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The Case Against Travel

newyorker.com

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71–80 of 161 posts

Re: The Case Against Travel

#71

Post by FpUser »

midasuni wrote: post #64
FpUser wrote: post #38

I want to leave my life with as little interference as possible from any moralizing types telling me how to do it. So my basic answer for "well wishers" - fuck off and leave me alone. You do what you want with your life (and I respect it) and let me do whatever I want with mine.

Sure. Go live on the moon then. You generate externalities. You rely on society. You are part of society, you thus have obligations to that society.

>"Sure. Go live on the moon then"

Uncalled for

>"you thus have obligations to that society"

And I fulfill said obligations by abiding laws (even though I find many unjust) and by paying taxes. I also try not to interfere with other people and not "trespass" into their space. But I have zero duty to follow demands of prudes, lunatics, "strong hand" wishers etc.

Re: The Case Against Travel

#72

Post by Ekaros »

ramraj07 wrote: post #24
mxmbrb wrote: post #14

I can't see why so many people look down on traveling. I do not tell people unless asked (it is not part of my identity) but I traveled my fair share and it changed me a lot. The food I eat (the better half of my diet), the way I drive, my values for a fulfilled life, my willingnes to accept risks in life, appreciation and compassion for regions and many things more. Traveling is what you make out of it. If they walk…

Do you really need to travel to China to get an appreciation for Chinese food? That’s kinda the point the author makes.

Could we do same argument with other food. Like why try any authentic burger when you have McDonald's available anywhere. Or specific pizza as you can get frozen one from a store...

Re: The Case Against Travel

#73

Post by jxidjhdhdhdhfhf »

I tend to think of travel as status posturing. The thing about status posturing is people don't want others to think they are status posturing. So, they make up other reasons for why they do something. For example, you need the huge pickup truck because you haul a lot of stuff once a year. Travel is similar. People like to claim they need their status posturing to be well rounded individuals.

Now at the end of the day people have disposable income and have to spend it somewhere, but I don't think travel should be given the special regard that it is currently.

Re: The Case Against Travel

#74

Post by tartaglia »

FpUser wrote: post #43
ramraj07 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you really need to travel to China to get an appreciation for Chinese food? That’s kinda the point the author makes.

I don't need to have a "need". Want alone is enough. We did not "need" to do shit since we were wandering around gathering food some bazillion years ago.

This. I get that it’s an opinion piece but it seems a bit overthought

Re: The Case Against Travel

#75

Post by veave »

soneca wrote: post #21

I don’t like to travel. I often say that I only want to travel when I have a purpose (study something, visit someone, etc). It does shock some people when I say I don’t like to travel, even when I complement that I don’t dislike either. The accepted answer is that everyone “love” to travel. But I didn’t feel represented in this article. I didn’t feel connected with any of the arguments. I think the author carefully w…

You are not alone, friend. I also don't like to travel. I am lazy to pack up, lazy to sit while I reach the destination, lazy to see things, lazy to pack again, etc. And all to see "new stuff", which is not something I'm interested in.

Re: The Case Against Travel

#77

Post by loopdoend »

natmaka wrote: post #37
loopdoend wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nothing really matters due to the amount of coal being burned in places like China. Your vein efforts to reduce your personal footprint in North America are largely pointless. Edit: Lots of coal defenders in here. It is absolutely ridiculous to be burning coal in 2023. But hey, perhaps the US could focus on reducing its own coal usage. Go nuclear! My point is that your trip around the world is a drop in the bucket.

A non-negligible part of this coal is burnt in order to produce things exported to North America (among others), therefore by buying less...

Right, non-negligible. And if those mass-consumers of electricity switch to clean energy it would be great. But a lot of dirty energy is used for heating homes in colder regions on an individual basis.

Re: The Case Against Travel

#78

Post by hackernoteng »

soneca wrote: post #21

I don’t like to travel. I often say that I only want to travel when I have a purpose (study something, visit someone, etc). It does shock some people when I say I don’t like to travel, even when I complement that I don’t dislike either. The accepted answer is that everyone “love” to travel. But I didn’t feel represented in this article. I didn’t feel connected with any of the arguments. I think the author carefully w…

I dislike travel. I wouldn't mind traveling alone though. But travel with family is more expense and hassle than its worth imo. The packing, whining, sharing hotel rooms, arguing about what to do, when to do it, where and what to eat, etc. Spend tons of money and kids dont even appreciate it and would rather just stay at the hotel pool, or stay in the room all day, etc.

Re: The Case Against Travel

#79

Post by shocks »

ramraj07 wrote: post #24
mxmbrb wrote: post #14

I can't see why so many people look down on traveling. I do not tell people unless asked (it is not part of my identity) but I traveled my fair share and it changed me a lot. The food I eat (the better half of my diet), the way I drive, my values for a fulfilled life, my willingnes to accept risks in life, appreciation and compassion for regions and many things more. Traveling is what you make out of it. If they walk…

Do you really need to travel to China to get an appreciation for Chinese food? That’s kinda the point the author makes.

I’ve eaten a lot of Japanese food in London, but I just came back from Japan and the food was /not/ the same - it was so much better.

Re: The Case Against Travel

#80

Post by GianFabien »

I hate the queues, waiting, paperwork, being packed into tiny airplane seats, the monotony of long distance flights, the constant packing & unpacking, lumpy beds, other tourists, and the extravagant cost of everything.

Other than all the inconveniences, travel isn't too bad if you have the time and money.

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