Are upper middle class family gatherings now just luxury travel pissing contests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite thing to do is act ignorant about the location that the bragging person wants me to be impressed by. “Galapagos? Where is that?” and then adopt the bored blank stare as they try to brag while I don’t take the bait. “Oh that’s nice” in a flat tone.

Or you could make them feel like the a-holes they are for visiting places with vulnerable ecosystems, like the Galapagos. Not impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a family, we’ve always traveled. It’s our thing. I’d rather spend money on trips than tons of gifts at birthdays/holidays on crap that’ll end up being donated/broken/discarded. DC has been traveling internationally since Kindergarten and has always loved it which is great.

Post-pandemic I think people want to travel even if they didn’t before. Now that the world has experienced what it’s like to be locked down in your house nevermind your country, people want to get out there now. Plus as your kids get older people tend to travel to do things together as a family before kids go away to college.

With all that being said, DC has been in private school from the start and due to the wealth you’re surrounded by that comes with attending private, yeah post every school break the topic of where everyone traveled/summered was discussed and could feel like a pissing match.

It's only a pissing match if you're insecure.

Disagree. Even if you aren’t insecure, some people know how to discuss it tactfully and without sounding like a douche, and some people don’t.

Discuss it tactfully? It isn’t politics or religion or sex.

[Anonymous]

Strong dollars breed strong travelers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite thing to do is act ignorant about the location that the bragging person wants me to be impressed by. “Galapagos? Where is that?” and then adopt the bored blank stare as they try to brag while I don’t take the bait. “Oh that’s nice” in a flat tone.

This is a great idea! If you enjoy looking like an idiot who doesn’t know what the Galapagos islands are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t say I’ve been anywhere or my multi-millionaire sibling with three homes will talk about how poor she is.

So, I say nothing.

😂 maybe she’s “ house poor “

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a family, we’ve always traveled. It’s our thing. I’d rather spend money on trips than tons of gifts at birthdays/holidays on crap that’ll end up being donated/broken/discarded. DC has been traveling internationally since Kindergarten and has always loved it which is great.

Post-pandemic I think people want to travel even if they didn’t before. Now that the world has experienced what it’s like to be locked down in your house nevermind your country, people want to get out there now. Plus as your kids get older people tend to travel to do things together as a family before kids go away to college.

With all that being said, DC has been in private school from the start and due to the wealth you’re surrounded by that comes with attending private, yeah post every school break the topic of where everyone traveled/summered was discussed and could feel like a pissing match.

It's only a pissing match if you're insecure.

Disagree. Even if you aren’t insecure, some people know how to discuss it tactfully and without sounding like a douche, and some people don’t.

This is a misogynistic term that isn't even on point at all and is crude enough to undermine your point even if it were. Do better.

Oh god. It’s the tone-policing “do better” poster. Everyone is sick of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess I don’t understand why travel should be off limits. What should people talk about? Politics is off limits, same for religion. Perhaps books? That could be seen negatively too. If food or restaurants, that may sound pretentious. Jobs may be boring ( or not, but If not, then you are bragging.). Same with children as topics…say too much you are bragging. If theirs is struggling then you are insensitive. If you love running or peloton or yoga and others don’t, again you are pretentious or smug. What is left!

For me, I do read the room. If I’m with family or friends who travel or have a similar hobby, I go with that. If I’m with childhood friends and cousins who do not have similar experiences, I try to just ask about them, their families, and recall childhood memories for a laugh.

I'm the poor person who's never left North America. It's fun to hear about other places once or twice if people tell interesting stories, but after that I'm just hearing about far away places I'll never have enough money to go to, and people aren't talking about anything in these countries I can relate to in any way. I once spent an hour at a table listening to all the rich people talking about their favorite resorts in Mexico and Hawaii and making plans to meet up, stay at their respective condos, etc. I went to Mexico once, for a wedding, and the only thing I bought there other than food was tampons. It was very stressful to have to pay for a passport AND a dress. I can't afford Hawaii. I'd rather talk books and recipes and Netflix. I use my library card and like food and movies. I just feel completely left out.

You can watch travel channel documentaries to see the world and also get some friends on periscope

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite thing to do is act ignorant about the location that the bragging person wants me to be impressed by. “Galapagos? Where is that?” and then adopt the bored blank stare as they try to brag while I don’t take the bait. “Oh that’s nice” in a flat tone.

All this does is make you look incredibly ignorant. The person will leave this conversation telling everyone that you don’t know where the freaking Galapagos are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a family, we’ve always traveled. It’s our thing. I’d rather spend money on trips than tons of gifts at birthdays/holidays on crap that’ll end up being donated/broken/discarded. DC has been traveling internationally since Kindergarten and has always loved it which is great.

Post-pandemic I think people want to travel even if they didn’t before. Now that the world has experienced what it’s like to be locked down in your house nevermind your country, people want to get out there now. Plus as your kids get older people tend to travel to do things together as a family before kids go away to college.

With all that being said, DC has been in private school from the start and due to the wealth you’re surrounded by that comes with attending private, yeah post every school break the topic of where everyone traveled/summered was discussed and could feel like a pissing match.

It's only a pissing match if you're insecure.

Disagree. Even if you aren’t insecure, some people know how to discuss it tactfully and without sounding like a douche, and some people don’t.

Discuss it tactfully? It isn’t politics or religion or sex.

It takes money to travel. If someone can’t afford it, yes, be tactful about your grand tours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite thing to do is act ignorant about the location that the bragging person wants me to be impressed by. “Galapagos? Where is that?” and then adopt the bored blank stare as they try to brag while I don’t take the bait. “Oh that’s nice” in a flat tone.

You don’t know where Galapagos is? How strange.😀

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a family, we’ve always traveled. It’s our thing. I’d rather spend money on trips than tons of gifts at birthdays/holidays on crap that’ll end up being donated/broken/discarded. DC has been traveling internationally since Kindergarten and has always loved it which is great.

Post-pandemic I think people want to travel even if they didn’t before. Now that the world has experienced what it’s like to be locked down in your house nevermind your country, people want to get out there now. Plus as your kids get older people tend to travel to do things together as a family before kids go away to college.

With all that being said, DC has been in private school from the start and due to the wealth you’re surrounded by that comes with attending private, yeah post every school break the topic of where everyone traveled/summered was discussed and could feel like a pissing match.

It's only a pissing match if you're insecure.

Disagree. Even if you aren’t insecure, some people know how to discuss it tactfully and without sounding like a douche, and some people don’t.

Discuss it tactfully? It isn’t politics or religion or sex.

It is possible to do it without bragging. If you don't understand there are multiple ways to discuss your vacations, you are the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My favorite thing to do is act ignorant about the location that the bragging person wants me to be impressed by. “Galapagos? Where is that?” and then adopt the bored blank stare as they try to brag while I don’t take the bait. “Oh that’s nice” in a flat tone.

You don’t know where Galapagos is? How strange.😀

Reading comprehension not your strong suit I see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My favorite thing to do is act ignorant about the location that the bragging person wants me to be impressed by. “Galapagos? Where is that?” and then adopt the bored blank stare as they try to brag while I don’t take the bait. “Oh that’s nice” in a flat tone.

All this does is make you look incredibly ignorant. The person will leave this conversation telling everyone that you don’t know where the freaking Galapagos are.

See, the difference is you care what the boorish braggart thinks of you. I don’t. I also don’t choose my vacation destinations based on what will make others most jealous of me.

[Anonymous]

My theory of travel is that many UMC dullards travel because they have nothing better to do nor any hobbies or fulfilling interests. Lot of this travel ultimately is an empty consumption requiring minimal effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My theory of travel is that many UMC dullards travel because they have nothing better to do nor any hobbies or fulfilling interests. Lot of this travel ultimately is an empty consumption requiring minimal effort.

I also think they have no close friendships or extended family relationships. No one to visit or hang out with over long weekends or holidays and use travel to fill the empty void.