the Indie Travel Manifesto

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• Scott Hadfield said at 2012-02-06T13:05:34+0000: Wow, this post comes off as bizarrely negative for something that's suppose to be a positive thing."ITM is the total and complete fucking opposite of the Super Bowl and all the shit around it."First of all, it seems like a real stretch to try and compare these two things in this way. You're almost implying that if someone enjoys the super bowl and other sports they aren't complying with your "ITM". Also, most of the people I know who watch the super bowl know nothing about football (or almost any sport for that matter), but it's a great excuse to spend some time with and bond with friends and family. I don't know of a single person ever who's been legitimately upset by who one/lost the superbowl."Yeah, we are not dot com millionaires or Web 2.0/3.0 wankers trying to change the world with more Social Media tools and even more advertising."This is rich coming from you guys. Your site is full of link baiting posts and 90% of your posts are just lists or lists of lists. You're also the only travel blog I follow that doesn't put full length posts into RSS feeds. You put tiny descriptions in your RSS feed, why? To get more traffic, clicks and ad revenue. I'm ok with that because I understand that online services need some way to make revenue. You guys are using advertisements to supplement your revenue just as other companies are. But for some reason you seem to act as though you're superior to those other people who are putting long hours into their startups and projects that they love and believe in.I'm sorry, but without clarification, this post really comes off as being written by someone with a superiority complex.
  • Sean E Keener replied at 2012-02-06T18:17:41+0000: G'Day Scott,My colleagues took the article down, they also don't think it represents what the ITM is about.Many of the things you say are true Scott. We have written lots of articles are list oriented.Our full RSS feed is here for articles: (Not sure which one you had) http://feeds.bootsnall.com/bna/articlesWe are not superior to other start-ups at all. Just different. I think we are still start-up oriented, but 14 years old.We have built a sustainable organization through advertising revenue, yes.It was my take on a current event (Super Bowl) - and how it is very different from the ITM and what it is all about.As for having a superiority complex, you'd have to ask the people that know me best if this is true.Cheers Scott and thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it.
  • Scott Hadfield replied at 2012-02-06T23:26:09+0000: thanks for the response Sean! I really appreciate it. And you're right, I was subscribed to the wrong feed (http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/feed). Also, I think that being a "startup" has less to do with age, and more to do with a vibe and attitude :).
• Samantha McCormick said at 2012-02-06T16:02:59+0000: This letter makes me want to puke. Oooh, you're so edgy and indiiiiieeeee oh gosh. Gross.
• Brian Miller said at 2012-02-06T17:15:47+0000: Lame. Turns out it is possible to like large-scale popular sports and enjoy "indie" travel. Who are you to imply such a thing? I have long had the feeling that your site was out of touch with reality and was looking for a made-up type of person that does not exist. This confirmed it and I will now be taking my name off your email list.
  • Sean E Keener replied at 2012-02-06T18:08:57+0000: Hey Brian,I also injoy large scale sporting events....they just don't provide much joy and don't help me relate to the values in the ITM. Do they for you?My colleagues took the article down, they also don't think it represents what the ITM is about.Sorry to see you go. We are currently building tools and resources that do relate to Indie Travelers. I don't think it is a made-up type of person at all. My guess is that you too relate to the values in the ITM.My take on it is, is just that. My take.Cheers to you Brian.
  • Brian Miller replied at 2012-02-06T21:59:34+0000: Sean E Keener , Thank you for your personal reply. It goes a long way and makes me reconsider leaving the email list. I enjoy being an "indie traveler" when I can be an "indie traveler." There is nothing I look forward to more than my trips abroad, and having traveled abroad in 10 of the last 11 years, I consider myself privileged.However, one can't be an indie traveler all the time. Many people have a 9-5 office job (me), and a spouse and kids (me). Because of these responsibilities, my typical weekly evening enjoyment includes resting on the couch watching sitcoms or sporting events.Are they the things I enjoy most? No. Do they fit in my schedule of responsibilities? Yes. So I must choose to enjoy them, because what else is there during the week? I actually really did enjoy eating a quality meal yesterday with friends and family while being entertained by a close, competitive game. Until the next time I can go for a hike in the mountains, or take off for me next indie travel adventure, my choices are limited. And I don't want to feel like a lesser person for enjoying what I can. I hope you can understand my different, but not unique, perspective.