Locals squirt tourists w/ water guns: Barcelona mass tourism protests

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day tourism is awful. You just have mass hordes flocking to a place for selfie photos because they saw nice pictures online. They often partake very little in the local culture, learn absolutely zero at museums because all they're doing the whole time is taking selfies, and world sites are treated like playgrounds for millions.

So when others go, they are philistines, but when YOU go, with your camera-less learned academic endeavors and erudite strolling encyclopedia you are a vast improvement to the cityscape?

Got it.

NP. You refuse to believe those who experienced past tourism and can compare it to the current overcrowded situation.

Go now if you want with little Timmy, but we just feel sorry that you are experiencing these places in such an unpleasant environment, and feel extremely lucky we got to go when it was more pleasant.

You are still missing the point. I can't believe this has to be explained again.

None of you is saying "We should all stay away for the betterment of the locals and the tourists who have not been there before"

Instead you are saying "The new people ruined it for us! They poors and wal mart employees! They should stay at disney as intended!"

I feel the same way about music of the 1980s - we were a lucky generation.

Whaa? The era of Rick Astley, NKOTB, and Tiffany? "We Built This City", "The Final Countdown", and "Groovy Kind Of Love"? Linn drums, DX7s, and too much reverb? Hair Metal, Boy Bands, and movie soundtracks?

While we did get the birth of hip hop and a few good indie bands, the 80s were the worst decade for music since Edison's first wax cylinder. This is inarguable.

The cool kids were listening to college radio, not American Top 40.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Almost 75% of Catalans, three out of four, are in favor of continuing to promote tourism in Catalonia.”

https://www.catalannews.com/society-science/item/barcelona-hotels-consider-unacceptable-to-squirt-water-at-tourists-during-protest

That survey seems to have a math problem:

The survey was made between March 12 and May 19.

Out of those backing continuing to promote tourism, 24% are very much in favor, and 50% agree. However, 39% are against it or very much against it.

Most Catalans don't live in downtown Barcelona. I'm very much in favor of increased tourism in DC, sitting here in McLean where tourists don't come. See the problem with the survey?

I thought the problem was that the three numbers add up to 113%. but I guess you raise another problem.

Barna these days is "run" by progressives who think 2 + 2 = ? (4 being the wrong answer)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day tourism is awful. You just have mass hordes flocking to a place for selfie photos because they saw nice pictures online. They often partake very little in the local culture, learn absolutely zero at museums because all they're doing the whole time is taking selfies, and world sites are treated like playgrounds for millions.

So when others go, they are philistines, but when YOU go, with your camera-less learned academic endeavors and erudite strolling encyclopedia you are a vast improvement to the cityscape?

Got it.

NP. You refuse to believe those who experienced past tourism and can compare it to the current overcrowded situation.

Go now if you want with little Timmy, but we just feel sorry that you are experiencing these places in such an unpleasant environment, and feel extremely lucky we got to go when it was more pleasant.

You are still missing the point. I can't believe this has to be explained again.

None of you is saying "We should all stay away for the betterment of the locals and the tourists who have not been there before"

Instead you are saying "The new people ruined it for us! They poors and wal mart employees! They should stay at disney as intended!"

I feel the same way about music of the 1980s - we were a lucky generation.

Whaa? The era of Rick Astley, NKOTB, and Tiffany? "We Built This City", "The Final Countdown", and "Groovy Kind Of Love"? Linn drums, DX7s, and too much reverb? Hair Metal, Boy Bands, and movie soundtracks?

While we did get the birth of hip hop and a few good indie bands, the 80s were the worst decade for music since Edison's first wax cylinder. This is inarguable.

No, British new wave mainly because I was based in London. The Cure, the Smiths, New Order, Joy Division, Bronski Beat, Echo and the Bunnyman, Fine Young Cannibals,The Police, the Eurhythmics, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, then U2, REM, Terence Trent D'Arby, Tracy Chapman as well.

For what it's worth, I still have my travel diary from 1989/90. I budgeted 26 pounds a day and came home with unspent funds, so cut out the "poors" nonsense - I was the ultimate budget traveler, self funded with temp work staying in dorms and using a train pass.

I was in West Germany the day the Berlin Wall came down so witnessed both the pre and post cold war era. I get that you're young and that political and economic history isn't your forte.

Bet money I am older than you. I know all of those bands, saw most of them, and even shared a bill with one of them. (I was a musician and worked for a major record label during that time period). Some of them are great, and some not so much in retrospect. Listen to the records, they do not hold up. Also, most of them were NOT what was most popular in the US, and this is a DC forum. The acts I mention above are the ones that were culturally dominant.

As for you once being poor, the fact that you can't reconcile your position then with your position now is your issue, not mine. And stick your economic history insult up your a$$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day tourism is awful. You just have mass hordes flocking to a place for selfie photos because they saw nice pictures online. They often partake very little in the local culture, learn absolutely zero at museums because all they're doing the whole time is taking selfies, and world sites are treated like playgrounds for millions.

So when others go, they are philistines, but when YOU go, with your camera-less learned academic endeavors and erudite strolling encyclopedia you are a vast improvement to the cityscape?

Got it.

NP. You refuse to believe those who experienced past tourism and can compare it to the current overcrowded situation.

Go now if you want with little Timmy, but we just feel sorry that you are experiencing these places in such an unpleasant environment, and feel extremely lucky we got to go when it was more pleasant.

You are still missing the point. I can't believe this has to be explained again.

None of you is saying "We should all stay away for the betterment of the locals and the tourists who have not been there before"

Instead you are saying "The new people ruined it for us! They poors and wal mart employees! They should stay at disney as intended!"

I feel the same way about music of the 1980s - we were a lucky generation.

Whaa? The era of Rick Astley, NKOTB, and Tiffany? "We Built This City", "The Final Countdown", and "Groovy Kind Of Love"? Linn drums, DX7s, and too much reverb? Hair Metal, Boy Bands, and movie soundtracks?

While we did get the birth of hip hop and a few good indie bands, the 80s were the worst decade for music since Edison's first wax cylinder. This is inarguable.

The cool kids were listening to college radio, not American Top 40.

Yeah that was the point, Einstein.

[Anonymous]

How do they know if the squirted tourists are in an air b and b or hotel? I need to learn some Catalan pronto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Barcelona is not worth a visit. Between the pickpockets, panhandlers and nasty locals, you're better off anywhere else Spain. Just spend a day to see the Gaudi stuff and be out.

Agree with this

I was in Barcelona in the early 1990s during 6 months backpacking through Europe. It wasn’t great then either and people were pretty unfriendly compared to other parts of Spain. I think they are just angry people for other reasons besides tourism. Definitely better places to go.

I also went for the first time on the 90s and absolutely loved it. It was in the fall and there were no crowds anywhere. Truly one of my favorite trips ever.

Went back last year with my family and while the crowds were formidable, we still managed to have a great trip and avoid the worst of it. People were lovely, but I don’t really expect locals to be overly friendly with me.

Apparently the anti-tourism protesters also targeted Girona, which we found to be almost completely devoid of tourists when were there last summer. It was delightful, more like the old days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day tourism is awful. You just have mass hordes flocking to a place for selfie photos because they saw nice pictures online. They often partake very little in the local culture, learn absolutely zero at museums because all they're doing the whole time is taking selfies, and world sites are treated like playgrounds for millions.

So when others go, they are philistines, but when YOU go, with your camera-less learned academic endeavors and erudite strolling encyclopedia you are a vast improvement to the cityscape?

Got it.

I mean these days yes, 85% of tourism is garbage vanity traveling. People travel all over simply to get likes and selfies at spots and just leave. We were in the British Museum of Natural History the other day and literally 99% of the people there were just there for taking selfies with ridiculous poses. It got sooooo annoying trying to read the information on the exhibits because you were always pressured to move because you might be in someone line of sight for a selfie. Hardly anyone was there to actually read and learn about anything in the displays. They were all too busy clogging up the stairs trying to take selfies in the main hall which is photogenic.


And actually yes, I have zero social media accounts and never post traveling photos of anything. I don’t have an insane urge to feel like I need to show off my travels for vanity purposes so that I can get virtual thumbs up.


Modern day tourism is too cheap and allows anyone with a job at Walmart to travel. TikTok has warped everyone’s brain to flock to sites all over the planet for selfies and then to move on like locusts to the next site. It was not like this 25 years ago.

I don't have any social media accounts either. I find them ridiculous.

What I find even more ridiculous is blaming this for the problems of over-tourism. What I find most ridiculous is the idea that one person's reason to travel to a place is more virtuous than another's. You are essentially saying "you stay home so it is better for me." That's EXACTLY snobbery of the worst kind.

You LITERALLY insult people who work at Walmart. You complain that it has become affordable for them to travel. My goodness, if you don't see the reprehensible nature of that position I can't help you.

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees, it is undeniable that tourist numbers have gone up leading to the crush of people at popular locations. When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller. Incomes in many countries were lower. Flights were costlier compared to salaries. People read about far flung places in National Geographic but didn't imagine ever going there.

When I see photos of Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice, I can understand why locals are unhappy.

I'll respond to this:

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees

That's not what PP did and you know it. It was a euphemism for people of a lower class than them. It is repulsive and PP should be ashamed, as should you if you don't see that.

PP literally blamed poor working class people for ruining tourist locations by simply going.

Yea that PP you responded to is no better with their xenophobia. “When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller.”

If people feel this way so what you are trying to shame them but they don't care what you think otherwise they would not have said what they said. I agree with them. I want to go to Europe to experience Europe, not BRIC country culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day tourism is awful. You just have mass hordes flocking to a place for selfie photos because they saw nice pictures online. They often partake very little in the local culture, learn absolutely zero at museums because all they're doing the whole time is taking selfies, and world sites are treated like playgrounds for millions.

So when others go, they are philistines, but when YOU go, with your camera-less learned academic endeavors and erudite strolling encyclopedia you are a vast improvement to the cityscape?

Got it.

I mean these days yes, 85% of tourism is garbage vanity traveling. People travel all over simply to get likes and selfies at spots and just leave. We were in the British Museum of Natural History the other day and literally 99% of the people there were just there for taking selfies with ridiculous poses. It got sooooo annoying trying to read the information on the exhibits because you were always pressured to move because you might be in someone line of sight for a selfie. Hardly anyone was there to actually read and learn about anything in the displays. They were all too busy clogging up the stairs trying to take selfies in the main hall which is photogenic.


And actually yes, I have zero social media accounts and never post traveling photos of anything. I don’t have an insane urge to feel like I need to show off my travels for vanity purposes so that I can get virtual thumbs up.


Modern day tourism is too cheap and allows anyone with a job at Walmart to travel. TikTok has warped everyone’s brain to flock to sites all over the planet for selfies and then to move on like locusts to the next site. It was not like this 25 years ago.

I don't have any social media accounts either. I find them ridiculous.

What I find even more ridiculous is blaming this for the problems of over-tourism. What I find most ridiculous is the idea that one person's reason to travel to a place is more virtuous than another's. You are essentially saying "you stay home so it is better for me." That's EXACTLY snobbery of the worst kind.

You LITERALLY insult people who work at Walmart. You complain that it has become affordable for them to travel. My goodness, if you don't see the reprehensible nature of that position I can't help you.

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees, it is undeniable that tourist numbers have gone up leading to the crush of people at popular locations. When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller. Incomes in many countries were lower. Flights were costlier compared to salaries. People read about far flung places in National Geographic but didn't imagine ever going there.

When I see photos of Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice, I can understand why locals are unhappy.

I'll respond to this:

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees

That's not what PP did and you know it. It was a euphemism for people of a lower class than them. It is repulsive and PP should be ashamed, as should you if you don't see that.

PP literally blamed poor working class people for ruining tourist locations by simply going.

Yea that PP you responded to is no better with their xenophobia. “When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller.”

If people feel this way so what you are trying to shame them but they don't care what you think otherwise they would not have said what they said. I agree with them. I want to go to Europe to experience Europe, not BRIC country culture.

DP - Lol here we go again... I don't want to go to Europe and see any non-Europeans EXCEPT FOR ME.

Yes, trying to shame them, and you, and rightfully so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a bunch of ingrates.

“Ingrate”?

Hardly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day tourism is awful. You just have mass hordes flocking to a place for selfie photos because they saw nice pictures online. They often partake very little in the local culture, learn absolutely zero at museums because all they're doing the whole time is taking selfies, and world sites are treated like playgrounds for millions.

So when others go, they are philistines, but when YOU go, with your camera-less learned academic endeavors and erudite strolling encyclopedia you are a vast improvement to the cityscape?

Got it.

I mean these days yes, 85% of tourism is garbage vanity traveling. People travel all over simply to get likes and selfies at spots and just leave. We were in the British Museum of Natural History the other day and literally 99% of the people there were just there for taking selfies with ridiculous poses. It got sooooo annoying trying to read the information on the exhibits because you were always pressured to move because you might be in someone line of sight for a selfie. Hardly anyone was there to actually read and learn about anything in the displays. They were all too busy clogging up the stairs trying to take selfies in the main hall which is photogenic.


And actually yes, I have zero social media accounts and never post traveling photos of anything. I don’t have an insane urge to feel like I need to show off my travels for vanity purposes so that I can get virtual thumbs up.


Modern day tourism is too cheap and allows anyone with a job at Walmart to travel. TikTok has warped everyone’s brain to flock to sites all over the planet for selfies and then to move on like locusts to the next site. It was not like this 25 years ago.

I don't have any social media accounts either. I find them ridiculous.

What I find even more ridiculous is blaming this for the problems of over-tourism. What I find most ridiculous is the idea that one person's reason to travel to a place is more virtuous than another's. You are essentially saying "you stay home so it is better for me." That's EXACTLY snobbery of the worst kind.

You LITERALLY insult people who work at Walmart. You complain that it has become affordable for them to travel. My goodness, if you don't see the reprehensible nature of that position I can't help you.

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees, it is undeniable that tourist numbers have gone up leading to the crush of people at popular locations. When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller. Incomes in many countries were lower. Flights were costlier compared to salaries. People read about far flung places in National Geographic but didn't imagine ever going there.

When I see photos of Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice, I can understand why locals are unhappy.

I'll respond to this:

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees

That's not what PP did and you know it. It was a euphemism for people of a lower class than them. It is repulsive and PP should be ashamed, as should you if you don't see that.

PP literally blamed poor working class people for ruining tourist locations by simply going.

Yea that PP you responded to is no better with their xenophobia. “When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller.”

If people feel this way so what you are trying to shame them but they don't care what you think otherwise they would not have said what they said. I agree with them. I want to go to Europe to experience Europe, not BRIC country culture.

DP - Lol here we go again... I don't want to go to Europe and see any non-Europeans EXCEPT FOR ME.

Yes, trying to shame them, and you, and rightfully so.

For me, the question is whether these places have the capacity to host the current volumes of tourists. I don't care where they come from - there are just too many of them given the existing infrastructure. Numbers have tripled between 1990 and today but the locations themselves have not tripled in size, hence the crowds, the need for prebooked tickets and the feeling of being herded.

I'm not saying they shouldn't go if they enjoy being atmosphere. Those hosting them are also free to add whatever restrictions/taxes/laws they need to in order to maintain their own standards of living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day tourism is awful. You just have mass hordes flocking to a place for selfie photos because they saw nice pictures online. They often partake very little in the local culture, learn absolutely zero at museums because all they're doing the whole time is taking selfies, and world sites are treated like playgrounds for millions.

So when others go, they are philistines, but when YOU go, with your camera-less learned academic endeavors and erudite strolling encyclopedia you are a vast improvement to the cityscape?

Got it.

I mean these days yes, 85% of tourism is garbage vanity traveling. People travel all over simply to get likes and selfies at spots and just leave. We were in the British Museum of Natural History the other day and literally 99% of the people there were just there for taking selfies with ridiculous poses. It got sooooo annoying trying to read the information on the exhibits because you were always pressured to move because you might be in someone line of sight for a selfie. Hardly anyone was there to actually read and learn about anything in the displays. They were all too busy clogging up the stairs trying to take selfies in the main hall which is photogenic.


And actually yes, I have zero social media accounts and never post traveling photos of anything. I don’t have an insane urge to feel like I need to show off my travels for vanity purposes so that I can get virtual thumbs up.


Modern day tourism is too cheap and allows anyone with a job at Walmart to travel. TikTok has warped everyone’s brain to flock to sites all over the planet for selfies and then to move on like locusts to the next site. It was not like this 25 years ago.

I don't have any social media accounts either. I find them ridiculous.

What I find even more ridiculous is blaming this for the problems of over-tourism. What I find most ridiculous is the idea that one person's reason to travel to a place is more virtuous than another's. You are essentially saying "you stay home so it is better for me." That's EXACTLY snobbery of the worst kind.

You LITERALLY insult people who work at Walmart. You complain that it has become affordable for them to travel. My goodness, if you don't see the reprehensible nature of that position I can't help you.

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees, it is undeniable that tourist numbers have gone up leading to the crush of people at popular locations. When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller. Incomes in many countries were lower. Flights were costlier compared to salaries. People read about far flung places in National Geographic but didn't imagine ever going there.

When I see photos of Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice, I can understand why locals are unhappy.

I'll respond to this:

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees

That's not what PP did and you know it. It was a euphemism for people of a lower class than them. It is repulsive and PP should be ashamed, as should you if you don't see that.

PP literally blamed poor working class people for ruining tourist locations by simply going.

Yea that PP you responded to is no better with their xenophobia. “When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller.”

If people feel this way so what you are trying to shame them but they don't care what you think otherwise they would not have said what they said. I agree with them. I want to go to Europe to experience Europe, not BRIC country culture.

DP - Lol here we go again... I don't want to go to Europe and see any non-Europeans EXCEPT FOR ME.

Yes, trying to shame them, and you, and rightfully so.

Tell us about your recent trips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day tourism is awful. You just have mass hordes flocking to a place for selfie photos because they saw nice pictures online. They often partake very little in the local culture, learn absolutely zero at museums because all they're doing the whole time is taking selfies, and world sites are treated like playgrounds for millions.

So when others go, they are philistines, but when YOU go, with your camera-less learned academic endeavors and erudite strolling encyclopedia you are a vast improvement to the cityscape?

Got it.

I mean these days yes, 85% of tourism is garbage vanity traveling. People travel all over simply to get likes and selfies at spots and just leave. We were in the British Museum of Natural History the other day and literally 99% of the people there were just there for taking selfies with ridiculous poses. It got sooooo annoying trying to read the information on the exhibits because you were always pressured to move because you might be in someone line of sight for a selfie. Hardly anyone was there to actually read and learn about anything in the displays. They were all too busy clogging up the stairs trying to take selfies in the main hall which is photogenic.


And actually yes, I have zero social media accounts and never post traveling photos of anything. I don’t have an insane urge to feel like I need to show off my travels for vanity purposes so that I can get virtual thumbs up.


Modern day tourism is too cheap and allows anyone with a job at Walmart to travel. TikTok has warped everyone’s brain to flock to sites all over the planet for selfies and then to move on like locusts to the next site. It was not like this 25 years ago.

I don't have any social media accounts either. I find them ridiculous.

What I find even more ridiculous is blaming this for the problems of over-tourism. What I find most ridiculous is the idea that one person's reason to travel to a place is more virtuous than another's. You are essentially saying "you stay home so it is better for me." That's EXACTLY snobbery of the worst kind.

You LITERALLY insult people who work at Walmart. You complain that it has become affordable for them to travel. My goodness, if you don't see the reprehensible nature of that position I can't help you.

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees, it is undeniable that tourist numbers have gone up leading to the crush of people at popular locations. When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller. Incomes in many countries were lower. Flights were costlier compared to salaries. People read about far flung places in National Geographic but didn't imagine ever going there.

When I see photos of Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice, I can understand why locals are unhappy.

I'll respond to this:

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees

That's not what PP did and you know it. It was a euphemism for people of a lower class than them. It is repulsive and PP should be ashamed, as should you if you don't see that.

PP literally blamed poor working class people for ruining tourist locations by simply going.

Yea that PP you responded to is no better with their xenophobia. “When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller.”

If people feel this way so what you are trying to shame them but they don't care what you think otherwise they would not have said what they said. I agree with them. I want to go to Europe to experience Europe, not BRIC country culture.

DP - Lol here we go again... I don't want to go to Europe and see any non-Europeans EXCEPT FOR ME.

Yes, trying to shame them, and you, and rightfully so.

Tell us about your recent trips.

WTF is the point of this? I am happy to if you can provide a purpose.

[Anonymous]

Problem: as reported in the Spanich media 1-2 weeks ago, the economy in Barcelona and Catalonia is really suffering since the toxic political climate made many companies and people move away.

Solution: let's go harass some poor tourists.

Policy assessment: brilliant!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day tourism is awful. You just have mass hordes flocking to a place for selfie photos because they saw nice pictures online. They often partake very little in the local culture, learn absolutely zero at museums because all they're doing the whole time is taking selfies, and world sites are treated like playgrounds for millions.

So when others go, they are philistines, but when YOU go, with your camera-less learned academic endeavors and erudite strolling encyclopedia you are a vast improvement to the cityscape?

Got it.

I mean these days yes, 85% of tourism is garbage vanity traveling. People travel all over simply to get likes and selfies at spots and just leave. We were in the British Museum of Natural History the other day and literally 99% of the people there were just there for taking selfies with ridiculous poses. It got sooooo annoying trying to read the information on the exhibits because you were always pressured to move because you might be in someone line of sight for a selfie. Hardly anyone was there to actually read and learn about anything in the displays. They were all too busy clogging up the stairs trying to take selfies in the main hall which is photogenic.


And actually yes, I have zero social media accounts and never post traveling photos of anything. I don’t have an insane urge to feel like I need to show off my travels for vanity purposes so that I can get virtual thumbs up.


Modern day tourism is too cheap and allows anyone with a job at Walmart to travel. TikTok has warped everyone’s brain to flock to sites all over the planet for selfies and then to move on like locusts to the next site. It was not like this 25 years ago.

I don't have any social media accounts either. I find them ridiculous.

What I find even more ridiculous is blaming this for the problems of over-tourism. What I find most ridiculous is the idea that one person's reason to travel to a place is more virtuous than another's. You are essentially saying "you stay home so it is better for me." That's EXACTLY snobbery of the worst kind.

You LITERALLY insult people who work at Walmart. You complain that it has become affordable for them to travel. My goodness, if you don't see the reprehensible nature of that position I can't help you.

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees, it is undeniable that tourist numbers have gone up leading to the crush of people at popular locations. When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller. Incomes in many countries were lower. Flights were costlier compared to salaries. People read about far flung places in National Geographic but didn't imagine ever going there.

When I see photos of Amsterdam, Barcelona and Venice, I can understand why locals are unhappy.

I'll respond to this:

While the writer shouldn't have singled out one company's employees

That's not what PP did and you know it. It was a euphemism for people of a lower class than them. It is repulsive and PP should be ashamed, as should you if you don't see that.

PP literally blamed poor working class people for ruining tourist locations by simply going.

Yea that PP you responded to is no better with their xenophobia. “When I started traveling, people in communist Eastern Europe and China weren't allowed out of their countries, so the tourist pool was smaller.”

If people feel this way so what you are trying to shame them but they don't care what you think otherwise they would not have said what they said. I agree with them. I want to go to Europe to experience Europe, not BRIC country culture.

DP - Lol here we go again... I don't want to go to Europe and see any non-Europeans EXCEPT FOR ME.

Yes, trying to shame them, and you, and rightfully so.

Tell us about your recent trips.

WTF is the point of this? I am happy to if you can provide a purpose.

You find the current situation of overtourism to be fine, so I wonder where you go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Modern day tourism is awful. You just have mass hordes flocking to a place for selfie photos because they saw nice pictures online. They often partake very little in the local culture, learn absolutely zero at museums because all they're doing the whole time is taking selfies, and world sites are treated like playgrounds for millions.

So when others go, they are philistines, but when YOU go, with your camera-less learned academic endeavors and erudite strolling encyclopedia you are a vast improvement to the cityscape?

Got it.

NP. You refuse to believe those who experienced past tourism and can compare it to the current overcrowded situation.

Go now if you want with little Timmy, but we just feel sorry that you are experiencing these places in such an unpleasant environment, and feel extremely lucky we got to go when it was more pleasant.

You are still missing the point. I can't believe this has to be explained again.

None of you is saying "We should all stay away for the betterment of the locals and the tourists who have not been there before"

Instead you are saying "The new people ruined it for us! They poors and wal mart employees! They should stay at disney as intended!"

I feel the same way about music of the 1980s - we were a lucky generation.

Whaa? The era of Rick Astley, NKOTB, and Tiffany? "We Built This City", "The Final Countdown", and "Groovy Kind Of Love"? Linn drums, DX7s, and too much reverb? Hair Metal, Boy Bands, and movie soundtracks?

While we did get the birth of hip hop and a few good indie bands, the 80s were the worst decade for music since Edison's first wax cylinder. This is inarguable.

No, British new wave mainly because I was based in London. The Cure, the Smiths, New Order, Joy Division, Bronski Beat, Echo and the Bunnyman, Fine Young Cannibals,The Police, the Eurhythmics, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, then U2, REM, Terence Trent D'Arby, Tracy Chapman as well.

For what it's worth, I still have my travel diary from 1989/90. I budgeted 26 pounds a day and came home with unspent funds, so cut out the "poors" nonsense - I was the ultimate budget traveler, self funded with temp work staying in dorms and using a train pass.

I was in West Germany the day the Berlin Wall came down so witnessed both the pre and post cold war era. I get that you're young and that political and economic history isn't your forte.

Bet money I am older than you. I know all of those bands, saw most of them, and even shared a bill with one of them. (I was a musician and worked for a major record label during that time period). Some of them are great, and some not so much in retrospect. Listen to the records, they do not hold up. Also, most of them were NOT what was most popular in the US, and this is a DC forum. The acts I mention above are the ones that were culturally dominant.

As for you once being poor, the fact that you can't reconcile your position then with your position now is your issue, not mine. And stick your economic history insult up your a$$.

NP. You’re arguing that The Cure, The Police, the Eurhythmics, U2, Tracy Chapman, and REM weren’t some of the most popular artists of the 80s?