Backpacker fallacies

Vasko · Aug 30th, 2006, 13:05

Backpacker fallacy #1:

Abject conditions = authenticity. "You haven't seen the REAL India unless you've traveled 2nd class from Kanyakumari to Ladakh with your head up a goat's ass."

Backpacker fallacy #2:

"India is soooo spiritual." Haven't been to Bangalore, then?

Backpacker fallacy #3:

All conversations with locals are interesting cultural exchanges. More like the third degree.

Backpacker fallacy #4:

The hippies in Goa are more free than you. Being stuck in a time warp isn't freedom.

Backpacker fallacy #5:

If you survive India, you'll survive anything. In fact, you'll find it almost unbearably difficult to survive being back home and going to work.

Nick-H · Aug 30th, 2006, 13:20

Nice one

Jorge Reverter · Aug 30th, 2006, 14:20

Great idea for a thread Vasko. Be careful because censhorship are moving around.

About Fallacy number one, I find very often in Spanish Forums about India (LP and others)that people is boasting about how they live in India with only 200 or 300 rupees a day. Probably that means we all are so stupid, because we spend some more money, even if we travel on real budget.

Probably you can add a new fallacy: "India is very, very hard for the travelller, probably is not the place to go for people like you, in my case is different..."

Jorge

sirensongs · Aug 30th, 2006, 14:21

Especially like #3 and #5. You do learn a lot about other cultures by getting the 3rd degree (for instance, the culturally different concept of *boundaries*)....

dhans · Aug 30th, 2006, 14:29

O did you really miss that (obscure, little, out of the way) temple? Well, then you haven't really visited India....

Hans

rangers · Aug 30th, 2006, 14:30

good nice reads..add on will make it better.

dhans · Aug 30th, 2006, 14:40

And we got really ill, we both had to be taken to hospital and hooked up to IV (the last part is the qualifying one)

Hans

MoritzK · Aug 30th, 2006, 14:44

"India chaaanges you, maaan...!" (coming back from India, unshaven, wearing a Bandana and smelling like a monkey)

Also, feel free to exchange 'India' for 'Cambodia', 'Laos', or 'Burma'

Rob_The_Pom · Aug 30th, 2006, 14:55

Worryingly I've met plenty of people who want to interchange India, Cambodia, Laos or Burma with THAILAND!
'I went to Thailand and like travelling changes you maaaaannnn.'
('I went to Aya Napa, and like travelling changes you geezer.' - anyone?)

Backpacker Fallacy #9 (?)
I've done India, I went to Manali. - Spending 6 months smoking dope in Manali does not mean you have 'seen the real India', only that you're lucky not to be seeing a real Indian prison.

Backpacker Fallacy #10
Delhi is soooo hardcore - No. Mogadishu is hardcore, Delhi is just hardwork occasionally.

sirensongs · Aug 30th, 2006, 15:13

Quote:

"India chaaanges you, maaan...!" (coming back from India, unshaven, wearing a Bandana and smelling like a monkey)

the comeback for this one is, "yeah, well if it chaaaannnges me into *you* I'm not sure I wanna go...." ;-)

blackbird · Aug 30th, 2006, 15:16

Backpacker Fallacy #11
"I feel so free in India...." .... no mate, you feel rich, which means you can afford to not work and pretty much have servants, unlike back home where you have to sort yourself out.

ps what a great thread.... pity I have to go to work....

blackbird · Aug 30th, 2006, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirensongs

the comeback for this one is, "yeah, well if it chaaaannnges me into *you* I'm not sure I wanna go...." ;-)

MoritzK · Aug 30th, 2006, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorge Reverter

"India is very, very hard for the travelller, probably is not the place to go for people like you, in my case is different..."

Jorge

Haha, yes, that's the "I don't know if you can handle it maaan..."

Great thread, and so true...

Vasko · Aug 30th, 2006, 16:48

Backpacker fallacy #12:"I'm treading off the beaten path."

Then why do I see that Lonely Planet peeking out of your backpack?

Vasko · Oct 24th, 2006, 20:01

Backpacker fallacy #13: "Two months in India is an abolute minimum."

A receptive traveller will learn more about India in two hours than you ever will lying in your hammock stoned and eating pancakes for two years.

Aug 30th, 2006, 14:40	#7
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,540	And another one And we got really ill, we both had to be taken to hospital and hooked up to IV (the last part is the qualifying one) Hans Last edited by dhans : Aug 30th, 2006 at 14:41. Reason: title

Aug 30th, 2006, 14:44	#8
MoritzK Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 80	"India chaaanges you, maaan...!" (coming back from India, unshaven, wearing a Bandana and smelling like a monkey) Also, feel free to exchange 'India' for 'Cambodia', 'Laos', or 'Burma' __________________ Tham Dee Dai Dee - Do Good and You Will Receive Good

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Aug 30th, 2006, 13:05	#1
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 486	Backpacker fallacies Backpacker fallacy #1: Abject conditions = authenticity. "You haven't seen the REAL India unless you've traveled 2nd class from Kanyakumari to Ladakh with your head up a goat's ass." Backpacker fallacy #2: "India is soooo spiritual." Haven't been to Bangalore, then? Backpacker fallacy #3: All conversations with locals are interesting cultural exchanges. More like the third degree. Backpacker fallacy #4: The hippies in Goa are more free than you. Being stuck in a time warp isn't freedom. Backpacker fallacy #5: If you survive India, you'll survive anything. In fact, you'll find it almost unbearably difficult to survive being back home and going to work.

Aug 30th, 2006, 13:20	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,908	Nice one __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Aug 30th, 2006, 14:20	#3
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,149	Great idea for a thread Vasko. Be careful because censhorship are moving around. About Fallacy number one, I find very often in Spanish Forums about India (LP and others)that people is boasting about how they live in India with only 200 or 300 rupees a day. Probably that means we all are so stupid, because we spend some more money, even if we travel on real budget. Probably you can add a new fallacy: "India is very, very hard for the travelller, probably is not the place to go for people like you, in my case is different..." Jorge

Aug 30th, 2006, 14:21	#4
sirensongs Eeny meeny mango Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: All India Permit (somewhere between Delhi & Dharamsala) Posts: 1,213	Especially like #3 and #5. You do learn a lot about other cultures by getting the 3rd degree (for instance, the culturally different concept of boundaries).... __________________ *"Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to lose* yourself."** Feringhee: The India Diaries

Aug 30th, 2006, 14:29	#5
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,540	Another one O did you really miss that (obscure, little, out of the way) temple? Well, then you haven't really visited India.... Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

Aug 30th, 2006, 14:30	#6
rangers Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India Posts: 450	good nice reads..add on will make it better.

Aug 30th, 2006, 14:55	#9
Rob_The_Pom offcourse essentric Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seoul, South Korea Posts: 1,291	Worryingly I've met plenty of people who want to interchange India, Cambodia, Laos or Burma with THAILAND! 'I went to Thailand and like travelling changes you maaaaannnn.' ('I went to Aya Napa, and like travelling changes you geezer.' - anyone?) Backpacker Fallacy #9 (?) I've done India, I went to Manali. - Spending 6 months smoking dope in Manali does not mean you have 'seen the real India', only that you're lucky not to be seeing a real Indian prison. Backpacker Fallacy #10 Delhi is soooo hardcore - No. Mogadishu is hardcore, Delhi is just hardwork occasionally. __________________ The solution to your troubles is at the bottom of a glass

Aug 30th, 2006, 15:16	#11
blackbird Jai Maa Tarini Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bristol, England Posts: 385	Backpacker Fallacy #11 "I feel so free in India...." .... no mate, you feel rich, which means you can afford to not work and pretty much have servants, unlike back home where you have to sort yourself out. ps what a great thread.... pity I have to go to work....

Aug 30th, 2006, 16:48	#14
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 486	Backpacker fallacy #12:"I'm treading off the beaten path." Then why do I see that Lonely Planet peeking out of your backpack?

Oct 24th, 2006, 20:01	#15
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 486	Backpacker fallacy #13: "Two months in India is an abolute minimum." A receptive traveller will learn more about India in two hours than you ever will lying in your hammock stoned and eating pancakes for two years.

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