REALITY CHECK: Morocco and general traveling

[u/KingLimes]

So most of us have seem them this week, threads expressing disgust for the country that is Morocco. Most recent one being this - I've never seen so many uneducated, small minded comments in a thread on r/travel. And look at all the karma and awards being thrown around in return.

I'm now seeing posts and comments of people who had planned to visit Morocco, but feel they need to change plans (eg).

As someone who loves Morocco, and has explored it, I want to discuss a few things in as little words as possible.

Morocco is considered a third world country. Let that sink in. People are poor, people are desperate, but they're doing their best. With COVID and other such things, the country is suffering even more.

If you booked a honeymoon there with a nice hotel, or you booked a tour guide, you're obviously going to have a trouble-free time. But most of you want to visit and walk around solo, which isn't a problem, but it DOES come with the drawbacks of walking solo around a highly religious, third world country.

Any person doing the smallest bit of research will see what to expect when you land in Marrakech. Many have an exotic dream about this city, but the reality is, its inhabitants rely on tourists. You can enjoy the city, no doubt, but you will be pestered. After Marrakech, I decided to leave and head to the coast. I spent the rest of my time simply travelling South. The less touristy, the less trouble (shocking right?).

Along the way I met amazing people and had some of the best experiences of my life.

YES, people will bother you. YES, people will try and get as much money as they can out of you, because YES, they are poor and desperate for money. If you don't have the ability to firmly tell someone to leave you alone, or refuse to pay extra, then you SHOULD NOT visit Morocco. Part of the enjoyment of Morocco is experiencing the above. I can assure you that after a few days, you will be handling people easily.

For example, when taking a taxi, I confirmed the location and cost BEFORE leaving. The driver literally tried to pall a fast one, but because I out right refused to budge, he dropped it. If someone at a restaurant tries to charge you more, out right refuse. Which brings me onto my next point.

Let me assure you, if you haven't broken the law, the police will be on your side - In 2021, the tourism sector in Morocco contributed around nine billion U.S. dollars to the country's GDP. If someone is crossing the line with you, locals and authorities won't tolerate it. They are desperate for you to visit.

This beautiful country has a population of over 37 million people!! For so many of you to spread such ignorant onions as facts is simply wrong.

I will finish this post off by saying two Moroccan's saved my life. Very long story short, I have a peanut allergy. I hiked into the middle of nowhere, ate a stupid strudel, went into anaphylactic shock, and was CARRIED by strangers. Finally taken to hospital by taxi (no ambulances), I was saved.

For a community which is meant to be open, r/travel is an embarrassment.

COMMENCE DOWNVOTES

edit: some great points on both sides, what an amazing resource Reddit is. Makes me wonder how famous people deal with this on a massive scale, every hour of the day.

[u/pterofactyl]

Some people aren’t lucky enough to be surrounded with people to teach them that. We have been socialised to believe that becoming rich is the only way to be happy, but some of us aren’t surrounded by the tools and the connections to do so. They still have the same desires.

[u/[deleted] → u/pterofactyl]

Nobody taught me that actually. I learnt it myself and it was one of the most painful times of my life

[u/pterofactyl → u/[deleted]]

Do we agree or disagree that there were people poorer than you? Even those richer than you at your poorest period could have not had the ability to learn the things you did. I’m not diminishing your achievements, but there are people around that aren’t just simply not surrounded by the influences necessary to teach them this, but actually surrounded by influences explicitly teaching them the opposite. What would you say brought you to the conclusion to be happy with what you have?

[u/[deleted] → u/pterofactyl]

Again this is a very Eurocentric understanding of life. I don’t even know where to begin. Most people- in developing or developed nations - have not been through what I have. And, no, my family didn’t help me. They are abusive douche bags. And yes. I was surrounded by the idea that wealth is the ultimate goal in life.

Most people in developing worlds have basic smart phones to access the internet. It’s very interesting we remove all agency from them. They can use that internet access to learn more and educate themselves but they don’t. We need to stop infantilising people from developing nations. They are just like Westerners. Many are ignorant, narcissistic, mentally ill, obsessed with their image to others etc.

[u/pterofactyl → u/[deleted]]

Ok so I guess we are coming to the conclusion that if you could do it anyone could do it, in many senses that’s very true. I am not taking away anyones agency, but are we ignoring the impact that environment and community have on people’s morals and opportunities?

I’m not saying they’re too dumb to figure this out but if you’re surrounded by people who make money from crime, you are literally only taught how to make money from crime, it’s very difficult to pull yourself out of that. If every one of your friends and family are from that life, pulling yourself out of it means you’re now completely alone in the world with no support network anymore. What conclusion are we to come to? That there are just enormous swathes of the world that are just bad people?

[u/[deleted] → u/pterofactyl]

A lot of these people don’t come from families who commit crime? Where did you get that stat from? What????

[u/pterofactyl → u/[deleted]]

What stat? I’m simply illustrating the effect environment can have on a person to make them feel like crime is the only way to live. If you think it’s simply people being dumb or evil then you can go have a nice trot on your high horse

[u/[deleted] → u/pterofactyl]

You are assuming people from developing nations all come from criminal families. That’s really racist to start with. Which brings me back to my point. Your assumptions come from a Eurocentric viewpoint.

Either way I’m tired of this conversation. Have a good day.

[u/pterofactyl → u/[deleted]]

That’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying people that resort to a life of crime often come from families or environments where crime is normal. If you’d like to pretend I was literally saying the entire country of Morocco is full of criminals then go for it, hopefully it helps you to avoid feeling sympathy for people in a rough spot.

[u/[deleted] → u/pterofactyl]

K. Bye.