Anonymous wrote:I don't think international travel makes you more socially conscious, and I totally understand people who have other priorities.

But -- and I'm hearing it in this thread -- I find it extremely annoying when you U.S.-bound beachgoers actively disdain international travel.

I've had friends who vacation every year in the same exact place year after year after year say to me "Why would you want to go THERE?"

Why would you want to go the same place year after year after year?

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Well said. Also I might add, what makes you think you cannot experience other cultures while living in the United States? Where do you live? A gated community in Connecticut perhaps?

lol! I agree! I live in the Middle East -- but it's really not so much different than America because you can get all the things you have in the States. Now, the refugee camps are a different story... but who would vacation there?

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It makes you a horse's ass and a stupid one, at that. Until you start paying for their vacation, then you don't have any right to say where they go. This is the most asinine post ever on DCUM and that's saying plenty.

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.

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

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.

Well said. Also I might add, what makes you think you cannot experience other cultures while living in the United States? Where do you live? A gated community in Connecticut perhaps?

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.

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...

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.