3w ago

The true American social classes

113 comments

I have friends that used to go to Disney 2-3 times a year. They did not live in Florida. They used to spend so much money to go multiple times a year.
They are now declaring bankruptcy.
Going to Disney is just keeping up with the Joneses.
- It is not just Disney, vacations in general for a family are very expensive but a lot of people are doing them. Granted some of thwm prolly have the money but I bet most don't but they do it.
  I don't understand why people obsess over vacations so much. Such a weird "consumer" behaviour
  
  I mean, I guess that depends on what you're defining as a "vacation". If you're talking about some big grand trip where you spend a ton of money and show off to everyone when you get back, sure.
  But that's not my experience with vacations, nor most people I know. A vacation is a break. It's a chance to change your daily routine, change your scenery, and just disconnect from the normal stresses of daily life for a bit. It doesn't need to be somewhere expensive or even far away. Hell, a weekend camping trip can cost virtually nothing and is a great vacation.
  And for kids, vacations can be a great bonding and learning experience with parents and siblings. It takes them out of their comfort zone and forces them to experience and try things they might not have otherwise, simply because their environment has changed. Again, it doesn't need to be something grand or expensive. Just something different.
  Vacations aren't just "consumer" behavior. They're pretty important in a lot of ways.
  
  I don't understand why people obsess over vacations
  Maybe in this case where the "vacation" is just going to Disney and buying Disney themed stuff, but do you really not get the idea of a vacation in general?
  I feel like (based on my experiences and talking to other people) is vacations are more for new experiences, new food, new cultures, new people. Not just "consumer behaviors".
  
  vacations are more for new experiences, new food, new cultures, new people. Not just “consumer behaviors”.
  This. I haven't gone to multiple countries in latin america for weeks to just buy shit. The food in lima is some of the best i've ever had, just don't go alone for safety :P
  
  My position is that tourism is cancer especially the modern version where you have idiots going to tourism traps to experience
  new food, new cultures, new people.
  Which is literally just "consumer behaviors"
  Most historic urban cores are fucking gutten from obnoxious behaviour and these places unlivable and devoid of any culture beyond architectural style.
  Alternative are cruises and resorts... Which are prolly less damaging to the cities... But what fucking culture is there
  
  The only types of vacations you can imagine are visiting historic urban cores, going on a cruise, or going to a resort?
  What about a camping trip? Or a beach trip? Or visiting family that lives far away?
  
  I don't think that wanting to experience other cultures is a consumerist behavior.
  
  Pretending that visiting tourist traps in Prague or Paris or Rome is experiencing "other cultures" is a delulu mind set aka blind consumerism at its finest.
  Same guy prolly think he is a "liberal" and he is fighting climate change ge while at it 🤡
  
  Who besides you said anything about tourist traps?
  
  Tourism money flows
  
  OK buddy.
  
  Money talks and idiots end at the same tired places eat the same over priced trash, staying at the same over priced spots, seeing the same shit with locals being "servants"
  
  Agreed. People claim flying halfway across the planet exposes them to "different cultures" , but then do the most homegenized, Westernized touristy activities. I can learn more about a country and it's culture in a single day via Wikipedia and documentaries than most tourists will gain on their "vacation" in same country.
  
  Eat pray love is what they are going for...
  Hard rock cafe is where they end up
  Haha
  Then they make travel their personality on online dating apps!
  
  Because it's like a way to pay to maximize your time off
  Staycations are way more relaxing, but are generally forgettable - a week can go by before you know it when you're just at home
  A week in a different place where you cram in as many activities and experiences in as possible creates far more memories, so it feels longer
  It's like retail therapy - a way to soothe that voice in the back of your head asking "is it really worth it to sell my life away like this?"
  
  I like vacations that are a mix of your two descriptions: Go somewhere new, but with zero itinerary. I have the most fun that way, just organically figuring out stuff to do. Of course, still do some research ahead of time.
  
  I think you've been vacationing wrong.

113 comments