Thread: Dislike of Backpackers

Reading through some posts on here I have noticed some people dislike backpackers, calling them amusing names such as "The great unwashed" etc.
I would like to know the reasons why certain people dislike/hate/avoid backpackers, and if those people have ever been backpackers themselves.
If they themselves were backpackers, then surely they can understand and relate to the way backpackers go about their business.
Would it be safe to assume that the haters lean more to the side of sexpat/tourist? and maybe they did not travel at a young age, only arriving in SE Asia when they could not get female attention in their homelands?

I have nothing against backpackers but have had a problem with some on an overnight train trip from Paris to Nice.

The unwashed bastards managed to get partly into my luggage sometime during the trip and stole 2 shoes (both left foot of different styles) so when I landed in Nice I had two right foot shoes.

Wasn't funny at the time but is now as I can just imagine the look on the thieving bastard's face when he tried them on.

Originally Posted by Periphiral Vision

Reading through some posts on here I have noticed some people dislike backpackers, calling them amusing names such as The great unwashed etc.
I would like to know the reasons why certain people dislike/hate/avoid backpackers, and if those people have ever been backpackers themselves.
If they themselves were backpackers, then surely they can understand and relate to the way backpackers go about their business.
Would it be safe to assume that the haters lean more to the side of sexpat/tourist? and maybe they did not travel at a young age, only arriving in SE Asia when they could not get female attention in their homelands?

Go on then I'll answer your post
first a search for the term "The great unwashed" which you claim is used by posters here ,only seems to point to usage in this thread, but please correct me if I am wrong . if not It's a sloppy opening sentence and you're going to have to up your game a bit young man .
Anyway they are often dirty ,bragging they have not washed thier sleeping bag ,ever - at least sex tourists get thier sheets changed every day ,

on second thoughts I've had too much beer , and its getting hard to focus so I'll do a bit of cut and pasting to put the anti backpacker views

''Fuck me dead but I hate backpackers ,They're filthy yobs who persist in calling themselves 'travelers', mistakenly believing that this label will somehow separate them from the rest of the riffraff, the 'tourists'.
The belief seems to be that travelers are culturally sensitive and sufficiently awed when in contact with that which is foreign, third world and therefore superior to the rich, culturally deficient west.

Ok, I'm a backpacker. In the sense that I am always broke, stay in cheap places and try to stay away from organised tours (I hate people - it's more expensive, but I'll either pay for my own guide or brave the mean streets alone) and I drink a fair bit

. But I bathe often, the only foreign streets I throw up in are in those countries for which I hold citizenship, and I generally try to avoid other backpackers.
Not because I believe I'm better than them, rather, I hate all people.
And these days I mostly take short trips, so I can afford to stay in hotels that have hot water and clean towels.
Man, that's a freaking luxury.
So I'm a backpacker, I admit it, but I don't fawn over defective cultures or fly my flags, so I tolerate myself. '''

I'm pretty sure "The Great Unwashed" so to speak, are regarded as what the Thai's refer to as "Falang kii nok". This translates to Bird shit foreigner. Thai's don't get why people, who have in comparison to themselves money, turn out like tramps.

Back in the day, I was a backpacker for one year. Traveled Austrailia and all over Asia. I wasn't poor or unwashed, just wanted to see many places. If I had stayed in the Hilton, my trip would have lasted about a month before my money ran out.

Backpackers are OK so long as they bathe once an a while. The size of some of these 'backpacks' these days are like large footlockers with straps and the backpackers always manage to position themselves in public spaces at exits etc.

"Two months in Asia without a shower"
There's a difference between 'budget traveler' and 'filthy stinking backpacker', Water, and soap.
Living near Aranyaprathet we saw some dreadful examples of backpackers crossing into Thailand from Poipet - and unwashed would be just the start; white women with dreadlocks (that never worked) I understand they never wash their hair, but surely the body can be watered on occasion.
Had a pair on the free shuttle bus to the airport, fortunately a 10min trip. For anyone who dislikes the smell of durian - this was much worse.

I'm not overly keen on the modern backpacker.

This is a copy of my first post on teakdoor


"Many moons ago, backpacking was exactly that. Packing a bag, putting it on your back and buggering off somewhere. Over the years, the backpacks got bigger, newer and greater in number. An evolutionary trend that has resulted in some huge monstrosities. The parasitic backpack had reached its evolutionary zenith. The size and weight of the monster was rendering the host wearer useless, pulling them off balance and leaving said host on their back, flailing around like a dying beetle. This was no good for the symbiotic relationship, so the cunning backpack spawned "the chestpack", to be worn in tandem in order to remain upright. Add to this ensemble a couple of matching holdalls, one for each arm, and the modern day backpacker is born. It is an evolutionary dead end though, because this new breed is prone to combusting. Not spontaneously, but on the end of my lighter. The next time i can't get off the train because some backpacker,chestpacker, holdall twat manages to wedge themselves solid in the narrow doorway, i will seriously contemplate setting fire to the bags turd.
Anyroad up, first post, so go easy on me, only kidding.
Can anyone tell me or hazard a guess as to the contents of all this baggage????"

From https://teakdoor.com/newbies-lounge/3...ing-trend.html

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Backpackers are OK so long as they bathe once an a while. The size of some of these 'backpacks' these days are like large footlockers with straps and the backpackers always manage to position themselves in public spaces at exits etc.

I always ask them if they have enough stuff.

Funny as most just travel the well worn Khao San Road routes and have little laundry huts all along the way, no reason to pack 2 weeks worth of clothes.

Originally Posted by misskit

If I had stayed in the Hilton, my trip would have lasted about a month before my money ran out.

Not to mention your perception of Thailand and it's culture would have been totally distorted by the produced for tourist consumption facade the Hilton and other 4/5 star hotels provide to their guests.

Once had the misfortune of sitting in front of some soap-dodging 'traveller' on a flight to the UK. This spoiled kid was loudly whining on to his friend (until I asked him to stfu) about being arrested by the "fascist" Thai cops for smoking ganja down in Ko Pang Ngan. I just wish they'd hanged him.
Hopefully his little adventure prevented him from further expeditions, even though he probably still enjoys extended credit at the Bank Of Mummy & Daddy.

On an overnight bus to Chiang Mai once, several backpackers got out their sleeping bags and stretched out to sleep in the isle. Anyone wishing to use the toilet had to pick their way over the sleeping bodies recieving abuse if they woke one of them up. The thai hostess tried to explain it was not allowed but she was totally ignored. Talk about selfish and culturely insensative.

So what is the deal with backpackers now and not bathing? Is this a new trend or something? Khao San Road doesn't have showers? I never have set foot there, so wouldn't know.

I always tried to stay in the hotels or guest houses where the locals would stay. It is much more interesting getting travel information from them than hanging around other tourists. I was treated very well everywhere I went.

Originally Posted by Plan B

Seems to be a fashion amongst the Northern Euro types

Hmmm. I think this is not a new fashion development.

Originally Posted by Bangyai

On an overnight bus to Chiang Mai once, several backpackers got out their sleeping bags and stretched out to sleep in the isle. Anyone wishing to use the toilet had to pick their way over the sleeping bodies recieving abuse if they woke one of them up. The thai hostess tried to explain it was not allowed but she was totally ignored. Talk about selfish and culturely insensative.

You get the same sort of thing on the Chiang Mai-Bangkok overnight train but thankfully backpackers are almost always too tight to pay the extra for the air-conditioned carriages so they're easily avoided. But it's always horrible seeing the expressions on the faces of any Thais who've had the misfortune of ending up in the same carriage; I've no idea how backpackers so consistently seem to miss it.

I think the Op is Smeg

I think people are jealous that they're generally young, free and enjoying themselves.

Originally Posted by Periphiral Vision

Would it be safe to assume that the haters lean more to the side of sexpat/tourist? and maybe they did not travel at a young age, only arriving in SE Asia when they could not get female attention in their homelands?

Probably not considering the red bits below your av pic.

As far as I am concerned they are just mostly young people traveling on a budget and occasionally getting into trouble because of naive gullibility/overconfidence of youth and lack of knowledge about the areas they travel in, the gained experience hopefully will benefit the youngsters later in life and by extension us all.

I can appreciate why some thinks of them as nothing more than an annoyance, but then again so are many regular halfbrained rude Tourists, dimwitted wife-beater baldy tattooed hooligan sexpat tossers, and some of us more regular expats are probably not much better.

Live and let live I say.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I think people are jealous that they're generally young, free and enjoying themselves.

Exactly, plus the people who like to have a dig at backpackers probably just never had the balls to do it themselves when younger, preferring their 2 week package holiday in the Costa del Sol.

Originally Posted by buriramboy

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I think people are jealous that they're generally young, free and enjoying themselves.

Exactly, plus the people who like to have a dig at backpackers probably just never had the balls to do it themselves when younger, preferring their 2 week package holiday in the Costa del Sol.

Or maybe the idea of backpacking was to see the world on a budget, coupled with travelling light, not seeing it with a backpack full of mummy and daddys credit cards.

^^ Dunno about that. I've spent my time smoking chillums in Manali, and all the rest. More likely that Marmite's explanation is on the money - we're just bitter old fucks.