Just another post on my latest pet hate before I leave it alone and move on.
I notice that another favourite pastime of self righteous arrogant hippies is to lecture others on environmentalism, and force their Western middle class guilt on others. And you know what? They aint got no right at all. They are as guilty as anyone - in fact far guiltier than the people they sneer on who live in cities and live on cheap food and takeaways.
How do they get to their exotic backpacking destinations? However far the human race had evolved, I have heard no news that it's more 'enlightened' members have grown wings. Therefore, I must assume they catch a plane like everyone else. Yet, these same people have the nerve to lecture others for booking.....cheap air flights! Oh well, ok if you are a spoilt rich kid used to buying first class tickets to hot destinations. Ok, then, to look down on those less fortunate and demonise them for doing, um, the same thing you do - but in fact using less air mileage because you can only afford a short fuel flight to some Southern European destination anyway? I got sick to death of that George Monbiot writing in the Guardian on that very subject, and was pleased when somebody wrote in and pointed out his own consumption of air fuel.
Lets see what benefits hippies bring to the places they visit....
Now, I know that neither of the first two pieces are concerned directly with hippies, ok. But who made both those places tourist hot spots in the first place? Thai beaches are almost ruined by Western tourism, and Goa is not far off. First come the backpackers, then come the nightclubs, fast food joints (to accomodate their partying) hotels, and bang - you have a new exotic destination. Better idea, let's build a new airport there as well to make it a more convenient spot for tourists to flock to!! Most beach resorts destroyed by tourism were tranquil areas once. Now they are nightmares of discarded rubber, paper (and God knows what other debris), beer cans, and 24-7 noise.
The laws described in the second article may seem a little harsh - but why did it come to that? Perhaps it may have had something to do with the locals getting fed up of having their ears blasted with loud techno 24-7 and their beaches turned into non stop discos or raves? I doubt the locals would see so quickly the link between rave culture and spirituality as modern hippies are quick to, but let's leave that for now.
Now, I'm not one to lecture anybody about noise - I am probably one of the worst culprits. Trance (as is often played on those beaches) is not my thing, but I am not averse to some kinds of techno, and of course I love to play loud rock music. But then I don't tell people how trendy it is to catch long haul air flights and start parties on exotic beaches.
I am no killjoy - but those who preach against consumption of air fuel and noise pollution are often among the worst culprits for adding to it. Please, mote and beam. Or look in the mirror.
Another thing that locals (especially if they are poor) in these destinations probably get sick of is being treated either as objects of pity or as curiosities by Western tourists.
Now, I am not averse to visiting exotic destinations myself (when I have the air fare, which is not very often) but there is nothing wrong with having a little -um- awareness? In my case it's more a question of the feelings of the locals rather than air mileage, but that depends on your priorities, doesn't it?
Don't misunderstand me by my link to the second article - in this country I am not in favour of police breaking up outdoor parties, on the beach or elsewhere (in fact I hate it) and, yes, even when it comes to hippies, they're entitled to have their fun like the rest of us (even though I personally find both their music and their drugs rather tedious). It is not for me to dictate, but not all of them have been willing to show me the same level of tolerance. And then they wonder why I get sick of hippies and their tastes.
However, my support of the outdoor music scene might not be the same if I lived in another country, simply wanted to be in peace and found my local beach invaded by Western hippies, their 24-7 raves (with the noise entailed) and the beaches not only crowded and noisy but also littered with garbage. Perhaps then my tolerance would start to wane, especially were I a few years older.
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