Discovering The Right Way To Tell Your Vacation Story

At the present time, no one is booking a vacation. As we collectively work towards preventing any further spread of the coronavirus, it’s imperative that we practice social distancing and staying at home as much as possible. Our current situation calls upon us all to reminisce about happier times. For example, we’ve been talking a lot about our favourite vacations stories, as of late.

Did you know that there is a right way and a wrong way to tell your vacation story?

According to Nina Ruggiero of Travel + Leisure, a 2017 Psychological Science study found that not all listeners appreciate tales about the trips others have taken. She points out that the study examined something called “the novelty penalty”. “It turned out that while we enjoy telling stories about new experiences, listeners don’t appreciate novelty, preferring instead to hear familiar stories about things they have experienced themselves,” she writes.

Ruggiero explains that the study involved having “speakers” watch a short video. After watching the video, the speakers were asked to discuss what they watched with a group of “listeners”. Some of the listeners had already watched the same video while others had not seen it yet.

According to the study, the speakers believed they would receive “novelty bonuses” from listeners who hadn’t viewed the video. However, the opposite seemed to be true. It was the people who had already seen the video who happened to enjoy listening to the speakers the most.

Familiarity plays a role.

Psychological Science claims there was a sense of community amongst those who were in the “seen the video already” group. The familiarity with the subject matter allowed for the storytelling to be more enjoyable. Essentially, it’s all about being able to relate to what you’re hearing.

According to the journal, reports Ruggiero, “stories leave out far more information than they contain, and listeners can typically understand a story only if they have extensive background knowledge that allows them to fill in the story’s informational gaps.”  

“You just had to be there!”

Have you ever used this phrase? Consider when you may have used it. In all likelihood, it was uttered as part of a story you told to someone who had not experienced anything like it. With ease, you can generally discuss your trips to the beach with those who have also had their fair share of beach visits. But detailing your shark hunting expedition may not be as relatable to the same audience.

Not to worry, says Ruggiero. There is a way to tell your unique vacation stories without having your listeners hate them. She insists that storytellers strike a balance between the novel and the relatable. Be informational so you don’t lose your listeners when discussing things they have no idea about.

“One of the most important reasons that people listen to each other’s stories is to gain new information—to learn about cities they have never visited, books they have never read, and foods they have never tasted,” Ruggiero quotes Psychological Science.

Remember that when the time is right, Taitam Technology Vacations will be here to help you book your next vacation that will turn into you telling the best stories! Please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-234-0202 to learn about our how Taitam Membership Plan works.