Comments on: On paying money to look at poor people http://www.jinamoore.com/2009/06/30/on-paying-money-to-look-at-poor-people/ Reporter & Producer Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:31:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Saundra http://www.jinamoore.com/2009/06/30/on-paying-money-to-look-at-poor-people/#comment-120 Saundra Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:44:38 +0000 http://jinamoore.com/?p=655#comment-120 Perhaps what's coming out of all of these blog postings is that it is "all about the gaze". There is a world of difference between inserting yourself into someone's life and then gawking at them because they're different or having a real conversation, that both parties are happy to engage in, where you hear and learn from their point of view. In the first instance you objectify them in an effort to meet your own needs, in the second instance you treat them as a human being with their own needs and values. Perhaps what's coming out of all of these blog postings is that it is "all about the gaze". There is a world of difference between inserting yourself into someone's life and then gawking at them because they're different or having a real conversation, that both parties are happy to engage in, where you hear and learn from their point of view. In the first instance you objectify them in an effort to meet your own needs, in the second instance you treat them as a human being with their own needs and values.

]]> By: jina http://www.jinamoore.com/2009/06/30/on-paying-money-to-look-at-poor-people/#comment-119 jina Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:01:48 +0000 http://jinamoore.com/?p=655#comment-119 It actually sounds, from your comment over there, like we agree. Your comment is full of some great examples of people visiting villages, sans payment, with good intentions. I can't imagine there are lots of people who would make the trek from Kigali to Mayange, sans tour group, just to gawk. My experience has been that anyone who bothers leaving Kigali to meet Rwandans are coming with intentions like the ones you describe, to exchange ideas with locals and learn things. I think the real thing here is gawking, whether you pay to do it or not, is wrong. Yet another thing that's all about the gaze... It actually sounds, from your comment over there, like we agree. Your comment is full of some great examples of people visiting villages, sans payment, with good intentions. I can't imagine there are lots of people who would make the trek from Kigali to Mayange, sans tour group, just to gawk. My experience has been that anyone who bothers leaving Kigali to meet Rwandans are coming with intentions like the ones you describe, to exchange ideas with locals and learn things.

I think the real thing here is gawking, whether you pay to do it or not, is wrong. Yet another thing that's all about the gaze...

]]> By: Daniela Papi http://www.jinamoore.com/2009/06/30/on-paying-money-to-look-at-poor-people/#comment-118 Daniela Papi Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:17:14 +0000 http://jinamoore.com/?p=655#comment-118 Thanks for posting, Jina. I was interested to see what people who had taken the tour would say. I disagree that the problem goes away if you visit and don't pay. Actually, sometimes those are the worst cases of poorism I have seen. I wrote my thoughts here: http://blogs.nyu.edu/fas/dri/aidwatch/2009/06/response_to_mv_tourism_operato.html Thanks for posting, Jina. I was interested to see what people who had taken the tour would say.

I disagree that the problem goes away if you visit and don't pay. Actually, sometimes those are the worst cases of poorism I have seen.

I wrote my thoughts here: http://blogs.nyu.edu/...ponse_to_mv_tourism_operato.html

]]> By: Sterling http://www.jinamoore.com/2009/06/30/on-paying-money-to-look-at-poor-people/#comment-117 Sterling Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:06:24 +0000 http://jinamoore.com/?p=655#comment-117 I agree - a great post, especially to follow up with Bill Easterly's and Saundra Schimmelpfennig's blog posts. thank you for your insight! it's nice to hear a different opinion. I agree - a great post, especially to follow up with Bill Easterly's and Saundra Schimmelpfennig's blog posts. thank you for your insight! it's nice to hear a different opinion.

]]> By: Kathryn http://www.jinamoore.com/2009/06/30/on-paying-money-to-look-at-poor-people/#comment-116 Kathryn Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:03:53 +0000 http://jinamoore.com/?p=655#comment-116 Very insightful and interesting post, Jina! Thanks for this. Hope all is well. Very insightful and interesting post, Jina! Thanks for this. Hope all is well.

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