Chez Moi

So young Max is not going to continue blogging for Guardian. What a shame! After the vitriol that followed his introductory post, the poor lad will not be posting furthermore. The Travel Editor posted a follow-up piece on Feb 15, explaining the editorial decision behind allowing the trip to go on the site as well as pooh-poohing any claims of nepotism. Well that went well with the punters, I tell you. The great British public had a rollicking time commenting on that piece, with phrases like “shame on you, Editor” and “where’s the blue pencil” appearing with some regularity.

There was also a comment from ‘Maxdad’ that went as follows:

“As Andy Pietrasik’s blog hasn’t mentioned the fact Max won’t be writing any more blogs, I thought I’d bring all those heroic internet warriors the good news. Max’s trip (which he paid for himself I’m afraid - sorry) has got off to the worst possible start and he’s feeling pretty grim so that’s double good news for the brave warriors. You may like or dislike the blog but the cruelty is shocking if quintessentially British. Obviously everyone in his family is very hurt for Max so that’s a bonus. I won’t be reading any more smug clever dick comments but feel free to kick me around the field a bit now - just please leave Max alone. He hasn’t actually done anything wrong and you have your wish - he won’t be writing any further blogs.”

Ah my heart bleeds! The comments he got were miles better than the ones bloggers get at the hands of trolls. And some of them were perfectly legit too, IMHO.

What I do not understand about these kids ‘finding themselves’ is why justify the horrendous expense of the trip under the guise of a learning experience or a social service-type one. Granted, you learn so much by living amongst different people and different surroundings and the perspective you get is invaluable. So go on a working holiday. Go to a place where people are screaming for the bare necessities of life, pull up your sleeves and get stuck in. Build them toilets, help construct houses, eat the same crappy food they eat - that will be a revelation.

Going off to Goa and Bangkok, hitting the top spots with an odd peep at the real suffering world every now and then, well, what good does that do? Better just go on a month’s holiday, live it up and don’t dress it as anything but a holiday. After all, if you’ve got the money to do it, then what’s the harm?

But what’s this faux interest in suffering capitals of the world, like India and Thailand? What’s wrong with good old community service in the estates around UK? There are old people living on their own in absolute squalor who would be glad of the company of a young 19 year old lad, who can drop in and stay for a chat and make them some tea in the process. And maybe do their weekly shopping or trim their weeds.
Not cool enough, I suppose.

Oh well, there goes my planned entertainment for the next few months. Sigh. Hopefully something more entertaining will show up on the horizon soon.