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One thing I've found interesting is that, as communication tech improved, we haven't needed to travel less, but more. I would have assumed that better communica
by cconcepts 11y ago
One thing I've found interesting is that, as communication tech improved, we haven't needed to travel less, but more. I would have assumed that better communication tools would result in less need to travel but it appears to be creating more need.
Perhaps we're just waiting on that "killer app" for communication that is so immersive that people won't need to meet face to face so much to do business.
- subleq 11y agoSounds like Jevon's paradox
- cconcepts 11y agoJevon's paradox is really interesting:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox
- Mz 11y agoI don't know that it creates more need. I would say it creates more opportunity. It fosters relationships developing from a distance, giving people more reason to go in person to some new place because they have a reason to go, because they know someone who can help them get oriented, etc.
- superuser2 11y agoInternational flights are a high-prestige, moral expensive to a certain social-media-happy subset of the population, i.e. elite-educated, otherwise anti-consumerist young liberals. Spending a similar amount of money on something like electronics reeks of consumerism and financially irresponsible behavior. You'll do it, but you'll feel a vaguely ashamed, and you probably won't brag about it. International travel is definitely something you want to do and be seen doing. People who would be disgusted to hear about how awesome your new car is will go on for hours (and hundreds of social media photos) about how their perspective was expanded by their equally-expensive three months backpacking across Europe instead of working. Add the much simpler Fear of Missing Out onto the photos where your friends are all having a great time together in Paris, and Facebook sells a lot of plane tickets.