To think this has to be a hoax?

[Sashimimimi]

British student went to Afghanistan on holiday Is now trapped in a safe house and has ‘accepted death’. He’s been live blogging about his situation on 4chan. Incel types hailing him as a legend.

AIBU to think this is has to be a windup?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/brit-student-22-stuck-afghanistan-24768024.amp

Dark tourism is a thing: www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Tourist-Sightseeing-unlikely-destinations/dp/1847398464?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Dom Jolly wrote a book on the subject.

I know someone that has visited North Korea several times, including at one time of high-tension. I was asked if I wanted to go on one of his trips!!

Do not tell me we are going to let that moron get away with what he did if he lands here.

Hope they at least make him pay the cost of his repatriation.

"Miles said he hoped the British government will assist him to leave or to keep his head down and catch his scheduled flight out this coming week."

Well...

"Routledge, through posts to message board site 4chan"
meaww.com/miles-routledge-british-student-trapped-in-afghanistan-says-hes-fully-prepared-for-death

4chan? Well...

Apparently posting on the 13th "seems more peaceful than London to me"

And
"has claimed he was abandoned by the British Embassy in Kabul, alleging they did not respond to any of his phone calls or emails as the fundamentalist militant group took over the country’s capital."

Meanwhile, the UK Embassy on FB, on the 13th: www.facebook.com/ukinafghanistan/photos/a.10150710262580631/10159322972185631
"All British nationals (...) are advised to leave now"

Archived Home Office advice:

<a class="break-all" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210806182152/www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/afghanistan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">web.archive.org/web/20210806182152/www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/afghanistan

Still current at:
6 August 2021
Updated:
6 August 2021
Latest update:
Update to request that British nationals in Afghanistan inform the British Embassy in Kabul of their departure plans

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advise against all travel to Afghanistan. All British nationals in Afghanistan are advised to leave now by commercial means.
If you are still in Afghanistan, you are advised to leave now by commercial means because of the worsening security situation.

Well...

@Tuscancat

Why are you lumping China in with iran and rwanda?

I don't know about Rwanda now, but if you don't lump China and Iran, you are very naive.

his facebook page is slightly different.

I have more sympathy for someone going on a trip to North Korea, as they tend to be very strictly followed and you don't trample on someone and steal their seat to get out of the country.

tbh there are more worthy people to be interested in and worried about.

I'm a mod on a travel forum and we were still getting "is Afghanistan really that dangerous?" posts up until the weekend. Even today, one person asked if it'll be considerably safer for foreign tourists soon because when the Taliban controls the whole country the bombings and kidnappings will stop

It's certainly possible that this delightful 4chan fellow thought he could fly in and out of Kabul before the Taliban arrived and that he'd be protected by having a local guide and staying in a private compound. Maybe he did have a clue what was happening and figured this was his last chance to "see" Afghanistan.

What I don't appreciate, if it's true, is his claiming that the UK Embassy had "abandoned" him. The FCDO guidance very clearly says, and has for months, that the embassy can't commit to assisting UK citizens who are in the country on private business and they should leave ASAP by commercial means (not currently possible). Every line of their guidance manages to include some reference to "if you choose to travel despite our incredibly strong advice..."

If they're helping him now, he got lucky. (And someone else undoubtedly didn't). We've had the British Ambassador sitting at Kabul airport all day hand-processing visas for engangered Afghan staff and their families, while most of the international diplomats are long gone and civilians are being shot outside. Have a little respect.

@gardeninggirl68

he planned it in May!! How did he know of the escalations we are currently seeing? he didnt....its bad timing

The US getting their troops out of Afghanistan was planned and reported on last year. Any fool could see where this was going. His choice of course, but he might pay a heavy price. If he's resigned to that price then my opinion is pointless. Lets hope no one has to risk their life to rescue him.

@Malvarrosa

I'm a mod on a travel forum and we were still getting "is Afghanistan really that dangerous?" posts up until the weekend. Even today, one person asked if it'll be considerably safer for foreign tourists soon because when the Taliban controls the whole country the bombings and kidnappings will stop

It's certainly possible that this delightful 4chan fellow thought he could fly in and out of Kabul before the Taliban arrived and that he'd be protected by having a local guide and staying in a private compound. Maybe he did have a clue what was happening and figured this was his last chance to "see" Afghanistan.

What I don't appreciate, if it's true, is his claiming that the UK Embassy had "abandoned" him. The FCDO guidance very clearly says, and has for months, that the embassy can't commit to assisting UK citizens who are in the country on private business and they should leave ASAP by commercial means (not currently possible). Every line of their guidance manages to include some reference to "if you choose to travel despite our incredibly strong advice..."

If they're helping him now, he got lucky. (And someone else undoubtedly didn't). We've had the British Ambassador sitting at Kabul airport all day hand-processing visas for engangered Afghan staff and their families, while most of the international diplomats are long gone and civilians are being shot outside. Have a little respect.

Never mind his claims about the embassy. Referring to refugees as rapists is utterly abhorrent.

I don’t think there’s anyone suggesting visiting Afghanistan is a “superior” holiday to a package in Ibiza! I was purely commenting that people’s fascination with travel have different motivations.

@PlanDeRaccordement

Lots of victim blaming here. Do we say this about murdered solo female travellers? That they’re idiots for being female and travelling alone to....well anywhere....and end up raped and dead on a beach? Or at a hotel?

Can't believe that you compared these two situations to each other.

Never mind his claims about the embassy. Referring to refugees as rapists is utterly abhorrent.

Yes, absolutely.

I watched a twitch video he posted earlier from his safe house and he from that he definitely does not have any concern for the Afghans. He described himself as 'further than right wing' but 'didn't want to say the actual word' he also said he'd rather be Hitler than be gay. He's no victim or naive adventurer. At best he's unpleasant and arrogant. Of course I hope he arrives home safely but if he doesn't he only has himself to blame.

I read a Reddit post about him, from a fellow student, that was zapped (form Reddit!!!)... so I shan't repeat it, unfounded slurs etc.

But from his own SM posts he does seem to be a tad loosely connected to reality.

Hopefully he'll live long enough for someone who loves him to get him some support for his more far fetched ideas!

Oh and he scoffed at the suggestion that he become a journalist as if it was way beneath him

@AbsolutelyPatsy

his facebook page is slightly different.

Different in what way? I don't use FB.

More of that loose grasp on reality "Got a 1st for 2nd year" no son, you really didn't! And that's the most mundane thing I can say!

His comments about the refugee is absolutely disgusting. The refugee’s seat he took will be facing an unimaginable situation.

Also I dare say his attention seeking use of social media may well put others helping him at risk.

He’s the last person I’d help if it were up to me. What a selfish immature prick.

@knittingaddict

Let me see if I can recreate the flavour for you

Monday: Hey guys, I decided that as A level exams have been cancelled I'll do some online stuff

Tuesday: OMG I got a Distinction star star star in Outer Space Mathematics with Youtube Fantastics on the side

Wednesday: Hey, I was offered a scholarship in Totes Wonderfulness (why don't Ivy League Colleges use capital letters real names?)

Thursday: Oooh! I graduated Summer come Louder and they want me to do a stage Squillionty Eleven next

Friday: I am booking my Super Hero Degree online They chose me - they must be legit because they don't use capital letters in nouns either

Saturday: Thank you all for your felicitations. I am moving on to God Emperor training, sorry - god emperor training - but first I am booking a little break, a jaunt around some of the globe known as earth.

Sunday: Thanks to the little man wo put his family at risk by saving my life. My God will save me, or wants to bring me home. I am blessed!

@IHateCoronavirus

His comments about the refugee is absolutely disgusting. The refugee’s seat he took will be facing an unimaginable situation.

Also I dare say his attention seeking use of social media may well put others helping him at risk.

He’s the last person I’d help if it were up to me. What a selfish immature prick.

The refugee who he referred to as a rapist.

Thanks for taking the time CuriousaboutSamphire. I get the gist.

yes

You are very welcome @knittingaddict

My true opinion, I really don't care about him but for the regular Afghans that are trying to flee and would rather die from falling off a plane than becoming prisoners to these terrorists, my sympathy lies there. You can't choose the country you were born in with limited options to flee, but you can choose where to take a trip to.