treeguy64
Hari Om, y'all!
- Location
- Austin, TX.
I am not sure how many of you are active travelers, these days, nor do I know how many of you traveled far and wide as younger folks. I traveled to many countries, hiked around the Arctic Circle, had great fun, in general. In so-called "Third World Countries," I learned not to expect the comforts of home, learned to be patient, learned to expect screw-ups. I could rough it, and be fine while doing so.
The problem I have, now, is that where I live, in the US, it seems to be heading into Third World status, in many ways. What is unbelievable, to me, is that now, even with huge advances in computer technology, even with the internet, there seems to be MORE screwing up, instead of less.
To wit: A good while back, I made a reservation with a huge hotel chain. I had to speak with the hotel directly, because I had a few vouchers for free nights. I received a reservation number, from the front desk person I spoke with, and that was that, or so I thought. As we get ready to head out, next week, I decided I better re-confirm my reservation. I was feeling weird, because I never got an email notification about the reservation. Sure as heck, the chain had no record of my reservation! So, I called, tonight, and had to start all over, again. For both calls, I could barely understand the front desk gals, as both had very heavy accents, from two different countries. I will hold my breath as I approach the front desk, in person, next week. Dollars to doughnuts, they won't have my reservation in the system.
My point, in the above, is that things get so complicated, these days, and rarely are those things in your favor. The hotel incident is one of, possibly, hundreds I've gone through over the last twenty years, or so. In department stores, coupons won't go through. In restaurants, your order gets messed up in strange ways. On the streets, the homeless are constantly asking for handouts. The air and water get worse, traffic is constantly jammed, electricity goes out during storm and wind events, etc., etc., etc.
I honestly can't remember this type of stuff happening, with such great frequency, during my 20's-50's. Are we reaching a critical point, now? Will all places on Earth move, ever more rapidly, into the chaos of modern living?
Am I preaching to the choir, here, or am I a lone voice in the wilderness?
The problem I have, now, is that where I live, in the US, it seems to be heading into Third World status, in many ways. What is unbelievable, to me, is that now, even with huge advances in computer technology, even with the internet, there seems to be MORE screwing up, instead of less.
To wit: A good while back, I made a reservation with a huge hotel chain. I had to speak with the hotel directly, because I had a few vouchers for free nights. I received a reservation number, from the front desk person I spoke with, and that was that, or so I thought. As we get ready to head out, next week, I decided I better re-confirm my reservation. I was feeling weird, because I never got an email notification about the reservation. Sure as heck, the chain had no record of my reservation! So, I called, tonight, and had to start all over, again. For both calls, I could barely understand the front desk gals, as both had very heavy accents, from two different countries. I will hold my breath as I approach the front desk, in person, next week. Dollars to doughnuts, they won't have my reservation in the system.
My point, in the above, is that things get so complicated, these days, and rarely are those things in your favor. The hotel incident is one of, possibly, hundreds I've gone through over the last twenty years, or so. In department stores, coupons won't go through. In restaurants, your order gets messed up in strange ways. On the streets, the homeless are constantly asking for handouts. The air and water get worse, traffic is constantly jammed, electricity goes out during storm and wind events, etc., etc., etc.
I honestly can't remember this type of stuff happening, with such great frequency, during my 20's-50's. Are we reaching a critical point, now? Will all places on Earth move, ever more rapidly, into the chaos of modern living?
Am I preaching to the choir, here, or am I a lone voice in the wilderness?
