Travelling - Does it make you a better person?

Terry · 01-10-2007 11:36PM

Dudess wrote:

Yeah, that's what got my mate. Seeing actual human remains is gonna drive things home that bit more I suppose.
A guy was telling me that there were these tiny cage-type things in which children were kept, and you could see the marks of child-size fingerprints in them.

Oh Christ... now I'm not feeling too good. I could NEVER visit those places, or the concentration camps in Europe. I just don't have the courage to face such horror.
And yet... as I was saying earlier, one would think it might change people somewhat and make them more appreciative of what they have, but it doesn't seem to (in general anyway).

Would you visit a famine memorial site?

empirix · 01-10-2007 11:39PM

Went away for 2 years on my tod(well there was 3 months with the ex), had a ball, got pissed a lot, had loads of women, seen how poor people lived - avoided them!, avoided every Irish person in sight bar the one time i went down to Bondi - just to see it, its just like Cork boy!!! Got jiggy with loads of hot chicks, am i a better person? Can't say i am, more open minded though. Highlight of the trip, drinking Thai whiskey under some bridge in Bangkok with some Thai punk band, not sure they could speak English just kept singing the chorus of songs, smashed off my tits. Fcuk it. Have a load of photos who i've shown to nobody and i don't talk about it either, my attitude is, you do it your way and i'll do it mine.

WindSock · 01-10-2007 11:42PM

Darth Homer wrote:

s21 was pretty bad alright, blood stains on the floor and stuff. But the killing fields had human remains sticking out of the ground, things like leg bones still in trousers.
Also, i remember something catching my eye and i picked it up , was part of a jaw :eek:

And then did you buy one of those 'danger, mines' t-shirts?

Dudess · 01-10-2007 11:42PM

I have done and it made me feel really sad, but since it didn't require hearing about unimaginable tortures, it didn't have me as freaked as those other places. I had to actually walk away once when a guy at college was talking about S21 - I felt so sick I thought I was going to vomit.

Gaz · 01-10-2007 11:42PM

Dudess wrote:

Oh Christ... now I'm not feeling too good. I could NEVER visit those places, or the concentration camps in Europe. I just don't have the courage to face such horror.
And yet... as I was saying earlier, one would think it might change people somewhat and make them more appreciative of what they have, but it doesn't seem to (in general anyway).

I think its important to visit those types of places though, people need to be reminded of what man is capable of. Auswitz (sp?) is a very moving/powerful expierience.

Gaz · 01-10-2007 11:45PM

boreds wrote:

And then did you buy one of those 'danger, mines' t-shirts?

No, i bought tons of food, paper and colouring pencils , then myself and the girlfriend gave them to all the begging kids.

Dudess · 01-10-2007 11:45PM

Absolutely. But I think it takes a certain amount of courage to do so. I make myself watch the documentaries in order to learn about the stuff. But I do find it very difficult.
As for those "Danger, mines" t-shirts: the people over there produce them. They're more than happy to make money out of tourism - they've got fuk all as it is.

WindSock · 01-10-2007 11:46PM

Darth Homer wrote:

No, i bought tons of food, paper and colouring pencils , then myself and the girlfriend gave them to all the begging kids.

Thats very noble of you. I just told the ones that needed money to go to school to not bother, as it didn't do me any good

Gaz · 01-10-2007 11:54PM

boreds wrote:

Thats very noble of you. I just told the ones that needed money to go to school to not bother, as it didn't do me any good

Probably my only good deed ever though , reckon i'll still get turned away from the pearly gates

Dudess · 01-10-2007 11:59PM

empirix wrote:

Went away for 2 years on my tod(well there was 3 months with the ex), had a ball, got pissed a lot, had loads of women, seen how poor people lived - avoided them!, avoided every Irish person in sight bar the one time i went down to Bondi - just to see it, its just like Cork boy!!! Got jiggy with loads of hot chicks, am i a better person? Can't say i am, more open minded though. Highlight of the trip, drinking Thai whiskey under some bridge in Bangkok with some Thai punk band, not sure they could speak English just kept singing the chorus of songs, smashed off my tits. Fcuk it. Have a load of photos who i've shown to nobody and i don't talk about it either, my attitude is, you do it your way and i'll do it mine.

But did you score though?

mise_me_fein · 02-10-2007 12:35AM

Travelling - Does it make you a better person????

Well the knackers are the biggest travellers of them all and well, enough said LOL

I'm off to start for two years in January. Hope to learn Spanish and who knows....at least when I come back I won't have the regret of never doing anything different with my life. That's something I have a the moment.

Some people don't care some do.....what is a better person????

Better for you or better for me?

Jesus Wept · 02-10-2007 04:56AM

No.

Dont be at yourself · 02-10-2007 05:31AM

I dunno, I think if you go and live in a foreign culture, then it's easier to spot your own shortcomings, and those of your culture. People who never travel will instinctively think that their way is the right way, as they havent been exposed to other ways of thinking. I lived in Japan for my 3rd year in college, and it absolutely changed my life. Had I just gone to DCU for 4 years straight, I'd be a different person, no doubt.

That said, I hate those twats who shove it down your throat that they've travelled the world.

Mahatma coat · 02-10-2007 06:21AM

Yeah, if the act of traveling was enough to improve you as a person then surely the Kn acks would be revered as pinnacles of culture and civilisation

I'm reminded o a bit of graffiti I saw in one of the Cubicles in Singapore airport

'Travel broadens the mind, but one must have the mind to begin with'

Xavi6 · 02-10-2007 07:23AM

Firetrap wrote:

Nah. It just means that you're making your carbon footprint bigger and contributing to global warming

+1. I don't know what on earth this big deal about Australia is anyway. Talk about a sheep mentality.

Ah the comment of someone who's never been. While I agree there is a sheep mentality attached to Australia similar to the whole J1/West Coast of America thing, it is a fantastic country. I came over at the end of January with my mates with the intention of backpacking around. They've since left and I'm still here in Perth for the simple fact that it pi**es all over Ireland. The weather is beautiful (as are the women), there's so much beautiful scenery and the laid back attitude to life is refreshing. Going back to Ireland's gonna be hard whenever I eventually decide to.

As for the original question, I don't think travelling makes you a better person. For me it was a case of wondering what else was out there. If I hated the States, Australia etc then I'd know Ireland was for me. Right now I'm not so sure.

cold_filter · 02-10-2007 09:19AM

super_furry wrote:

Most Irish people's idea of 'travelling' is going to Australia with their mates for six months, hanging around with Irish people there, getting drunk, working in an Irish bar then annoying the living ****e out of everyone they talk to when they get back.

Man, **** Australia.

Oh so true, Travel halfway across the world to go travelling with irish people live with irish people, work with irish people and get hammered with irish people, the only difference is the weather!

Zapho · 02-10-2007 09:39AM

It definately doesn't make you a better person....but I will say that it
makes you grow as a person, educate you etc etc. But does education make
you a better person?

If your an arse to begin with, no amount of education will help :P

Rabies · 02-10-2007 10:00AM

/packs bags

Time to come home I guess

I'm living in New Zealand for nearly a year now. I try to stay away from Irish bars. During the June I moved in with an Irish girl I work with, we know no other Irish people. All our friends are Kiwi, Indian, Maori, Poly, English, French, Argentinian South African and Asian.
No point going out in Irish bars, you only end up bumping in to people you know.
I'm planning on staying for another year or two.... maybe longer. Need to get my permit approved first

/crosses fingers

Dragan · 02-10-2007 10:20AM

Mordeth wrote:

Plenty of dull, stupid people travel too, and they stay that way when they come back home.

Bingo.

Not everyone responds the same to the same stimulus. I imagine some people come back as bigger cnuts than they were before they left.

Besides, traveling seems to really mean "going to Australia".

sonners · 02-10-2007 10:37AM

Dragan wrote:

Besides, traveling seems to really mean "going to Australia".

And 'going to Australia' really means going to Sydney to get drunk with the lads for a year

MikeHoncho · 02-10-2007 10:57AM

No. I dont want to generalise but I generally find people who have been travelling come back arrogant to the point of really pissing me off. They love to rub everything in your face and try to tell you that "travelling has made me better". Well im ****in sorry that I cant afford to swan off around the world for a year and have responsibilities in Ireland I guess I will have to remain a complete **** forever.

edit: Im not bitter I swear.

keefg · 02-10-2007 11:06AM

MikeHoncho wrote:

No. I dont want to generalise but I generally find people who have been travelling come back arrogant to the point of really pissing me off. They love to rub everything in your face and try to tell you that "travelling has made me better".

I agree, but only about people who have been to Oz and then come home and look down their nose at you as if you are some kind of lepper who hasn't spent a year picking grapes and getting p1ssed with a gang of other Irish people on the beach.

It's appeals to me about as much as a fortnight in Santa Ponza in July with the rest of West Dublin

cjt156 · 02-10-2007 11:08AM

I have to say that most of the bigoted idiots I come across get that way from living amongst people of the same small-minded ignorant outlook. if you're open to new ideas and influences travel can enlighten you a lot and knock some of those ill-informed prejudices out of you.
However if "travel" means "on the píss with the lads" then all it means is a change of scenery.

muppetkiller · 02-10-2007 11:25AM

MikeHoncho wrote:

No. I dont want to generalise but I generally find people who have been travelling come back arrogant to the point of really pissing me off. They love to rub everything in your face and try to tell you that "travelling has made me better". Well im ****in sorry that I cant afford to swan off around the world for a year and have responsibilities in Ireland I guess I will have to remain a complete **** forever.

While I don't want to generalize after traveling ,I remember coming home after 4 years of traveling the world (not just Australia) and finding the same people in the same pub , talking the same sh1te, in the same crap jobs.

Traveling may give some nob-ends a superiority complex but they were nob-ends before they went traveling too.
What traveling does do , is it opens your eyes to the bigger picture. You meet new people , make amazing friendships, new cultures, Amazing sights , History , languages , Women , amazing weather (good and bad) , smells and sounds you'll just never experience in your little town/village.

The majority of people who complain about people who travel are normally the ones who'd love to go but haven't got the balls or ambition to pack their bags and hit the road. Or had kids too early/mortgages and can't travel now.

mac123 · 02-10-2007 11:46AM

empirix wrote:

Went away for 2 years on my tod(well there was 3 months with the ex), had a ball, got pissed a lot, had loads of women, seen how poor people lived - avoided them!, avoided every Irish person in sight bar the one time i went down to Bondi - just to see it, its just like Cork boy!!! Got jiggy with loads of hot chicks, am i a better person? Can't say i am, more open minded though. Highlight of the trip, drinking Thai whiskey under some bridge in Bangkok with some Thai punk band, not sure they could speak English just kept singing the chorus of songs, smashed off my tits. Fcuk it. Have a load of photos who i've shown to nobody and i don't talk about it either, my attitude is, you do it your way and i'll do it mine.

much respect my man! im the same way when it comes to the irish anyway!

dodgyme · 02-10-2007 05:34PM

MikeHoncho wrote:

No. I dont want to generalise but I generally find people who have been travelling come back arrogant.

you are so right. My friends would come back and say that they were finding it hard to adjust.???? Hah you lived in ireland for 20 or 30 something years and you are a way for a year or two and find it hard to adjust to the place you spent nearly all of you life,,,, prats!

I travelled with work for most of the last decade (africa, europe, middle east, asia and bits in north america), (missed weddings, funerals etc). My missus was great to put up with it. However I will say it doesnt necessarily make you a better person. My phase was that "it broadened my narrow mind" (rather then broadening my mind) in the sense that I became more narrow minded in some ways. To explain I had a greater definition of right and wrong and really wouldnt listen to the rubbish most people came out with. I became more suspicious of the liberal agenda and now look at them a niave, I also appreciated some of the older qualities of what it means to be who I am and where I am from instead of trying to move away from that in pursuit of money and/or happiness.

I didnt talk to most people about where I was back from when I met them, since I know how boring it is, and as you said it always comes across as arrogant. So obviously people who travel alot dont learn this basic lesson very easily.

At any rate there is only one country out of the scores I was in that had an impact that will last beyond my time there and probably with my posts on other issues people will know already where I am on about.

ShagNastii · 02-10-2007 05:53PM

super_furry wrote:

Most Irish people's idea of 'travelling' is going to Australia with their mates for six months, hanging around with Irish people there, getting drunk, working in an Irish bar then annoying the living ****e out of everyone they talk to when they get back.

Man, **** Australia.

This is a man/women who knows what there on about!

ShagNastii · 02-10-2007 05:53PM

super_furry wrote:

Most Irish people's idea of 'travelling' is going to Australia with their mates for six months, hanging around with Irish people there, getting drunk, working in an Irish bar then annoying the living ****e out of everyone they talk to when they get back.

Man, **** Australia.

This is a man/women who knows what there on about!

bangersandmash · 02-10-2007 09:13PM

Have you ever heard the quote:

"The world is a book and those who don't travel read only one page"

?

If a scumbag goes to Lanzarote, does he come back a lovely guy? Haha

Travelling - Does it make you a better person?

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