Future Dystopian Attractions: Benign Masochism in Dark Tourism

I am currently working on this book chapter, stay tuned....

Future Dystopian Attractions: Benign Masochism in Dark Tourism

Robert S. Bristow, Ian Jenkins, and Alina Gross

Abstract 

The future of Dark Tourism is contingent on the tourist’s ability to encounter a safe experience. Given the current stress on tourism from the pandemic and war, tourists are expected to seek a more entertaining environment to escape.  Traditional dark attractions provide an essential opportunity to learn about our horrid past especially for those who seek solace to better understand why? One possible explanation that tourists are attracted to unpleasant destinations is the psychological theory of ‘benign masochism.’ The chapter explores the future of fright attractions by examining the cultural milieu of south-east Asia, central Europe and others.   

Keywords: dystopian attractions, benign masochism, risk, cultural linkages, pleasure in the unpleasant, fright tourism

Do not travel (previously “extreme risk”)

Want to know where the New Zealand Government doesn't want you to travel due to risk?

See this exhaustive list.

And what about allies across the Big Pond in the UK?

And of course, the US warns us.

April 25–28, 2011 tornado outbreak

Today is the anniversary date of one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in recent times.  This also means that the highways in the great plains, also known as "tornado alley" will be jammed packed with storm chasers, both professional and amateurs, as they seek the opportunity to see one of these remarkable weather events.

We wrote about storm chasing a while back.  And a google search will find more on the subject.

Tornado Chasing .... for fun?

The Midwest has been getting hammered with severe weather over the past few weeks, and even the weather stars from the Weather Channel may be over their heads.

We wrote a paper on recreational storm chasing a while back that might be of interest.  http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/19699

Tours devoted to tornado storm chasing have become popular in recent years, especially with the emergence of many profit and non-profit storm chasing organizations. While most literature in risk recreation has been directed toward rock climbing or other high-risk outdoor recreation activities, tours devoted to storm chasing are quite unlike these traditional activities. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of these organizations from information collected in a mailed survey. Areas to be discussed are specific tour details for each company, basic demographics of tour attendees, and other areas of tour requirements.

My hope that the tourists don't get in the way of public safety!

Storm Chasing

I did a study with one of my students a while back that looked into Storm Chasing: The Ultimate Risk Recreation. It was published in Parks and Recreation (Sept 2000). You can find it at:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1145/is_9_35/ai_66035661/?tag=content;col1

Now, given the horrendous loss of life in the Midwest over the weekend, I offer this question. Should we, as tourists, exploit the damaging impacts of Tornadoes?

I am reminded of this every time I am on the road, and a fire truck or cop car or ambulance scream down the highway and drivers do not get out of the way. Come on folks, let these people do their job. someone's life may be at risk!