38: Are Influencers Changing the Way We Travel?

ARR RAW ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS WITH MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURE TRAVELLERS - FEATURING GRANT JOHNSON, BRIAN RIX, SHIRLEY HARDY-RIX, SAM MANICOM, GRAHAM FIELD AND JIM MARTIN.

FIND OUT MORE: To find out more about the co-hosts go to the RAW CO-HOST FEATURE PAGES: Shirley Hardy-Rix & Brian Rix, Grant Johnson, Graham Field and Sam Manicom.


On This Episode:

LISTENER QUESTIONS:

Name: Hannes Nitzsche:

I’m wondering how everyone deals with wind noise on longer trips, whether it is an issue at all or if anyone can suggest certain mods/tips for reducing wind noise. I’m riding a Gen 2 KLR650 and the wind noise is driving me nuts. I’ve tried different wind screens and a riser kit, but that only made it worse. I’m now considering taking the whole front fairing/cowling off and riding the bike naked so that my head is in clean air, just like when I’m standing up on my pegs. I’d be keen to hear what everyone has to say about this. 
Cheers from Australia!
Hannes


Name: Ankur

i was wondering whether you've covered the topic of how to deal with privacy and anonymity of other people adventure riders meet along the way on their travels. I'm sure it's perfectly fine to take a photo of people and their country in most cases. I can imagine in some scenarios it might not be acceptable to take a photo of someone/thing and upload the photo (with all it's meta data intact such as GPS) to a social media site. Could this get the person in the photo in trouble? Or even the person taking the photo into trouble? When's it not ok?


TRAVEL INFLUENCERS - BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT

Social media, especially Instagram and YouTube, are platforms for the growing trend of travel influencers, where they will spend hours staging their photos and then post them.

Topics we will address:

  • What is a travel influencer?

  • Have they forgotten what travel is really all about?

  • How are some travel influencers negatively affecting the environment, etc?

  • What good things are they bringing to communities?

  • How can trying to be a travel influencer can burn someone out (high stress)? Fake travel influencers (buying likes, photoshopping themselves, posting photos that look like they are sponsored by a name brand - all to gain popularity - strategy is fake it until you make.

  • When do some travel influencers cross the line?

  • Travel influencers may be seen as the cause of many destinations now being overwhelmed by tourists. For example, a lot of people visit places just to take the same photo in the same place with the same stance as everyone else they have seen on Instagram or Facebook.

  • How can you be a good traveller, especially when visiting smaller locales and really any destination? People all over the world are feeling the sting of losing their privacy by having photos of them and their homes taken without consent - a simple connection made with those people and asking their permission may be all it takes to avoid hard feelings. Also appreciating who those people are and how they live (their culture).


NEW SHOW SPONSOR - FRESH TRACKS

This episode of RAW is supported by FRESH TRACKS facilitating adventurous conversations.

We’re proud to announce that we have taken on a sponsor for RAW! We welcome Fresh Tracks from the UK, a company that offers team building activities and programs. A big part of what they do is starting conversations, just like on RAW. Fresh Tracks was founded by Dan Collins back in the ‘90’s when they originally offered 4x4 tuition to individuals and groups and later expanded to quad bike trails. To find out more go to FreshTracks.co.uk.

Music: "Turbo Tornado" by Admiral Bob 2016 - Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) ccmixter.org/files/admiralbob77/54272 "DIRT ROAD TRAVELER" Jason Shaw Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com
Posted on March 22, 2019 and filed under ARR RAW, Round Table Discussions, Travel.