Rick Steves on Wednesday 60 minutes
May 24th, 2005, 07:13 PM
#21
"(A man who thinks it's fine to splatter children's body parts all over the cafe where they were hanging out, and then dance in the streets about it, so long as the children are Jewish (or any other particular race) is not a stellar member of any community, in my book. I'll watch something else, rather than taking part in his self-congratulatory publicity campaign."
That's a dangerous statemnt to make. If you are right he should be punished but if not true, shame on you
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's a dangerous statemnt to make. If you are right he should be punished but if not true, shame on you
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 24th, 2005, 07:15 PM
#22
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"A man who thinks it's fine to splatter children's body parts all over the cafe where they were hanging out, and then dance in the streets about it, so long as the children are Jewish (or any other particular race) is not a stellar member of any community, in my book."
I must have missed that. When? Where? Is this what 60 Minutes will ask about?
JimF
I must have missed that. When? Where? Is this what 60 Minutes will ask about?
JimF
May 24th, 2005, 07:22 PM
#23
Author: mrinma
Date: 05/24/2005, 11:01 pm
Perhaps the problem is that it's becoming increasingly ridiculous for Rick Steves to continue aggressively promoting his "Europe through the back door (tm)," living-out-of-a-backpack doctrine, full of loathing and ridicule of the fat American bourgeoisie who like to stay in nice hotels and eat in nice restaurants, while he himself amasses a greater and greater fortune, shaking hands and signing autographs for throngs of adoring fans clad in Rick Steves(tm) reversible travel pants and toting Rick Steves(tm) logo-emblazoned travel suitcases. With every "zero" added to the end of his bank account balance, he seems to become more and more emphatically a professional man of the people, increasingly dogmatic in his self-positioning as Lifestyle Czar for the inherently inferior masses of America, that they may approach the enlightened status of the Europeans.
He's an excellent, talented travel writer, and if he choses to help homeless people, it's to his credit. We should all be able to say that we did something to promote the welfare of our less fortunate brothers and sisters, or that we lobbied persuasively for the implementation of public transit systems. But apologies for and rationalizing of large-scale, racially motivated violence again civilians, as he has done in writing (though not on his show), doesn't make for a stellar member of any community, in my book. A man who thinks it's fine to splatter children's body parts all over the cafe where they were hanging out, and then dance in the streets about it, so long as the children are Jewish (or any other particular race) is not a stellar member of any community, in my book. I'll watch something else, rather than taking part in his self-congratulatory publicity campaign.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: cigalechanta
Date: 05/24/2005, 11:13 pm
"(A man who thinks it's fine to splatter children's body parts all over the cafe where they were hanging out, and then dance in the streets about it, so long as the children are Jewish (or any other particular race) is not a stellar member of any community, in my book. I'll watch something else, rather than taking part in his self-congratulatory publicity campaign."
That's a dangerous statemnt to make. If you are right he should be punished but if not true, shame on you
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: JimF
Date: 05/24/2005, 11:15 pm
"A man who thinks it's fine to splatter children's body parts all over the cafe where they were hanging out, and then dance in the streets about it, so long as the children are Jewish (or any other particular race) is not a stellar member of any community, in my book."
I must have missed that. When? Where? Is this what 60 Minutes will ask about?
JimF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 05/24/2005, 11:01 pm
Perhaps the problem is that it's becoming increasingly ridiculous for Rick Steves to continue aggressively promoting his "Europe through the back door (tm)," living-out-of-a-backpack doctrine, full of loathing and ridicule of the fat American bourgeoisie who like to stay in nice hotels and eat in nice restaurants, while he himself amasses a greater and greater fortune, shaking hands and signing autographs for throngs of adoring fans clad in Rick Steves(tm) reversible travel pants and toting Rick Steves(tm) logo-emblazoned travel suitcases. With every "zero" added to the end of his bank account balance, he seems to become more and more emphatically a professional man of the people, increasingly dogmatic in his self-positioning as Lifestyle Czar for the inherently inferior masses of America, that they may approach the enlightened status of the Europeans.
He's an excellent, talented travel writer, and if he choses to help homeless people, it's to his credit. We should all be able to say that we did something to promote the welfare of our less fortunate brothers and sisters, or that we lobbied persuasively for the implementation of public transit systems. But apologies for and rationalizing of large-scale, racially motivated violence again civilians, as he has done in writing (though not on his show), doesn't make for a stellar member of any community, in my book. A man who thinks it's fine to splatter children's body parts all over the cafe where they were hanging out, and then dance in the streets about it, so long as the children are Jewish (or any other particular race) is not a stellar member of any community, in my book. I'll watch something else, rather than taking part in his self-congratulatory publicity campaign.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: cigalechanta
Date: 05/24/2005, 11:13 pm
"(A man who thinks it's fine to splatter children's body parts all over the cafe where they were hanging out, and then dance in the streets about it, so long as the children are Jewish (or any other particular race) is not a stellar member of any community, in my book. I'll watch something else, rather than taking part in his self-congratulatory publicity campaign."
That's a dangerous statemnt to make. If you are right he should be punished but if not true, shame on you
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: JimF
Date: 05/24/2005, 11:15 pm
"A man who thinks it's fine to splatter children's body parts all over the cafe where they were hanging out, and then dance in the streets about it, so long as the children are Jewish (or any other particular race) is not a stellar member of any community, in my book."
I must have missed that. When? Where? Is this what 60 Minutes will ask about?
JimF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 24th, 2005, 07:25 PM
#24
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
mrinma,
It is pretty outrageous for you to suggest RS supports splattering the body parts of Jewish children and is promoting race based violence. That is simply over the top and not resposible commentary, nor relevant to travel posting. It also suggests you know very little about the man and his values. You can disagree with his travel philosophy, but to make these claims without any factual basis would be actionable as slander if he were not a public person. Go back to feeling defensive because you chose to stay in nice hotels and eat well. BTW, what person promoting his/her travel materials is not self congratulatory in their PR campaign?
Happy travels.
It is pretty outrageous for you to suggest RS supports splattering the body parts of Jewish children and is promoting race based violence. That is simply over the top and not resposible commentary, nor relevant to travel posting. It also suggests you know very little about the man and his values. You can disagree with his travel philosophy, but to make these claims without any factual basis would be actionable as slander if he were not a public person. Go back to feeling defensive because you chose to stay in nice hotels and eat well. BTW, what person promoting his/her travel materials is not self congratulatory in their PR campaign?
Happy travels.
May 24th, 2005, 07:33 PM
#26
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You know, I am going to learn one of these days that when someone posts something totally outrageous that I should check the poster's record. I think I just got bit again on this Rick Steves' thing.
The Cinque Terre rant, and now this, both on the same day, from a brand new poster? I think you're correct, Alya. Not all honesty and truth here, methinks....
Jim
The Cinque Terre rant, and now this, both on the same day, from a brand new poster? I think you're correct, Alya. Not all honesty and truth here, methinks....
Jim
May 24th, 2005, 07:44 PM
#27
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,805
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jim,
I agree there's definitely something going on here; do you think we’ll ever discover what it is? Or will this poster disappear into the ether?
I have no sides to take here; I neither like nor dislike him – I don’t even know who RS is! Is he worth watching?
I agree there's definitely something going on here; do you think we’ll ever discover what it is? Or will this poster disappear into the ether?
I have no sides to take here; I neither like nor dislike him – I don’t even know who RS is! Is he worth watching?
May 24th, 2005, 08:03 PM
#28
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Alya, IMHO, Steves serves a very useful purpose: He provides an overview of areas that stimulate interest in visiting. I could NEVER emulate the style of travel he advocates: i.e., backpacking style, but he has interested a LOT of people in travel to Europe.
He's commercialized, of course, but what successful business is not? Fodors is not running this venture out of the goodness of their corporate hearts, either. Obviously, the sale of travel guides, etc., pays for this and I try to purchase Fodor's materials whenever I start researching a new destination. That's a fair commercial exchange, I think.
Not sure why some people vent so angrily at Steves, but some folks fault him for advocating one travel style and following another. Doesn't bother me.
As for our poster, I doubt we'll ever find out what that really was about.
Jim
He's commercialized, of course, but what successful business is not? Fodors is not running this venture out of the goodness of their corporate hearts, either. Obviously, the sale of travel guides, etc., pays for this and I try to purchase Fodor's materials whenever I start researching a new destination. That's a fair commercial exchange, I think.
Not sure why some people vent so angrily at Steves, but some folks fault him for advocating one travel style and following another. Doesn't bother me.
As for our poster, I doubt we'll ever find out what that really was about.
Jim
May 25th, 2005, 02:57 AM
#30
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whoa, did I miss something? What's this about Steves supporting violence? Or this yet another over the top internet post?
Seems as though there are many on the internet who post craxy stuff and blab on and on and on and on and bahgolly on.
Seems as though there are many on the internet who post craxy stuff and blab on and on and on and on and bahgolly on.
May 25th, 2005, 03:26 AM
#32
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,154
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
janeg, thanks for posting this. Rick Steves is certainly someone who has had a very big impact with his work and he continues to make the world a more accessible place for many. In my view, he is also a person with a lot more depth than some people seem want to give him credit for.
May 25th, 2005, 05:28 AM
#33
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The reason Rick is bashed is pure and simple jealousy.
In other words he is getting paid to do something we have to pay to do.
As for commenting on his personal persona.... if you don't know him personally it's just gossip.
In other words he is getting paid to do something we have to pay to do.
As for commenting on his personal persona.... if you don't know him personally it's just gossip.
May 25th, 2005, 05:35 AM
#34
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I like Rick Steves just fine. His books are good, and I ordered his money belts and like them too. I'm waiting arrival of another one of his bags which looks great. It's a shoulder bag, but can convert to a backpack if needed. I think it will be the perfect solution to carry stuff around in when we are out touring for the whole day. His stuff is also VERY fairly priced.
May 25th, 2005, 05:38 AM
#35
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree that Rick has done a lot to promote independent travel-and travel abroad in general, something Americans need to do much more in general.
My quibbles with him are that he really doesn't know much about food, those damn picnics and standup lunches, and his shirt.
My quibbles with him are that he really doesn't know much about food, those damn picnics and standup lunches, and his shirt.
May 25th, 2005, 05:41 AM
#36
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,076
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<i>"I really don't "get" the antipathy many Fodorites display toward Rick Steves."</i>
Nor do I, Mary Fran. But this is the sort of snotty backlash one always encounters when a media personality becomes widely popular. Self-styled travel gurus will sneer at a Rick Steves, while foodies will sneer at Wolfgang Puck, while music mavens will sneer at U2, while film fanatics will sneer at Speilberg.
Why? Because they have all committed the unforgivable crime of achieving popularity and success. And if there is thing an elitist can't stand, it's that.
Never mind that they are all extremely good at what they do. If they are a success, they must be doing something objectionable. Right?
Nor do I, Mary Fran. But this is the sort of snotty backlash one always encounters when a media personality becomes widely popular. Self-styled travel gurus will sneer at a Rick Steves, while foodies will sneer at Wolfgang Puck, while music mavens will sneer at U2, while film fanatics will sneer at Speilberg.
Why? Because they have all committed the unforgivable crime of achieving popularity and success. And if there is thing an elitist can't stand, it's that.
Never mind that they are all extremely good at what they do. If they are a success, they must be doing something objectionable. Right?
May 25th, 2005, 07:04 AM
#38
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,076
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<b>sera</b>
I said nothing of the sort. I was merely explaining why certain talented <b>and</b> successful personalities are criticized for their popularity. In no way did I, or would I, imply that popular = above criticism.
I said nothing of the sort. I was merely explaining why certain talented <b>and</b> successful personalities are criticized for their popularity. In no way did I, or would I, imply that popular = above criticism.
May 25th, 2005, 07:07 AM
#39
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm sure it's difficult to stay exactly the same when you do anything that is successful -- that is to say that wealth changes people, and like many musicians who write music about being poor, angry or otherwise disenfranchised -- it's hard to write the same stuff when you're doing it in a multi-million dollar studio in your house instead of your Mom's basement. But many bands have done it anyway.
As an RS fan, I do think that Rick has built his travel business wisely...I'm from the Seattle area and have many friends who took his tours long before he became a household name with travelers worldwide. I think he's become emboldened by his success and expresses more of his opinions, and I don't consider that to be a bad thing.
If you go to Europe long enough, you'll see exactly what he's talking about, and a world view that extends beyond the US or any other country is a good thing in my book. It's the difference between being a world traveller and a provincial thinker.
I just think that anytime someone becomes a star in their field, whether they're U2, Wolfgang Puck or Bill Gates of Microsoft -- it makes you a target for those who like to bring down anyone that has wild success in their field. It's sad, but a fact of our society...it's not that they shouldn't be held accountable if they do something wrong, only that we shouldn't expect MORE out of them or try tear them down only to see how hard they can fall.
As an RS fan, I do think that Rick has built his travel business wisely...I'm from the Seattle area and have many friends who took his tours long before he became a household name with travelers worldwide. I think he's become emboldened by his success and expresses more of his opinions, and I don't consider that to be a bad thing.
If you go to Europe long enough, you'll see exactly what he's talking about, and a world view that extends beyond the US or any other country is a good thing in my book. It's the difference between being a world traveller and a provincial thinker.
I just think that anytime someone becomes a star in their field, whether they're U2, Wolfgang Puck or Bill Gates of Microsoft -- it makes you a target for those who like to bring down anyone that has wild success in their field. It's sad, but a fact of our society...it's not that they shouldn't be held accountable if they do something wrong, only that we shouldn't expect MORE out of them or try tear them down only to see how hard they can fall.
May 25th, 2005, 07:22 AM
#40
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All credit to RS for outstanding entrepreneurship and for emboldening many people to travel who otherwise might be too fearful to do so. But
living in Seattle, I am "treated" to Rick's occasional opinion pieces in the newspaper. What he doesn't seem to understand is that doing a lot of travelling does not make one an expert on global climate change, the World Bank, and US foreign policy. His reach has far exceeded his grasp. He should stick to what he knows rather than lecture us on things he knows little or nothing about.
living in Seattle, I am "treated" to Rick's occasional opinion pieces in the newspaper. What he doesn't seem to understand is that doing a lot of travelling does not make one an expert on global climate change, the World Bank, and US foreign policy. His reach has far exceeded his grasp. He should stick to what he knows rather than lecture us on things he knows little or nothing about.
