Cancelled! Festivus 2020

I used to say Happy Festivus! Then I would detail all the ways that airlines, hotel chains, credit card companies, bloggers, and commentators have disappointed me over the last year (see 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019) This year we all have plenty to complain about (see Covid Trip Report). This year I have only taken four flights, two round trips to New York, both in January. This year the airlines haven’t been as shitty (see Thank You American Airlines: Coronavirus Waiver), except for Frontier (see Frontier Airlines: The Covid Super Spreader for Puerto Rico). This year hotels, albeit because they are desperate, have offered great promotions (see Becoming Hyatt Globalist Again: TPOL’s Masterpiece Strategy). This year I didn’t apply for many credit cards, but I did receive some decent retention offers (see Keep Vs. Cancel: Amex Business Gold). This year travel bloggers have tried to survive without travel (see What’s a Travel Blog Without Travel?). I commend everyone for sticking around.

This leads me to the commentators. Every year they have plenty to say. Every year they are roasted in good fun. This year the nastiness spilled out with ignorance on full display, and the levity was lost. This comment from February’s post 老码头火锅: Best Hot Pot Chengdu is a sad preview of the vitriol that was to come.

On February 26th, I wrote, Travel Or Stay Inside? TPOL’s Thoughts on Coronavirus where I said, “It seems like it is only a matter of time before this epidemic becomes a pandemic and hits the international community hard. Politics and blame must be put aside before coronavirus becomes more catastrophic than it already is. Until then, I am going to limit my travel as much as possible.” On March 6th I wrote, Thank You Delta: Coronavirus Waiver. Here was the reaction:

On March 12th I wrote Describe Trump’s Travel Ban: It’s Stupid in which I said:

“First, the virus is already here. Blaming Europe or China or space invaders by issuing a travel ban doesn’t solve the problem. Second, look at the Dow. Can you say calamity? Presidents are supposed to calm the markets, not set fire to them. Third, US citizens can still fly from Europe. Luckily, they won’t bring in coronavirus because they are American. The world needs collaboration. It doesn’t need fragmentation. The world needs pragmatism. It doesn’t need politics. The world needs a leader. It doesn’t need Trump.”

On March 16th I wrote in Stop Going to the Bar Jerks!, “It is time to practice social distancing. It is not time to be a jerk and post photos on Instagram of you in a crowded place yelling lame shit like, ‘YOLO!'”

On March 21st, I wrote my favorite post, Social Distance Yourself from Misinformation. “The President of the United States is a liar. Do not believe anything he says. Those who push his lies are just as awful. Do not listen to anything they say. Social distance yourself from those people.”

April 16th I wrote Puerto Rico Flight Deal? Stay Away. This resulted in:

April 23rd I wrote Do I Stay Or Do I Go? Thoughts on the Second Covid Wave. I said, “As a result of this pathetic spectacle and tragic debacle, I am considering a departure from the US in the early fall for a length of time to be determined.” It’s funny that I actually thought I could leave the US for Asia.

On my Infected Tourists Are Coming to Puerto Rico I heard more from George.

And from D who may tell a different story today.

On July 14th it was back to stogieguy7 in the post, Sorry Harbaugh, College Football Should Be Cancelled.

On July 21st, I wrote, “Everyone should stay home or, at the least, stay away. You are not welcome here,” regarding Frontier’s fare sale to PR.

October 23rd people were really upset that a travel blogger would talk politics (see TPOL Endorses Biden). It is like they have never read my blog before but still feel obligated to tell me that I am only allowed to talk about points.

Wow, that was rough. If I were celebrating Festivus and this was the Feats of Strengths, I’d tap out to get away from this negativity. I’m optimistic that next year I can go back to writing above travel and people can go back to telling me how my reviews are worthless, my Pho posts are boring, or, more generally, how my blog sucks. That’s the type of constructive criticism that I enjoy. That’s the time when Festivus will return.