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First two paragraphs resonated. I'm an American who grew up in Brazil, Japan, and Sweden. I'm tired of being asked "which was your favorite" because it's so red

First two paragraphs resonated. I'm an American who grew up in Brazil, Japan, and Sweden. I'm tired of being asked "which was your favorite" because it's so reductive and ALWAYS what people ask me. Questions in this article are much better. On the other hand, the description of roping up without proper training... yeesh. Sounds like bunch of gumbies putting each other's lives in danger. Not ok.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
tome 3y ago
How about in future, when someone asks you "which was your favorite" you instead answer one of the questions in the article? It's highly unlikely people literally want to know which was your favourite. More likely they're open to hearing anything interesting about your experience you could share.
- foobarbecue 3y ago
  Yeah, totally-- I roll with it tactfully IRL, I'm usually like well Sweden had the most effective government, Brazil had unbelievable natural beauty, etc. I'm just using this opportunity to whine about a pet peeve :-)
moffkalast 3y ago
So... which one was your favorite? :P
- RobRivera 3y ago
  Oh youuuuuu
switchbak 3y ago
"Sounds like bunch of gumbies putting each other's lives in danger" - that seemed pretty obvious from his story. I have a couple good friends that work on the search and rescue team, and the increasing number of stories about people putting themselves in serious danger with no self awareness is really concerning. I've unwittingly been pulled into these situations myself with said gumbies, and I'm now at the stage where I have no tolerance of it. It's really not cool to put a bunch of other folks in danger because you did something stupid, completely ignorant of any potential danger. It's totally ok to take measured risks, with proper training/knowledge and at least some kind of preparation for handling unexpected situations. And sometimes it's me being the gumby, which probably still happens in small doses :)
ekidd 3y ago
> Sounds like bunch of gumbies putting each other's lives in danger. Not ok. One weird thing about Iceland (as of 2008) that might be related: They don't do warning signs. - Superheated geyser pool 3 feet from the foot path? No warning sign 95% of the time. The other 5%? "Danger: Hot." - A slippery tourist trail 5 feet from a rushing river that immediately goes over an 80 foot waterfall? No warning sign. Often no railing, either. - A road to a tourist attraction that might rip your transmission out? No warning sign. I could give more examples of unmarked deadly hazards at major tourist attractions. Iceland appears to assume that deadly hazards are common, and that you'll use common sense. Or maybe you won't, and you'll stick your hand in a geyser. I'm reluctant to draw any kind of philosophical point here, besides "When visiting Iceland, please use common sense and pay attention to your surroundings."

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

tome 3y ago

How about in future, when someone asks you "which was your favorite" you instead answer one of the questions in the article? It's highly unlikely people literally want to know which was your favourite. More likely they're open to hearing anything interesting about your experience you could share.

foobarbecue 3y ago
Yeah, totally-- I roll with it tactfully IRL, I'm usually like well Sweden had the most effective government, Brazil had unbelievable natural beauty, etc. I'm just using this opportunity to whine about a pet peeve :-)

moffkalast 3y ago

So... which one was your favorite? :P

RobRivera 3y ago
Oh youuuuuu

switchbak 3y ago

"Sounds like bunch of gumbies putting each other's lives in danger" - that seemed pretty obvious from his story. I have a couple good friends that work on the search and rescue team, and the increasing number of stories about people putting themselves in serious danger with no self awareness is really concerning. I've unwittingly been pulled into these situations myself with said gumbies, and I'm now at the stage where I have no tolerance of it. It's really not cool to put a bunch of other folks in danger because you did something stupid, completely ignorant of any potential danger. It's totally ok to take measured risks, with proper training/knowledge and at least some kind of preparation for handling unexpected situations. And sometimes it's me being the gumby, which probably still happens in small doses :)

ekidd 3y ago

> Sounds like bunch of gumbies putting each other's lives in danger. Not ok. One weird thing about Iceland (as of 2008) that might be related: They don't do warning signs. - Superheated geyser pool 3 feet from the foot path? No warning sign 95% of the time. The other 5%? "Danger: Hot." - A slippery tourist trail 5 feet from a rushing river that immediately goes over an 80 foot waterfall? No warning sign. Often no railing, either. - A road to a tourist attraction that might rip your transmission out? No warning sign. I could give more examples of unmarked deadly hazards at major tourist attractions. Iceland appears to assume that deadly hazards are common, and that you'll use common sense. Or maybe you won't, and you'll stick your hand in a geyser. I'm reluctant to draw any kind of philosophical point here, besides "When visiting Iceland, please use common sense and pay attention to your surroundings."