Post by @lydiaconwell@todon.nl

While I agree with the opening-one's-mind sentiment, I find this questionable.

First it implies that the author has met *all* people who have travelled, so are able to know their perceived tendency is true.

The other thing is it appears to me to be classist, implying that people who can't afford to travel are automatically bigoted and narrow minded.

I don't like its middle class positioning and how it tries to make people who haven't travelled a lot feel ashamed of that.

You could easily say the same about reading books or watching a lot of documentaries on the TV.

"I've noticed something. People who don't watch documentaries seem to as thick as pigshit and don't know anything ..."

I noticed something:
People who have traveled a lot tend
to judge less. Not because they
became nicer, but because they've
seen too many versions of what's
"normal." In one country, it's normal
to eat with your hands. In another,
it's normal to stay quiet at the table.
In a third, it's normal to hug
strangers. When you've seen 30
different versions of "the right
way," you stop believing yours is the
only one. Travel doesn't just teach
geography. It teaches tolerance.
ART OF POETS — I noticed something: People who have traveled a lot tend to judge less. Not because they became nicer, but because they've seen too many versions of what's "normal." In one country, it's normal to eat with your hands. In another, it's normal to stay quiet at the table. In a third, it's normal to hug strangers. When you've seen 30 different versions of "the right way," you stop believing yours is the only one. Travel doesn't just teach geography. It teaches tolerance. ART OF POETS

0 Boosts

0 Likes

spanghero

@spanghero@ioc.exchange 8 min. ago

@lydiaconwell I assumed this was based on the old idiom that “travel broadens the mind” and the author was expanding with their own experience/thoughts.
I suppose “travel can broaden the mind if you are open to it” isn’t all that catchy!
Probably less applicable now as well, given that way back when many people didn’t live their home village/county and only travelled abroad to fight wars or complete a religious pilgrimage with similarly minded people.
For one reason and another I’ve travelled lots and not all journeys broadened the mind, with some even confirming pre-held prejudices.

Lydia Conwell

@lydiaconwell@todon.nl 2 hr. ago

I mean, from my experience I sense a lot of people get their judgement from whatever news they consume. And that's regardless of how well travelled they are.

hacktopus

@hacktopus@hachyderm.io 2 hr. ago

@lydiaconwell it’s interesting to think about. My most educational times are the ones spent in shared spaces that were not my own. Traveling can do that, but it’s definitely not the only way.

Lydia Conwell

@lydiaconwell@todon.nl 1 hr. ago

@hacktopus Yes. I mean travelling can expose you to all sorts of new things but I don't like the idea that people who don't travel are automatically closed minded.

There might be some truth in that, but I don't like how the idea is being asserted. It comes across as classist to me.

You could take the same idea and say that going on a package holiday to Ibiza doesn't count while 'real' travelling is going somewhere less touristy. You see?

Ironically, the quote about being judgemental appears to make judgement on how people get their life experience - ie. you have to get it in the right way by travelling.

Also there's the question of how far one needs to travel before it counts.