Comments on: TravelFish Wants YOU To Get Offline http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/ study abroad programs Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:02:12 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Stuart @ Travelfish http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/comment-page-1/#comment-3049 Stuart @ Travelfish Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:24:17 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=887#comment-3049 Just came across a great slideshow at WorldHum that touches on this topic -- well worth a look -- you can see the show here: http://www.worldhum.com/photos/slideshow/eight-endangered-travel-traditions-20090428/ Just came across a great slideshow at WorldHum that touches on this topic — well worth a look — you can see the show here: http://www.worldhum.com/photos/slideshow/eight-endangered-travel-traditions-20090428/

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]]> By: Chris http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/comment-page-1/#comment-2574 Chris Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:16:08 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=887#comment-2574 Last time I went traveling, I wasted a lot of time on the internet. I ended up surfing the net when I should have been wandering the streets. Next time I will really question why I need to use the internet before using. Yes, technology is useful. I took lots of photos for a project and needed to upload them regular to my computer. I also kept diary of my experience. I used skype to keep in touch with friends and family. It was invaluable in some ways but a hinderance in others. I took, a laptop and a digital camera. I found that I was much more conservative in my travels as I was worried about the stuff getting stolen. I missed some great experience because of this. I was also less trustful of people and was never keen to share a room with other people, y'know, just incase. In that way it was a big nuisance. I'll be looking at, wait for it, more technology, to see how I can overcome this. I've heard of something called 'gotomypc' where you can access stuff from your home computer to see whether this is a viable alternative to taking a laptop. Last time I went traveling, I wasted a lot of time on the internet. I ended up surfing the net when I should have been wandering the streets.

Next time I will really question why I need to use the internet before using.

Yes, technology is useful. I took lots of photos for a project and needed to upload them regular to my computer. I also kept diary of my experience. I used skype to keep in touch with friends and family. It was invaluable in some ways but a hinderance in others.

I took, a laptop and a digital camera. I found that I was much more conservative in my travels as I was worried about the stuff getting stolen. I missed some great experience because of this. I was also less trustful of people and was never keen to share a room with other people, y’know, just incase. In that way it was a big nuisance.

I’ll be looking at, wait for it, more technology, to see how I can overcome this. I’ve heard of something called ‘gotomypc’ where you can access stuff from your home computer to see whether this is a viable alternative to taking a laptop.

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]]> By: ian http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/comment-page-1/#comment-2442 ian Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:36:06 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=887#comment-2442 Maybe we are all right from our different viewpoints? I'm a bit of an old timer now and only have travelled once with a digital camera and being able to go into libraries to do some emailing. I loved it and when I do a sort trip later this year I will use technology heaps. But I will go online when I need to not so much because I want to, I get bored quickly in front of a computer which is good. I'm be sending postcards to my dear old mum but definitely swapping email addresses with new friends. It is too easy to misunderstand what others actually mean in forums/threads like this, I think we are all on the same team and all share a common interest. I think of travel as a very personal act to the point of being very selfish, it's so important to acheive what you want to acheive, to go where you want to go and other noble crap like that. Learn from others and share but don't compete. And I think the main point of the original post is that yes it is fine to go online to keep in touch with where you are from and to research where you are going but as much as possible immerse yourself in where you are right now. Excuse me, I don't normally preach like this! Maybe we are all right from our different viewpoints?

I’m a bit of an old timer now and only have travelled once with a digital camera and being able to go into libraries to do some emailing. I loved it and when I do a sort trip later this year I will use technology heaps. But I will go online when I need to not so much because I want to, I get bored quickly in front of a computer which is good.

I’m be sending postcards to my dear old mum but definitely swapping email addresses with new friends.

It is too easy to misunderstand what others actually mean in forums/threads like this, I think we are all on the same team and all share a common interest. I think of travel as a very personal act to the point of being very selfish, it’s so important to acheive what you want to acheive, to go where you want to go and other noble crap like that. Learn from others and share but don’t compete.

And I think the main point of the original post is that yes it is fine to go online to keep in touch with where you are from and to research where you are going but as much as possible immerse yourself in where you are right now.

Excuse me, I don’t normally preach like this!

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]]> By: Tim Patterson http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/comment-page-1/#comment-2388 Tim Patterson Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:39:18 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=887#comment-2388 Ha! You sure did! Ha! You sure did!

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]]> By: Jacob Bielanski http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/comment-page-1/#comment-2387 Jacob Bielanski Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:27:06 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=887#comment-2387 Didn't I do that already? ;) http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/10/does-the-internet-cheapen-your-travel-experience/ "While technology hastens the dispersal of information, it does not improve its ability to be processed by the end user. Travel has entirely to do with what we bring with us; our wits, our hopes, our preconceptions and–most importantly–our failings." Didn’t I do that already? ;)

http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/03/10/does-the-internet-cheapen-your-travel-experience/

“While technology hastens the dispersal of information, it does not improve its ability to be processed by the end user. Travel has entirely to do with what we bring with us; our wits, our hopes, our preconceptions and–most importantly–our failings.”

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]]> By: Tim Patterson http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/comment-page-1/#comment-2380 Tim Patterson Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:56:56 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=887#comment-2380 Yeah, I hear your point, Eva. We should note that the (provocative?) headline was all mine, not Stuart's. If his post is a call to action, it's as simple and innocent as "hey, online travel info. is great, but remember to unplug yourself once in a while!" And I don't see how that's controversial or offensive. Yeah, I hear your point, Eva.

We should note that the (provocative?) headline was all mine, not Stuart’s.

If his post is a call to action, it’s as simple and innocent as “hey, online travel info. is great, but remember to unplug yourself once in a while!”

And I don’t see how that’s controversial or offensive.

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]]> By: Eva http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/comment-page-1/#comment-2376 Eva Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:02:58 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=887#comment-2376 I dunno, Tim. I don't want to speak for Stuart, but this reads like more of a call to action than a "hey, isn't that weird" type observation - certainly that's what's implied by your headline. And I just don't get why it's somehow better to swap postal addresses with a hostel-goer than email addresses. Like I said, same end result. Make friend, keep in contact. Heck, I don't even have a postal address, really. I'm sorry if I sound cranky, I'm just so tired of the "Remember when travel was REAL?" theme, because, well, I don't. Or rather, I do - I feel like all my travels have gone just fine, thanks, Facebook or no. Besides which, having this conversation with a website founder, on the web, makes the whole thing seem kind of hypocritical. I dunno, Tim. I don’t want to speak for Stuart, but this reads like more of a call to action than a “hey, isn’t that weird” type observation – certainly that’s what’s implied by your headline. And I just don’t get why it’s somehow better to swap postal addresses with a hostel-goer than email addresses. Like I said, same end result. Make friend, keep in contact. Heck, I don’t even have a postal address, really.

I’m sorry if I sound cranky, I’m just so tired of the “Remember when travel was REAL?” theme, because, well, I don’t. Or rather, I do – I feel like all my travels have gone just fine, thanks, Facebook or no. Besides which, having this conversation with a website founder, on the web, makes the whole thing seem kind of hypocritical.

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]]> By: Tim Patterson http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/comment-page-1/#comment-2375 Tim Patterson Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:53:06 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=887#comment-2375 I think Stuart's point is a lot simpler and less controversial than this discussion would suggest. Basically, he's pointing out that it's kind of weird to walk into a hostel in Luang Prabang and see a whole room of people staring into their laptops. I agree. Even though I am one of those people. I think Stuart’s point is a lot simpler and less controversial than this discussion would suggest.

Basically, he’s pointing out that it’s kind of weird to walk into a hostel in Luang Prabang and see a whole room of people staring into their laptops.

I agree. Even though I am one of those people.

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]]> By: Eva http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/comment-page-1/#comment-2373 Eva Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:49:06 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=887#comment-2373 Re: aerograms, I'm going to assume you didn't mean that quite as condescendingly as it sounds. ;) Look, I just don't see how writing a letter to my mom instead of writing an email to my mom means I am getting out of my "comfort zone"? I mean, either way, I am communicating with my family and home. It changes how she receives information FROM me, but does it substantially change MY experience? Really? From what I understand, you aren't proposing that we cut ourselves off entirely - merely that we use old-fashioned methods of communication instead. Hence my references to zippers vs. buttons - same end result, no? Re: aerograms, I’m going to assume you didn’t mean that quite as condescendingly as it sounds. ;)

Look, I just don’t see how writing a letter to my mom instead of writing an email to my mom means I am getting out of my “comfort zone”? I mean, either way, I am communicating with my family and home. It changes how she receives information FROM me, but does it substantially change MY experience? Really?

From what I understand, you aren’t proposing that we cut ourselves off entirely – merely that we use old-fashioned methods of communication instead. Hence my references to zippers vs. buttons – same end result, no?

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]]> By: Stuart http://matadorabroad.com/travelfish-wants-you-to-get-offline/comment-page-1/#comment-2372 Stuart Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:29:15 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=887#comment-2372 For some, travel can/does involve getting out of ones comfort zone -- I guess some of what I wrote about touches on that for some. Its kinda off topic, but if you've only just learned about an aerogramme then it's not really a surprise you don't see a huge difference between the two -- they are quite different mediums. Unfortunately they've been discontinued -- at least in the US anyway. Ian, yeah I agree -- some of the best travel is that that is totally unplanned -- absolutely. Cheers. For some, travel can/does involve getting out of ones comfort zone — I guess some of what I wrote about touches on that for some.

Its kinda off topic, but if you’ve only just learned about an aerogramme then it’s not really a surprise you don’t see a huge difference between the two — they are quite different mediums. Unfortunately they’ve been discontinued — at least in the US anyway.

Ian, yeah I agree — some of the best travel is that that is totally unplanned — absolutely.

Cheers.

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