Traveling or time-wasting?
According to a friend of journalist, Ben Groundwater, some people who call themselves backpackers are just lazy people, going around, getting stoned and drunk in various locales. In short, wasting precious time. Does this sound like you?
Groundwater hypothesizes that there are three kinds of travelers, doers, watchers and wanderers. The stereotypical “lazy” backpacker presumably fits into the “watcher” or perhaps the “wanderer” category, but definitely not the “doer” category.
Many Travelpodders can’t decide how to categorize themselves, and there is a whole sub-discussion on the definition of “doing” a place.
Where do you fit in? Join the discussion in the forums!
Louise Brown
TravelPod Community Manager
April 9, 2008 at 7:25 am
What is “waste” when it comes to time? Is not being “productive” a “waste”? This whole concept of time as a “resource” is a scary by-product of western indoctrination, something that can only be cured by many, many weeks on a beach somewhere - preferable drunk the whole time. If you feel compelled to catagorise yourself as a “type” of traveller, you may need further de-programming - I recommend 12 weeks in a jungle, also drunk the whole time.
April 9, 2008 at 9:41 am
Yeah, I know what you mean. I’m not really sure what this guy means is a waste of time. How can you determine when you are wasting time, especially when you’re in a different place and everything is new to you?
On categorization: I don’t really feel the need to categorize myself as a type of tourist, but it’s fun to try anyway.
Yes and I agree with you, don’t we all need 12 weeks drunk in the jungle, alone? We have all longed for the de-programming achieved by such heroes in the Heart of Darkness, or Apocalypse Now…hahaha, love it… thanks for your comments Jurgen.