An article that’s been causing a bit of gip at the moment in the (shudder) “Blogosphere” has been a post entitled “4 Reasons Travelling is a Waste of Time“. I’m not a reader of said blog – in fact I was just driven to it by a tweet Gary Arndt made – but I can’t help but feel her points were shortsighted. Rather than just say that, I’m going to take each point I made, and why I disagree with it.
1. There are more effective ways to try new things.
Really? What better place to try Thai cooking than in Thailand? Also, have you ever seen that episode of The Simpsons whereby Bart finds out he can speak French just by surrounding himself in French for 2 months? Newsflash, that does happen. The most effective way to try something new is to immerse yourself in it. Why do you learn to drive on the roads rather than from a book? Because it’s effective. The example she gave was changing the world by using your local forest rather than an African Jungle. Which is admirable, but it’ll be a bit tricky to save tigers when there’s no tigers in your local forest.
2. Cultural differences are superficial. Economic differences matter.
I take it this person has never been to the far east. Sure a lot of the world (particularly the colonial world) has a lot of similarities. Even most of Europe’s similar. However, travel to the far east, Latin America, North Africa or some of the Asian subcontinent, and you will see a completely different world. Sure, these people may be similar, but at the end of the day, they are subtly different to be noticeable. It’s amazing how little we evolve as one beyond the McDonalds & Capital cities.
3. People who love their lives don’t leave.
Again, I wouldn’t say I’m completely happy with my lot, but I know people who were (and happy I’m using as “wife, kids & secure job”…not that it ever would make me happy) head off for six months with the blessings of their family & employment and having the time of their lives. I think that people who don’t love their lives generally surround themselves in material items. But what do I know? People may just love having crap. I love travelling. If I love travelling and I’m doing it in my life. Then I love my life.
4. Travel is not the time to do deep thinking.
Why not? Travelling is not what you see, it’s how you see it. I’ve stood in the Colluseum in Rome and was completely unmoved by it, yet sat outside a cafe in central Bangkok and just thought it was incredible. I’ve had some of my best ideas on trains, planes & boats on my travels, and made some life changing decisions travelling.
Of course, I’ll bring you back to point 3. Nobody, not me, not Penelope Trunk, nobody can say that anything is a waste of time or not a waste of time. Hell, I spend most of my weekends screaming at men in trunks and baby oil who have staged fights. Is that a waste of time? No, because anything that’s fun is not a waste of time.
And besides, as somebody who claims to have experience with networking, really should learn to love travelling.
Comments: 7 Comments
Rhys Wynne, the author of this blog, is a 20 something web designer from Colwyn Bay. 
“because anything that’s fun is not a waste of time” – amen! That is very much a motto to live by and one I try hard to adhere too.
That was a great read
“2. Cultural differences are superficial.”
Hardly!! There’s no chinese word for privacy. I’ve seen it *shudders at thought*
Debbie: Thanks, glad you liked it! I live by that motto myself.
Han: I was debunking the things written by the original article writer, rather than putting them across as my own. I agree that there’s differences in culture throughout the world.
The opening line of her blog annoys me…
“I’m growing sour on travel. I have always disliked it. When I was a kid my parents took us all over Europe and the Caribbean, and it really exhausted me.”
Oh the poor love, it must have been horrible for her growing up being taken to far flung places some people can only dream of visiting.
People like her shouldn’t travel… she’s too narrow minded!
“I had a South African roommate in college. But she was just like me: rich, white, Jewish.”
Hahaha.. what a stuck up bitch! I’m sorry.. but the rest of that paragraph sums her up perfectly. When the family realised she was unhappy (you mean too fucking lazy to embrace the way of farm life?) she went to Lyon.. oh wow another city…
Travelling is something everyone should do. I’ve been so massively lucky in the places i’ve seen on this fair planet and i fully intend to go and see a lot more of them, meet the locals and submerge myself in what they do! Some of the happyiest people in the world i’ve seen are in Cambodia where they live in a wooden hut no bigger than your bedroom…
Reading the comments, it seems like most people agree she’s done it get a reaction – and she succeeded! She’s a tool end of!
When I am Queen/Prime Minister (whichever happens first), if anyone posts an ordered list I will make them put “(In My Opinion)” at the end of their blog titles. And the working day will begin at 1pm.
Ah, dreams…
I love this post. I honestly can’t imagine not traveling. It’s a great way to learn and better yourself. Also, I love your motto.
I know some people who have never been outside of the state they reside in. It really is sad. Traveling does open your eyes up to the world. I think people who hates to travel are slef-centered people. They have no desire to see other culture. Thank you for the article. Great motto.