|
Everyone else is going to come out and share their awesome experiences I just want the OP to share more of his. Because he's pretty hosed in the head
|
#
?
Feb 23, 2016 14:52
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 6, 2024 11:21 |
|
|
I'm pretty sure he quit the thread after his previous post, but you could also PM him and badger him to come back and show him the beneficence of strangers.
|
|
#
?
Feb 23, 2016 15:51
|
|
|
pig slut lisa posted:This is a hugely important point, I think. Driving is the most dangerous activity most Americans undertake on a regular basis, but we discount the danger because driving--and driving injuries/fatalities--is so ubiquitous. A shooting makes front page news because it's scary and rare; a two-car collision that kills one driver and injures the other for the most part gets a collective "meh". The extra driving hours accumulated in the 15 years post-9/11 due to worries about the safety of air travel have killed twice as many people as actually died on 9/11.
|
|
#
?
Feb 23, 2016 21:52
|
|
|
I've been to 9 different countries on several continents and I felt the most out of place in Utah. And I'm from Canada. Felt perfectly comfortable travelling in rural Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, but I felt more out of place in SLC than anywhere else. Not that I felt unsafe, it was just weird to me there.
|
|
#
?
Feb 23, 2016 22:53
|
|
|
Just going to nth the assertion that America is much more dangerous than most people think it is. I've spent plenty of time in Europe and every time I go to a new city I hear about some area that's supposedly the dangerous part of town. I tend to stay away but on those rare occasions it never stacks up to the bad part of town for any American city.
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 01:07
|
|
|
caberham posted:Instead of giving more examples, I rather the OP come out here and post more. I'm curious why is the OP so selective on his choices. What's his rationale? Why is Florida considered fine but everywhere else in the world dangerous? I haven't the slightest clue why you'd want to talk to a weird guy from the Internet, but I'm still here. I figured the thread died, it just resurrected itself early in the morning (from my perspective). As I said before, I grew up in Freeper land (look at the D&D thread if you want to know all about my hometown neighbors, yes they are giant cowards in real life). Florida is safe because it's a giant tourist trap that's still in the US, rather than one of the war-torn hellscapes you hear about on the news. WaryWarren posted:oktoberfest doesn't count lol Pro click right here. I love the news because truth is weirder than fiction, much to my detriment apparently.
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 02:03
|
|
|
I just find this endlessly fascinating. If i gave you a list of countries could you specify what you think would be dangerous or undesirable about each? -Portugal -Argentina -Costa Rica -South Korea -Taiwan -Morocco -Singapore -Vietnam
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 03:15
|
|
|
LMAO you should see what the rest of the world thinks about Florida.
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 03:33
|
|
|
Looking at this list I realize I know a lot less about global geography than I thought. Here goes!Riptor posted:I just find this endlessly fascinating. If i gave you a list of countries could you specify what you think would be dangerous or undesirable about each? Generally the bigotry goes NOT US == MAD MAX WASTELAND, it generally doesn't get more nuanced than that. Picnic Princess posted:LMAO you should see what the rest of the world thinks about Florida. Do elaborate, seriously. I've never heard any stereotypes about Florida specifically, other than how their Governor looks like a less-buff Skeletor.
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 03:44
|
|
|
Florida is full of psychos on drugs who straight up murder each other daily in the most bizarre ways imaginable. If you hear a weird crime story that's stranger than anything anyone could make up, it is ALWAYS in Florida.
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 04:15
|
|
|
You I really want to visit Spain in TYOOL 2016, but once I read that 600 years ago they were dicks to Jews and Muslims I was like "No, I don't think this is the place for me".
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 04:47
|
|
|
Wait, a list of eight countries from four continents and The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the one that Freepers think is good to visit 
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 05:01
|
|
|
Tequila Sunrise posted:You I really want to visit Spain in TYOOL 2016, but once I read that 600 years ago they were dicks to Jews and Muslims I was like "No, I don't think this is the place for me".
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 05:11
|
|
|
TwoQuestions posted:Looking at this list I realize I know a lot less about global geography than I thought. Here goes! So you basically know nothing about any of those countries. But you know you don't want to go to any of them, because they might potentially be dangerous. Of that list, I would 100% guarantee that South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore (and probably Portugal too) are safer places than wherever you live in the US. Here's another way of looking at those countries: - Portugal; 900 years of history and culture. Beautiful coastline, glamorous beach resorts, vibrant nightlife especially in Lisbon and Porto. Not to mention the unspoiled national parks in the Azores - Argentina; mountain climbing and skiing in the Andes, hiking on glaciers in Patagonia, beautiful wine country in Mendoza, the bustle of Buenos Aires, unbridled football passion - Costa Rica; ecotourism! Bird watching, hiking, surfing, scuba diving, lazing on the beach and reading a book! - South Korea; one of the world's most modern cities, beautiful countryside - Taiwan; the world's second-tallest building, Chinese history - Morocco; great hippy beach town of Essaouira, incredible history & culture in Casablanca and Marrakech including a thousand year old souk (market). Moroccan food is fantastic too - Singapore; probably the world's safest city. Marina Bay Sands, Raffles, the zoo, an intriguing mix of English colonial past and modern Asian culture - Vietnam; Ha Long Bay! So much good food, beautiful beach towns and ancient ruins around Hue and Hoi An, and of course the French colonial influences in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. And getting their perspective on the war at the War Remnants Museum (formerly known as "Exhibition House for Crimes of War and Aggression") And that's mostly off the top of my head plus a few minutes of research. I know other people have said this, but it bears repeating: the overwhelming, overwhelming majority of people everywhere in the world just want to live in peace, earn a living and look after their families. This is as true in the most war-torn parts of the Middle East as it is in impoverished African countries as it is in ultra-modern western cities.
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 05:42
|
|
|
pig slut lisa posted:Wait, a list of eight countries from four continents and The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the one that Freepers think is good to visit They probably just have it confused with Thailand and think they can go get their sex tourist on.
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 10:22
|
|
|
When you ask someone about Morocco, even someone who hasn't been there, the first phrases would be exotic medinas, tagines, aggressive merchants, camels and Sahara. War over Straits of Gibraltar is a bizzare answer
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 11:05
|
|
|
Probably home schooled? Or maybe he didn't know of Morocco so he had to wiki it This is a personal question OP, but would you mind sharing how old you are? I would have more sympathy for you if it turned out you were actually 16
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 11:51
|
|
|
Anarkii posted:When you ask someone about Morocco, even someone who hasn't been there, the first phrases would be exotic medinas, tagines, aggressive merchants, camels and Sahara. War over Straits of Gibraltar is a bizzare answer In fairness, I just finished a book on the medieval spice trade, I probably would not have known otherwise. Also, I'm late 20s. Foreign history outside Western Europe wasn't covered much in school. Most of what I know about non American history comes from Civilization and the History Channel before it went bonkers.
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 13:54
|
|
|
webmeister posted:
Casablanca is a shithole, you meant Fez. I have never been to Florida and I am not from the US. My ill-informed impression of Florida comes from Television and stories in the news. Florida = old people; fat people or old fat people. Disney land. Huge amounts of drugs sold everywhere and Miami is dangerous and you shouldn't go there because guns. 30's architecture, beaches, crocodiles, sunshine. I should probably go because I imagine all of that is wrong.
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 14:51
|
|
|
PlantHead posted:I should probably go because I imagine all of that is wrong. the only thing you got wrong is disneyland is in california
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 15:16
|
|
|
TwoQuestions posted:Looking at this list I realize I know a lot less about global geography than I thought. Here goes! yeah this was pretty much exactly the kind of insane response i was expecting. you've seemed to distance yourself from this a bit though. are you saying you believe these things or just the people you grew up around? if its the latter, just book a trip to like ireland or the UK or something, go walk around and get drunk and have fun and your opinions will probably change pretty quick. hell even montreal would seem like a world apart for you
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 15:18
|
|
|
Picnic Princess posted:Florida is full of psychos on drugs who straight up murder each other daily in the most bizarre ways imaginable. If you hear a weird crime story that's stranger than anything anyone could make up, it is ALWAYS in Florida. Florida has easily accessible public records for all arrests, that's why it's so easy to find "florida man" stories. That and recently news outlets there started focusing on finding weird rear end stories to try to get their golden ticket to viral fame
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 15:37
|
|
|
King Metal posted:Florida has easily accessible public records for all arrests, that's why it's so easy to find "florida man" stories. That and recently news outlets there started focusing on finding weird rear end stories to try to get their golden ticket to viral fame also because the state is filled with garbage people
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 16:07
|
|
|
Riptor posted:yeah this was pretty much exactly the kind of insane response i was expecting. The only thing I have to go on hitherto is the people I grew up with, who I know on some level are full of poo poo. What I'd be most afraid of is doing or saying something wrong and pissing people off, which is more likely of I were to get drunk, which is the main reason I don't drink even at home (aside from it being expensive). This is the second time I've been recommended to get drunk ITT, why the emphasis on alcohol?
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 16:44
|
|
|
Sure it's the second time someone told you get drunk, but how about all the other times when people tell you it's not dangerous to go traveling? Consuming alcohol is just a social activity for strangers to get along, but it's not the one and only way, you doofus. If and if you ever go overseas, are you going to be eating Mcdonald's everyday?
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 17:02
|
|
|
TwoQuestions posted:This is the second time I've been recommended to get drunk ITT, why the emphasis on alcohol? because it's fun and because you need to loosen up based on your posts
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 17:28
|
|
|
Alcohol / parties are also among the best ways to actually get to know other people while you're traveling. The other good way (IME) is to go on organized tours where you're with the same people for many hours / days in a row. Unfortunately organized group tours (like day trips and stuff) don't really exist in Europe / first world countries except those catered towards old people and alcoholic Australian 18 year olds. Which leaves alcohol as option #1. Or traveling with a friend, in which case you don't really have to deal with meeting people. E: Option 3 is to do Couch Surfing or AirBNB, but those are really hit-or-miss. Although so are parties too, I've had plenty of boring alcohol-fueled evenings in hostels. In all likelihood you're not going to (a) meet that many locals while traveling, and (b) it'd be pretty hard to say something to greatly offend someone out of ignorance. Irritate, sure, but no one's going to punch you over saying "wow, I thought French street children would kidnap me right off the plane like in Les Miserables, but actually they're just normal people". But yeah, you don't need to drink to have a good time or to meet people. It's just one option of several. Saladman fucked around with this message at 18:21 on Feb 24, 2016 |
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2016 18:18
|
|
|
I'm fairly convinced that traveling is physically safe, now what I'm not sure is if it's worth the expense and time, and I'd be unsure of what to do. Knowing me, I'd just stay in my room on my laptop the whole time rather than waste money on something I'm not sure I'd enjoy or learn from. Looking at Montreal (as someone else posted), maybe the museum sounds cool, but other than that I don't see the appeal that I can't get in Columbus, other than getting to listen to people call me a dumbshit in French. What value did any of you get from traveling?
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 00:51
|
|
|
TwoQuestions posted:What value did any of you get from traveling? Not being a social pariah and a shut-in, while also experiencing some of the great wonders of the world in person instead of through a screen. Seriously, go to a therapist because you have some genuine problems.
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 01:12
|
|
|
MagicCube posted:Not being a social pariah and a shut-in, while also experiencing some of the great wonders of the world in person instead of through a screen. Do they ostracize you if you stay in-country too long where you're from or something? Also, I don't get what's so great about seeing a wonder of the world in person. Going to Disney was nice, you see whatever thing you went there to see for 20 minutes, you go back home. You may as well have went on a wiki walk or something. I can't believe I forgot, but I went to Europe during high school for 10 days, with just about 1 country per day (I think, it's all a bit of a blur now), and no free time in between where the group went. I remember seeing the Eiffel Tower and the Tower of London, and being either too tired to appreciate it or unimpressed. Much of the time we weren't performing (this was a band trip) we were confined to our hotels, or a bus on our way to the next performance. I was also constantly worried that we'd all get murdered. Also, the whole time in Florida I was worrying where my other travelers were so I didn't accidentally leave them or get left behind. Is it better when you can go where you want when you want?
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 02:01
|
|
|
TwoQuestions posted:Knowing me, I'd just stay in my room on my laptop the whole time rather than waste money on something I'm not sure I'd enjoy or learn from. This is the worst attitude. quote:What value did any of you get from traveling? I can't quantify or qualify any value, it's just a thing I need in my life. I make sure to leave the country at least once a year, last year I went twice and this year I'm going twice. I just got home from Mexico on Sunday night and my next venture is to live at a wildlife rehabilitation center in Belize for two months in the fall. Why? Because. I don't need to justify it any further than that. You won't know what you like until you try it, and if you don't like it, don't let it get you down, you just have to go and try something else. It's not difficult. You just go and do it. Sitting around worrying about whether doing something interesting has to be the biggest waste of life imaginable. You won't be able to understand the value of travel unless you do it.
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 02:12
|
|
|
I'm starting to sound like a broken record now but please read this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoid_personality_disorder and make an appointment with a therapist. Or don't and stay in your bubble the rest of your life thus saving the rest of the world from ever experiencing you.
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 02:42
|
|
|
If your interests are exclusively things that can be done from inside a bedroom (internet, tv, video games, reading) then traveling probably isn't for you. if you don't like to try new things, meet new people, or have new experiences, traveling probably isn't for you. If you look at everything in life only in terms of "What will tangible things will I gain from spending X amount of money to do this?", traveling probably isn't for you.
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 02:45
|
|
|
What's your favorite mmo op? Please don't travel I don't want to run into you somewhere in the world and accidently strike up a conversation. But honestly, traveling will change your life. It will open your eyes to just how big this world is, and how rich and unique the many different regions of the world are. It will also help you gain a great deal of empathy and compassion for people from other cultures. Something I think every American is severely in need of.
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 03:01
|
|
|
MagicCube posted:I'm starting to sound like a broken record now but please read this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranoid_personality_disorder and make an appointment with a therapist. Or don't and stay in your bubble the rest of your life thus saving the rest of the world from ever experiencing you. I'm no longer afraid someone's going to hurt me (not as much as before anyway), now I'm trying to see if it's a sound financial decision to go. Florida was great and I don't regret it despite the cost, and I feel I got more value out of seeing Deadpool in theater than saving the $5.75 on a ticket. I just looked at a round trip to London just to ballpark what a plane ticket price would look like, and it was somewhere around $1000 for 1 person. I'm sure I wouldn't find traveling miserable, I'm just wondering if it's $2,000 good for a bare-budget trip alone. None of my friends have the means nor the inclination to travel, so that's out of the question. Tequila Sunrise posted:If your interests are exclusively things that can be done from inside a bedroom (internet, tv, video games, reading) then traveling probably isn't for you. if you don't like to try new things, meet new people, or have new experiences, traveling probably isn't for you. If you look at everything in life only in terms of "What will tangible things will I gain from spending X amount of money to do this?", traveling probably isn't for you. You're more than likely right. When most people describe their travels either in person or online, they phrase in almost religious wishy-washy terms. I'd like to see what all the fuss is about, but I don't want to end up like the guy in An Idiot Abroad.
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 03:16
|
|
|
TwoQuestions posted:I just looked at a round trip to London just to ballpark what a plane ticket price would look like, and it was somewhere around $1000 for 1 person. I'm sure I wouldn't find traveling miserable, I'm just wondering if it's $2,000 good for a bare-budget trip alone. None of my friends have the means nor the inclination to travel, so that's out of the question. It depends on how long you want to stay and where you want to stay in London. I'm seeing decent hotels in London anywhere between $100-125 USD per night and decent to good hostels between $30-40 per night. London (or places in the UK and Ireland in general) is a great starter city for international travel because there is very little culture shock (at least to me). My first ever overseas trip (on my own as well) started in Glasgow and I ended up spending a month in the UK and Ireland and had a wonderful time.
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 03:31
|
|
|
TwoQuestions posted:What I'd be most afraid of is doing or saying something wrong and pissing people off, which is more likely of I were to get drunk I'm curious to know, what is the actual scenario here in your head? Does it involve having political or religious debates with locals? (and I don't mean asking random Portuguese people why they were dicks to Muslims in the 14th century, I mean going to Vietnam and asking what they think of Americans, or going to Egypt and asking why Islam is so backward) Or is it more like, "am I going to hugely offend someone by asking them to take a picture of me in front of the Eiffel Tower" Getting in someone's way while lost at a train station, trying to decipher the departure board in another language?
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 04:27
|
|
|
op, you should skip montreal/london and go straight to the european continent. those countries don't use english as their native language, plus england isn't as nice as the movies make it seem (same with the US). re: florida; i never  -ed so hard in my life when i had a conversation on a train amongst israelis, germans, italians and russians about their individual trips to florida. i told them not to hold back, no sugarcoating. also, i've never been there lol
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 06:55
|
|
|
I disagree about traveling being some sort of life changing religious experience. I have been doing it since I was a kid and I come from a city-state so it's really natural for me. It sure is fun though, going to different places, eating different food, going to different museums, seeing architecture, hearing different languages, and linking the history of different areas together. But traveling is not just going to a bunch of international areas. There's domestic and nature tourism as well. You can also go to yellowstone or some National Park. Go to NYC or DC for all the museums. People mention UK or Montreal because it's relatively easy going there from North America. If you can't afford going to UK, that's fine, then try going to other places in USA. Or go to Mexico, the Bahamas or Central America. Wherever and whatever - just go out. Or just stay in your room! quote:I was also constantly worried that we'd all get murdered. Also, the whole time in Florida I was worrying where my other travelers were so I didn't accidentally leave them or get left behind. If you weren't' so worried about getting murdered and you didn't get bused around the continent like cattle then your trip around Europe would be a lot more enjoyable. You need to go see a therapist for the first part. The second part is a matter of spending money and time. Normal people try to figure out the second part, that's why you see all those travel guides and resources on the internet. quote:Is it better when you can go where you want when you want? So for you is it nowhere and do nothing? TwoQuestions posted:Do they ostracize you if you stay in-country too long where you're from or something? You do get ostracized for being a close minded paranoid and fitting the stereotype of robot.txt. Lots of people think you are just trolling but given your E/N post history, you are just hosed up in the head. With confidence issues no less, funny enough you worry people not liking you but your horrible opinions make you not very likable. I don't sound as nice as other posters and come off way more blunt because it just goes over your head. You don't have to worry about people calling you a dumb poo poo in French because people are already calling you a dumb poo poo when they read your posts 
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 07:14
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 6, 2024 11:21 |
|
|
One time I got 1 on 1 english tour of Nagoya Castle in Japan. The man was a volunteer, like 80 and as nice as could be. It was a tiny bit awkward when it came to the whole, "America bombed the poo poo out of this castle and we have slowly rebuilt it" part, but I think that's the most I've ever felt out of place or offensive in my travels. He was a child in Nagoya when the bombing happened, so he still remembered somewhat. In my opinion it's definitely worth it to get out of the USA and see another country, but a lot of Americans don't. It can be expensive and the language barrier can be daunting if you have spent your whole life surrounded by the same language. There's a chance OP won't enjoy it, but I think it's worth a shot. What about starting with Canada, like the french part?
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2016 16:20
|
|