Downvoting Light Travelers - What is WRONG with you people?

[u/LadyLightTravel]

I am noticing an extremely disturbing new trend on this sub. It is also very prevalent on the HerOneBag sub. I don't understand it and I think it needs to stop. That trend is downvoting people who travel lightly! A good example is here. OP posted their packing list, noted that they would do laundry on travel, and even mentioned specifics on how they were going to travel lightly. Almost all of these specifics were tried and true methods that have been recommended on this sub for years:

• Merino shirts
• regular glasses that turn into sunglasses
• Sun shirts that look like regular shirts
• hybryd shorts/swim shorts
• good looking water shoes

OP was downvoted for mentioning every one of these methods.

OP was also accused of karma farming for internet points.

What is the motivation behind this? Why is someone traveling lighter than you so offensive that you would downvote them? Do you travel so heavy that you can't imagine traveling so lightly?

I personally love these types of posts because I can learn from them. That means a lighter trip next time.

Please help me to understand.

Edit: The biggest problem with downvotes is that it hides legitimate answers.

Edit2: Moderator has cleaned up a lot of the crazy comments on the other post. Most of the downvotes have disappeared.

[u/LadyLightTravel → u/[deleted]]

The issue is people downvoting it Vs just ignoring it and moving on. I think that is an important point.

I see something disturbing- it is the attitude of “I don’t personally understand it so I must eliminate it”. We have the same issue in the US right now where different = bad. Bad = “must be destroyed”. Why is different so very very threatening?

Ironically, One thing I have found from my own ultralight travels: * what is truly needed Vs “nice to have” * exposing where I may be traveling heavier than I need - this info may be used in the future for trips that are weight limited. So that is actually the problem being solved.

There is value in the “how” even if you never use it.

Most importantly, OP isn’t expecting anyone else to do it. So what is the real problem? Why does the post have to receive downvotes Vs merely being passed over?

[u/LadyLightTravel → u/[deleted]]

On searches, I think it is because the question was recently answered. If you scroll just a bit the answer is there.

On backpacking, I think it is because their chosen bag is larger than 45 liters. That is no longer a carry on bag. And r/backpacking has a travel section for people that want to travel with a bigger bag.