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Friday Feb 15, 2008
Life to the Max
When Max Gogarty, 19, set out on his blogging adventure in The Guardian travel section whether or not at the behest of a parent, it's doubtful he expected to be greeted by such a torrent of commenting. After 475 comments were notched up on Max's blogging entrance of all blogging entrances, The Guardian had had enough and pulled the plug on the commentators.
Today, they axed the accompanying photo of Max Gogetter. Andy Pietrasik, The Guardian's Travel Editor, posted his response:
"So, Max is 19 and off on his own for the first time to travel around India and Thailand. You can bet he's feeling a lot older and more worldly-wise this morning.
I take on board many of the criticisms that you levelled at me and Max yesterday, and can see where they came from."
Meanwhile, on TheSite.org it made us think of our own travel section and this gem, a rant from a few years ago by Tom Allebone-Webb who had another take on the joys of setting out into the big wide world. It's a great antidote to the head of steam that Max's writing has helped build up amongst the Guardian readership.
"What's that? You've been "travelling"? Oooh, how pleasant. Got lots of exciting photos of you bungee jumping, you with a snake, you getting pissed up in a sarong? Really? I'd love to see - but wait, haven't I seen these before?
Of course I fucking have, everyone has. You go away to your middle-class Ibizas (generally somewhere in South East Asia), have your yearlong holidays and do exactly the same things as everybody else. You spend ages "finding yourself" only to realise you're exactly like every other numpty who ever went travelling. Then you come back, feeling all enlightened and insist upon regaling everyone with stories of your daring exploits going shopping in a local market or on a brief guided tour around a little bit of jungle. I'm sorry Indiana, I think you may have mistaken me for someone who cares."
It takes all sorts. There's room for everyone in our view, whether you're Max, Tom or whoever, we want to hear from you. You can read other young people's blogs on their experiences volunteering overseas on do-it.org.uk.
Posted by Patrick Daniels ( 4:10 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]