Las Vegas

Posted by Will on October 21st, 2008 filed in Nevada, Philosophy, Ponderings, United States

I recently returned from Las Vegas or, as my father prefers, Lost Wages. This was my first trip to Sin City after turning 21. Here, in the United States, such a birthday is an important milestone; one is finally able to legally enjoy alcohol and many people see twenty-one as the real entry into adulthood. I see it as another day in August that I’d rather spend out and about than be confined in a classroom, relegated to the usual upstart of another school year. Not for long.

Back to Las Vegas, though, as this blog isn’t about my dislike of formal academics or getting older. I found that it was a very different experience than when I had gone before (during the Consumer Electronics Show, among other conferences) for a couple of reasons.

First, I saw–and was accosted by–multitudes of immigrant Mexicans (I’m not trying to put forth stereotypes, it was really that plain) who were handing out and promoting the “escort” services of various young ladies. This concept is not one that is foreign to me, I have seen this sort of thing in other cultures and places. What was so surreal about the experience is that the people walking by seemed totally oblivious to their very presence. It wasn’t as if they were pretending to be disinterested in the activities, rather it was that they were attempting to basically reject that the people were even there and trying to earn a living.

I have nothing for or against what many people call “the world’s oldest profession” but I think that it is a subject that Americans, in all our glory, are simply bred to sweep under the carpet and keep out of any polite conversation. After all, our country “was founded by a bunch of prudes.¹” What is it about other cultures that makes human sexuality such commonplace and why is it, then, that such aspects are so sorely lacking from that of American Culture? Not an easy question to ask, let alone answer. I won’t yet try.

Second, any sense of pride or self-respect seem to go by the wayside in Las Vegas. People, frequently, are on trips for bachelor parties and various other debaucheries I understand. What I found more interesting, though, is that the sort of person who propounds a very respectable and admirable figure in the course of their normal life “stoops” to a lower, more carnal level as soon as they set foot off of the plane. Rather than considering the downsides of their chosen actions, people have a tendency to over-indulge and regress to very selfish tendencies in this place.

This behavior amused me to no end. Though I had no way of observing the characters when they were in their normal environments, I could only use my imagination and skills of observation to draw these conclusions. If I may say so myself, I think that they are quite accurate indeed.

I’d appreciate your thoughts and input on the matter. Please leave them in the comments.

Be Well,
Will

1 – A quote from Eurotrip, an epic movie about a group of American teens finding love and fulfillment on a pre-collegiate journey through Europe.