History Headscratchers / PapersPlease

*** Yes. See China and other countries that have instituted gender-selective policies in the past.

Everyone is shown entering Arstotzka on foot. How do they get their vehicles to the other side? Do they have another inspector in another booth for cars?

* Forged seals start appearing after it's reported that the MoA's sealing plates were stolen. But if they're using the same sealing plates, why are imperfections so common? The logical situation would be that the visibly-forged seals start showing up ''before'' the plates are stolen, and then after the theft, you'd start seeing them less often, since you can no longer tell from the seal that it's a fake.

*** That'd be a pretty persuasive argument if it weren't for the fact that Corman Drex has full documentation, including a state-issued ID card. This means either Drex is operating under their real identity (inadvisable to say the least, but not nearly as stupid as annoucing your ties to revolutionary organisation to a state agent) and EZIC isn't overly concerned about leaving a paper trail, or that it's within their capabilities to have these documents faked. Unless there's a good reason Drex is a special case, either explanation would render the Inspector's cooperation completely unneccessary.

*** That'd be a pretty persuasive argument if it weren't for the fact that Corman Drex has full documentation, including a state-issued ID card. This means either Drex is operating under their real identity (inadvisable to say the least, but not nearly as stupid as annoucing your ties to revolutionary organisation to a state agent) and isn't EZIC overly concerned about leaving a paper trail, or that it's within EZIC's capabilities to have these documents faked. Unless there's a good reason Drex is a special case, either explanation would render the Inspector's cooperation completely unneccessary.

*** That'd be a pretty persuasive argument if it weren't for the fact that Corman Drex has full documentation, including a state-issued ID card. This means either Drex is operating under their real identity (inadvisable to say the least, but not nearly as stupid as annoucing your ties to revolutionary organisation to a state agent) and isn't overly concerned about leaving a paper trail, or that it's within EZIC's capabilities to have these documents faked. Unless there's a good reason Drex is a special case, either explanation would render the Inspector's cooperation completely unneccessary.

*** That'd be a pretty persuasive argument if it weren't for the fact that Corman Drex has full documentation, including a state-issued ID card. This means either Drex is operating under their real identity (inadvisable to say the least, but not nearly as stupid as annoucing your ties to revolutionary organisation to a state agent) or that it's within EZIC's capabilities to have these documents faked. Unless there's a good reason Drex is a special case, either explanation would render the Inspector's cooperation completely unneccessary.

** In the Soviet Union, there existed a permit system called "Propiska" which kept track of people's movements and applications for residency. Supporters of Propiska said that it allowed them to track criminals and suspects more easily and prevented overcrowding of lower-class dwellings while opponents said that Propiska violated freedom of movement and promoted segregation by excluding people from certain areas. Perhaps the reason why [=EZIC=] agents don't bring Entry Permits is because they don't want to be identified and tracked down by the Ministry of Information.[[/folder]]

* On Day 20, you can use the poison to kill anyone after the EZIC messenger who gives it to you. No one ever questions you about it. Wouldn't an investigation obviously trace back to you given that the victim bites it right after they leave your booth? Alternatively, wouldn't an investigator check the body, notice the suspicious powder on the passport that the victim was carrying, and then investigate your booth and the rubber stamp?

* On Day 20, you can use the poison to kill anyone after the EZIC messenger who gives it to you. No one ever questions you about it, not even M. Vonel, not even if you kill anyone besides Khaled to avoid ticking the EZIC checklist. Wouldn't an investigation obviously trace back to you given that the victim bites it right after they leave your booth? Alternatively, wouldn't an investigator check the body with a hazmat suit on, notice the suspicious powder on the passport, and then investigate your booth and the rubber stamp?

* You'd think that the first time a terrorist jumps over the low wall that the Arstotzkan government would be sensible enough to raise it or at least add barbed wire to deter future attempts. But no. The corruption is so bad that they can't even afford to install barbed wire. Or maybe they're trying to present a better self-image of openness. (High Walls + Barbed Wire = Oppression)[[/folder]]

** Because that stamp of denial tells Jorji this (or at least, this is what I like to think is the meaning): "You're wasting my time with this piece of shit fake passport, holding up the line, costing me time and money to deal with your bullshit. FUCK. OFF."[[/folder]]

** Crappy forgeries, of course. Whoever made it didn't think it through.[[/folder]]

** Sergiu, at least, mentions that he fought in the war, and his aim is "not like before", suggesting he may be a ShellShockedVeteran. You don't get to talk to the other guards, but it may be the same case for them.[[/folder]]

** It doesn't matter whether they get i or not, they get a good Story. So they probably just don't care.

** It doesnt matter wether they get i or not, they get a good Story. So they probably just dont care.[[/folder]]

** Every member of the family has a different threshold of suffering they can take before getting sick and eventually dying. The son, for example, will get sick after only a single day of hunger, while the uncle can go for a full three days. It is possible that the inspector is simply the most resilient of his family.[[/folder]]

** Alternatively the immigrating Kolechians are either in extremely good standing with the Kolchian Government (and possibly spies, given what Arstotzka has been doing to them) or their permits are forgeries. Really really good forgeries (which is possible, given that Jorji will have one at some point).
** Even more alternatively, Elisa is in unusually bad standing with the Kolechian government. There are all sorts of reasons this could be the case in a place like Kolechia. Anything from having criminal family members, to going to the wrong university or having the wrong job (bartending at a place frequented by subversives, for example).[[/folder]]

** Alternatively the immigrating Kolechians are either in extremely good standing with the Kolchian Government (and possibly spies, given what Arstotzka has been doing to them) or their permits are forgeries. Really really good forgeries (which is possible, given that Jorji will have one at some point).[[/folder]]