Comments on: Travel Writing - The Double-Edged Sword http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/ Newsletter on-line commentary and discussion about tourism in South Africa Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:56:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Mariette http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/#comment-128 Mariette Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:18:14 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/#comment-128 I have to agree with Martin re the cruelty of killing the snake, drinking it while the heart is still beating and enjoying every moment of it! I find this the most horrific experience to say the least! I am not a snake lover but in the end of the day – you have to respect all lives – animals, fish, human beings, reptiles, and all insects! One should only kill if necessary and it should be done in the proper way – instant death – no suffering! I would like one day to do the same to all the STUPID INCONSIDERATE LOW LIFE humans that do make themselves guilty of such a crime. I would like to make them suffer in the same way for them to realise and understand the pain and suffering they do to animals. I have to agree with Martin re the cruelty of killing the snake, drinking it while the heart is still beating and enjoying every moment of it!

I find this the most horrific experience to say the least! I am not a snake lover but in the end of the day – you have to respect all lives – animals, fish, human beings, reptiles, and all insects!

One should only kill if necessary and it should be done in the proper way – instant death – no suffering!

I would like one day to do the same to all the STUPID INCONSIDERATE LOW LIFE humans that do make themselves guilty of such a crime. I would like to make them suffer in the same way for them to realise and understand the pain and suffering they do to animals.

]]> By: Trados http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/#comment-124 Trados Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:20:24 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/#comment-124 Martin First off. Keep us updated as to how much hate mail this generates. Questions: Do you actually have a definition of the concept: Responsible Tourism. Sure you know my one product that is supposed to be exactly that. Here is a quick point in time!!! I have no real idea what responsible tourism ACTUALLY is. Could it be that, if we have a definition we could be developing in the right direction?? I see it as the typical govt. program that gets rolled out. Take BEE - or BBBEE - with the seven pillars, there is still no hard and fast definition. I see it as much the same. I should also like to know what the Responsible Tourism Agenda is and what it is about. How about me asking all you journalists a question. Get us a definition of responsible tourism from as many journalists as possible as that would be a starting point for me. Yes we know some things: Look after nature in all you do, help the poor through what you do, be fair to all you work with. The comments of the first four replies has been interesting and has yielded four opinions. I think you will find that many ( i was going to say all ) responsible tourism products would have no budget that would impress any journalist or marketer. I do not believe that we can force business people to 'act responsibly' as business people - per definition - are people driven by the desire to make money - and lots of it. You might agree that it all comes down to EDUCATION, ROLE MODELS and in bred love for creation. How to achieve that, better yet, how to achieve that before all the snakes had been eaten and their bile drunk as cocktails, all the historic archaeological caves destroyed by business people (who destroy and disregard rules and boundaries just because they need to make the bottom line for their investors or future investors who all want to own a part of the best coastline to build their monstrous houses that they inhabit for a few weeks a year etc. etc.)is a question I cannot even begin to fathom. All I can offer is a measurement, with permission, that all Rotarians try to live by. It goes like this: The Four-way test of the things we THINK, SAY and DO: 1. Is it the TRUTH 2. Is it FAIR to all CONCERNED 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to ALL CONCERNED Well, see, if you can answer 'yes' to each of these ( even considering the snake as one of the ALL CONCERNED ) you usually cannot go wrong. Am I suggesting we make at least 20% of all people Rotarians in the world?? Not yet, but would that help!!!!! Thanks Trados Martin

First off. Keep us updated as to how much hate mail this generates.

Questions: Do you actually have a definition of the concept: Responsible Tourism. Sure you know my one product that is supposed to be exactly that. Here is a quick point in time!!! I have no real idea what responsible tourism ACTUALLY is. Could it be that, if we have a definition we could be developing in the right direction??

I see it as the typical govt. program that gets rolled out. Take BEE - or BBBEE - with the seven pillars, there is still no hard and fast definition. I see it as much the same.

I should also like to know what the Responsible Tourism Agenda is and what it is about.

How about me asking all you journalists a question. Get us a definition of responsible tourism from as many journalists as possible as that would be a starting point for me.

Yes we know some things: Look after nature in all you do, help the poor through what you do, be fair to all you work with.

The comments of the first four replies has been interesting and has yielded four opinions.

I think you will find that many ( i was going to say all ) responsible tourism products would have no budget that would impress any journalist or marketer.

I do not believe that we can force business people to ‘act responsibly’ as business people - per definition - are people driven by the desire to make money - and lots of it. You might agree that it all comes down to EDUCATION, ROLE MODELS and in bred love for creation.

How to achieve that, better yet, how to achieve that before all the snakes had been eaten and their bile drunk as cocktails, all the historic archaeological caves destroyed by business people (who destroy and disregard rules and boundaries just because they need to make the bottom line for their investors or future investors who all want to own a part of the best coastline to build their monstrous houses that they inhabit for a few weeks a year etc. etc.)is a question I cannot even begin to fathom.

All I can offer is a measurement, with permission, that all Rotarians try to live by.

It goes like this:

The Four-way test of the things we THINK, SAY and DO:

1. Is it the TRUTH
2. Is it FAIR to all CONCERNED
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER
FRIENDSHIPS
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to ALL CONCERNED

Well, see, if you can answer ‘yes’ to each of these ( even considering the snake as one of the ALL CONCERNED ) you usually cannot go wrong.

Am I suggesting we make at least 20% of all people Rotarians in the world?? Not yet, but would that help!!!!!

Thanks

Trados

]]> By: Tom Neal Tacker http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/#comment-123 Tom Neal Tacker Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:56:41 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/#comment-123 Imagine my surprise when I looked at Martin's blog (Martin and I have never met or corresponded.) after I was guided to it via Google Alert. When I wrote the story 'Don't Eat The Snake' about a year ago, I never expected that anyone would read it, much less someone employed in the writing business, particularly the travel writing business. Yes, I pointed a firmly targeted finger in an obvious direction: it bothers me when I read press releases masquerading as feature stories that applaud destinations without ascribing them a reality check. For instance, Kuta Beach in Bali gets regular media applause, charming Bali, lovely Bali, cheap and cheerful Bali but not a single newspaper or magazine story I've read warns unsuspecting swimmers about the effluent that pollutes Bali's waters due to a lack of basic sewerage infrastructure, leaky septic tanks and simply too many tourists willing to swim in the proverbial because they've been advised by countless so-called travel writers who don't want to mention the obvious. Yes, we writers don't get paid when significant advertisers (airlines, cruise lines, tour companies and major hoteliers) are offended. Yes, editors are timid when it comes to offending potentially lazy journalists, including other editors themselves. Don't rock a leaky boat basically. As far as criticising colleagues goes, I've found a similarity of conscience among travel writers to doctors and lawyers. What the public doesn't know won't hurt them... much, so let's keep it under our hats shall we? Unfortunately few professionals are brave enough to write truth in travel. It is editorial after all, not objective reportage, so the liberty is there to be taken advantage of when expression of subjective truth is required. A travel writer is supposed to be an expert whose opinion is valued or even esteemed. My estimation is that in these days of combined editorial and advertising departments in publishing houses, the lack of true separation of 'church and state' affects outcomes deleteriously. Pap and gossip fills pages, travel pap combines with photographic gloss. It's harder than ever for a wide-eyed reader to glean truth between the lines. Bad travel writing, dishonest travel writing, advertorial travel writing--however we describe it, will continue to fill pages for as long as the publishers and senior editors accept it, that being for as long as it keeps the advertisers happy and the complaining letters to a minimum. Readers, if you want to change the status quo, don't accept it. If you read something you're not happy about, write a letter to the editor outlining your complaint. Enough letters will make an impression finally. Calling for higher standards may scare the hell out of certain advertisers and it may also encourage them to improve their products and the effects they have on the environment. Writers will be forced to follow a higher standard, to lead from a recognised code of conduct and hopefully to cease wall-papering over the facts to produce a brochure posing as a travel story. That said, a major travel editor I offered 'Don't Eat The Snake' to declined the story as she deemed it possibly too hard on my fellow travel writers. I've never sent another story to her, somewhat to my disadvantage actually as it's a national newspaper. I took a pay cut and got it published finally somewhere else. It certainly hasn't paid me much money but it certainly has made me feel good seeing that it has been read. Thank you. Tom Neal Tacker Imagine my surprise when I looked at Martin’s blog (Martin and I have never met or corresponded.) after I was guided to it via Google Alert. When I wrote the story ‘Don’t Eat The Snake’ about a year ago, I never expected that anyone would read it, much less someone employed in the writing business, particularly the travel writing business. Yes, I pointed a firmly targeted finger in an obvious direction: it bothers me when I read press releases masquerading as feature stories that applaud destinations without ascribing them a reality check. For instance, Kuta Beach in Bali gets regular media applause, charming Bali, lovely Bali, cheap and cheerful Bali but not a single newspaper or magazine story I’ve read warns unsuspecting swimmers about the effluent that pollutes Bali’s waters due to a lack of basic sewerage infrastructure, leaky septic tanks and simply too many tourists willing to swim in the proverbial because they’ve been advised by countless so-called travel writers who don’t want to mention the obvious. Yes, we writers don’t get paid when significant advertisers (airlines, cruise lines, tour companies and major hoteliers) are offended. Yes, editors are timid when it comes to offending potentially lazy journalists, including other editors themselves. Don’t rock a leaky boat basically. As far as criticising colleagues goes, I’ve found a similarity of conscience among travel writers to doctors and lawyers. What the public doesn’t know won’t hurt them… much, so let’s keep it under our hats shall we? Unfortunately few professionals are brave enough to write truth in travel. It is editorial after all, not objective reportage, so the liberty is there to be taken advantage of when expression of subjective truth is required. A travel writer is supposed to be an expert whose opinion is valued or even esteemed. My estimation is that in these days of combined editorial and advertising departments in publishing houses, the lack of true separation of ‘church and state’ affects outcomes deleteriously. Pap and gossip fills pages, travel pap combines with photographic gloss. It’s harder than ever for a wide-eyed reader to glean truth between the lines. Bad travel writing, dishonest travel writing, advertorial travel writing–however we describe it, will continue to fill pages for as long as the publishers and senior editors accept it, that being for as long as it keeps the advertisers happy and the complaining letters to a minimum. Readers, if you want to change the status quo, don’t accept it. If you read something you’re not happy about, write a letter to the editor outlining your complaint. Enough letters will make an impression finally. Calling for higher standards may scare the hell out of certain advertisers and it may also encourage them to improve their products and the effects they have on the environment. Writers will be forced to follow a higher standard, to lead from a recognised code of conduct and hopefully to cease wall-papering over the facts to produce a brochure posing as a travel story.
That said, a major travel editor I offered ‘Don’t Eat The Snake’ to declined the story as she deemed it possibly too hard on my fellow travel writers. I’ve never sent another story to her, somewhat to my disadvantage actually as it’s a national newspaper. I took a pay cut and got it published finally somewhere else. It certainly hasn’t paid me much money but it certainly has made me feel good seeing that it has been read.
Thank you.
Tom Neal Tacker

]]> By: Lyn http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/#comment-121 Lyn Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:41:30 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/#comment-121 Its a very fine line, a case in point could be Baviaanspoort: when we first discovered it, there was no one there, no traffic, exquisite, now every travel magazine and others write incessantly about the area and a great deal of its remoteness and silence and privacy, have been destroyed by the very many 4x4s, bikes etc. Do the B&Bs and other businesses in the area approve of this invasion, I wonder. Its a very fine line, a case in point could be Baviaanspoort: when we first discovered it, there was no one there, no traffic, exquisite, now every travel magazine and others write incessantly about the area and a great deal of its remoteness and silence and privacy, have been destroyed by the very many 4×4s, bikes etc. Do the B&Bs and other businesses in the area approve of this invasion, I wonder.

]]> By: amandA http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/#comment-113 amandA Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:13:24 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/travel-writing-the-double-edged-sword/#comment-113 Well-known travel writers walks into establishment, one of three things happens. 1. Writer is recognised: Owner spends time with writer, gives an experience very few tourists gets, writer publish wonderful review, tourists are disappointed. 2. Writer is not recognised: Travel writer is just another tourist, gets true experience, writes objective report. 3. Writer is recognised: Owner not present, staff get all nervous, drops glas of juice on writer's lap, from there-on it snowballs, review reflects an experience no tourist had there before, restaurant's reputation sunk. You ask: "How should writers behave?" The way you do with the surfing thing, Martin. I'm not a surfer, and yet through the numerous articles you wrote about surfing, I have a little insight into the culture that drives you into the waves, even on a very cold day. The place you do not name has nobody to sponsor your article, you write about surfing because it is something you love and know. Part of what you like about it is the silence you find behind the third wave. By not naming your spot, you are being honest with yourself. At the same time you are inspiring many to search out their own silent spot, catch their own wave; is that not part of the true surfing culture? The operative word above is "sponsor". Money clouds ethics; where money, free meals and accommodation is involved, it is easy to question the ethics of the writer. I often ask myself to what extend these things influence my opinion. If I did not know the owner, would I still experience his/her place in the same way? Well-known travel writers walks into establishment, one of three things happens.

1. Writer is recognised: Owner spends time with writer, gives an experience very few tourists gets, writer publish wonderful review, tourists are disappointed.

2. Writer is not recognised: Travel writer is just another tourist, gets true experience, writes objective report.

3. Writer is recognised: Owner not present, staff get all nervous, drops glas of juice on writer’s lap, from there-on it snowballs, review reflects an experience no tourist had there before, restaurant’s reputation sunk.

You ask: “How should writers behave?”

The way you do with the surfing thing, Martin.

I’m not a surfer, and yet through the numerous articles you wrote about surfing, I have a little insight into the culture that drives you into the waves, even on a very cold day.

The place you do not name has nobody to sponsor your article, you write about surfing because it is something you love and know. Part of what you like about it is the silence you find behind the third wave. By not naming your spot, you are being honest with yourself. At the same time you are inspiring many to search out their own silent spot, catch their own wave; is that not part of the true surfing culture?

The operative word above is “sponsor”. Money clouds ethics; where money, free meals and accommodation is involved, it is easy to question the ethics of the writer. I often ask myself to what extend these things influence my opinion. If I did not know the owner, would I still experience his/her place in the same way?

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