Slum Tourism (Trees And Things)

rEvolution inAction: Re: Purchasing parity is a bitch

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:48:05 EST

As someone who has worked in the sales field.. don't ever give money to salespeople.

Milo: Re: Purchasing parity is a bitch

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:05:55 EST

Give your money to the guy who sells things (though I still think you need to at least try not to overpay). It's a different skill and one that must be learned in an economy. Some of your money will certainly go to the maker. This way you

Thalia: Re: Purchasing parity is a bitch

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 15:53:36 EST

I figure that overpaying the artisan is better than overpaying the market hawker. I'm teaching him, maybe, that dealing directly with tourists & making pretty/functional/interesting things is a better job than accosting tourists in the market. &n

Milo: Re: Purchasing parity is a bitch

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:13:53 EST

I feel badly bargaining over 50 cents, which means nothing to me, and quite a lot to the guy trying to sell me something.

But that guy who you refuse to negotiate with is doing a legitimate job. The same job that Walmart or Macy's does

gerrymander: Re: Purchasing parity is a bitch

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:56:13 EST

I prefer finding the people who make the object (who tend not to be the ones selling them near the tourist spots), getting them to sign the object, and overpaying them horribly.

That's an approach I hadn't thought of, but will have to keep in min

Thalia: Re: Purchasing parity is a bitch

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 01:13:15 EST

Agreed. Even worse is that you realize that it was 32 cents to you, and a day's wages to that person you insisted you wouldn't pay it to. It's one of the reasons I have a hard time buying in places with bargaining traditions. I feel badly

Lou: Re: Slum Tourism

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:57:57 EST

If by misery you mean drama.. then yes... true misery.. no one wants to see that.. except apparently these poverty-tourists.

Nah...we love the misery too. It resonates with our Shadenfrued gland.

gerrymander: Purchasing parity is a bitch

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:29:48 EST

Most of the international traveling I've done was for business, so I haven't dealt much with the whole bargaining tradition. On those few times when I could have had the occasion, I've avoided it, because it's a no-win situation. If you don't negotiate, yo

thefadd: Re: Slum Tourism

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 16:02:11 EST

You hear a lot about Mexicans (and others from further south) trying to get into America. It's nearly inescapable living in a border state. But it never really struck me the way it did until I went to Mexico and came across a brand name called "Cross Or Di

Milo: Re: Slum Tourism

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:36:03 EST

However, there is something to be said for expanding people's minds and exposing them to the problems that other people face.

It has really affected me. I made a post above, but let me give another anecdote:

I was traveling in So

rEvolution inAction: Re: Good and Bad

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:26:41 EST

No.. they sell it for local market value to people who transport it to somewhere else where they sell it for international market value.

Milo: Re: Good and Bad

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:15:08 EST

but you would also have to pay fair value for normal (non-tourist crap) goods produced.. that just isn't going to happen anytime soon.

I'm not sure what you mean. If the locals produced corn or textiles, they would get the market price

rEvolution inAction: Re: Slum Tourism

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:04:01 EST

If by misery you mean drama.. then yes... true misery.. no one wants to see that.. except apparently these poverty-tourists.

rEvolution inAction: Re: Good and Bad

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:01:27 EST

Very interesting take.. I do believe you are correct, but you would also have to pay fair value for normal (non-tourist crap) goods produced.. that just isn't going to happen anytime soon.

keta: Ugly Lies

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:24:00 EST

Check out the assurance at the bottom of the web site linked, "running what they call pro-poor tours."

Victoria Safaris offer customized tours of the Kibera slum and its facilities all year round. All profits made are donated to a specific slum activ

thefadd: Re: Slum Tourism

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 14:15:56 EST
There's a lot of reasons to bash slum tourism and I'm certainly not going to come out in favor of it. Least of all, I'm sure the residents would appreciate the gawkers staying away and just sending along the cost of the trip.

However, there is some

Milo: Good and Bad

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:55:41 EST
I like to travel. I've been to a few "3rd world" countries. I can immediately see some good and bad in this idea.

The good comes in two ways. First, I think it is important for rich Westerners to see what real poverty is. I o

nmiguy: Re: Slum Tourism

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:47:22 EST
who the hell wants to see human misery...
rEv misery is a big seller. People watch torture and whatnot on 24, people buy books with gratuitous violence and suffering. Human misery is a big draw in this world. People can't seem t

rEvolution inAction: Re: Slum Tourism

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 12:19:53 EST
All I can say is WTF. Really.. who the hell wants to see human misery... and who wants to see it and then not do anything about it?
All profits made are donated to a specific slum activity.
Like...? Starvation? Suffering? They're happy to pim