Trying really hard to like India...

Merchant · Sep 29th, 2004, 21:08

http://www.slate.com/id/2107063/entry/2107071/

The writer hates India, Delhi especially but even Kerala--so he writes about it for a major online magazine. Hates the poverty, the scams, backpackers, hotels. Gets sick (assures you that you will, too).

I say the guy gets what he deserves.

cyberhippie · Sep 29th, 2004, 21:21

He makes me want to vomit!! What a biased, ignorant, myopic piece of writing!!
Doing a bit of travel writing is something I often romantically toy with, reading rubbish like this makes me feel there may still be a chance!!

beach · Sep 29th, 2004, 21:31

I think he is protesting the idea of his GF to go to India again

cyberhippie · Sep 29th, 2004, 21:33

Yeah well spotted beach!!! The man' s in the huff

williaam · Sep 29th, 2004, 21:37

Thank you for sharing this article. Although I am sure that many people will not agree with his views, I think that it is important that we remember that India will not meet all of our expectations and it is ok for some people to not like it. I appreciate the opportunity to read some negative reviews of India, it helps me get a broader perspective.

Bryan · Sep 29th, 2004, 21:57

The image he portrays in his article i hate to say is pretty accurate from one angle
Everything he observes are things I take fior granted whilst in India

He kind of paints only the negative picture without the positive but it is a valid picture nontheless...all the moer shocking as more and more wealth is produced in india

Merchant · Sep 29th, 2004, 22:14

It would have been nice if he had actually met some local people. Otherwise, he's just watching a movie out the car window--and it can be a pretty horrific site, only because it is so far removed from most of our usual experiences. The guy displays no curiosity.

But, for god's sake, this 2004. Plenty of people have been to India. It's time to stop whining about the poverty and the scatterlings. I get fed up with the stream of articles about India in which the writer discovers the poverty. Like it's some big secret.

At least with the NYTimes, which has an article about Kerala or Rajasthan every few weeks, the writer is shocked by the poverty but charmed by the people (which is its own kind of racism, but that's fodder for another discussion).

cyberhippie · Sep 29th, 2004, 22:27

His views on backpackers are as biased and jaded as his views on India. He seems to judge from afar and relate this as fact.
Sure all this exists in India but it goes hand in hand with a lot of smiles and humanity. And these days you don't have to look very hard to find the newer modern face of India.
I'm with merchant on this most journalists doing pieces on India are lazy, they invariably concentrate on the poverty and downsides of India probably as this is easier to sell in the west. There is loads of poverty and misery in India but by only portraiting this reality we sell India and her people short, there is so much more to the equation!!

beach · Sep 29th, 2004, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merchant

But, for god's sake, this 2004. Plenty of people have been to India. It's time to stop whining about the poverty and the scatterlings. I get fed up with the stream of articles about India in which the writer discovers the poverty. Like it's some big secret.

At least with the NYTimes, which has an article about Kerala or Rajasthan every few weeks, the writer is shocked by the poverty but charmed by the people (which is its own kind of racism, but that's fodder for another discussion).

History never repeats, Historians are merely repeating each other

There is a (guilty) pleasure in doing so!!

It’s more like (on the positive side) taking the picture of Taj with your own camera and show it to people back home as if it's a great shot, despite there has been any number of professional pictures available.

goangoangone · Sep 29th, 2004, 22:49

He already hated India, so what chance did he have of giving a balanced review?

He should stay at home and his passport should be confiscated

India Edge · Sep 29th, 2004, 23:27

I think maybe India doesn't like HIM! I know a lady who took her sister to India and her sister would not leave the hotel room the whole time. Guru India will not accept just anyone. Maybe their loss is India's gain. Jai Hind.

williaam · Sep 29th, 2004, 23:39

I don't really understand why this guy is receiving so much ridicule. Not everyone who goes to India, or anywhere for that matter, is going to like it. I would imagine that their are quite a few people who would find themselves less than satisfied with India, not many people find poverty and filth on top of their must-sees. I understand that there is much more to India than this but some people are not suited for the above factors. I don't think that it is fair to harp on someone for their own perspective and experience. He simply didn't like it, it is going to happen from time to time.

goangoangone · Sep 29th, 2004, 23:52

If he hates it that much, why go twice?

Jorge Reverter · Sep 29th, 2004, 23:55

As Williaam says, India doesn't meet all the expectations. Personnally I know plenty people who did not enjoyed their time in India. Nevertheless, this particular point of view is written with a certain sense of humour ( probably he things is black humour ).

It is not difficult to tell stories in a sarcastic way. The other side of the moon is when you read or heard people trying to levitate every five minutes with every single cow or baba he finds in the street.

Jorge

India Edge · Sep 30th, 2004, 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by williaam

...not many people find poverty and filth on top of their must-sees... He simply didn't like it...

Not anybody's favorite thing I'm sure. But that's the way it is. True and in your face. It ain't Disneyland. India teaches.
Reminds me of that old 10cc song "Dreadlock Holiday" in which reality conflicts expectations. To paraphrase:
Don't like India oh no
I love her
Don't like India oh no
I love her oh yea

Sep 29th, 2004, 21:08	#1
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,212	"Slate" has a miserable time in India http://www.slate.com/id/2107063/entry/2107071/ The writer hates India, Delhi especially but even Kerala--so he writes about it for a major online magazine. Hates the poverty, the scams, backpackers, hotels. Gets sick (assures you that you will, too). I say the guy gets what he deserves.

Sep 29th, 2004, 21:57	#6
Bryan Mega Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 638	The image he portrays in his article i hate to say is pretty accurate from one angle Everything he observes are things I take fior granted whilst in India He kind of paints only the negative picture without the positive but it is a valid picture nontheless...all the moer shocking as more and more wealth is produced in india __________________ Then let us pray that come it may (As come it will for a' that), That Sense and Worth o'er a' the earth, Shall bear the gree an a' that. For a' that, an a' that, It's coming yet for a' that, That man to man, the world, o'er Shall brithers be for a' that. - Burns

Sep 29th, 2004, 23:27	#11
India Edge Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Phoenix AZ Posts: 218	I think maybe India doesn't like HIM! I know a lady who took her sister to India and her sister would not leave the hotel room the whole time. Guru India will not accept just anyone. Maybe their loss is India's gain. Jai Hind. __________________ India pics India vids

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Sep 29th, 2004, 21:21	#2
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	He makes me want to vomit!! What a biased, ignorant, myopic piece of writing!! Doing a bit of travel writing is something I often romantically toy with, reading rubbish like this makes me feel there may still be a chance!!

Sep 29th, 2004, 21:31	#3
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	I think he is protesting the idea of his GF to go to India again

Sep 29th, 2004, 21:33	#4
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Yeah well spotted beach!!! The man' s in the huff

Sep 29th, 2004, 21:37	#5
williaam Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: minneapolis Posts: 191	Thank you for sharing this article. Although I am sure that many people will not agree with his views, I think that it is important that we remember that India will not meet all of our expectations and it is ok for some people to not like it. I appreciate the opportunity to read some negative reviews of India, it helps me get a broader perspective.

Sep 29th, 2004, 22:14	#7
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,212	It would have been nice if he had actually met some local people. Otherwise, he's just watching a movie out the car window--and it can be a pretty horrific site, only because it is so far removed from most of our usual experiences. The guy displays no curiosity. But, for god's sake, this 2004. Plenty of people have been to India. It's time to stop whining about the poverty and the scatterlings. I get fed up with the stream of articles about India in which the writer discovers the poverty. Like it's some big secret. At least with the NYTimes, which has an article about Kerala or Rajasthan every few weeks, the writer is shocked by the poverty but charmed by the people (which is its own kind of racism, but that's fodder for another discussion).

Sep 29th, 2004, 22:27	#8
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	His views on backpackers are as biased and jaded as his views on India. He seems to judge from afar and relate this as fact. Sure all this exists in India but it goes hand in hand with a lot of smiles and humanity. And these days you don't have to look very hard to find the newer modern face of India. I'm with merchant on this most journalists doing pieces on India are lazy, they invariably concentrate on the poverty and downsides of India probably as this is easier to sell in the west. There is loads of poverty and misery in India but by only portraiting this reality we sell India and her people short, there is so much more to the equation!!

Sep 29th, 2004, 22:49	#10
goangoangone What happened? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,953	He already hated India, so what chance did he have of giving a balanced review? He should stay at home and his passport should be confiscated

Sep 29th, 2004, 23:39	#12
williaam Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: minneapolis Posts: 191	I don't really understand why this guy is receiving so much ridicule. Not everyone who goes to India, or anywhere for that matter, is going to like it. I would imagine that their are quite a few people who would find themselves less than satisfied with India, not many people find poverty and filth on top of their must-sees. I understand that there is much more to India than this but some people are not suited for the above factors. I don't think that it is fair to harp on someone for their own perspective and experience. He simply didn't like it, it is going to happen from time to time.

Sep 29th, 2004, 23:52	#13
goangoangone What happened? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,953	If he hates it that much, why go twice?

Sep 29th, 2004, 23:55	#14
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,464	As Williaam says, India doesn't meet all the expectations. Personnally I know plenty people who did not enjoyed their time in India. Nevertheless, this particular point of view is written with a certain sense of humour ( probably he things is black humour ). It is not difficult to tell stories in a sarcastic way. The other side of the moon is when you read or heard people trying to levitate every five minutes with every single cow or baba he finds in the street. Jorge