People who share their numerous global travels usually cannot name 10 interesting, non general facts about the places they’ve been to. Most use their trips to attract validation from others when they showcase it or just for veiled sexual tourism. This phenomenon is only further perpetuated by social media. When they return home, they are basically the same person they were when they left.
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Local awareness is what actually shows intellect.
Judging by the amount of people who jump up as soon as the plan lands I’d be inclined to believe the inverse.
Travel gets branded as an achievement: see interesting places, have interesting experiences, become interesting people. Is that what it really is?
I believe that travel, far from putting us in touch with humanity, has actually divorced us from it. Travel turns us into the worst version of ourselves while convincing us (and others) that we’re at our best. The rising influence of social media has regrettably pushed people to live on the web, hiding behind the screens, and painting a false picture or narrative of a life you want others to think you have. Why do we need others to certify our experiences as genuine?
If you want to travel for your own personal edification, that’s fine! One sign that you have a reason to be somewhere is that you have nothing to prove, and therefore no drive to collect souvenirs, photos, or stories to prove it.
It’s more about getting to know the vibes and the culture than it is about seeing or knowing anything
I’m going to assume that anyone bragging/boasting about how much they’ve traveled is just a privileged asshole with 0 awareness of anything (despite all the traveling and worldliness!). I’m not saying you can’t travel a lot on a budget, but anyone with any awareness/that is not rich to the point of being out-of-touch would 100% understand that their ability to travel is a privilege that has nothing to do with their worth as a human being.
ETA: …it’s weird to me how many people apparently did not have empathy or the ability to view a perspective outside themselves and their culture without traveling. Like, what? And I say this as someone who has traveled and who has immigrant parents. I’ve known kids of immigrant parents who hadn’t even been on an airplane before college…but who did grow up as the minorities in their hometown. I’m certain they were more aware then than the people here who apparently don’t get that there are a million different ways to broaden your perspective.
i do think it widens horizons but they r probably not a necessity, especially with Internet
What kind of people are you hanging out with that have led you to believe that “most people” are using their trips for veiled sexual tourism?!?
Speaking as an American, I think world travel is GREAT for my fellow compatriots in that it can help disabuse them of the false notion of American exceptionalism. At least, I hope it does.
Yeah it’s honestly hilarious to me when people shit on resort vacations. Like you are not cultured just because you went to the Eiffel Tower for a week. “I want to experience like a local”. Bruh they are at work or sleeping
Not really. Interesting is subjective.
Also the biggest thing you learn when you travel is how much we are all alike.
You can’t be fully insightful about a place you’ve never stepped foot in. You can’t be worldly over the cultures & practices in a country you’ve never been to. All you can do is read something on social media, a book or google. Someone who actually sees these places with their own eyes absolutely have more experience & knowledge about these places than someone who didn’t.
You sound jealous tbh.
“most use their trips to attract validation”
source?
Wow! You’ve met the wrong people I guess? Most people I know who truly love ravel don’t even bother with social media.
I can confidently say people who travel more almost always have more life experience, broader terms of reference, and are more worldly than those who don’t. That’s been my experience meeting and knowing many hundreds (thousands?) of eclectic people in this world.
I didn’t become a more worldly or insightful traveler simply by traveling; it was through maturation and development I got that way. The travel simply provided me with the opportunity to appreciate other cultures, but many compare their experiences to their home countries which means they’re missing the point entirely.
I got lucky. Got to “live” in several cities in the US for 7-10 weeks at a time, and go back semi frequently.
Hands down the most interesting job I’ve ever had, and it was really cool to learn all the different nuances some of those places had.
Your opinion sucks. armchair traveler.
Unpopular opinion: It most certainly does! How do you even quantify frequent travel/big time traveler? There are people who’ve senn 20 coutries… 50…over 100. Is every traveler who is excited to share some of their experiences inherently bragging or do you interpret it as such out of jealousy? Traveling is a HUGE character builder. It teaches people to be more tolerant and understanding, more accepting and open minded to people and experiences. It gets you out of your comfort zone. It helps to conquer fears and tests your ability to be resourceful…among other things. Do you own a passport? This comes across as super bitter. As someone who is very well traveled for my age I’ll say this: Some of us go places to share on social media or just to say we’ve been there, some of us DON’T. Some of us only visit countries we haven’t yet been to and others love to come back to a country or even city without worrying about country count. Some of us do call ourselves “WORLD TRAVELERS” or “GLOBETROTTERS”— Those people are certified assholes. Some people are country counters and only rack of places to wear as a badge of honor. Some people actually PUT ROOTS for months or years in another country; others spend a few days and check it off. If you think we are all the same, perhaps you are asking all the wrong questions about our travels? My experiences abroad have changed my life in a profound way, and you being unhappy with your own life choices does not negate the huge impact travel can make on a person. Travel was a huge factor in helping to cure (yes cure) my serious depression (and also social anxiety disorder). If you go out and really see the world, you will know just how profound it can be.
As an American, travelling to foreign countries (mostly for work) opened my eyes and taught me to put my own fortunes and problems in perspective. Sometimes you don’t know you’re living in an asylum until you see it from the outside.
I found myself more patient, more appreciative, and more humbled after seeing more of the world.
I was living in Austria during the 2016 US election and I found my Austrian and German colleagues knew more about American politics and policies than the average American I spoke to back home. I had very logical debates and learned a lot from them.
In Brazil I have never seen so many people with so little that are so happy. Same in Guadalajara Mexico. The pride in their countries is amazing and I never expected it.
I learned to speak in ways people would understand me without so many filler words (“you know” and “like”).
I learned to become resourceful by finding my way around cities using the metro and other public transportation. Asking people if it’s ok to speak English instead of just walking up to someone and talking.
I could go on and on on how eye opening it was to see the world.
Coming back to the US was interesting too because I never noticed how loud, brash, and oversized we all are. How sloppy we dress and chit-chatty we are. I’m glad I saw it from the outside looking in because I would have never noticed how absurd and over the top everything is in the US – my home.
Now the process of travelling (airports, airplanes, ubers, hotels etc..) sucks. And touring the US has become very dull because so many cities look the same. Shopping plazas with all the same stores surrounded by franchise restaurants. I’m pretty much done with it, but I’m glad I did it. I’m definitely not the same person I was when I left.
More to your point, I never used my travel to show other people. I don’t post pictures and throw it in people’s faces. I got what I need from it for myself and other than this long post, I don’t talk about it much.
I’ve been around people that traveled frequently even if it’s just domestic and I’ve been around people that rarely leave their hometown and let’s just say … I rather spend my time around the people that have traveled.
It just means they probably have more money
You are making some pretty broad generalizations. Anytime you start to say most people you should probably take a step back and reevaluate what you are saying.
You sound jealous.
I think someone who has been able to experience different cultures and perspectives is more insightful than someone who’s been in their suburban little box their whole life
Getting out and seeing the way other people live absolutely has an effect on a person’s world view.
More mindless musings from the undereducated. This is certainly some
basement dweller neckbeard take…
tbf im not sure if i can name 10 “interesting, non general facts” about the country ive lived in for 5 years, or the country i grew up in for 20 years, if you were to ask me now. like. youd have to specifically ask me about a certain aspect to get an “interesting, non general fact”
> When they return home, they are basically the same person they were when they left.
I didn’t appreciate art until I went to The Louvre. I had only really been to my hometown museum until that point. The Louvre was mind blowing. After that I started going to museums almost every time I was in a new city.