Can you be friends with people who don't travel?
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Anonymous
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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. |
Anonymous
| I think this is pretty rigid. I like to travel and would suspect that people who never have or have no interest probably wouldn't have much in common with me. But to rule people out based on one criterion? Kind of obnoxious. Why don't you choose your friends based on who you like and who makes you happy, instead? |
Anonymous
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You are being ridiculous and close-minded.
Pot calling kettle black. |
Anonymous
| If that's enough to rule out a friendship with people you might otherwise enjoy, you're a snob. |
Anonymous
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Yes, you are a snob.
Some people use vacations to relax....and relaxing on the beach in Florida works for that. Obviously you feel like vacations have to have an elightening purpose, fine for you, but some of us just like to relax and unwind on vacation. I usually go to the Carribean, which is not in the US, but I like the beach vacation. Am I below your standard for friends? |
Anonymous
| Yes you are being a snob. Some people just dont like to travel and to each their own. |
Anonymous
| I would love to travel more but I've got bills to pay. I can only make choices within the realm of my reality. |
Anonymous
| well, I guess we'd never be friends then. I would never want to be friends with people that are so closed minded that can't possibly see the value in befriending people that think differently than they do. You're a hypocrite plain and simple. While you disparage people for not wanting to see other cultures or expanding their point of view, you're doing the same thing by not seeing their values (or cultures, if you will) or expanding your view. |
Anonymous
So, you have decided that you are no going to continue to be friends with someone who only takes vacations to Florida? And your reason for that apparently is that they don't travel outside the US? Because traveling is the only way to obtain a global view? First, there's this thing called the internet, through which people have access to all different perspectives. Perhaps you've heard of it. People don't get their news from the town crier anymore. Second, I agree you're not a snob - you're a huge snob. And what an odd thing to use to determine friendship - where people vacation. I have all sorts of friends - many have very different ideals and viewpoints than I do. But they're all good people who are kind and generous. Why do you think you need to live in an echo chamber, with everyone caring about the same things? - Signed, someone who has been on vacation to Europe, South America and various parts of the US in the last 3 years. |
Anonymous
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I think it's possible to care about a global view and not have the desire to travel.
I love to travel too, but international travel can be hard work, stressful and scary for alot of the people. Plus, not everyone has a lot of vacation time. Most of my friends are well traveled, but I wouldn't not be friends with someone for this reason alone. |
Anonymous
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I don't know you, but just sounding off on this definitely makes me think you are a snob. It definitely makes me think you are upper class and have very little connection to middle America. I LOVE to travel internationally and did it a lot when I was young, but we could never afford it now and wouldn't even try. IF we take a vacation, it's probably going to be at the beach for sure.
Why the hell would being born in this country change that? My husband was born in Germany and he would never ever feel that way. |
Anonymous
| I have never taken a trip outside of the U.S. We never took family vacations as a child and right now we are not in a place financially to travel internationally but I do have friendships with people who travel. I enjoy hearing about their trips and hope to go someday. Our conversations are not just about travel. Do you only want to talk about trips? |
Anonymous
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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. |
Anonymous
| This sounds to me like an odd line to draw. |
Anonymous
Upper class? The OP has NO CLASS. |