Comments on: Dark Tourism – voyeurism or a valuable education? https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/ Sharing the world with you Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:26:45 +0000 hourly 1 By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/#comment-36990 Andy Jarosz Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:16:53 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=137#comment-36990 Thanks for that Janice - you'll have me digging out my Leonard Cohen CDs now :-) Thanks for that Janice – you’ll have me digging out my Leonard Cohen CDs now :-)

]]> By: Janice aka @SoloTraveler https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/#comment-36971 Janice aka @SoloTraveler Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:10:34 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=137#comment-36971 Thanks for the thoughtful post Andy. I, too, have wondered about this very thing and discussed it in a post here: http://solotravelerblog.com/solo-travel-sad-places/ One conclusion is that we go to such places to celebrate the fact that we can, sometimes, right wrongs. Leonard Cohen's song "Anthem" is a bit of a study on this topic. Here's the chorus... Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That's how the light gets in. All the lyrics are worth a read. Thanks for the thoughtful post Andy. I, too, have wondered about this very thing and discussed it in a post here: http://solotravelerblog.com/solo-travel-sad-places/ One conclusion is that we go to such places to celebrate the fact that we can, sometimes, right wrongs.

Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem” is a bit of a study on this topic. Here’s the chorus…

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.

All the lyrics are worth a read.

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/#comment-6935 Andy Jarosz Mon, 31 May 2010 11:54:40 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=137#comment-6935 Thanks for sharing your Chernobyl experiences Doug. That's a great post and quite a description. While those communities may never get reestablished, it's interesting to see how tourism is bringing some human life back to this wilderness. I'd like to visit this place too one day... Thanks for sharing your Chernobyl experiences Doug. That’s a great post and quite a description. While those communities may never get reestablished, it’s interesting to see how tourism is bringing some human life back to this wilderness. I’d like to visit this place too one day…

]]> By: Doug Murray https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/#comment-6751 Doug Murray Fri, 28 May 2010 20:31:54 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=137#comment-6751 I think that by visiting these places we have a chance to learn from the past. I've been to some similar places - Sarajevo, Kosovo and recently Chernobyl, Ukraine. And I wrote about the Chernobyl experience: http://wanderism.com/visiting-chernobyl-ukraine/ What's the old quote? "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Truer words have never been spoken. Cheers - Doug I think that by visiting these places we have a chance to learn from the past.

I’ve been to some similar places – Sarajevo, Kosovo and recently Chernobyl, Ukraine. And I wrote about the Chernobyl experience:

http://wanderism.com/visiting-chernobyl-ukraine/

What’s the old quote?

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

Cheers

- Doug

]]> By: Anonymous https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/#comment-157 Anonymous Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:51:26 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=137#comment-157 have you ever thought about visiting RWANDA? it's amazing to see how a poeple, with a very dark history, can join hand to build a positive future. www.ziptoursagency.com have you ever thought about visiting RWANDA? it's amazing to see how a poeple, with a very dark history, can join hand to build a positive future. http://www.ziptoursagency.com

]]> By: Plan Your Safari https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/#comment-137 Plan Your Safari Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:19:22 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=137#comment-137 There is another factor as well and that is that we are reminded about our own mortuality. There is another factor as well and that is that we are reminded about our own mortuality.

]]> By: starrybluesky https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/#comment-136 starrybluesky Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:15:12 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=137#comment-136 Interesting. I agree that there is a real line between sites that remind us of important historical events and those that are just voyeurism - as your Soham example. But people do seem drawn to visit places where tragedies have occurred. <br /><br />One of the few times I have ever refused a request from a tourist bus group was shortly after the Dunblane tragedy and they wanted to make a detour there. It would have been possible but felt completely inappropriate to me. <br /><br />Maybe different when some time has passed and there is a proper memorial to visit ? Interesting. I agree that there is a real line between sites that remind us of important historical events and those that are just voyeurism – as your Soham example. But people do seem drawn to visit places where tragedies have occurred.

One of the few times I have ever refused a request from a tourist bus group was shortly after the Dunblane tragedy and they wanted to make a detour there. It would have been possible but felt completely inappropriate to me.

Maybe different when some time has passed and there is a proper memorial to visit ?

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/#comment-135 Andy Jarosz Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:21:52 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=137#comment-135 You put it very well Trudy; it is about the individual and what's going on in their heads that determines whether its beneficial or not. I expect we can all identify with people similar to the guy you mention. <br /><br />It comes back to my issue with the old over-used saying that "travel broadens the mind" - for it to do so the mind needs to be open in the first place. You put it very well Trudy; it is about the individual and what's going on in their heads that determines whether its beneficial or not. I expect we can all identify with people similar to the guy you mention.

It comes back to my issue with the old over-used saying that "travel broadens the mind" – for it to do so the mind needs to be open in the first place.

]]> By: Trudy https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/#comment-134 Trudy Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:57:06 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=137#comment-134 I think you already summed it up when you stated "They will sadly not prevent horrors from re-occurring, but they might just help to educate the next generations of the costs that are associated with man's inability to live in peace." <br /><br />I don't think there is anything voyeuristic about traveling to places associated with good or bad memories/history. Often, many of the people who travel with the idea of "do-gooder" in their minds are actually the ones who are more voyeuristic. I know of a specific guy who is racist and close-minded towards African Americans in the US, yet will run to Africa to "save" the poor children. He has a problem with successful or happy African Americans because they seem "out of their place" by being that way and those he finds in Africa are more in "their place" by being impoverished. He isn't the only one I know of like this. The road to hell is paved with "good" intentions. <br /><br />I think it is an excellent learning experience to engage in dark tourism but at the end of the day, it is what is in the person's heart and mind that will determine if it is a true learning experience or a voyeuristic one entrenched in a superiority complex. I think you already summed it up when you stated "They will sadly not prevent horrors from re-occurring, but they might just help to educate the next generations of the costs that are associated with man's inability to live in peace."

I don't think there is anything voyeuristic about traveling to places associated with good or bad memories/history. Often, many of the people who travel with the idea of "do-gooder" in their minds are actually the ones who are more voyeuristic. I know of a specific guy who is racist and close-minded towards African Americans in the US, yet will run to Africa to "save" the poor children. He has a problem with successful or happy African Americans because they seem "out of their place" by being that way and those he finds in Africa are more in "their place" by being impoverished. He isn't the only one I know of like this. The road to hell is paved with "good" intentions.

I think it is an excellent learning experience to engage in dark tourism but at the end of the day, it is what is in the person's heart and mind that will determine if it is a true learning experience or a voyeuristic one entrenched in a superiority complex.

]]> By: Cristina https://www.501places.com/2009/09/dark-tourism-voyeurism-or-a-valuable-education-of-our-society/#comment-133 Cristina Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:25:47 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=137#comment-133 I have a dark fascination for the Medieval Era Torture Chambers but that's abt it...I don't like to visit cemeteries let alone cells..or battlefields. I'd probably cry my way into them so no, thanks. <br />It depends on the person I guess... I have a dark fascination for the Medieval Era Torture Chambers but that's abt it…I don't like to visit cemeteries let alone cells..or battlefields. I'd probably cry my way into them so no, thanks.
It depends on the person I guess…

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