Hi,

Not to mention that this way many people know that no one is at home / in the apartment ... which could ultimately be a call that someone robbed us while we are travelling.

Rich likes this.

Carolyn likes this - a lot! 

Saddest facebook notification ever:

 "So and so just checked into some 5 * hotel I've never heard of"

Is that not the loneliest thing you ever read?

I'd rather be down at the hostel with levoyageur swapping crocodile wrestling stories and sharing beers

completely agree (although I do have a facebook account) it sad how things have gotten. 

Ironically the iphone has destroyed the art of conversation.  People on FB all the time.

I walk into the work cantine where once was a hive of stories being told of drunken antics, parties, sexual encounters, politics, life, now its silent, everyone eyes down on their phone facebooking or texting.

Then we read about children being obese, well they see adults infront of some form of screen so why would they go out and play, or ride a bike, "mums always on facebook so its ok for me"

I am sure the fad will fade, but who knows when and what will replace it!

Maybe it's because of the "drunken antics, parties, sexual encounters" that it's silent with everyone eyes down.....

Sounds like a great place to work!

But in the Jurassic era, we were expected to send postcards. 

Got one recently from Turkey. Was a nice change but still time consuming for the sender.

Have not actually read it yet

apart from hotels people check in which no one has heard about are the status up dates not the same as the conversations I refer to that once existed in canteens?  The only difference being instead of 3 people hearing about it, essentially the whole world now gets to read about it.

I personally don't travel with my laptop for holidays, and turn off my smartphone whenever possible, but I still like to check-in to show that I'm alive (which I'm asked for) and not available (or available somewhere else)... it's not totally wrong !

Yoann P - I agree with you, but levoyageur isn't saying it's right or it's wrong.  He's making an observation, not a judgement.

And his observation is that it's a shame that people could be missing out on connecting with other (real) people that they meet on their travels, whilst, instead, preferring to connect with their "friends" on facebook.

It's not about staying in touch or letting people know you're still alive - but more about, how can you be looking around at all the wonders of the world, if you're looking down at your ipad?

Some facebook (& glocals) "friends" come and go depending on how much I "like" their posts, but friends I've met on travels or shared travels with, or just been on hikes with, have and will stay, with me for life.

Lucky me!

"Travelling is to meet people, it’s to look around you, different culture, share with your fellows travels from Korea, Spain and New Zealand the exciting things you did today, where you have been, etc."

That's your goal. Some people just want to see sights and museums, or enjoy food/wine and weather. Others simply want to be away from the office and don't care about meeting new people. 

Just make sure you choose your travel partners wisely.

Personally I do carry a laptop with me on vacations, but I only really use it during breakfast and after dinner. During the day I leave it in the car or hotel room. My wife has the same approach but has a work blackberry that she checks occasionally. I like talking to people but don't go out of my way to get in touch with them, although quite often I know a few people locally that I enjoy meeting. 

Yep, Facebook on vacation is evil. Use Instagram instead... :)