BootsnAll Travel Community

I've had debates with friends on the merits of travel. Does travel change a place and its people and by travelling are we knowingly contributing to this?

I've had a friend say that maybe we shouldn't travel as inevitably we'll screw up every indigenous group out there, so might as well leave them alone.

My attiitude is that I was born inquisitive so I have to go. I think the manner in which I act is very important too, though I'm aware I have an impact.

What do you think?

-nick-

I think we should travel.

I feel that we need a sense of understanding of other cultures and other ways of living in order to live fuller lives ourselves.
There is no perfect culture but the closest we can come to it is to take what is best from what we see around us. As long as we practice understanding and minimum impact travelling (ie. supporting local business, not staying at mega hotels, not trashing areas we visit, not trying to convert locals to our beliefs, etc), then we are really not in danger of "screw[ing] up every indigenous group out there".

Also, isolation breeds close-mindedness. I think that society today needs to be more open minded and accepting of other people's beliefs and appearances. I have found that true traveller's have no racist tendencies, are willing to immerse themselves in any culture, and often come out of the experience with a better understanding of their own true nature.

Life is nothing without experience.

I agree with marcus. Face to face experience is the real thing.
On racism, Im not sure. Skeptics don't change so easy. Racism relly puzzls me, because I may act indiscriminating, but my own private thoughts are my own. Every individual has different perception, unique as individual's own DNA, so maybe i's not racism ,but individualism.
Racism is here for sure, becuase some people have advantage due to race and some are disadvantaged by it. It sure took me years to realize how beautiful African American people are, or how beautiful Mexican Indian/Mayans and Incans are. I mean really recognize and appreciate their aesthetic features, native Indian's simple and pure heart.
Travel helps in understanding the differences, but it works to deprogram our brainwashed head by daily mental exercises. I mean like hang a picture of African or Asian or Navajo person in the bathroom or foyer and look at it everyday. Watch foreign films, chinese, korean, indian movies, Iraqi films, Brazillian-like "Black Orpheus".
I remember one hostel that had nice big photo collage of people from all countries, all smile, young and old, black and white. It covered entire wall. Excuse me I rambled on. What was the topic?

I have a similar view to Markus.

Yes we shold travel as the human race has been doing this for years.
But learn by those mistakes that the previous generations have made.
We should go to see and enjoy and learn from these cultures.
We should accept that people have a different way of doing things and accept that and not force down on to them out way of doing things (missionarys being one type that trys to change)
If u go with a open mind then u will enjoy.If u dont prepared to accept the unexpected then stay at home.
Any interference should be kept to the bare minimum if at all

Nick is so smart. He knows that "travelers" will say yes. Traveling is learning and to learn you must travel if not outward, inward.

As far as "changing" indigenous people. Change is a part of life. Destroying is another thing. When we visit another culture not only do we grow but so does that culture.

We are more alike than we are different. I believe its our desire to be different that makes the gulf of communication, understanding, and compassion widen.

Please travel. If not the world your country, your state, heck...most of us can't get around our city without a map. And..if you really dare take an inward journey. Now that will definitely result in change!

I like what you said Diane about the diffence between destroying and changing a culture. I think a lot of the time the diffence between these 2 isn't taken into consideration.

Destroying a culture to me means taking away the language, like the Chinese try to do in Tibet, or the British did in Ireland. Or encouraging some massive event, like burning the rainforest, or a war, or building a new SeaWorld in an remote location.

Changing a culture can mean helping the locals understand western logic, medicine, communications, writing etc.

Culture is always in a state of change and generally the best things happen when the changes are gradual.

nic

The more people travel, the more they will understand other cultures; (assuming that they, meaning you, are intelligent, understanding people) the more people understand eachother, the better for the world.

I tend to think of a rich person in terms of the places he's seen and the experiences he's had instead of in terms of numbers in bank accounts and stock markets.

Other ways of life or other views that people hold that are very different from ours are often viewed as threatening, and travel helps break down those barriers and opens our minds.

And as others have mentioned, though, if we're not conscientious about what we do while we're traveling, we can do a lot of harm. We need to observe local customs by manner of dress, body language, and such. And we also need to learn how not to deplore their valuable resources or otherwise make their lives more difficult.

It seems to me that the best traveler leaves an area not only a wiser person himself but leaves the area in better shape than he found it.

As is probably anyone else who posts on this board, I'm passionate about travel.

There is, however, one thing that bothers me...
It has nothing to do with the patronizing "don't spoil the natives" jive.

It has to do with airplane flights. I try to lead as environmentally low-impact a life as possible. Every time I hop on a plane I throw that low-impact lifestyle out the window. The fact is that airplanes do all sorts of fun stuff to the environment. Yes, I could convince myself that "one person out of a hundred on a plane" doesn't make a difference...but that would be hypocritical of me, as I live under the principle that one person's actions can and do make a difference.

So...any suggestions on how to rationalize flights to myself?

Cheers,
Rando

I agree with those who say we should minimize our impact on a culture. However, as also mentioned, culture has been changing for as long as there has been culture. I think we all agree that we should not impose our beliefs or "culture" on others, but it's equally important that we not insist that those same people never change. This is an equally selfish view. I will never advocate the continued infestation of McDonalds, but if others really want it, should I refuse to let them have it? A conundrum.

steve