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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Social media fueled mindless consumption.

That’s what travel is to you? Sad.

[Anonymous]

There are iPhone apps like Flighty Passport which give analytics about all your miles flown, class, airplanes, layovers, countries visited, etc. and it's turned into a thing yuppies screenshot and brag about. Travel isn't some enjoyable rare luxury, it's morphed into a dorky striver competition.

[Anonymous]

"Keeping up with the Joneses" used to mean a new Lexus SUV and a country club membership, now it means seeing the Joneses on instagram hiking in Peru, using Epic Passes to ski all season in Vail, and sun bathing in Mykonos.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Social media fueled mindless consumption.

That’s what travel is to you? Sad.

I know, right? I have not posted on SM in about 10 years. The only people who know where we go for vacations are those whom I love (and coworkers who I see daily). I tell my family about our trips (they are our big splurge). Maybe they think it’s annoying. Who knows? But I love hearing about their travels and the photos they post to the family chat.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

Nobody said off limits. It can be a topic, it’s just sad when it’s the topic dominating the discourse.

[Anonymous]

God, I hate those "We're in Tuscany. Here we are all in jeans & white shirts" or "Us in Jackson Hole with flannel shirts & cowboy boots" posed photos.

Puerile.

[Anonymous]

OP I've been to gatherings like this and honestly it feels so boring. Most of these destinations are nothing original, I have traveled and still travel plenty, no one really wants to hear someone else's recounting. Some people are great storytellers and then sure. But I generally hate travel as a discussion topic at these types of events because it feels very shallow (more like something to talk with coworkers about).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you just weren’t this prone to jealousy before?

Who's jealous? It's just shallow and boring conversation. Shallow and boring is fine among professional work associates but family are only together a couple of times a year and THIS is the most spirited dialogue now? It's sad.

Travel is not “shallow and boring conversation.” What do you want to discuss? Little Larlo’s soccer? Little Larlo is going into AAP?

This!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Travel has always been a topic among those who travel. Oneupsmanship has also been around a very long time. They frequently crossover.

Yep. 20 years ago I remember extended family pissing contests about exclusive ski resort vacations, safaris and golfing abroad, etc. More people travel now and want to go somewhere unique but then everyone follows suit. Then if you're doing it for competitive or bucket list reasons, you have to keep upping your game. I think lots of people do this.

[Anonymous]

I had a work colleague travel to Budapest once only to come back and spend the next 4 years we worked together pounce any any oppurtunity to correct someone 'mispronouncing' it.

Dude was special.

[Anonymous]

One of the reasons I find my family of origin gatherings relaxing is that we all have the same amount of money. So it’s fun and safe to talk about travel, etc.

Honestly it’s harder to make small talk when you have to watch the money stuff. I mean not impossible, of course! But like “what are you doing for Christmas” can be a fraught question if the answer is an expensive trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you just weren’t this prone to jealousy before?

This. It’s probably a safer topic to discuss than politics or family gossip. Travel now is cheaper compared to end of 80s and 90s and more accessible for upper middle class. What do you want them to talk about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a work colleague travel to Budapest once only to come back and spend the next 4 years we worked together pounce any any oppurtunity to correct someone 'mispronouncing' it.

Dude was special.

How did he pronounce it?