I mean no offense by this, but Road Junky is starting to look a little bit more like Lonely Planet. It seems ironic, but its sad. I used to frequent this site daily, even after having read each one of the articles I'd get on first thing in the morning to find updates. Now, I dont visit. I check back for updates hoping to find something substantial, but nothing catches my eye.
It seems as though advertising has taken over the pages, the layout is trying too hard and providing too little, and the content itself is dwindling off. Articles before were well written and offered a [radically] new perspective on the world, but today I've found that they take on the same monotonous sound from one paragraph to the next. The quality of writing has depreciated as more authors have been brought on, and the subject matter seems uninspired.
It would be nice to have a Road Junky worth reading again, the same Road Junky that inspired me to look at the world through different eyes.
I agree with you africantapwater. I too have found Road Junky to be less inspired (and inspiring) than it once was. I liken my relationship with Road Junky to a once great childhood friendship that I maintain out of feelings of loyalty and obligation, when in reality I know we no longer have anything in common, and we long ago drifted apart.
It's not that I dislike the site, and I do still return on ocassion to view an old favourite article, or to see if anything good has been added, but I just don't get excited like I once did.
Also, I was disappointed that the book, which was promised in the summer, has not materialised. I'd wager we'll be lucky to see it before the end of the year.
I apologise for my negativity. I know my words are of no use to anyone. I'm just venting really. I'm frustrated because my long awaited trip to Asia was abruptly halted within a week due to a bad infection. One agonising flight, and two days later, here I am recovering in bed, feeling pissed off and in need of cheering up. I will hit the road again, just as soon as my body will allow it!
As a brand new member I don't feel it's my place to criticize. I do like what I've seen of this site and I appreciate the absence of political correctness. However there's not enough traffic on this travel forum, it needs more activity. The administrator team has written some good shit in the past. You guys should post more frequently.
truly sad indeed.... yeah roadjunky is tailing off, no denying it. we hired an editor but in these hard times even she is too busy with her 'real job' to bring any much needed life to the site. the idea behind the ads was to be able to pay artists and writers for their material that would never get into LP -> tom simply couldn't keep cranking it all out himself.
the truth of the matter is that the genius soul and excitement that came from working on the site is now being applied elsewhere...
i feel like i've let you guys down, but i was really only ever the computer guy in this endeavor - email tom@roadjunky.com and tell tom we need him back.
the book exists, and i think has the magic that made this site great. if you simply can't wait until we get a 'print run' delivered and ordering instructions posted on the site, then email elizabeth.roadjunky@gmail.com and ask for instructions on how to get an advanced copy.
and thanks too for your chiding encouragement.
Maybe RJ needs to have a conference with all its readers out in the woods somewhere, get inspired again, and try to think of a way to break the internet curse of starting a site with great content and few readers from turning into a site that has mediocre content, lots of ads and, hence, more readership.
well pear we should have invited you and others to the 1st annual Roadjunky reunion which was held earlier this year in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Highlights included poisoned bath water, street fights, sexist plumbers, mosquitoes, conversations with clowns, impromptu jam sessions and a lot of web design.
we wanted at the time to host a film festival for the 2nd annual roadjunky gathering down there in Mexico - an idea maybe we should revive.
Road Junkies - amateur anthropologists and western world traveling freaks
Oh, I think it'd be nicer if we went further down to the Darien, more mosquitos and narcos to hang out with... Where are you at now Jim? Heading to Colombia or something?
ohio Wrote:Oh, I think it'd be nicer if we went further down to the Darien, more mosquitos and narcos to hang out with...
What about Cuba? I'll be there on Saturday. We might not be able to work on the site, though, for all its counterrevolutionary content...
fuck, is cuba even nice? All i here is that it's expensive and all the service is terrible. I don't mind the terrible service thing, but I don't want to waste money on it that I'll have to earn in the USA...
I don't know if it's nice or not yet...I'll just be glad to be in a country without Wal-Marts and Burger Kings...it'll definitely be different whether or not the service is expensive and crappy or not...