Arnon

Is that what people in the Netherlands call "disaster tourism"?

Make-Up Artist

If you read the article carefully you will notice that the program that Hinterland Tours offers is not focussing on disaster but on all kinds of cultural treasures.

Irony

There is some irony in the choice of the company's name and destinations,
When you check out the website you will see a group of travellers posing
next to a statue with its head shot off and yes there are also young parents
with a child in the same picture. I mean, what kind of people want to make
a living this way?

Iffy

I fail to see the irony in either the name or the pictures. What people in safe countries often forget is that war and the remnants of war are a daily reality for a very large percentage of the worlds population. I think it is very healthy to experience how people live that just happen to be born in a less fortune place.

Although I haven't travelled that much, I was fortunate enough to see for example Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world. Meeting people who struggle to survive another day was a fresh contrast to hearing people who worry that their pensions will be a few percent lower in 20 years from now. Maybe I already knew but then I really felt that this whole prosperous world we take for granted is nothing but a small green island in an ocean of poverty.

So I guess going to a place where life is less taken for granted can be refreshing, even for children.

Hinterland

The word Hinterland has a neutral as well as some rather negative meanings. It is not really flattering, I suppose, when Hinterland Travel picks out your country as a holiday destination.

Arnon

I did read the article. To me it just doesn't make a sense (in general), why would anyone want to be a tourist in some country during the war time.

Like there is no enough kidnapping and heads chopped off already...
http://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&q=kidnapped+in+iraq

Make-Up Artist

Why would anyone want to be alive? Real peace of mind can be found after death.

Arnon

That's very philosophical statement. I think we no nothing about the death, so whether our mind finds real peace after death or not, is uncertain.

Make-Up

We know more about death than you believe Although many things are uncertain it is safe to assume that we won't be bothered by worries about our dentist after death.
Do you ever think before posting a comment on this site?

Arnon

I assume we can then agree that 'many things are uncertain.'

-- Do you ever think before posting a comment on this site?

'Thinking', 'posting' and 'this site'... could be totally irrelevant (to eachother) or even meaningless when you break it into pieces. Could you therefore be more specific?

M A Artist

My question has been answered. Thanks!

Arnon

Are you trying to insult me? If so, why?

M A Artist

Not at all.

Arnon

Until today I thought we were doing just fine. But your reactions on this particular page make me doubt. I think you're either trying to insult me (for no reason at all) or you've been drinking.

Either way, being 'arrogant' (or cocky, if you wish) and 'funny', is perfectly OK.
Being arrogant only, is just stupid.

M A Artist

Being opinionated is not always a virtue, my love.

Arnon

Fair enough. Then perhaps you should give me a good example and stop running this blog, or stop writing entirely.

On the other hand, if you don't wish my presense on this site, just say so... and I promise, you won't need to ask it twice.

M A Artist

An example of the statement that being opinionated is not always a virtue : "I did read the article. To me it just doesn't make a sense (in general), why would anyone want to be a tourist in some country during the war time." Perhaps I should have written: The desire to condemn should not be mistaken for a virtue.

Arnon

Perhaps you should have...

Yet: "The desire to condemn should not be mistaken for a virtue.", is more likely to serve this sentence: "Do you ever think before posting a comment on this site?"

Not being equal to your great ego, being able to compete with your writing skills, or just NOT always sharing your opinion.. doesn't mean person is retarded and is placing reactions on these pages like a brainless idiot.

As an intelligent guy, you should've know that!

... but if your great ego prevents you to apoligize, I can understand that. Nobody is perfect. Not even me. ;-)

M A Artist

Somebody who refuses to think about a comment before posting it is not necessarily a “brainless idiot” but if you believe you are a “brainless idiot” I don’t consider it my task to correct you.
Even as a brainless idiot you are more than welcome to keep posting comments on this site about my “ego” or other matters that are dear to you.

Arnon

------ Somebody who refuses to think about a comment before posting it is not necessarily a “brainless idiot” ------

Oh well, thank you, I feel better already. :)
And now I want you to prove that 'someone who refuses to think before posting' is actually - me.

------ but if you believe you are a “brainless idiot” I don’t consider it my task to correct you. ------

Arnon, twisting my words is cheap. You can do better then that.

------ Even as a brainless idiot you are more than welcome to keep posting comments on this site about my “ego” or other matters that are dear to you. ------

Is this another insult attempt? Or is it just a sneaky way to make me leave on my own, without even having to ask me that?

Arnon, do you think your ego is being threatened? If so, why is that?

M A Artist

The word “ego” in your last comments should not be mistaken for a valid argument.

Arnon

Once you start twisting someones words, validity arguments lose their sense as a whole. No ego stands above it. But ego is a bitch. If you have too little of it, it's a bad deal. Too much of it, is a bad deal too.

One thing is certain, the greater the ego, the greater it's dark shadow. We can't chose for only the ego - or it's shadow. We always have both.!

If you are unable to measure your ego, then perhaps you know how big is your shadow Arnon?

Do you often feel lonely?

M A Artist

Reading is a skill.
Compare these two sentences:
1. You are a brainless idiot.
2. If you believe that you are a brainless idiot I don't consider it my task to correct you.
In other words: nobody twisted your words.
Vulgar psychology should not be mistaken for insightful observations.
And now I have to leave you alone for a while.

Arnon

Writing is a skill too.
What you wrote on this page is simply --- cheap.

But it's your blog, so you can delete it any time you want.

M A Artist

There is no need to prove that you are opionated. There is need to prove that you object to education.

Arnon

----- There is no need to prove that you are opionated.

I believe it's not the matter of "if there is need to prove", but you rather "can't prove it!" It should be obvious by now, as You just got spined into your own "words game" web. Such a shame. As far as I'm concerned, it didn't have to happen.

----- There is need to prove that you object to education.

I also believe insulting people (when running out of bullets), is a sign of weakness. I think you're weak now - and most probably very lonely guy.

As far as education is concerned, I educate myself my whole life and I'll keep doing that until I get old and senile. Perhaps you should start doing that too.

Dear Arnon,

I wish you all the best, even more literature prices, great adventures, hot women and stuff... Perhaps some day you should visit Chernobil, the very same spot where 'big bang' happened. That would be something for NRC, huh!?

No, just kiddin' ;-)

But who knows, some day I might visit your website again or even decide to read some of your books. ;-)

About that I'm not kiddin'.
I haven't read any yet.

I think I'm done here for now and I should better leave. There is no need for you to discredit yourself any further. I didn't come here to damage your ego anyway.
Take care of your ego, will ya?! It needs as much attention as your face, nails or even feets.

Bye.