First iPhone camper smelled at Apple's 5th Ave store
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Jun 26th 2007 2:12AM
posted Jun 26th 2007 2:12AM
Update: Davidjr.com went one-on-, er two with the first few people in line. Check the nonsense after the break.
lol that's keen as, when's the actual release?
I hate this person.
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a muppet.
if he needs donations for food how the hell is he gonna afford an iphone?????
Never mind food - why is he after METROCARD donations? I mean, he's CAMPING OUT for FOUR DAYS - he's not going anywhere! :/
@ Scott,
Since he can't really move without possibly forfeiting his place in line (albeit a line he created) he might want the card as a bartering tool to get food given to him for free.
PS: There were two people waiting, not one.
I hope your card gets declined. bwahahahahaha
and how do you know he's not in line for Leopard..
iLoser.
I can smell him from here. In Texas.
iDummy!!!!! messing it up for everybody. why does he need a metro card if he has 600 to get a iphone.
that dude needs 2 wash his hair, its getting oily
@derek
one of the few comments today that made me laugh out loud
I don't get it, 4 days early, does he get to determine where the line starts?
This guy is everything I hate about this country.
I couldn't agree with you more, all of north america sum'd up in a tiny dirty oily man waiting for a tiny dirty (soon to be oily) device.
This guy reminds me of the Zune Tatoo guy.
Without fanatics like this guy and the Zune tatoo guy to laugh at, my day would suck!
If only he had an iPhone to surf the web on to keep him entertained.....ohhhhh the irony
this is why the world thinks we Americans are idiots.
A large number of us, in fact the large majority buy so easily into "hip" marketing and we buy products that are of mediocre and sub-par quality just because some commercial makes it seems cool and once it establishes itself it becomes all of a sudden synonymous with quality when it never had any in the first place.
Apple fanatics disgusts me with their ignorance sometimes but hey its American and we can like what we want even if its a POS.
I actually like some of Apple products but I think Steve Jobs is too full of himself. Just because you can sell alot of a product doesnt mean you know how to make a good quality one.
Fascinating comment. Pre-iPod, when Apple computer share was shrinking, everyone said they made high quality stuff. In fact, most thought it was generally superior. In the case of MacOS from 1984-1995, it was radically superior to, say, anything from Microsoft.
Apparently now, Apple makes POS products. Interesting. I guess if the iPod wasn't popular people would have a different view?
I do agree that getting in line this early for something that will be everywhere in 3 months is completely retarded. But your sadly wrong if you think Apple makes poor quality products.
As for Steve Jobs... I wonder how you would act if you started with nothing and became a multi-billionaire that created TWO major corporations (Apple and Pixar) that are known worldwide. You and I might not like it, but he has proven that he can do something that 99.99% of the population can't.
excuse me but would you consider that Ipods are superior to Creative mp3 players? Yet Ipods still sell more, its all due to their marketing they dont need to go out of their way to sell a high quality product. I know their stuff is complete crap but its mediocre at best when you compare it to other products of the same price level. Also their quality control isnt as superb as they would like you to believe, remember the issues with the thermal paste in macbooks? Also remember the ipod nano with its extremely easily scratched surface? Apple makes some neat stuff but its not to be touted as great as most would like to make it out to be.
Look up the Ipod video vs Creative Zen M Vision reviews and you will see that audio and video quality are superior on the Creatives yet they are relatively unknown in the mass public image.
For their laptops, yeah I admit they look really nice and "chic" to say but for the price I'd rather spare looks and get performance. Buying a high end Macbook pro is just as bad as buying a Vaio notebook, you can get the same performance cheaper elsewhere.
Also comparing stuff say from 1980's to the present day isnt very relevant to the current issue because the Apple then was a very different company, the entire consumer electronics industry was a very different market.
What Im saying is that Apple just sells their stuff based on popular appeal and image catering and encouraging a mindless consumer culture which is a bad thing. I dont really care how people spend their money as long as its not mine but I hate being surrounded by ignorant apple fanboys all the time.
Rip, think about it for a second. Mac computers are very well built, iPods on the other hand... The first run metal-based iPods, now they were bleeding awesome... Then for some reason... They decide to make these cheap-plastic pieces of crap and call them the 'new' iPod. It's like the DS to the DSL, it's newer counterpart is a cheap, tacky piece of crap.
I've never really liked iPod because it requires me use iTunes, which is a terrible application on any OS, uses it's own format to play music and iTunes bought music has DRM crawling up it's ass. But even I realise that the original iPod's hardware was a nice piece of kit, newer iPods have been tacky and nothing near the quality you got back when the iPod first took off. $$$ in Apple's pocket though.
Rip,
Apple making superior products is your opinion. It isn't fact. Some do not share the same thought.
Today the hardware are the same. The notebooks, the mp3 players etc., all are made in the same Chinese factories that makes other OEM products as well, so you can't argue that Apple makes better products any more.
i have an i-river H320 that's over 2 years old and has a better feature set by far than the best i-pod on the market today. It looks cute but it's a success because of it's looks and marketing alone.
No, the reason the rest of the world thinks we are idiots is due to the fact that more people vote for American Idol than our elections, that we pay more attention to Paris Hilton & Anna Nicole Smith than to history changing events elsewhere on the globe, the fact that the average (and by average, I mean below average on a global scale) person on the street couldn't find Iraq, Iran or Pakistan on a map, or to what is going on in Dafur, or the fact that we are one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gasses on the planet, yet still have the worst standards for car emissions & drive SUVs to & from Wal Mart to buy all our stuff while American comapnies with only a 105lb soccer mom behind the wheel & no one else in the vehicle, the fact that we go to wars now only for our personal interests, that we now have museums that state the world is only 6,000 years old and people & dinosaurs co-existed, the fact that we claim to be 'liberating' other places while not taking care of our own right here - but the biggest reason the rest of the world thinks we are idiots is due to the fact that we elect a crooked, inexperienced, corrupt king of all idiots GWB not once, but twice then let him run wild like a Fan boi in an Apple store.
I really don't think the fact that some people are trying to be 'hip' buying cell phones plays into it at all. Ever see the tech culture in Japan?
all that said, yes, the guy waiting in line is an idiot of epic proportions. He'd be much better off spending that money on a prostitute.
actually, the PEOPLE only voted for bush once.
@ jlee104
Actually, you're wrong about MacBooks being more expensive than laptops from other companies with same specs.
I'm in the market for a laptop right now, and I'm quite interested in the MacBook Pro. I've never used an Apple computer, so it would be my first.
The base model (15" LED, Intel 2.2Ghz Santa Rosa, 120 GB HDD, 2GB RAM, 802.11n, yada yada yada) costs 1,999$. Quite steep, I know, but here's what I found out today. As you might've read on Engadget, Dell has just released new Inspiron and XPS laptops (the latter have LED backlit screens). So I went and I configured myself a Dell with the same (or almost same) specs as the MacBook Pro. The Dell XPS 1330, with a THIRTEEN inch screen and the other specs in match with the MBP, came out to cost a grand total of 2,079$. And to top it all off, the expected date of delivery on that is the 27'th of July, which is over a month from now. So not only is Dell's laptop with a smaller screen more expensive than the MBP, but it's also still not available. Also the GFX card is of a lower model than the MBP's.
If I'm wrong, please retort. You may go check my facts on the Dell laptop yourself. I configured the XPS 1330's base model, and jacked it up to match the MBP's specs.
@Rohit Kapur
Okay lets compare the 15" Macbook Pro with the 256mb GeForce 8600GT to the Asus G1S
link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220182
The price difference is over $500 for almost the same stats, the little difference is you get .2 ghz less but you wont notice that but for a lower price on the Asus you get a 1680 x 1050 native resolution which on an apple you need to pay for their 17" $2800 model.
but you know whats an even sweeter deal? The Everex XT5000T, it may have some oddities but overall most people are very satisfied with it:
link for the lazy: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834280004
I mean you get a Geforce Go 7600 which is almost the equivalent to a 8600 in terms of DX9 gaming. The worst part of it is the CPU but even if you were to spend money to upgrade the ram to be equivalent to a Macbook Pro and the CPU to get it to 2.0ghz you still be spending less money than on the cheapest Macbook Pro.
Face it Macbooks are overpriced do a little research, if you still wanna buy it go ahead its your money but I would like to save a few hundred for my investment and retirement plans. I will admit Macbooks are nice, I've used them as my friend has one and they look cool but for the price I think I can live without a "hip" laptop.
Hey jlee104,
I checked the laptops that you suggested, and I have to say, there's not that much of a difference between the Asus one and the MBP. The price differential is 80$ or something, and the Asus one doesn't have an LED backlit screen, nor does it have a Santa Rosa chipset (not sure 'bout that), and it's 1.4 pounds heavier than the MBP. The weight really matters, by the way. That being said, it's definitely a great looking laptop, and it DOES have a greater capacity HDD and a better graphics card. Thanks for suggesting it. I'll definitely consider it when I make my final purchase.
you are comparing the base model MBP to the ASus G1S but its actually comparable to the $2500 model not the $2000 model because of the graphics card.
The $2000 model has a 128mb 8600 and the $2500 has a 256mb version of it.
When it comes to laptops and GPU's a step up makes alot of difference in prices but if you wanna compare laptops with 128mb 8600GTs to the Asus with 256mb 8600GS then the price difference is still $500. like these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=50001315+40000032+1040228834&Configurator=&Subcategory=32&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=
though they have only 1gig or ram with the prices of ram these days, to me it doesnt justify paying that much more. Though LED backlighting is very tempting it all depends on the buyer and how much marginal utility they can get from the higher premium
This is why they hate us.
We don't hate you! Just find you mildly amusing. :)
Im only joking, ok fanaticism was not invented by Apple guys. People that love a band do it, people that love a product do it, people that want to meet a celebrity do it, people that pray in church do it.
If someone gets something out of it, let them be .... it doesn't hurt anyone, especially not you sitting at your desk.
Live at let live I say.
Apple shill?
@ jlee104, you are spot on. I'm a long time Mac user and I laugh at the arrogance of Steve Jobs. The quality of their products is really poor. The Genius bar should be re-named: 'F••ked Laptops Bar'.
How does he take his restroom breaks?
i doubt bathroom breaks are anywhere on his priority list. Christ, he looks like he came from bartertown.
cuz idiots don't have bladders. they've sold it long ago so they could buy themselves a second appendix.
i'm surprised no one picked up that he hasn't even answered the question of "why today"... "er, ya know, i don't wonna be around the corner... ya know, like... don't wonna get it last or not get it at all"... erm ok
and i'm surprised no one picked up how stupid the vid is... the 'iphone' (phone attached to ipod) is old and was frankly quite lame (it makes it ten times worse if the last 30 seconds of the vid is the 'rotating iphone'... the same 'joke' gets boring after 30 secs, u know), and who da heck asks questions like "why are u here today, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but today"... wot kinda question IS that?? wot is it supposed to reflect? "2 days in advance, you're a fanatic. 4 days in advance, you're a hairy greasy idiot"??
I'm wondering why you don't post the myriad closeup photographs that are seen elsewhere on the web. I think, in light of our zune tattoo fan, the first purchaser of the iPhone is standing proud. It really is all about image ... and he's the iPhone guy.
Who's more pathetic? The guy sitting in the same place for four days for an iphone...or me, the guy sitting at home at 4am, watching the interviews of our inelegant iphone loyalist. ...sigh.
And people were complaining about how big the guy with the Zune tattoo was...
How much do you think Apple / its marketing companies is paying for this?
NY in late June? I'd want something pretty considerable. Probably enough to pay for that iPhone thing he's so "excited" about.
IT's JUST A F#####G PHONE! GET A LIFE YOU LOSER! Didn't they make 5 mil Iphones for release!? MORON!
@ jlee104 and Tim - i double agree :D i think apple are getting to ahead of themselves in a way. They got lucky with the iPod and will probably be with the iPhone, but anyone with intelligence will know this is not a good product, tho i have a mca, and 3 ipods, i will skip out on this. I wouldnt go as far they make POS comps, but yes the iPhone is a POS. This guy, as people have said, are the reason i hate americans, tho again, i am american, who would pay for an iPhone? People were shocked and hated the PS3 for it costing 600, but when the iPhone comes out its a phenomenon, and everyone loves it. I dont get it, the PS3 is worth the 600, but this, hell its a souped up nano. Apple should stick to computers, tho the ipod is nice and all, they just beat everyone to the punch. Also i think this thing is just a cas cow for Cingular and Apple, i mean tho, with no 3rd party apps, hardly any space, limited functions, horrible interface (rly controlling with a finger? Apple, add a stylus!) and many other flaws, i will pass, and just by a Helio Ocean (which is alot cooler imo) its an innovative device, not this thing which just combines a bunch.
iPhone is for iLosers
I don't think I understand your opinion. Are you for Apple, but against the iPhone? Or are you anti-Apple, yet buy all of their products?
P.S. It is "a lot" and "though," also, capitalize the letter "i" when using it to describe yourself.
*sry for the double comment* sry for the spelling errors! (safari dosnt pick up on them
Safari does pick up on spelling errors.
..do you even have it turned on?
WOW.
Then why don't YOU pick up spelling errors? Jeez.
Person second in line: "Mainly, I'm here for the experience"
Pfft, what an idiot.
How does he answer the nature's call within 4 days? How can he deal with those liquid-full bottles?
im a mac
and I'm a PC. hehehe
And I'm Linux.
and i'm trying to install vista on a mac
(hrm, was funnier before boot camp)
and I'm running XP cuz I have no interest in Vista, don't like OSX and can't figure out Linux
so, just good looking and cool guys can get an iPhone?
I fear that its upon this kind of stuff that Europeans make their opinions about Americans. Now its just waiting for the inevitable drive-by !
ah hahaha! the first guy in line is gonna get capped as he leaves the store and then he won't need the new iphone.
obviously he doesn't have a job, what a loser..
that guy from huntington is not in soho... the flagship is upper midtown
i extremely
that guy from huntington is not in soho... the flagship is upper midtown
i extremely heart the breakdancers + that live faux-ipod commercial montage (boo to the 5-0 breaking it up)
oh + the spinning iphone in his bedroom hahahaha
...genius
he rox
Don't you have to go to an AT&T/Cingular store to get an iphone?
The trickle down of Apple cool begins here. The new Apple demographic equation...
Hipster + Hick = Hickster
Haha i forget how the average mental age of comments on here is about 12. You people need new material ... 'looser' is a bit old now isn't it? Why not use one of those fan-dangled words you kids use in the playground these days.
Ok to make you happy, I'll revise what I said.
I hope this guy gets mugged and killed RIGHT after he pays for his Iphone.
The "hmm.. idiot?"
You know what would be really funny??? If nobody else gets there until like 5pm on the day. That would make the dude the biggest(er) loser ever.
Watch, at noon on Friday the manager of the Cube will decide that the line starts elsewhere, rendering this guy's 4-day wait useless.
I just don't get it. The store is open 24 hours. He's going to sit there and watch thousands of people walk in and out of the store for several days, but he's "first".
This guy's going to be so dirty and greasy that as soon as he walks out the store with his new phone, it's going to slip out of his hands and crash to the floor, shattering that fancy glass screen.
btw, speaking of Apple tools, when i go to the gym, I see people with their stupid iPods looking at me with my Sansa. They're snickering outside, but I get to snicker inside because I know I paid way less money than them and got a much more robust device. So, yeah.
@ NoMooreNoMoore: Absolutely agree! We (Europeans) se you, Americans, as hypocritical, constrained and stupid sheep. Sorry for the insult, but that's how we feel about you. Same how you feel about us, as if we just felt down the trees starting to build societies, huts, breeding cows and eating from the ground. Just don't forget that you once came from the Europe to conquer the new land by killing millions of innocent natives.
Btw: you really have museums that claim the world is only 6000 years old? Are you being serious?
Besides, another thing we just don't get is your fanaticism and obsession with some imaginary dude which you call God. What is all that about? Do Americans feel so insecure they have to transfer the "blaim" to some imaginary guy? Why?! I really don't get it! I know you have some very brilliant, smart and reasonable people over there, but, you also have people that'd invade another country just because some trained monkey with IQ around 90 told you so!
No, you really don't have much credit over here, which is sad. I like the idea of freedom, democracy and capitalism, however, what do Americans know about "freedom" actually? Hell, in some of your states you can't even own more than 3 vibrators to pleasure your girlfriend or wear g-string or, hell, even say HELL! (I hope it's not censored H.E.L.L., otherwise it'll look strange what I just wrote).
Anyways, I hope Yenks will see this as a problem and will actually try to do something about it. So far, no difference from the Russians, who also try to look great on the outside, but on the inside...
If you need 3 vibrators to pleasure your girlfriend, then what the hell is wrong with you? (BTW, hell is not censored)
"Btw: you really have museums that claim the world is only 6000 years old? Are you being serious?"
Well, not to go way off topic, but since you brought it up...
http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm
rp: you're an idiot, aren't you? I can use as many vibrators as I wish, I can shove the all up my ass if I will, but not in such a "free" country as the USA is! Get the point?!
/eric: oh dear... The religion nonsense should be banned!
That's a bummer for the workers of that store. At least when people were camping for the xbox 360, PS3 and wii it was in the winter and it was nice and cold. It's hot as hell out there and this guys is going to smell of something foul. And I'm sure he's going to want to be in the store for a while too playing with it and talking with other "enthusiasts." Lol poor employees.
what would happen if these 2 guys get robbed at night?...they do have collectively 1000$ with them at the moment!
They could easily have the money on a bank card, or credit card. If that's the case, they can just call and cancel the cards immediately. That is, if they are smart enough not to carry $600 in cash.
He's loitering. tell him to move along. Friggin slug!
Remember, Headed Potatoes Yankees, All Apple`s wonderful stuff ARE MADE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES...CHINA, INDIA, KOREA, ETC.
Why many pride for?
You`re feeding yours enemies!!!
China will bypass USA soon!!!
The Gadget Kingdoom is falling!!!
For the price of a OH-I-AM-SO-FASHION Iphone, You can feed a whole family of four that survives in the third world...
But, WASP, who careS????
Holy sh1t dude, it's a frickin' phone. Not much sense in going all Jihad over this, is there?
`course, man, no war, but just to remember that Thing isn`t a american marvel by the way...
Deep inside It rocks a no-so-too-well-paid-under-marvelous-working-conditions asiatic workforce sweat.
But, again, WASP, who cares?
did anyone else stop to think...this guy has at least $600 bucks on him!! lets get him!
Quickly, we must all go to this store in a couple of days and start a new line just to see what he does.
Seriously though this is why you preorder things that you really want. I just can't understand the reasoning behind waiting in line for something, my time is too valuable for such nonsense. I have all three current gen consoles, I preordered them about a month in advance and just walked in on release day with no problem. The same with movie tickets, there is no way I would stand in line for two weeks to see Star Wars when I can just order them off the Internet. I don't really want an iPhone since I already have an video iPod and an Internet enabled Phone so I don't really need one. But if I did I could have just went to my AT&T store and preordered one. Since everytime I go there to pay my bill they keep pushing the Damn thing on me like it's a sin not to have one.
Speaking of cultural differences and extremism. If american expression of fanaticism is a guy sitting in a folding chair for 4 days, waiting to buy a gadget he obsesses over, we're in pretty good shape. In some other cultures extremism involves hijacking airplanes and flying them into building. In otherwords, sit back and enjoy the circus, if this is the a guy who represents some kind of fringe ideal, then we live in a beautiful country.
This guy is an idiot who is only doing all of this for the publicity. If he really wanted to be sure to get the iPhone on launch day, he would just do something else. Let's analyze his reasons for camping there:
1. His home store doesn't let people camp. So, since NOBODY can camp there for multiple days, then the store has saved you multiple days of unnecessary camping. All he has to do is be the first, or among the first in line when the store let's them form the line. This will probably be at mall opening on Friday. Time well saved.
2. He wants to make sure he gets one. See above comment. He's bound to get one by camping out there.
This guy and anyone else like him who is willing to give up that much for a piece of plastic that lights up is absolutely crazy, and has no life! It's really sad and a bit disturbing at the same time. Sure, it's a nice phone. Sure, it's on the cutting edge, blah blah blah. But where are your priorities when you do this kind of thing?
By the way, the iPhone is extremely overpriced. I've heard most people complain about the PS3, but yet practically nobody is harping about the price of the iPhone. The thing makes calls, and after 4 or 5 months it will cost you around $1,000! Have fun guys, I'm getting a blackberry. I already have an iPod.
If you live in NY please do the following for me. Get someone you know or yourself if you are big. Get a big crazy looking Mother f@##### and go sit in front of the two guys sitting in line and video it and put it on youtube. I would love to see the reaction on there faces. Maybe get a bunch of people and go in front of them :) Aw good times The Iphone is gonna suck.
Drag your ass to the nearest sprint store, get yourself a decent PPC for half the price, download sum 3rd party apps, and you have yourself a phone that's much more capable than the iphone (and shh- don't tell any1, but data is twice as fast) ...and guess what?? You might just feel special about the fact that next week 2 million nerds wont have the same phone as you :-)
Am I the only one wondering how and where this guy is going to take care of the inevitability of nature calling?
You've never been to New York City, have you?
@ GalaXy - im for apple, but against their new products,i like their computers, yeah the ipod is good, but theres better, and the iPhone, well yeah i dont like it, and yeah my other comment was there for a reason :D
@ StupidIsAs... - the version i have dosnt (still on 10.3.9 :( )
@ Liel17 - a PPC or a Palm OS device ,either one are better than the iPhone, you get a better deal, better hardware, tons of great software (freeware adn shareware) and an actual QWERTY keyboard! (i couldnt stand typing on the iphone with one finger)
Wait, I don't get it. Why are they camping? Didn't they pre-order the iPhone a while ago? I thought that that was what was happening, you sign up for it and then switch to it when it is released. If the paperwork is already filled out, then they'll get their phone when it is released, right?
Europeans are slamming Americans? the same ppl who legalize euthanasia, supported the Nazi's, practice widespread incest, homosexuality and beastiality? Yes, Europe is the place to be!
not forgetting the Germans who go on the net to be cooked and eaten!!!....long live Europe
I don't think the Jesus Phone can save him.
The guy first in line is Greg Packer, who does this sort of thing with ridiculous frequency.
See:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB105569204828218700-search.html?collection=wsjie/30day&vql_string=greg+packer%3cin%3e(article-body)
http://www.theagitator.com/archives/006284.php
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter061203.asp
NoMooreNoMoore:
You've got too much anger and misguided perspectives all bottled up. You need to go write for some goofy underground newspaper and get it out of your system.
So what if someone wants to wait in line for an iPhone? Why do you or anyone else care? It's his money, his life, and his choice.
What I get tired of is how something as simple as someone trying to buy something they want, manages to get all the weirdos to climb out of the woodwork to turn it all into some stupid collective political regurgitation.
As though no other country in the world has its problems - just America. GIVE ME A BREAK.
What is a person supposed to think when fellow citizens begin to hate the very country they live in? Every place on earth has problems. Do you think you could move anywhere and NOT find something to complain about? Go move to Iraq and have fun risking getting your head blown off on a daily basis. Maybe that will enlighten you to how good we have it here and that maybe we're not so stupid after all. To you and anyone else who shares your opinion: If you hate America so much, then SHUT UP, PACK UP, AND MOVE!!!
And while you complain, keep consuming like the rest of us. Hypocrites.
But by all means, continue blathering on about nonsense.
I didn't read through most of the comments, so I don't know if this has been said or not, but nonetheless...
If they ever make a live action Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie, that has to be Carl.
Maybe he is a capitalist, and plans to sell his place in line come Friday.
What better way for a homeless person to make money this week?
People from other countries always seem to have disrespect for the U.S., yet everyone always seem to want to be like the U.S. People from other countries idolize the U.S. We set the standard. We have pride in our country. Has anyone heard of an immigration problem in any other country?
"Has anyone heard of an immigration problem in any other country?"...are you for real? Please do not put yourself up as a representative of the USA, people just might listen to you & think the rest of the country shares your view.
Sad but true, as others have noted, this is JUST about some guy waiting in a line for something that may, or may not be important to others. whether I agree, or disagree is an opinion, MY opinion, not yours, nor is MY opinion to be leveled at anyone else, since it is MY opinion, not a fact.
A fact however is to be found in any meaningful search on the quote beginning this reply.
America is JUST a country, albeit quite a great one, as are many others.
Other than natural geographic features, all countries have 1 thing in common; people.
All these people have 1 thing in common; we're all people.
If more people pulled their own heads out of their own arses we just might learn important things, like--shock horror-- there are, in fact other countries that have "immigration problems".
Most of these 'immigration problems' are a natural reaction to people being so thin skinned that they're not prepared to just sit & die in a famine riddled war zone, or don't want to see their children raped, or any number of other reasons that none of us will ever get to know unless we ask someone why they'd even consider the risk of illegally trying such a move. All over the world, people are uprooting their families in search of something better. Ask the American Indians, the Australian aborigines etc etc. They've all seen quite a fair bit of immigration in their times.
The world is not America, America is not the world. The world is quite a beautiful place, but while one's head is firmly anally entrenched, I guess all one sees is shit.
OK, we are in agreement.