancouver hardcore. damn.
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On the other hand



Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue

PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 10:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
so my other friend sent me another package about 2 weeks ago. this 'zine also featured the band TERROR (biggest band in hardcore right now, everyone's interviewing them i guess) and a cd with the bands death sentence and trouble.

the second package was returned to him "return to sender, subversive materials".


I'm of a mixed mind about this. On the one hand, I don't like to see government censorship through the mails, and its too bad the customs guys weren't more hip to the nuances of current music.

On the other hand, if these were Koreans, they're probably not gonna have that great a command of either the English language or North American culture. Basically, all they're gonna know is that they've got a magazine with the word "terror" prominently displayed. Well, what are they gonna think?

I once helped a student write up a reume for a job with a Singapore airline. One of the things she listed was her involvement with the Christian religious movement known as Moral Re-Armament. I advised her that that might not be exactly what an airline wants to see on a resume, but she seemed to think they'd know it was a harmless outfit. She didn't get hired.
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ryleeys



Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: Columbia, MD

PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe the bands should consider changing to a less incendiary name... such as "Burn, Rape, and Pillage" (perfect for a three member band!)


I dunno, yeah, I like free speech and all... but this might be an issue to just not try and make the situation worse by using names that are key hotwords at the moment.
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uberscheisse



Joined: 02 Dec 2003
Location: japan is better than korea.

PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 11:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i don't think TERROR is that incendiary of a name.

of course, point taken about the korean customs official. it's what i assumed.

but if they're so meticulous - why did they let a miscreant like ME into their country?
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The Lemon



Joined: 11 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 11:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Basically, all they're gonna know is that they've got a magazine with the word "terror" prominently displayed. Well, what are they gonna think?

Not sure what would be going through their minds. International terrorists all subscribe to "Popular Terrorists Monthly"?
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kiwiboy_nz_99



Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Location: ...Enlightenment...

PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 11:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
i don't think TERROR is that incendiary of a name.

I do, and I think the majority of normal people would too.
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posco's trumpet



Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Location: Beneath the Underdog

PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 12:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Lemon wrote:

Not sure what would be going through their minds.


You're giving customs inspectors way too much credit. Minds? Get real. Laughing
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On the other hand



Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue

PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 9:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Quote:
Basically, all they're gonna know is that they've got a magazine with the word "terror" prominently displayed. Well, what are they gonna think?

Not sure what would be going through their minds. International terrorists all subscribe to "Popular Terrorists Monthly"?


Granted, most terrorist literature doesn't contain the word "terror" in the title. Then again, most terrorists wouldn't use the word "bomb" while waiting to board a plane, but if someone DOES do that, he will likely be barred from flying for a long time.
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uberscheisse



Joined: 02 Dec 2003
Location: japan is better than korea.

PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 3:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"terror" is not an incendiary band name.

"the terrorists", maybe. or anything with a direct, mocking reference to 9/11 or nick berg or something.

i feel TERROR every day walking down the sidewalk in korea. censoring a human emotion is retarded in the extreme. but understandable, given the people working at the border - border cops tend to be knee-jerk, hypertense weirdos who still sleep with the nightlight on.
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The Lemon



Joined: 11 Jan 2003

PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 5:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
border cops tend to be knee-jerk, hypertense weirdos who still sleep with the nightlight on.

Perhaps, but they're in the unenviable position of having to process thousands of impatient travellers and their belongings every day while knowing if they let a very bad guy slip through, they'll be held personally responsible. This is also the case for airport security. I wouldn't want either job.
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Butterfly



Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: Kuwait

PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 5:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds like Korean Customs have got an army of taste police on duty. Good work guys!
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uberscheisse



Joined: 02 Dec 2003
Location: japan is better than korea.

PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 6:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

if korea had taste police there'd be no Kpop.
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paperbag princess



Joined: 07 Mar 2004
Location: veggie hell

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

maybe is they were called "death to america" or something like that then maybe i would get it.

terror is not an incendiary word, unless used in sentences like "we are going to spread terror throughout the world with our fundamental christian views." or things like that...
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justagirl



Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Location: Cheonan/Portland

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You know what? It's their country. If they don't want crap coming into their country, like death-metal and crazy-sounding magazines, more power to them. If you were in a muslim country, they might censor Christian things. If you were in the U.S. they might delay holding on "Kill all Americans" or "Die Nazi Die" magazines. Just be glad your friend got the package back and they didn't just throw it away.
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Tiberious aka Sparkles



Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: I'm one cool cat!

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

paperbag princess wrote:
maybe is they were called "death to america" or something like that then maybe i would get it.


And maybe then they'd let the magazine through.

Laughing

Sparkles*_*
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