3 ms·

I'm replying to the assertion (which was a generalization itself) that liberals want people from the flyover states to get out of their bubble and travel, but w

I'm replying to the assertion (which was a generalization itself) that liberals want people from the flyover states to get out of their bubble and travel, but when they do, make fun of them for it, and I responded to it by saying that's because so many tourists when they go abroad don't experience the culture of the country they visit; they experience at best a sanitized, western-friendly watered down version, or at worst, just miss it all entirely and visit chain restaurants and the regular "sights to see." Something like the Taj Majal is a sight to behold, certainly. But if you just go there, and oooo and aaah at it, and then go home, you haven't experienced a lick of India. You could've had the same experience with a Google Maps walkthrough. I don't find this offensive so much from a cultural standpoint as much as just a massive waste of time and resources, to jet across the world, go to a completely new place, and experience NOTHING in it. What was the point of it then!? You'd have been further ahead never leaving your damn sofa.

magduf 7y ago
It sounds exactly like you're making fun of these people for not getting as authentic an experience as you think they should have. "If you can't be a tourist the way I think you should be a tourist, then you should just stay home and look at photos on Google Maps!" Do you have any idea how much of a pretentious person this makes you sound? Personally, I avoid any American restaurant chains abroad (and usually do at home too!), but I'm not going to tell people to just "stay home" because they aren't backpacking and staying in hostels like I have. That's some pretty serious arrogance. At least these people are getting out of their comfort zone a little. It's pretty impossible to travel in a foreign country without being exposed a little to the local culture, even if you have a tour guide escorting you around everywhere.

magduf 7y ago

It sounds exactly like you're making fun of these people for not getting as authentic an experience as you think they should have. "If you can't be a tourist the way I think you should be a tourist, then you should just stay home and look at photos on Google Maps!" Do you have any idea how much of a pretentious person this makes you sound? Personally, I avoid any American restaurant chains abroad (and usually do at home too!), but I'm not going to tell people to just "stay home" because they aren't backpacking and staying in hostels like I have. That's some pretty serious arrogance. At least these people are getting out of their comfort zone a little. It's pretty impossible to travel in a foreign country without being exposed a little to the local culture, even if you have a tour guide escorting you around everywhere.