Can you be friends with people who don't travel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say I "rule them out" - but I find that most people who don't leave this country are pretty ignorant about things that go on in this world. They will spend thousands of dollars on "organic" (yes, that is meaning to mock") mac N cheese powdered process cheese a year, while there are children who go without clean water. There are arguments every day on DCUM about how there are the "harms" of battery powered flashing toys - when some children play with sticks and rocks.

It's hard to be friends with people who have so much and take so much for granted every day and choose to be ignorant to the world around them. I have a lot and am greatful for it, but I think it is my job to teach my daughter that she has a greater duty to this world. That there are people with less - and I don't mean people with food stamps who get to eat - I mean people who walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water for their children to drink.

THAT is what I can't be friends with people who don't invest in the world around them. Because they don't invest in me.

Get over yourself. I've lived in 7 countries over the course of my life, met ignorant people in every single one, not just the U.S. BTW, most people understand there is dire poverty in third world countries. Unless you yourself are actually immersing yourself and living with the poor, shut your mouth. So, you go to a developing country, gawk and pity the poor people, and then go back to your fancy hotel, electricity, and clean water...and somehow, this makes you a better citizen of the world than Joe Blow sitting on the beach in Clearwater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say I "rule them out" - but I find that most people who don't leave this country are pretty ignorant about things that go on in this world. They will spend thousands of dollars on "organic" (yes, that is meaning to mock") mac N cheese powdered process cheese a year, while there are children who go without clean water. There are arguments every day on DCUM about how there are the "harms" of battery powered flashing toys - when some children play with sticks and rocks.

It's hard to be friends with people who have so much and take so much for granted every day and choose to be ignorant to the world around them. I have a lot and am greatful for it, but I think it is my job to teach my daughter that she has a greater duty to this world. That there are people with less - and I don't mean people with food stamps who get to eat - I mean people who walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water for their children to drink.

THAT is what I can't be friends with people who don't invest in the world around them. Because they don't invest in me.

What in the hell are you talking about? So a person who travels anywhere outside the country is not ignorant? Get out of here! You are just as selfish as the OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say I "rule them out" - but I find that most people who don't leave this country are pretty ignorant about things that go on in this world. They will spend thousands of dollars on "organic" (yes, that is meaning to mock") mac N cheese powdered process cheese a year, while there are children who go without clean water. There are arguments every day on DCUM about how there are the "harms" of battery powered flashing toys - when some children play with sticks and rocks.

It's hard to be friends with people who have so much and take so much for granted every day and choose to be ignorant to the world around them. I have a lot and am greatful for it, but I think it is my job to teach my daughter that she has a greater duty to this world. That there are people with less - and I don't mean people with food stamps who get to eat - I mean people who walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water for their children to drink.

THAT is what I can't be friends with people who don't invest in the world around them. Because they don't invest in me.

So what are your vacations like to these parts of the world? When you take a vacation with people who have to walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water to drink, I wonder what your day is like? Do your children go with you and then play with the other children with sticks and rocks?
Just curious what those trips are like.
(yes, this is meaning to mock.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say I "rule them out" - but I find that most people who don't leave this country are pretty ignorant about things that go on in this world. They will spend thousands of dollars on "organic" (yes, that is meaning to mock") mac N cheese powdered process cheese a year, while there are children who go without clean water. There are arguments every day on DCUM about how there are the "harms" of battery powered flashing toys - when some children play with sticks and rocks.

It's hard to be friends with people who have so much and take so much for granted every day and choose to be ignorant to the world around them. I have a lot and am greatful for it, but I think it is my job to teach my daughter that she has a greater duty to this world. That there are people with less - and I don't mean people with food stamps who get to eat - I mean people who walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water for their children to drink.

THAT is what I can't be friends with people who don't invest in the world around them. Because they don't invest in me.

You didn't say that you wouldn't be friends with people who don't care about the poor, you said you wouldn't be friends with people who didn't travel. Wouldn't you be doing more good to take the money you are spending on your international travel and send it to a charity to provide that clean water? of course, that wouldn't allow you to feel quite as self righteous.

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing that most of the PPs who think that OP is a snob, etc., have friends--the majority of whom have traveled outside the US (and not just to Mexico or Canada).

PPs themselves are holier than thou.

In a certain socio-economic demographic (well-traveled, chose to live in DC), face it, your close friends are very, very likely to have traveled outside the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say I "rule them out" - but I find that most people who don't leave this country are pretty ignorant about things that go on in this world. They will spend thousands of dollars on "organic" (yes, that is meaning to mock") mac N cheese powdered process cheese a year, while there are children who go without clean water. There are arguments every day on DCUM about how there are the "harms" of battery powered flashing toys - when some children play with sticks and rocks.

It's hard to be friends with people who have so much and take so much for granted every day and choose to be ignorant to the world around them. I have a lot and am greatful for it, but I think it is my job to teach my daughter that she has a greater duty to this world. That there are people with less - and I don't mean people with food stamps who get to eat - I mean people who walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water for their children to drink.

THAT is what I can't be friends with people who don't invest in the world around them. Because they don't invest in me.

So what are your vacations like to these parts of the world? When you take a vacation with people who have to walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water to drink, I wonder what your day is like? Do your children go with you and then play with the other children with sticks and rocks?
Just curious what those trips are like.
(yes, this is meaning to mock.)

+1 I totally agree. OP you are clearly crazy. So, you won't be friends with someone who takes vacations in Florida because that means they buy organic mac and cheese and don't realize people walk 10 miles a day for clean water, but people who go skiing in the swiss alps, see the museums in Spain, and dine in France are more aware of those that don't have clean water or play with sticks and rocks? Yeah, THAT makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say I "rule them out" - but I find that most people who don't leave this country are pretty ignorant about things that go on in this world. They will spend thousands of dollars on "organic" (yes, that is meaning to mock") mac N cheese powdered process cheese a year, while there are children who go without clean water. There are arguments every day on DCUM about how there are the "harms" of battery powered flashing toys - when some children play with sticks and rocks.

It's hard to be friends with people who have so much and take so much for granted every day and choose to be ignorant to the world around them. I have a lot and am greatful for it, but I think it is my job to teach my daughter that she has a greater duty to this world. That there are people with less - and I don't mean people with food stamps who get to eat - I mean people who walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water for their children to drink.

THAT is what I can't be friends with people who don't invest in the world around them. Because they don't invest in me.

You didn't say that you wouldn't be friends with people who don't care about the poor, you said you wouldn't be friends with people who didn't travel. Wouldn't you be doing more good to take the money you are spending on your international travel and send it to a charity to provide that clean water? of course, that wouldn't allow you to feel quite as self righteous.

So easy to judge. How do you know I don't work doing just that? I guess maybe my husband is right and I am a snob. Or maybe it's just easy to judge me...

[Anonymous]

One of my closest friends has never had a passport. But I like her as a person, and although we do not share every single view the same, having her as a friend and learning from her perspective enriches me as much as any other activity.

We all have different interests and priorities, and hanging out only with people who are exactly the same as you would get awfully boring and contribute to a narrow worldview.

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the PPs. Most of my family has not traveled outside of the U.S., but uninformed or ignorant is one of the last terms I would use to describe them.

It's also interesting that the PP referring to us as holier-than-thou doesn't address the fact that people have very legitimate criticisms: most people traveling outside of the U.S. are not traveling and living as the locals do. You know, even if people are impoverished, many of them still have their pride intact. And to say that you understand their plight because you've passed by their shack or seen them sleeping on the street is just offensive. And you aren't making the world a better place just by laying eyes on a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing that most of the PPs who think that OP is a snob, etc., have friends--the majority of whom have traveled outside the US (and not just to Mexico or Canada).

PPs themselves are holier than thou.

In a certain socio-economic demographic (well-traveled, chose to live in DC), face it, your close friends are very, very likely to have traveled outside the US.

I said I think OP is a snob, and I, and the majority of my friends have traveled outside the US. But I don't rule out friendship with people who haven't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say I "rule them out" - but I find that most people who don't leave this country are pretty ignorant about things that go on in this world. They will spend thousands of dollars on "organic" (yes, that is meaning to mock") mac N cheese powdered process cheese a year, while there are children who go without clean water. There are arguments every day on DCUM about how there are the "harms" of battery powered flashing toys - when some children play with sticks and rocks.

It's hard to be friends with people who have so much and take so much for granted every day and choose to be ignorant to the world around them. I have a lot and am greatful for it, but I think it is my job to teach my daughter that she has a greater duty to this world. That there are people with less - and I don't mean people with food stamps who get to eat - I mean people who walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water for their children to drink.

THAT is what I can't be friends with people who don't invest in the world around them. Because they don't invest in me.

So what are your vacations like to these parts of the world? When you take a vacation with people who have to walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water to drink, I wonder what your day is like? Do your children go with you and then play with the other children with sticks and rocks?
Just curious what those trips are like.
(yes, this is meaning to mock.)

+1 I totally agree. OP you are clearly crazy. So, you won't be friends with someone who takes vacations in Florida because that means they buy organic mac and cheese and don't realize people walk 10 miles a day for clean water, but people who go skiing in the swiss alps, see the museums in Spain, and dine in France are more aware of those that don't have clean water or play with sticks and rocks? Yeah, THAT makes sense.

Wait did the OP write that? I did not think so I think it was another poster?

[Anonymous]

Yes. My DH has only been to Club Meds outside the US. He's still a loving and suportive partner and father and yes, friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say I "rule them out" - but I find that most people who don't leave this country are pretty ignorant about things that go on in this world. They will spend thousands of dollars on "organic" (yes, that is meaning to mock") mac N cheese powdered process cheese a year, while there are children who go without clean water. There are arguments every day on DCUM about how there are the "harms" of battery powered flashing toys - when some children play with sticks and rocks.

It's hard to be friends with people who have so much and take so much for granted every day and choose to be ignorant to the world around them. I have a lot and am greatful for it, but I think it is my job to teach my daughter that she has a greater duty to this world. That there are people with less - and I don't mean people with food stamps who get to eat - I mean people who walk 10 miles a day to fill a bucket of clean water for their children to drink.

THAT is what I can't be friends with people who don't invest in the world around them. Because they don't invest in me.

You didn't say that you wouldn't be friends with people who don't care about the poor, you said you wouldn't be friends with people who didn't travel. Wouldn't you be doing more good to take the money you are spending on your international travel and send it to a charity to provide that clean water? of course, that wouldn't allow you to feel quite as self righteous.

So easy to judge. How do you know I don't work doing just that? I guess maybe my husband is right and I am a snob. Or maybe it's just easy to judge me...

or c) both. Seriously, this is one of the douchiest posts ever. You don't come off well. You're a snob. And it's easy to judge snobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I had this argument last night. He thinks that I am being snobby, but I really don't want to be friends with people who do not/will not travel outside the US. I understand that for financial reasons, some people can't afford it. However, we have a friend who takes all their vacations to Florida - which I just don't understand. How can you not want to see other cultures and try and expand your view of this world. Most likely, it is because I was not born in this country (although raised here).

Does this make me a snob? I don't think so - I just choose my friends based on people who care about a global view.

Translates to "how can you not want to be like me?" That question goes for anything people do in this world OP. Some just do it differently, that's the beauty of diversity and the beauty of life. I surround myself with people from a variety of backgrounds with a variety of tastes. A friend who doesn't like to travel could be the kindest, most generous person you've ever met. A friend who doesn't like to travel could be a mean cook, who bakes the most delicious cookies for your kids. A friend who doesn't like to travel could be the one who knows just what to say to make you laugh on a sad day..I could go on, but you get my point.

Saying you can't be friends with someone just because they don't share some superficial interest you have is indeed snobbish and severely close-minded, surely the irony of this can't escape a "well-traveled" individual like yourself. It would be a different story if said people hold ignorant/mean-spirited view of others.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are an idiot. At least once a week someone on this board posts about how they don't have any close friends, they would love to have at least one close friend. There's a lot of folks in this area who feel isolated and lonely and just want to have a friend, and here you are willing to chuck a friendship because the person doesn't choose to travel they way you do? That is ludicrous. You are spoiled and I can only assume you are in your 20's because most people by the time they are 40 realize what an asinine declaration that is.