[Havoc]

At risk of offend that genuinely reads like a post by someone who has never left their home country.

Wikipedia and streetview is in no shape or form comparable to experiencing something first hand.

Nor is the assumption that people do one or the other correct. Ideally you first do the online research to plan travel and then go.

[the_af]

I agree.

To be honest, this kind of justification (TFA) is often written by people who don't enjoy travelling. I have a family member like this, they claim they don't need to go abroad (or anywhere outside their city, really) because "everything is there in Google and Wikipedia".

I find it very sad.

[yostrovs]

Some time ago, about 25 years ago, I realized that travel had become a status symbol. Wearing gold bracelets and flashy clothes, driving a fancy car, and doing other showy things was no longer cool. Telling someone that you went to Budapest last month was now the thing. And those that didn't go to Budapest were very sad that they didn't. Maybe that's why you're also sad for those that didn't travel?

[the_af]

That's reading too much into my comment. No, it's not about bragging, wearing gold bracelets or driving expensive cars.

It's about not being a shut-in and understanding there's more to life than what you can see on your computer screen. Google and Wikipedia are just excuses for this kind of people, anyway.

I cannot go into details because I don't want to overshare.

[queenkjuul]

I traveled a lot around the US when i was young and poor, staying in hostels and on friend's couches.

It rocked, and I'm sad for people who didn't get to have that kind of fun exploring new places.

[lucyjojo]

i traveled here and there around the world and hated it.

now i mostly stay at home or close to home. to each his own.

[the_af]

What did you hate, the act of traveling or the rest of the world?

I'm not being facetious: I really enjoy being other places, but the physical act of traveling, preparing luggage, etc, feels stressful to me. I hate airplane travel, as many people do.

But being there, when I'm not carrying heavy luggage... I love it.

[dguest]

I find it sad if they never have the opportunity.

If they don't like to travel I put them in the same category as people who don't like fancy coffee, playing sports, wine, video games, or science. I like a lot of those things but not everyone needs to [although I really wish more people understood science]. All these things cost resources and so far resources aren't infinite.