Comments on: Devil’s Advocate: Six Reasons Why Foreign Travel is Unethical

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:35:08 +0000

Well, I am glad I won''t be meeting you on my next trip abroad.

Unethical??? I guess you could argue the the Internet, blogging, workling for a big company, having travel related advertising, eating meat, driving to the polling place to vote, and a million other things are unethical.

I'm assuming that your post is simply an attempt, and a bad one at that, at being witty and controversial. Unfortunately, the bottom line is that it is neither.

While you may have received lots of hits form this one, I suspect most readers like me, will not return.

SU – thumbs down.

(Report comment)

By: Eva

Eva — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:53:14 +0000

Glad you liked it! I take it your purpose here was to bait us into discussion, then?

(Report comment)

By: Apolon

Apolon — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:20:33 +0000

Eva, you did a very good job of picking out a lot of the holes in this article.

1) You are totally right. I think the point is worth considering with regard to Third World countries, but travel to the First World is totally different. I had to be myopic to achieve my purpose, and you saw right through it!

3) I agree. That room in the Topkapi Palace is very moving and powerful, and it is wonderful for Muslims and non-Muslims alike that relics that once were hidden are now available for all to see.

It IS true that the experience is not what it once was unless you are a member of the House of Osman in exile. Historically speaking the experience is inauthentic–mere entry into the palace harem is inauthentic. But that doesn't mean the experience is bad. As you point out, this change is most definitely for the better.

4) I think this is your best point. Intercontinental travel IS awful for the environment. You state it rather poignantly:

Some things are worth consuming resources for.

Travel does some harm. But the benefits outweigh the costs.

(Report comment)

By: Apolon

Apolon — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:06:28 +0000

Generally speaking, I agree with you, although you shouldn't jump into the ad homimen quite so quickly! I'm hurt!

I like the idea of charging tourists a little extra and hiring somebody to clean up the Pyramid complex (although it's fairly expensive as it is… $50USD to see everything there, I think). I don't think restricting tourists would work simply because of the amount of wealth it generates for Cairo… there is real dependence on that money, which I really do think can be dangerous.

I think the best point you make is to 'solve the problem instead of shifting the blame.' A lot of these problems are real. But travel isn't necessarily the main cause, and even if it is, there are other solutions besides halting travel.

(Report comment)

By: traveler

traveler — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:14:18 +0000

hahaha, frickin' hilarious. u rock!

(Report comment)

By: traveler

traveler — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:12:59 +0000

i totally agree. complete bs. Only travelers know the true joy of nature, traveling and experience

(Report comment)

By: xog

xog — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:42:37 +0000

Um…just off the top of my head:
Ethics, at best, are slippery things…
…just as slippery as the lack of them…
…since both the dark and the light are real and true.
Exploring the northern reaches would pollute it…
…and expose Santa for the commercial farce he is…
…brrr, I like the sun myself.
Otherwise, here here. The Devil needs an advocate…
…and a little sympathy doesn't hurt either…Whoop whoo…
…you know, what with EOE and all that.

(Report comment)

By: Marie_Cornel

Marie_Cornel — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:09:25 +0000

There's no way you'll ever convince me that traveling is unethical. Terrorism or not. Travel OPENS the mind!
If more of us traveled, there might be less fear, possibly less terrorism everywhere. Too idealistic? I hope so.

(Report comment)

By: DHarbecke

DHarbecke — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:06:17 +0000

Hundreds of pixels had to die for me to post this message. And for what?

(Report comment)

By: Zig-Zag

Zig-Zag — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:50:40 +0000

I'm not sure if this article is 100% serious or not. If so, then the author is a true pessimist. Sure there are many downsides to travel, but there are many positive sides as well. And I believe that the positives far outweigh the negatives.

(Report comment)