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The Travelling Myth

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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 421 ✭✭Priori


    CiaranC wrote: »
    Look at all the bitter jobsworths. They cant stand that other people do more with their lives than them so they pretend everyone who travels just goes to Australia to drink. Pathetic.

    Jumping to that rather aggressive and bitter sounding conclusion could be considered pathetic too. Why not park the insults and try to take their point with slightly more objectivity?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,300 ✭✭✭CiaranC


    leggo wrote: »
    I'm actually convinced now that you agree with the OP and you're pretending to be a troll for the other side to prove the point of how annoying some people who travel can be. There's no other way someone could be thick enough to call going on an extended holiday, 'doing more with your life'.
    What are you doing with your life leggo? Share with us your blueprint for living.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 595 ✭✭✭books4sale


    Fabulous thread lads, fabulous I tells ya, keep it up.

    World travel, who would have thought it would create so much debate?

    Now if it was up to me, I would lock down all the airports and ferries, how dare anyone wander beyond the borders of our fair isle.

    Stay at home ye effers and stop having more fun than me. :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,061 ✭✭✭leggo


    CiaranC wrote: »
    What are you doing with your life leggo? Share with us your blueprint for living.

    I travel a lot then use the massive benefits gained from this to become a troll on popular Irish websites. I tell ya, without globe-trotting these fantastic life options would've never been possible! :pac:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,300 ✭✭✭CiaranC


    leggo wrote: »
    I travel a lot then use the massive benefits gained from this to become a troll on popular Irish websites. I tell ya, without globe-trotting these fantastic life options would've never been possible! :pac:

    So what should people do instead of fooling themselves with the travel myth? What do you do instead?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,061 ✭✭✭leggo


    They can do what they want, Ciaran. You've become so caught up in your need to troll that you fail to realise I'm not even saying that travelling is a bad thing. I'm asking when is travelling constructive and when is it just wasting your life. Now can you please grasp that point and stop trolling my thread and looking for arguments?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 595 ✭✭✭books4sale


    CiaranC wrote: »
    So what should people do instead of fooling themselves with the travel myth? What do you do instead?

    Make money...and sh*tloads of it :D:D:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,674 ✭✭✭Mardy Bum


    leggo wrote: »
    They can do what they want, Ciaran. You've become so caught up in your need to troll that you fail to realise I'm not even saying that travelling is a bad thing. I'm asking when is travelling constructive and when is it just wasting your life. Now can you please grasp that point and stop trolling my thread and looking for arguments?

    Travelling is wasting your life if you are going around with no qualifications for years on end (20-30) and also not gaining any decent work experience. Otherwise it is extremely beneficial especially if attempted by oneself instead of with "the lads".


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,300 ✭✭✭CiaranC


    leggo wrote: »
    They can do what they want, Ciaran. You've become so caught up in your need to troll that you fail to realise I'm not even saying that travelling is a bad thing. I'm asking when is travelling constructive and when is it just wasting your life. Now can you please grasp that point and stop trolling my thread and looking for arguments?

    Its not your thread. Its clear what you think of people who travel. What do you do with your life instead then?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,674 ✭✭✭Mardy Bum


    books4sale wrote: »
    Make money...and sh*tloads of it :D:D:)

    This is not directed at you by the way but if money is the only thing someone cares about they will either end up broke a la Sean Quinn, or developmentally or emotionally stunted.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,300 ✭✭✭CiaranC


    books4sale wrote: »
    Make money...and sh*tloads of it :D:D:)

    I make plenty of money. How do you think people afford to travel the world without making money?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,061 ✭✭✭leggo


    CiaranC wrote: »
    Its not your thread. Its clear what you think of people who travel. What do you do with your life instead then?

    No I'm directing that very much at the loud minority such as yourself who clearly gain nothing by travelling but feel the need to get smug and uppity about it nonetheless. Follow me on Twitter if you want to know more about my life, this thread has nothing to do with it and I don't fancy giving you ammo to derail it further because you can't deal with the argument at hand :pac:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,300 ✭✭✭CiaranC


    leggo wrote: »
    No I'm directing that very much at the loud minority such as yourself who clearly gain nothing by travelling but feel the need to get smug and uppity about it nonetheless. Follow me on Twitter if you want to know more about my life, this thread has nothing to do with it and I don't fancy giving you ammo to derail it further because you can't deal with the argument at hand :pac:

    Whats your twitter then? Im intrigued. I might base a book on your mode of living in Dublin 15. I can supplant the entire tourism industry at the stroke of a pen


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,300 ✭✭✭CiaranC


    Never mind, I had a look at your post history. Seeya leggo.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,024 ✭✭✭previous user


    leggo wrote: »
    TLDR: When it comes to travelling the world, what is the line between making a beneficial life decision and just 'running away from your problems'?

    There's a notion in Ireland, and elsewhere to be fair, that travelling the world is an essential part of everyone's development. That you are somehow mentally stumped if you haven't had a Christmas Day on the beach.

    The collective 'life plan' for most Irish people goes, in varying order: go to school, start drinking, get a driver's licence, complete Leaving Cert, go to college, travel, come home, get a job, have a baby, get a mortgage, marry, retire, play with your grandchildren, then die.

    Don't get me wrong, I like broadening my horizons so I have no problem with the idea, in theory. I remember, even when I was around 18, wrecking an ex's head on a holiday by booking us on a 3-day sight-seeing tour where we could see not one, but TWO, of the wonders of the world. I'm mad for a bit of history and there's nothing like standing in the spot of a historical event and imagining the events that have gone on there to give you a perspective of the broader scale of existence. All of a sudden your own daily drama seems to matter less as you get an idea of what life is really about.

    In fact, I even plan on living abroad at some stage in the not-too-distant future. Part of me hopes that it doesn't come to that and that I can make it work in Ireland first, but I'm fortunate enough to have connections elsewhere that give me a great (and increasingly likely) Plan B to fall back on should that not happen. So I'm not anti-emigration either. Some of the most successful people I know made a fantastic life for themselves when they realised that Ireland just wasn't for them, and I get the same feeling myself quite regularly.

    But, at the same time, I also see a lot of people just...running away. People who are otherwise unemployable due to past poor life decisions, lost and looking for direction in life. People who move halfway across the world and then do the exact same things as they did over here (i.e. get twisted drunk and act the idiot). The only difference is that they have their top off in the Facebook pics nowadays.

    Similarly, nearly every person that I know and have met that is in their early/mid-30's and is still single, in a job that they hate and lacking direction in life, is a person who spent a large portion of their 20's travelling the world. They will bore you to tears with tales of how 'wild' those years were, and how much it benefited them, but what do they have to show for it? Indeed, it sounds increasingly as if they're trying to convince themselves, more than me, that these years benefited them when they speak of it.

    So what is the line? When does travelling stop being productive and start being just 'killing time and getting a tan before you die'? What's the right way to use seeing the world as part of a productive life? Should every person, ideally, travel and see the world or could one be a happy, well-rounded individual having never left their own country?

    I've got two part-time jobs and I'm studying at the moment, but if I won the lottery I would leave tomorrow I would travel for a number of years. before, I admit it probably would have been to get away from my problems, now though I think I would just like to see the world before I regret not doing so.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,061 ✭✭✭leggo


    All that tracking experience in the outback has served you well Ciaran, you're a mighty creep these days :D. Go on...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,884 ✭✭✭Eve_Dublin


    You misinterpreted what I meant by the examples. What I was trying to illustrate was that people who go to destinations with the main activity being getting smashed, they don't gain all of the benefits of travelling to different countries and learning the culture IN MY OPINION ONLY.

    And you would win that bet by the way, I will get hammered once or twice alright, but I will also endeavor to learn a few words, and enjoy the local culture which I don't think many young Irish students/people do when they travel abroad with friends!

    Loads of people are just going to Australia with mates for a year, and in my opinion I would rather travel to somewhere with a completely different culture, language, and lifestyle to our own.

    Don't get so heated about it, I was only stating MY OPINION :)

    I'm not in the least bit heated as I'd be very much that kind of traveller. Before I went to South America, I took a course in Spanish before I left, so I could at least have some form of conversation with the locals and I didn't spend all my time in the hostel getting pissed. I made an effort. Well, as much effort as a woman travelling alone can make in a foreign continent without putting herself in danger, so I had to stay on the "gringo trail" to some extent.

    Fair enough and fair play to you. Hope it works out for you. I know people living here in Spain for a long time with very little Spanish. No interest in integrating whatsoever, so I respect anyone who does.

    There's all kinds of travelling though and I don't think we can all be put in the same category.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,884 ✭✭✭Eve_Dublin


    leggo wrote: »
    They can do what they want, Ciaran. You've become so caught up in your need to troll that you fail to realise I'm not even saying that travelling is a bad thing. I'm asking when is travelling constructive and when is it just wasting your life. Now can you please grasp that point and stop trolling my thread and looking for arguments?

    Leggo, you're question is a little biased. I never saw my travelling as "constructive", I saw it as enjoyment. Can I ask you a question? Do you believe travelling has to be constructive otherwise it's a waste of time?

    I suppose it comes down to the fact that although I came home from my year away, I'd a great year. I really, really enjoyed myself and have great memories because of it. That, in my own personal opinion, is not a waste of time. That's time very well spent, in fact.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 595 ✭✭✭books4sale


    but if I won the lottery I would leave tomorrow I would travel for a number of years..

    Imagine living out of a bag for a few years, moving from place to place like a tramp, wandering aimlessly, never really making friends just here today/gone tomorrow type people, having no structure to your day, not being intellectually challenged. Eventually the grind will break you down so you don't even care about your appearance.

    To be honest sounds like a nightmare, how do I know?

    I don't need to brag about my experiences, their mine and they have made me the person I am today. More grounded, settled and successful.

    By all means go for a few months, but years, I don't recommend it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 210 ✭✭SMASH THE UNIONS


    Forget travelling and meeting new people. Wrestling, darts and reality TV are the best ways to waste away your life.

    Isn't that right, leggo?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    The far away hills are always greener, so i thought. :p

    I would recommend everyone to travel particularly at a younger age before they get ensnared with the hassles of later life.

    Been around the world twice having lived in US and Australia on and off for 4 years. Couldn't and wouldn't do it again though. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,061 ✭✭✭leggo


    Ignoring the obvious troll post. You're not even trying to keep it subtle anymore lads. Glad to see the OP touched a nerve so much you're now going to such lengths of research.
    Eve_Dublin wrote: »
    [
    Leggo, you're question is a little biased. I never saw my travelling as "constructive", I saw it as enjoyment. Can I ask you a question? Do you believe travelling has to be constructive otherwise it's a waste of time?

    Why is everybody placing so much emphasis on my own opinion? It's just one opinion within the construct of an entire discussion. I mean, jaysus, are people that insecure that they can't stand the fact that there's someone out there who may or may not see them as a bit of a waster? And they must tease out every aspect of his point, research him and try and find one small hole, just to prove to themselves that they're not? Cop on lads!

    My own opinion is that I don't just have a year of my life to write off for the sake of 'enjoyment', and there's nothing stopping me from enjoying myself here. But at the same time, I'm always open to review my opinion, which is why I asked the question. So far, no, there have been a couple of decent posts but everything I thought appears to be true. So far, at least...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 433 ✭✭average hero


    Eve_Dublin wrote: »
    I'm not in the least bit heated as I'd be very much that kind of traveller. Before I went to South America, I took a course in Spanish before I left, so I could at least have some form of conversation with the locals and I didn't spend all my time in the hostel getting pissed. I made an effort. Well, as much effort as a woman travelling alone can make in a foreign continent without putting herself in danger, so I had to stay on the "gringo trail" to some extent.

    Fair enough and fair play to you. Hope it works out for you. I know people living here in Spain for a long time with very little Spanish. No interest in integrating whatsoever, so I respect anyone who does.

    There's all kinds of travelling though and I don't think we can all be put in the same category.

    Fair play to you - I have a lot of respect for what you did. You're right, there are all kinds of travelling. I think the more effort you put in with the differences in the world, the more you gain :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,298 ✭✭✭Duggys Housemate


    leggo wrote: »

    My own opinion is that I don't just have a year of my life to write off for the sake of 'enjoyment', and there's nothing stopping me from enjoying myself here. But at the same time, I'm always open to review my opinion, which is why I asked the question.

    Of course you have a year of your life to waste on "enjoyment" by going abroad, whats so important about your job in Ireland, or any particular year?

    You keeping setting up straw men and knocking them down. Apparently it is all larks, this emigration. Plenty of Irish graduates go to the UK, or the US for experience, which benefits them when they come back, if they do. Some leave because there they want to escape the dole, which is more aspirational and enterprising than people who stay at home. In fact you specifically said this was "running away from problems" in your reply to me.
    So far, no, there have been a couple of decent posts but everything I thought appears to be true. So far, at least...

    You don't have a mind worth changing. You remind me of a bar fly in a village in rural Ireland, complaining about the people who leave to get jobs in Dublin, and come back talking about their experiences. Shure, you convince yourself, they are running away from their problems, just going on the lash. You see no reason to leave, you don't have time for mind broadening in Dublin, and they're all on the piss anyway.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,061 ✭✭✭leggo


    Okay, you're talking absolute ****e as usual...but would you care to answer the point above that? Why does it bother you that someone you'll never meet has an opinion you, frankly, are incapable of changing, much as you try?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,298 ✭✭✭Duggys Housemate


    leggo wrote: »
    Okay, you're talking absolute ****e as usual...but would you care to answer the point above that? Why does it bother you that someone you'll never meet has an opinion you, frankly, are incapable of changing, much as you try?

    I don't really care about changing your opinion, dogmatic opinions are never changed, I am interested in proving my opinion correct for myself, and neutrals.

    This is debate forum, you should expect disagreement in threads, otherwise don't start them. What were you expecting, complete agreement? You don't understand debate, apparently.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,884 ✭✭✭Eve_Dublin


    leggo wrote: »
    Why is everybody placing so much emphasis on my own opinion? It's just one opinion within the construct of an entire discussion. I mean, jaysus, are people that insecure that they can't stand the fact that there's someone out there who may or may not see them as a bit of a waster? And they must tease out every aspect of his point, research him and try and find one small hole, just to prove to themselves that they're not? Cop on lads!

    My own opinion is that I don't just have a year of my life to write off for the sake of 'enjoyment', and there's nothing stopping me from enjoying myself here. But at the same time, I'm always open to review my opinion, which is why I asked the question. So far, no, there have been a couple of decent posts but everything I thought appears to be true. So far, at least...

    I'm just giving you MY opinion. Didn't disrespect you, just answered you and gave you my opinion. You shouldn't post your opinions if you don't want to hear differing opinions, in fairness. That's all I'm doing :confused:

    I don't understand the crankiness there, Leggo...I'm simply replying to the question you asked in your OP. That's the idea of these threads is it not? Other things have been touched upon as well..


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 595 ✭✭✭books4sale


    An opinion on anything dosen't have any credibility unless you have experienced or taken part in that thing for yourself, then one is entitled to an opinion.

    Having an opinion based on other people's experiences is just living in a bubble basing all ones own thoughts and experiences on those of others.

    Its not living life, its living a second hand life.

    I think this is why reality based TV shows and even the internet are popular with a certain demographic of the population, these people live life safe, never experiencing anything of any depth, only living life through the eyes of others from the comfort of their living room never touching, smelling or feeling the experience, just empty shells building all their opinions and knowledge from a computer or TV screen.

    A mopdern form of brain washing it could be said.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,061 ✭✭✭leggo


    @Duggys Housemate

    No, I do. But you seem particularly obsessed with me, so I'm illustrating a point.

    Let's put it this way: I remember before making a topic on here asking was it hypocritical for overweight people to lecture smokers about damaging their health.

    There were a bunch of replies from people saying that some weight problems were caused by genuine reasons etc and so on. It was pointed out that that's a negligible minority and none of the people arguing this could admit that they themselves were suffering from these problems. The reality? They wanted to use this small minority because the topic obviously touched a nerve and they didn't want it discussed, at all, period, even though it was a valid topic about a growing problem that's worthy of discussion.

    Here, I'm acknowledging from the OP that travel can be massively beneficial, but pointing to the times it may not be and asking "what's the line?" And you're using only the positive examples as an excuse to validate ALL examples of travel, while being extremely elusive of your own circumstances* (and yet demanding more and more personal info from me). So perhaps this is your way of trying to shut down a discussion that is a little too close to home for your liking, that might make you realise truths you'd be better off not realising. One troll has accused me so far of making a 'personal attack' in the OP. Interesting that...

    If you understood debate yourself, you'd realise that we don't need to make our points again and again. We'd say our piece, respect our right to a difference of opinion, and allow others a say.

    But I can see that I'm proving a distraction now in my own thread, dragging the trolls from under their bridges repeatedly. So I'll bow out and leave it for others to discuss constructively. I think my stance has been made abundantly clear by now.

    *I should note that I also respect the likes of Eve, who have been fully accountable and given plenty of real experience, even if they're arguing on the opposing side to me.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 675 ✭✭✭Dr.Sanchez


    I finished school at 16, worked in a bar full time until i was 19 and then did the whole Australia thing. When I came home I said I would never travel again until I had a decent education. Not that it was a bad experience, I lived/worked on a small island on the Barrier Reef for most of the time. I got to do things many people don't get the chance to do in life.

    So here I am, 23 years old, moving to London next week to start an undergraduate course. If I make it through it, and have enough money left over, I'll do a masters too... Then travel a bit more and fully appreciate it as many people don't.


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