Are we "bores" with our travel stories? (page 6 of 16)

Interesting take on this topic about "people who tell their travel stories...". Your opinion is spot-on—it’s true that through these stories, we learn a lot about the traveler/teller’s interests and their way of traveling. The story reflects their perspective and, ultimately, their personality.

Great idea to share your thoughts on this!

Jean http://voyageforum.com/discussion/jamaique-couleurs-tropiques-rythmes-reggae-d6575327/

Good evening, Oh, travel journals... They really do reveal a lot about their authors—you're absolutely right! No problem when they stay in the private sphere, but it's a different story on a public site like Voyage Forum. "Posting" your travel journal means publishing, and "publishing" means "public." And in that regard, some (actually, most) of these travel journals are pretty staggering. I’m especially thinking of those that recount family trips with tons of photos of their kids... The risks are the same as on social media. Isn’t Voyage Forum itself a genuine social network, after all? And, no doubt, the motivations for flaunting one’s life like this are the same. I read in the comments above how some users take satisfaction in counting the number of visits to their site, and it’s clear that many travel journal authors get a kick out of it too. What’s more intoxicating (and illusory) than imagining yourself as one of the last explorers, believing you’re sharing your adventures with the whole world? So when a VoyageForum member asks a question about a destination, the knee-jerk reaction of the "explorer" and author of the latest "bestseller" is to remind them about their travel journal with the perfect link—rather than simply answering the question. And when another member starts sharing their own trip, they’ll jump in just as quickly to say, "Me too, I’ve been there!" ("Me, me, me... and check out my photos...") This leads to bragging contests, especially about far-off or somewhat mythical destinations, where the pitiful side of it all completely escapes the participants. But this isn’t new. Those who lived through the last century and the era of slide shows have all met (or been) those "great travelers" who thought photo labs were pirating their pictures... Personally, of course, I keep travel journals. But only for myself or a close circle. And when I comment on a post, it’s usually either to provide info about places I know (knowing a place isn’t just having been there once...) or to get info about places I’m planning to discover—not to recount my own adventures. Oh, one last thing: obviously, no one’s forcing anyone to read Tartempion’s travel journals. It’s like a ringing phone—no one’s obligated to pick up... and yet! Don’t take this to mean I hate travel journals. I loved those by Chateaubriand, Jack London, Alexandra David-Néel, and more recently Nicolas Bouvier or Sylvain Tesson... to name just a few. Maybe one day we’ll discover that a great travel writer was born on Voyage Forum, and I’ll have missed it.

I would’ve missed it.

You can still read it.

Unfortunately, it’s no longer there.

(Your comment is extremely condescending...)

Good evening,

Your comment is extremely condescending ...)

I accept the criticism. It’s probably justified, and I’ll likely face a barrage of responses... But I’d rather be seen this way than respond with bland, overly sweet comments like "thanks for sharing and those amazing photos"—stuff I’ve read too often at the end of poorly written travel journals, with no real interest and/or mediocre photos. If I did that, maybe I wouldn’t do any better. That’s another reason I hold back. Still, I should mention: I *have* read some that were very well written and illustrated. But honesty forces me to say they’re rare.

You can still read it. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available.

I saw it, thanks for the link. But what do you mean? It’s no longer... at all? Is it no longer on VF? Where was it published (other than on a forum...)?

And you too, Cheechako, dear fellow traveler, why do you list that long litany of trips in your profile? Isn’t that also a way of showing off? You could’ve been less verbose—just saying you often visit our British neighbors, like I do, and that you know Alaska well since you go there regularly. Why that list sprawling like trophies on a mantelpiece? Aren’t we all, those of us who frequent these public forums, just sad (or happy) exhibitionists seeking, consciously or not, our fleeting moment of glory? Is the travel journal, which has the big drawback of requiring a lot of work, the only way to achieve that?

Travel journals can be a valuable resource and are packed with useful information—I’ve used them many times without regret. I’ve enjoyed reading many of them, and some have even inspired me to visit places I hadn’t considered, like Southern Africa, which I now struggle to leave.

Attila’s right—your comment is condescending.

But *yec'hed mad* anyway! 🙂

He passed away.🙁

reply with soothing and terribly "sappy" comments like thank you for sharing and those amazing photos

What can you do, the "École des Fans" of Jacques Martin shaped the childhood of many of us!😄 After that, I think the travel journals you prefer aren’t necessarily the ones I prefer or that... prefers.

And a travel journal might interest you at a specific time because you find information you were looking for, whereas you wouldn’t have even glanced at it another day.

None of these travel journals harm anyone, and even if some seem simplistic, repetitive, or poorly put together, is it really that big a deal?

If the only problem on Earth were VF travel journals, we’d be back in the Garden of Eden, so to speak.🙂

If it ever existed in the first place...😏

I would have missed it.

You can still read it.

Unfortunately, it’s no longer available.

(Your comment is extremely condescending...)

Hello,

I don’t find Cheechako’s comments condescending—I find them realistic. That said, it’s true there are worse things than VoyageForum travel journals...!😎

I encourage you all to read: "The Art of Boring People by Telling Your Travel Stories" by Matthias Debureaux

(a small book published in 2006 and unfortunately out of print; it was 6 € in 2006, and now sells for too much secondhand online...)

"Travel is mostly about annoying others once you’re back"😎 Sacha Guitry

some have inspired me to travel to places I never considered visiting, like Southern Africa, which I now find so hard to leave.

Ughhhhh!

That’s a good reason to stop writing travel journals!

I can’t find anything available in South Africa for 2015 between you, Régis, Diam’, and the rest 😉

"The art of boring people by recounting your travels"

If you’d clicked the link, you’d have seen it pointed to a travel journal viewed over 200,000 times...

I reckon Matthias Debureaux would’ve been thrilled to have that many readers...😇😏

I’m once again encouraging everyone to read: "The Art of Boring People by Talking About Your Travels" by Matthias Debureaux

Perfect book to start a fireplace 🙂.... sorry, I despise self-righteousness and snobbery... This journalist is to travel what Éric Zemmour is to intellectual stupidity? I welcome criticism—I haven’t read the book—but once again, I hate self-righteous books. It’s so typically French in mentality...

"Travel is mostly useful for annoying people once you’re back"😎 Sacha Guitry

Exactly! Everyone just stays in their corner—might as well become autistic! 😛 Everyone at home and no one talks anymore... Then we’ll say we live in a society of individualists...

Hello again😎

I suppose Mattias Debureaux would have been thrilled to have so many readers

I wasn’t specifically talking about the travel journal you recommend and that I don’t know (and I’ll check it out since you’re recommending it). That said, on V.F., even the smallest discussions on topics like "Will it rain in three months in..., the week of...?" get hundreds of views and dozens of replies, so it makes sense to me that a quality travel journal would be just as successful—and that’s a good thing.

Still, I encourage you😎 to read Matthias Debureaux’s book, which, by the way, has had, I think, a respectable success, given how relevant and funny his writing is.

And while I’m at it, I’d like to say—but to all the forum participants, not just you—that more and more often, contradictory exchanges on V.F. quickly take on a polemical, unpleasant, even aggressive tone (not cool, really!😎) I’m leaving this discussion after replying to Mattews; best of luck to everyone and have a great evening.

Good evening then...😇

I once again encourage everyone to read: "The Art of Boring People by Sharing Your Travels" by Matthias Debureaux

A perfect book to light a fireplace with 🙂.... Sorry, I despise self-righteousness and snobbery... Is this journalist to travel what E. Zemmour is to intellectual stupidity? I accept criticism—I haven’t read this book—but once again, I hate self-righteous books. That mentality is so typically French...

"Traveling is mostly useful for annoying others once you’re back"😎 Sacha Guitry

Yeah, totally! Everyone should just stay in their corner, and we might as well become autistic! 😛 Each to their own, and then no one talks anymore... After that, they’ll say we live in a society of individualists...

Hi Mattews, First off, I find you quite aggressive...! (Let’s not even talk about the book burning in your fireplace—it’s true, it’s starting to get chilly !😎) Sorry, but it’s obvious you haven’t read this book...😎 And then you say:

"I haven’t read this book, but once again, I hate self-righteous books": Wow, that’s bold !😎 So I won’t add anything more !😎

As for Guitry’s quote, it’s a humorous line from a comedian—no need to read too much into it. Lighten up, Mattews, every now and then !😎 To finish, I don’t think Mr. Debureaux has much in common with Eric Zemmour (at least I don’t have much in common with Zemmour, I confirm😎)

As far as I’m concerned, no hard feelings (or at least not excessive ones😎), but I’m bowing out of this discussion no matter how it turns out.

Have a great evening, everyone, and keep it cheerful!

"Those who’ve traveled the world can stretch their conversation for an extra fifteen minutes." Jules Renard

Hi there,

Ah, travel journals...

Well, well, well... so according to you, there’s some brand-new feature on VF? 😮

That, from the very first login of the day... would force everyone to automatically go check out the section dedicated to "travel journals"! 😕 And no one’s said a word to me yet?! 🤪

They do indeed reveal a lot about their authors, you’re right! No problem when they stay in the private sphere, but it’s a different story on a public site like Voyage Forum, for example. "Posting" your travel journal means publishing, and in "publishing," there’s "public." And in that regard, some (actually, most) of these travel journals are pretty staggering. I’m thinking especially of those that recount family trips with tons of photos of their kids... The risks are the same as on social media. Besides, isn’t Voyage Forum itself a genuine social network?

Yes, I think we can absolutely consider VF to be what’s called a "social network"! So... where’s the problem?! 😮 Everyone should be free to express themselves however they want! 😉

That is, in a highly expansive way, sometimes without much restraint when it comes to intimate life details (in full-on extrovert mode) for some! Or in extreme discretion (introvert mode) for others! All while being aware that there’s a huge range of possibilities between these two ways of doing things!

Actually, I think an important detail seems to have escaped you...

If VF is supposed to be a forum bringing together people with a deep passion for travel, it’s still true that this passion is expressed in a strictly "amateur" setting, not a "professional" one! We’re neither in a travel agency nor on a site for professional writers (other specialized sites exist for those interested)! 😛

And believe me, I’m "completely free" in writing this, because I don’t post (and never will) any travel journals, let alone personal photos on this forum! Not because I’m not capable, but because I consider (and it’s a purely personal choice) that these things are intimate and should absolutely stay within the private sphere. That doesn’t stop me from thinking that everyone should be able to act—and thus express themselves—as they see fit! The main thing is to try to please others while also pleasing yourself! I see absolutely no harm in that?!

And if I sometimes have a critical mind about certain things written here, I can assure you I’d personally never have the indecency to criticize someone’s travel journal! Because even if some might seem "dull" as you more or less seem to think, I believe we should at least have great respect for the immense work often done by these amateur travel journal writers! 🙂

If only by trying to imagine...

The significant research and synthesis work required among the many documents some bring back from their trips, the real effort of memory to highlight the emotional moments that may have marked the narrator to captivate future readers, the touch of humor to add to make it engaging, not to mention the layout and writing style most people try to present in the most pleasant way possible, plus spelling and grammar (I’ve never read a travel journal written in that awful SMS language), the sometimes impressive volume of photos to sort through before choosing the nicest or most meaningful ones to express what they wanted to convey in their story, etc., etc.

Yes, all that takes some serious work, even for a seasoned amateur! 😉

So if it’s only reading works written by professionals that interests you... I think you’re in the wrong place, my Breton traveler friend! 🙂

Kenavo and have a good day... Marco

Hi,

You're right....

The title of this post asked a question: "are we boring..." I could’ve just given my answer: YES, for the most part. Sorry for adding a contribution that’s just as "dull" as the posts it was referring to...

I once again encourage everyone to read: "The Art of Boring People by Telling Your Travel Stories" by Matthias Debureaux

(a small book published in 2006 and unfortunately out of print; it was 6 € in 2006, and now sells for too much second-hand online...)

...oh right, funny to bring up this book—I was given it when it came out... and since then, I’ve never told my travel stories again....

Hello,

I’m replying to the latest post, not specifically to Dennis, and I haven’t read everything.

It’s obvious that we can be a drag if we bring thousands of photos with comments. I’ve found myself held hostage by someone who had thousands of photos to go through.

Even if we love traveling, too much is too much.

On a forum, I don’t see a problem: those who want to read and look at everything can keep going, while others can stop.

But in private circles... I usually pick around a hundred photos per trip, and even then, I sometimes see that it’s already too much—or just about the limit of my audience’s patience.

Photos and stories mostly interest those who are planning the same trip or want to learn about the country, and those who’ve been there and are happy to revisit places where they had meaningful experiences.

Hello,

I’m responding to the latest post, not Dennis in particular, and I haven’t read everything.

It’s obvious we’re boring if we bring thousands of photos with comments to go with them. I’ve found myself held hostage like that by someone who had thousands of photos to comment on.

Even if we love traveling, too much is too much.

On a forum, I don’t see a problem: those who want to read and look everything over keep going, the others stop.

But in private circles... I usually pick about a hundred photos per trip, and sometimes I see that’s already too much—or just barely within the listener’s tolerance.

Photos and stories mostly interest those who are planning the same trip or want to learn about the country, and those who’ve been there and are happy to revisit places where they experienced something.

Yeah, it’s a no-brainer, and the book mentioned at the start of this thread probably says it too (I haven’t read it yet). The annoying travelers are the ones who insist on telling their trip to their friends and family, who listen politely without daring to interrupt and have to sit through hundreds of photos they couldn’t care less about—something the traveler just can’t understand. You might find Maasai culture, the Great Wall of China, lions and elephants, sharks and whales, or even bears in Alaska boring! Go figure... I gave up telling my trips to my loved ones a long time ago. I make photo books for us; if my friends or family ask, I hand them the book, and if they want comments, they can ask questions. The pathetically low demand for reading those books and the number of questions about them hovering dangerously close to zero led to an immeasurable frustration. My friends are idiots, too bad for them—they can rot in their miserable routine of dinner parties and fiestas without me ruining their meal with my uninteresting stories! No, I won’t serve them this caviar anymore; I’m saving it for the elite: VF readers who enjoy my travel journals! There you go! (And anyone who doesn’t like reading them is an idiot...) 🙂

I gave up telling my travels to my loved ones a long time ago.

I think we’ve all reached that point...

Otherwise, we probably wouldn’t be here.[;]

My friends are idiots, too bad for them—they can rot in their pathetic daily grind, eating and partying without me while I ruin their meals with my uninteresting stories! No, I won’t serve them this caviar anymore; I’m saving it for the elite: VF readers who love my travel journals! There! (And anyone who doesn’t like reading them is an idiot...) 🙂

😉 Feeling better now?