Sunday, June 14, 2020

Blind Spots

When you look different, the world treats you differently. Travelers should know this better than anyone


10 comments:

  1. I don't get it? I expected "at home" to be something like "Whaddya mean, I gotta pay the same price as those tourists? I live here, man! I pay the taxes!"

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    1. The first panel does hint the punchline might be that, but the second panel points to the racism issue instead. Basically, he's mad when he is affected by what he sees as racism in other countries, but is outraged when someone thinks there is racism in his own country. It's very two-sided thinking, and it's something racists are prone to do. Thus, the end joke could be that he's actually racist himself, or at the very least purposefully blinding himself to racism in his own country... but I'm not the author so I'm only giving my impression.

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    2. That's exactly what I had intended, yes!

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    3. OK, I just didn't see the first panel as hinting at racism, I thought that 'local-looking' may mean 1000 different things (even a fact that the guy came to the shop in homey slippers). Thanks for explaining!

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  2. This is perfect -- thank you so much for addressing the current moment in a way that's relevant to travelers.

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  3. How many of those who claim that there is no racism ever went abroad?

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    1. Oh man, I need to introduce you to some people I know...

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  4. I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. Other countries have price flexibility, and they do set their prices higher based on who you are (and what they believe that they can get out of you). There are signs in the market in Delhi who say "no haggling/not negotiatible" in English. Those signs are lying. (that was confirmed by my friends)

    In the US we don't have price flexibilty unless you are making an offer on a house, car, or if you're dealing with a private sell (farmers market or craigslist). Go to walmart try to make an offer on the price. They won't budge. It doesn't matter who you are, or what you do/don't have. Their price is their price. Besides if they are discriminating against a protected group, that practice is illegal and there are repercussions. (ADA and Civil Rights Acts are what grant that)

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  5. We do have sliding scales but it's unusual.

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