Why do tourists go into dangerous areas?

I have a hard time understanding why a group of tourists would go to
a dangerous area of Columbia known for violence and kidnapping.
Are these the dumbest people in the world? Now a group of them have
been kidnapped apparently by Marxist rebels. Did they not know the dangers
in the first place?

JSTONE9352 wrote:
I have a hard time understanding why a group of tourists would go to a
dangerous area of Columbia known for violence and kidnapping. Are these
the dumbest people in the world? Now a group of them have been kidnapped
apparently by Marxist rebels. Did they not know the dangers in the first
place?

I am hesitant to go as far as pinning blame, but one thing I think
contributes to this is the hysterical paranoia of the State Department
travel warnings and of everyone who listens to them. They make it seem like
a weekend in Paris is a suicide mission. And like the boy who cried wolf,
they quickly become ignored by seasoned travelers, who are then left without
a potentially valuable source of safety information.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Site remodeled 10-Sept-2003: Hundreds of new photos, easier navigation.

The Terran carbon-based unit designating itself as
(JSTONE9352) shared its ideas in rec.travel.latin-america on Tue, 16 Sep
2003 21:42:49 GMT:

I have a hard time understanding why a group of tourists would go to
a dangerous area of Columbia known for violence and kidnapping.
Are these the dumbest people in the world? Now a group of them have
been kidnapped apparently by Marxist rebels. Did they not know the
dangers in the first place?

Why do people engage in extreme sports where the risk of injury and
death is substantial? Some people like engaging in risky behaviour, some
people think it's cool and don't think anything could ever happen to them,
and some people are just ignorant of the risks and dangers of what they are
doing.

--Douglas

(Miguel Cruz) wrote in message ...
JSTONE9352 wrote:
I have a hard time understanding why a group of tourists would go to a
dangerous area of Columbia known for violence and kidnapping. Are these
the dumbest people in the world? Now a group of them have been kidnapped
apparently by Marxist rebels. Did they not know the dangers in the first
place?

I am hesitant to go as far as pinning blame, but one thing I think
contributes to this is the hysterical paranoia of the State Department
travel warnings and of everyone who listens to them. They make it seem like
a weekend in Paris is a suicide mission. And like the boy who cried wolf,
they quickly become ignored by seasoned travelers, who are then left without
a potentially valuable source of safety information.

miguel

I think you've hit the nail on the head about "crying wolf" by the
State Department with their travel warnings. I live in Honduras and
there are always tons of hysterical warnings from State about travel
here. I get my information from the local residents who are much more
familiar with what is actually going on, where it is safe and unsafe
for North Americans to go, which are the safest methods of travel in
country, etc. I find that the tourist warnings are prompted by
incidents where North Americans and Europeans have been acting the
part of "the Ugly American" or "Euro-trash" (and I've heard locals
refer to both groups that way), flashing large amounts of cash,
carrying expensive cameras or portable CD/MP3 players, wearing gobs of
expensive jewlery. looking down upon the locals, and otherwise setting
themselves up as victims/targets of crime. These are the same people
who would get mugged in NYC, Chicago, Paris, London, Seattle, or any
other place normally deemed safe.

Sandi

In article , JSTONE9352
writes
I have a hard time understanding why a group of tourists would go to
a dangerous area of Columbia known for violence and kidnapping.
Are these the dumbest people in the world? Now a group of them have
been kidnapped apparently by Marxist rebels. Did they not know the dangers
in the first place?

Well, one of the English guys was a TV producer and I read somewhere
that some TV equipment was taken. Not quite sure whether all of them
were bona fide tourists. I reserve judgement.

And *sigh* just to be pedantic again Chile may be Chili in French but I
have only seen Colombia spelled as such and not like Columbia
University.

--
JohnM
Author of Brazil: Life, Blood, Soul
http://www.scroll.demon.co.uk/spaver.htm

In article ,
JohnM writes:
Well, one of the English guys was a TV producer and I read somewhere
that some TV equipment was taken. Not quite sure whether all of them
were bona fide tourists. I reserve judgement.

And *sigh* just to be pedantic again Chile may be Chili in French but I
have only seen Colombia spelled as such and not like Columbia
University.

Might I suggest the 12-step Pedants Anonymous program?

And for curiosity's sake, is chile also chili in French and if so, what
word do they use for chili? What about the Chileans (or as they say in
Paris, Chilitians)? Are they fond of chile or do they prefer chili?
Finally, to make at least a token effort to get on topic, could it be
that the hostages were just looking for a nice picante dinner? I know
I've gone to some rather dodgy diners in New Mexico to try the new crop
of chiles.

- Jim

And *sigh* just to be pedantic again Chile may be Chili in French but I
have only seen Colombia spelled as such and not like Columbia
University.


Oh and *sigh* don't you know it is bad
form to correct someones spelling on
Usenet?. I think you need therapy if this
just bothers you so much.

Well, one of the English guys was a TV producer and I read somewhere
that some TV equipment was taken. Not quite sure whether all of them
were bona fide tourists. I reserve judgement.



The group was described as backpackers,
2 Britons, a German, 4 Israelis and a
Spaniard. They were headed to the
archaeological ruins of Cindad Perdida.

Not sure if they were filming for a TV
documentary or ? anyway whether they were technically tourists or something
else they were in a dangerous area and should have known better.

Latest reports from Indians living in the
area was the group was spotted heading
south with the kidnappers to a rebel
stronghold area.

Some of the original group were Australian and they were not kidnapped
because they were not wearing boots hence would be a liability on the forced
march. Now, as Ozzies are used to wearing thongs and such because they
don't know how to tie bootlaces, does this suggest that they are not so
dumb after all ?

Seriously tho', there have been plenty of warnings about Colombia so the
original question as why anyone would want to potentially place themselves
in such a position is valid. Methinks that those who do currently go are
irresponsible, whichever country they come from.

cheers, philip, Tasmania, Oz (a non-wearer of thongs and
such)


"JSTONE9352" wrote in message
...

Well, one of the English guys was a TV producer and I read somewhere
that some TV equipment was taken. Not quite sure whether all of them
were bona fide tourists. I reserve judgement.



The group was described as backpackers,
2 Britons, a German, 4 Israelis and a
Spaniard. They were headed to the
archaeological ruins of Cindad Perdida.

Not sure if they were filming for a TV
documentary or ? anyway whether they were technically tourists or
something
else they were in a dangerous area and should have known better.

Latest reports from Indians living in the
area was the group was spotted heading
south with the kidnappers to a rebel
stronghold area.

I went to Northern Ireland back when it was considered dangerous and to
Colombia when that was considered dangerous also. I've walked on the
streets of New York City and San Francisco at nighttime.

I refuse to let terrorists and criminals dictate to me where I might or
might not go. Had I been kidnapped, mugged or died in my travels, I would
welcome anyone to give me a "Darwin Award." But I would not give up those
experiences for anything. I loved each of those trips and the things I saw,
the people I met and the places I went. Singing in a Northern Ireland pub
when pubs were being bombed; buying Good Friday dinner at a Bogota
equivalent of a 7-11 because everything else in the city was closed; walking
home 60 blocks after seeing a fabulous concert in Manhattan, walking
barefoot over Nob Hill, down to the Battery in San Francisco. The only
travel mishap I've ever suffered was at Disneyworld while waiting for one of
their busses. I think if somebody computed the actual dangers of travel,
they would find that these tragedies are very rare per mile of travel. I'd
sure rather be there--anywhere, than sitting in my house trembling in fear.
I am in favor of people being charged for the costs of rescuing them though.

Let's all just have great travels, keep aware of our surroundings and enjoy
what we can.

Cheryl

"JSTONE9352" wrote in message
...
I have a hard time understanding why a group of tourists would go to
a dangerous area of Columbia known for violence and kidnapping.
Are these the dumbest people in the world? Now a group of them have
been kidnapped apparently by Marxist rebels. Did they not know the
dangers
in the first place?