Travel on Social Media

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:No, that is horribly gauche and a lot of what’s wrong with the travel world today. Please don’t.

Did you grow up rich? This point of view of not sharing travels with friends and family is foreign to me. So I’m genuinely curious if it’s because you grew up rich and were taught not to brag.

Also curious about if you take photos who traveling at all. Do you ever look at them? Do you make personal print albums for yourself? What if someone asks to see them — do you make an exception?

DP. I didn’t grow up rich and is also think it’s gauche to post travel pics. I love looking back at my own pics. They’re my memories. But I don’t expect anyone else to truly care. It’s sort of like telling people about your dreams. It’s cool that it’s fascinating to you, but trust me, no one else cares to hear about it.

40 years ago you would be invited to sit around someone's living room and watch a slide show on the wall about their exotic travel. And you would have gone and enjoyed it.

This isn't a new phenomenon.

Uh, no. It would have been sprung on unwitting guests during a dinner party and the only people who “enjoyed it” would be the bragging hosts, while the bored captive audience made appropriately “impressed” noises and inwardly rolled their eyes and died of boredom.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I post pics from my travels, yes, because I travel to interesting places. I know it makes some people jealous, but whatever.

OMG! Look at Karen posting from Paris. I wish I was her. She is eating moules-frites and has a Louis Vuitton bag. I could never dream of that. She is so amazing.

This sort of attitude and even being on social media in the first place are incompatible. Ergo, the attitude is posturing to cover up severe feelings of inadequacy and jealousy. It's a defense mechanism for insecurity, and everyone sees right through it.

The insecurity and inadequacy is actually in the photo posters, but it’s darling that you don’t see that.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:No, that is horribly gauche and a lot of what’s wrong with the travel world today. Please don’t.

Did you grow up rich? This point of view of not sharing travels with friends and family is foreign to me. So I’m genuinely curious if it’s because you grew up rich and were taught not to brag.

Also curious about if you take photos who traveling at all. Do you ever look at them? Do you make personal print albums for yourself? What if someone asks to see them — do you make an exception?

DP. I didn’t grow up rich and is also think it’s gauche to post travel pics. I love looking back at my own pics. They’re my memories. But I don’t expect anyone else to truly care. It’s sort of like telling people about your dreams. It’s cool that it’s fascinating to you, but trust me, no one else cares to hear about it.

40 years ago you would be invited to sit around someone's living room and watch a slide show on the wall about their exotic travel. And you would have gone and enjoyed it.

This isn't a new phenomenon.

It definitely isn't new, because I'm old enough to remember those slide shows. But people definitely cringed at those, too.

Travel is wonderful, but sharing a handful of trip photos is plenty.

Isn't that what we're talking about? Sharing a handful of photos on FB or Inst or whatever? And that, for some reason, has triggered some highly insecure snowflake who goes on about how she would mock those posters, thinking that's some kind of flex?

You are talking to multiple people who disagree with you. You can’t handle that, which makes you the highly insecure one.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I don’t use social media at all. All of it seems braggy to me, sorry. And it changes your travel experience to be frequently thinking “here’s a nice image to post on social media”. You can’t really be in the moment if that is your mindset. Try doing a trip without taking any photos and see how different that feels.

This is so true. I stopped posting anything at all on social media a few years ago and one of the biggest reasons was it was affecting the way I was thinking about things while I was supposed to be away, relaxing and spending quality time with my family. It is so much more enjoyable to remove social media from the experience. When/if you actually do that, some if you might realize that really were just attempting to brag and show your life in a way that isn’t necessarily genuine.

That’s a very negative way of thinking. While it might apply to some people and their motivation, I don’t think it applies to me and my circle.

I value and appreciate making memories—particularly with my family and friends. Pictures play an important role in that. My spouse’s parents never took pictures, and they regret it. I certainly am not trying to curate a fake image or brag. Rather, I try to make sure I capture some candid shots along with the obligatory tourist pics.

I love storing my pics on FB. I rarely dump all them. Rather, I select the best ones so I can pull them when I’m ready to print. My family and friends seem to enjoy seeing them, and folks often reach out to ask about our trip (often looking for tips on their own travel).

Assuming people are bragging or creating a false narrative is really strange approach to life.

Maybe you should reevaluate why you are taking these trips. It seems your only purpose for going is to get the photos. Don’t worry, you’re hardly alone, but some of us travel for internal validation.

Again: very weird for you to assume the only reason we travel is to post pics on social media. I live to travel. We dedicate a big portion of our dollars to travel regularly throughout the year. We primarily travel to detach and relax (think: remote beaches or off the grid countryside). I’m not posting pics in real time, but I value having nice pics of my family. My kids value the pics as well.

I honestly feel bad for anyone whose initial response is to assign malicious intent. Sad way to go through life.

You realize you and your kids will still have the pics even if you don’t post them? Oh right, I mean “store” them. FB is the only place you can do that.

Yeah, the “store them” thing is such a lie. And even if it were true, that’s why FB has the Only Me privacy setting.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I love seeing photos from friends. I do post photos on social media.

I have to admit that watching Bling Ring on how people robbed Paris Hilton's house based on social media postings made me feel more tentative about posting photos. But I only post on Facebook.

I know this bothers some and makes them jealous. But they can block me if they don't want to see it.

I love seeing photos from places I'll never make it to. So fun.

Jealous? No. But posting travel photos on social media can make you a mockery.

Wow. You sound mean. I don't mock my friends.

You are receiving yourself. We all do that. But I will plaster on a smile when I see you in the car pool line and chuckle under my breath about your trip to the Amalfi Coast or USVI or wherever. And I’m not alone.

This is really unhinged behavior.

If someone posts a couple stories or photos of a trip, I enjoy seeing their adventures and feel happy for the person. Like a different PP said, it sometimes gives me good ideas for future trips and it's an easy conversation starter the next time you see the person. If they post an album a day, I scroll on by and don't go through it - but I can't imagine laughing at someone for sharing a trip.

It's patently obvious that pp has a serious character defect.

Nah. A serious character defect is expecting others to care about our trips. It’s called narcissism, and clearly you (and the other travel instagrammers on here) have it.

Naw, you’re just a defective person. Normal, healthy people don’t think the way you evidently do.

Take what you just write and read it to yourself. Posting vacation pictures to beg for attention and validation is pathetic and makes you a defective person,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clearly the problem is with those of you who have a problem with it. Just get off social media and let people share what they want there.

No one is stopping you or not “letting” you post. Just know that FAR fewer people care than you’ve convinced yourself they do and many are rolling their eyes.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Clearly the problem is with those of you who have a problem with it. Just get off social media and let people share what they want there.

Right? I truly don't understand people who stay on social media and then complain and judge what people post. If you don't like it, stop following people or get off social media.

I stay on social media because I enjoy seeing people's kids, travels, experiences. That's what I'm there for.

I only have about 8 followers. I am not doing it to brag. It is a way to stay in touch with family and friends who live far away. I like to see their pictures too. I think the people complaining about this are very mean-spirited and envious.

Not envious so much, just smug maybe. It’s because we go better places quietly, yet have to watch you carry on about your pedestrian trips. It’s like shopping at luxury stores yet hearing someone brag about their Target finds. You get it, don’t you?

No you don’t have to. This is the point. If you are such a better person than everyone you are connected to on social media, then get off social media. Except you can’t because you’re addicted to the judgment you get to have about how much better you are than them. They’re the one living their life and enjoying their trip while you choose to watch (miserably) trying to convince yourself your life is better.

Then maybe they should try doing that next time, instead of vomiting Look At Meeeeee pics of it all over social media,

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Clearly the problem is with those of you who have a problem with it. Just get off social media and let people share what they want there.

Right? I truly don't understand people who stay on social media and then complain and judge what people post. If you don't like it, stop following people or get off social media.

I stay on social media because I enjoy seeing people's kids, travels, experiences. That's what I'm there for.

I only have about 8 followers. I am not doing it to brag. It is a way to stay in touch with family and friends who live far away. I like to see their pictures too. I think the people complaining about this are very mean-spirited and envious.

Not envious so much, just smug maybe. It’s because we go better places quietly, yet have to watch you carry on about your pedestrian trips. It’s like shopping at luxury stores yet hearing someone brag about their Target finds. You get it, don’t you?

No you don’t have to. This is the point. If you are such a better person than everyone you are connected to on social media, then get off social media. Except you can’t because you’re addicted to the judgment you get to have about how much better you are than them. They’re the one living their life and enjoying their trip while you choose to watch (miserably) trying to convince yourself your life is better.

I’m not on social media. Yet I’m still bombarded by stupid travel blogs, public instagram accounts, and YouTube videos everywhere I look. It is impossible to avoid. And doing it privately within your “circle” is no better honestly.

So now you’re mad that travel content on the internet just generally… exists . You’ve shifted from “my friends post their destinations and that’s not very WASPy of them and I go better places silently” to “people post about travel on YouTube and it bothers me.” Something is really wrong with you. Do you have personal beef with Rick Steves and Lonely Planet travel guides too? Weirdo

Of course there is a place for well curated travel writers and content. The problem is that every yahoo with a phone thinks they’re a “photographer” or “travel writer” when they’re actually a moron. I’m so sick of the so called “influencers” that, in my view, have ruined so many destinations and experiences. And I’m equally sick of suburban moms looking for the best European beach or low level travel experience desperate to post pictures for their little “audience” back home. Both are gauche. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?

Oh no, it’s crystal clear, you’re miserable and hate everyone. We got the point.

Wrong.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:You might enjoy your trip more if you aren’t always scanning for that Instagram-worthy shot. You may notice things you might have otherwise missed. You might realize you’re really having fun with your family doing xyz right now. You might interact more with your family or the locals.
Travels are about getting away. This is harder to do if you’re always thinking how amazing this shot will look on my FB page to my followers.
That’s all some of us are saying.

It’s just weird how some of you think you absolutely cannot in any way enjoy your trip or being with your family if you post a picture to Instagram too. Like that’s actually ludicrous.

DP. For me, it’s a matter of mindset. If I knew there was a chance I might post something to social media, my photos occupied my mind in a way that made me feel kind of ick. It became a weird compulsion to think “I wonder how this one will go over.” Or, “yikes, we look weird in that one, let’s take it again… ok, just one more…” When I removed the possibility, it opened up a lot of space in my head to just enjoy the place, the moment, the people.

Well that’s you. It hasn’t occurred to you some people just use photos as documentation, journaling, personal record, artistic expression? Or that they can post a photo or two AND not be consumed with the image and projection of it?

If you say so. And the bolded is all old as time, but the whole point of social media is to elicit a reaction from other people. It designed to give you a little brain boost when people like what you post, so it’s completely normal for people to look for more of that feeling, whether consciously or not. If you’ve figured out the trick to participate without thinking about what other people think, that’s great. Many people haven’t.

This. You’re not fooling anyone with your “documentation, journaling, personal record, artistic expression” line, just so you know. You can do ALL of those things with zero social media posts required.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I love seeing photos from friends. I do post photos on social media.

I have to admit that watching Bling Ring on how people robbed Paris Hilton's house based on social media postings made me feel more tentative about posting photos. But I only post on Facebook.

I know this bothers some and makes them jealous. But they can block me if they don't want to see it.

I love seeing photos from places I'll never make it to. So fun.

Jealous? No. But posting travel photos on social media can make you a mockery.

Wow. You sound mean. I don't mock my friends.

You are receiving yourself. We all do that. But I will plaster on a smile when I see you in the car pool line and chuckle under my breath about your trip to the Amalfi Coast or USVI or wherever. And I’m not alone.

This is really unhinged behavior.

If someone posts a couple stories or photos of a trip, I enjoy seeing their adventures and feel happy for the person. Like a different PP said, it sometimes gives me good ideas for future trips and it's an easy conversation starter the next time you see the person. If they post an album a day, I scroll on by and don't go through it - but I can't imagine laughing at someone for sharing a trip.

It's patently obvious that pp has a serious character defect.

Nah. A serious character defect is expecting others to care about our trips. It’s called narcissism, and clearly you (and the other travel instagrammers on here) have it.

Naw, you’re just a defective person. Normal, healthy people don’t think the way you evidently do.

Take what you just write and read it to yourself. Posting vacation pictures to beg for attention and validation is pathetic and makes you a defective person,

People who post vacation pictures aren’t begging for attention. God, that really is such a defective way of thinking.

I hope you find happiness and peace somewhere.

[not PP]

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Assuming your friends and family are terrible people who are bragging is just very strange…especially if all they did was post a few travel pics without typing any actual commentary.

People saying, “Come on! We all know these people are pressed to curate a fake image and rub their travel in your face!” are truly weird. It’s not normal to assume that. And if you are inundated with braggy posts by terrible people you follow on social, then maybe that’s something to evaluate about yourself, your circle, etc.

But it’s way more subtle—perhaps even subconscious—than that, and I think it’s either naive or self-deceiving to pretend that this isn’t how social media works.

How does it feel going through life believing your friends and family are jerks who dedicate their lives to rubbing their fabulousness in your face by posting a vacation pic on social media? It must be exhausting and very sad.

I probably saw upwards of three dozen sets of travel pics from friends and family who vacationed over winter break. Not once did I assign malicious intent to any post.

I have a handful of friends currently on some pretty unique vacations at the moment. I’ve encouraged all of them to post more pics. I love seeing where they are and what they’re doing. By the sheer volume of comments, I’m not alone in wanting to see more pics.

Same. ^^

[Anonymous]

Here's another angle - People won't be around forever. I've unfortunately lost some friends prematurely and I still enjoy going back and viewing their old social media posts. It's nice to remember the happier times when they were traveling with family and friends. If they had never posted these photos, I wouldn't be able to look back on them now that they're gone.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Assuming your friends and family are terrible people who are bragging is just very strange…especially if all they did was post a few travel pics without typing any actual commentary.

People saying, “Come on! We all know these people are pressed to curate a fake image and rub their travel in your face!” are truly weird. It’s not normal to assume that. And if you are inundated with braggy posts by terrible people you follow on social, then maybe that’s something to evaluate about yourself, your circle, etc.

But it’s way more subtle—perhaps even subconscious—than that, and I think it’s either naive or self-deceiving to pretend that this isn’t how social media works.

How does it feel going through life believing your friends and family are jerks who dedicate their lives to rubbing their fabulousness in your face by posting a vacation pic on social media? It must be exhausting and very sad.

I probably saw upwards of three dozen sets of travel pics from friends and family who vacationed over winter break. Not once did I assign malicious intent to any post.

I have a handful of friends currently on some pretty unique vacations at the moment. I’ve encouraged all of them to post more pics. I love seeing where they are and what they’re doing. By the sheer volume of comments, I’m not alone in wanting to see more pics.

Same. ^^

Same for me too. Sometimes DCUM reveals itself in such bizarre ways to truly be a gathering point for some deeply weird people. Everyone on this thread who seethes at their friends and acquaintances for daring to post anything on social (which of course, they only see because THEY ARE ON SOCIAL) is walking through the world with an incredibly maladjusted mindset. It’s pretty wild to see them tout superiority when really all their posts just ooze deep bitterness and self absorption. Can’t even be happy for a friend enjoying a trip - that’s bleak

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assuming your friends and family are terrible people who are bragging is just very strange…especially if all they did was post a few travel pics without typing any actual commentary.

People saying, “Come on! We all know these people are pressed to curate a fake image and rub their travel in your face!” are truly weird. It’s not normal to assume that. And if you are inundated with braggy posts by terrible people you follow on social, then maybe that’s something to evaluate about yourself, your circle, etc.

But it’s way more subtle—perhaps even subconscious—than that, and I think it’s either naive or self-deceiving to pretend that this isn’t how social media works.

How does it feel going through life believing your friends and family are jerks who dedicate their lives to rubbing their fabulousness in your face by posting a vacation pic on social media? It must be exhausting and very sad.

I probably saw upwards of three dozen sets of travel pics from friends and family who vacationed over winter break. Not once did I assign malicious intent to any post.

I have a handful of friends currently on some pretty unique vacations at the moment. I’ve encouraged all of them to post more pics. I love seeing where they are and what they’re doing. By the sheer volume of comments, I’m not alone in wanting to see more pics.

Same. ^^

Same for me too. Sometimes DCUM reveals itself in such bizarre ways to truly be a gathering point for some deeply weird people. Everyone on this thread who seethes at their friends and acquaintances for daring to post anything on social (which of course, they only see because THEY ARE ON SOCIAL) is walking through the world with an incredibly maladjusted mindset. It’s pretty wild to see them tout superiority when really all their posts just ooze deep bitterness and self absorption. Can’t even be happy for a friend enjoying a trip - that’s bleak

This last paragraph has taken it very far. No one is saying they “seeth” at every post on social media. It’s a balance, there is a spectrum. If someone puts up one photo, that isn’t the same as groups of them with every trip or holiday. Plenty of people sprinkle things out in social media while including some real life moments. Plenty of people don’t. This thread is about people who are in the more extreme range.

No need to catastrophize ANYONE who posts. I think some annoyance is part of what social media works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Assuming your friends and family are terrible people who are bragging is just very strange…especially if all they did was post a few travel pics without typing any actual commentary.

People saying, “Come on! We all know these people are pressed to curate a fake image and rub their travel in your face!” are truly weird. It’s not normal to assume that. And if you are inundated with braggy posts by terrible people you follow on social, then maybe that’s something to evaluate about yourself, your circle, etc.

But it’s way more subtle—perhaps even subconscious—than that, and I think it’s either naive or self-deceiving to pretend that this isn’t how social media works.

How does it feel going through life believing your friends and family are jerks who dedicate their lives to rubbing their fabulousness in your face by posting a vacation pic on social media? It must be exhausting and very sad.

I probably saw upwards of three dozen sets of travel pics from friends and family who vacationed over winter break. Not once did I assign malicious intent to any post.

I have a handful of friends currently on some pretty unique vacations at the moment. I’ve encouraged all of them to post more pics. I love seeing where they are and what they’re doing. By the sheer volume of comments, I’m not alone in wanting to see more pics.

Same. ^^

Same for me too. Sometimes DCUM reveals itself in such bizarre ways to truly be a gathering point for some deeply weird people. Everyone on this thread who seethes at their friends and acquaintances for daring to post anything on social (which of course, they only see because THEY ARE ON SOCIAL) is walking through the world with an incredibly maladjusted mindset. It’s pretty wild to see them tout superiority when really all their posts just ooze deep bitterness and self absorption. Can’t even be happy for a friend enjoying a trip - that’s bleak

Some people are just unhappy. If they were happy with their lives and family, they would not be so triggered by others.

sure, a few people are a bit annoying with their posts. I have one friend who only posts selfies. I don’t want to like another picture of her face. She is pretty but the selfies are boring. Another constantly posts about pink and some other celebrities. Another posts her workout starts. One definitely does post brsfy posts as all her vacations show glitz, like look at my luxurious lifestyle. It is the style of posting. These are not interesting. I want to unfollow them but don’t want to hurt their feelings. Most of my other friends don’t post that often and I like their posts.