The ugly American tourist: fact or fiction?
Jul 28th, 2006, 10:57 AM
#1
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The ugly American tourist: fact or fiction?
After reading a virulent denunciation of American tourists on this board a couple of days ago, I've been pondering whether others find us as obnoxious as the aforementioned poster did.
I'm as critical of my fellow man/woman as the next guy, but I seldom if ever have seen the kind of rudeness or crudeness in American tourists or in any other tourists, for that matter, as was described.
Am I just not paying attention?
I'm as critical of my fellow man/woman as the next guy, but I seldom if ever have seen the kind of rudeness or crudeness in American tourists or in any other tourists, for that matter, as was described.
Am I just not paying attention?
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:03 AM
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Hmm. Every nation has its uglies as well as its beauties.
Americans tend to stand out in Europe because as a general rule they can only speak English and they tend to speak it loudly. Compared to tourists from other nations, I really cannot say.
Anecdotes don'r really prove anything and I know of no scientific studies to support some of the dunciations I have read here and elsewhere.
Americans tend to stand out in Europe because as a general rule they can only speak English and they tend to speak it loudly. Compared to tourists from other nations, I really cannot say.
Anecdotes don'r really prove anything and I know of no scientific studies to support some of the dunciations I have read here and elsewhere.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:09 AM
#5
The question I always ask in reply to this general idea, is how would local european residents know you are american? I'm sure they can tell you are a tourist certainly. But unless you fall into the 'loud' category or are someone who simply take up a lot of space in the world...
That said, rarely I have seen 'ugly' behavior, and when I have it was from the general public in my own hometown.
That said, rarely I have seen 'ugly' behavior, and when I have it was from the general public in my own hometown.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:10 AM
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and it's not only Yanks that are stereotyped by Europeans - the French, in my long experience of being with French relatives still consider the Germans to be loud and very sure of themselves - i've heard this over and over. And they often laugh at the stereotypic British tourist - very proper they say - too proper.
There are many Americans who travel to the UK - probably more than many European countries and we are generally bigger and like BB says speak loud, and our culture has taught us to be gregarious - to say hello when passing folks on the street, etc., something that rarely happens in France for example - this familiarity, considered by some Europeans as undue friendliness to me is a welcome thing and French relatives say they welcome it when the come here - how friendly folks are on the street, in stores, etc.
There are many Americans who travel to the UK - probably more than many European countries and we are generally bigger and like BB says speak loud, and our culture has taught us to be gregarious - to say hello when passing folks on the street, etc., something that rarely happens in France for example - this familiarity, considered by some Europeans as undue friendliness to me is a welcome thing and French relatives say they welcome it when the come here - how friendly folks are on the street, in stores, etc.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:16 AM
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>how would local european residents know you are american?<
Clothes
Hair style
Posture
And that's just standing still.
The way you speak.
The way you walk.
Distance between you and the person to whom you are speaking.
The way you stand on (or in) line.
But easiest of all is when you get two large guys, with tiny wives, wearing baseball caps and shorts complaining in loud voices (often with a Southern or Southwestern twang - except when it's a NY or NJ accent) about everything that is wrong with the country that they are currently visiting, oblivious to the fact that many of the people around them understand what they are saying.
Clothes
Hair style
Posture
And that's just standing still.
The way you speak.
The way you walk.
Distance between you and the person to whom you are speaking.
The way you stand on (or in) line.
But easiest of all is when you get two large guys, with tiny wives, wearing baseball caps and shorts complaining in loud voices (often with a Southern or Southwestern twang - except when it's a NY or NJ accent) about everything that is wrong with the country that they are currently visiting, oblivious to the fact that many of the people around them understand what they are saying.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:20 AM
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I'm sure it exists to some extent, but it's clearly exaggerated and blown out of proportion at this point.
It's probably blown out of proportion for a few reasons. For starters, the general anti-American sentiment across parts of the world obviously doesn't help, especially under the current regime in the U.S.
Then you have Americans who hear about the ugly tourist reputation and, with good reason, don't want to be associated with it. Due to this sensitivity, they begin observing other American tourists with the utmost scrutiny, so they notice every little incident. Then by openly criticizing it in public forums they make themselves feel better by separating themselves from the 'ugly ones'. This only further cements the reputation.
It's probably blown out of proportion for a few reasons. For starters, the general anti-American sentiment across parts of the world obviously doesn't help, especially under the current regime in the U.S.
Then you have Americans who hear about the ugly tourist reputation and, with good reason, don't want to be associated with it. Due to this sensitivity, they begin observing other American tourists with the utmost scrutiny, so they notice every little incident. Then by openly criticizing it in public forums they make themselves feel better by separating themselves from the 'ugly ones'. This only further cements the reputation.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:23 AM
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>...to say hello when passing folks on the street, etc., something that rarely happens in France for example - <
Not outside the large cities. We have found when visiting smaller towns in France that people are quite likely to respond pleasantly to our "bonjour".
Come to think of it, this was true in Denmark, Finland, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czech Rep, Hungary, Poland and the UK.
Not outside the large cities. We have found when visiting smaller towns in France that people are quite likely to respond pleasantly to our "bonjour".
Come to think of it, this was true in Denmark, Finland, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czech Rep, Hungary, Poland and the UK.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:26 AM
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I am not fluent enough in any other language to accurately overhear comments or conversations in any language other than English. Thus, I will notice ugly or insensitive comments in English but not in any other language. I will say that during two weeks in Italy, I only overheard one typical, "ugly American" comment from a fellow tourist. Not bad, given the thousands of other American tourists that I encountered.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:26 AM
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Ira 
, Why is that though? Why do people complain that:
1. This isn't the way we do it at home!
2. We have <i>that</i> back home but they don't have it here.
Isn't the point of going on vacation to do exactly that? Vacate from home and all that is done at home?
BTW:
Nobody ever understands me when I'm complaining. Unless you happen to be Jamaican...or hang out with Jamaicans. I complain in Patois
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:26 AM
#14
Unpleasant Americans are very noticeable, but if you have followed the discussions on other boards, you will see that the most universally despised group of tourists are the Israelis. I have always attributed this to the fact that most of them have grown up in a very hostile environment, so just about anyone or anything foreign is considered to be an enemy and is treated as such, often with unfortunate social results.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:26 AM
#15
The friends I have living in Europe (both native and ex-pats) make fun of tourists plenty... but more likely those who come from neighboring countries (or in the case of Switzerland other regions of their own) than Americans.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:33 AM
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Ok, let's talk numbers. America is a big prosperous place with lots of people. They travel and not that it provides a license to be a schmuck, they contribute a lot of money to the economies. They are noticable for many reasons. In terms of sheer numbers, there are more American tourists traveling than some countries have in population. There may be 1000 Americans in a place and 50 who are of the "ugly" variety and 100 French and 5 are of the "ugly" variety and peoples perception becomes that all Americans are "ugly". There are poorly behaved and inappropriately dressed people from every country.
Jul 28th, 2006, 11:35 AM
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A few days ago there was a quite interestung documentary on TV: "Why we fight". It showed reasons why there's so much hate towards the USA all over the world. The huge weapons industry and army who has bases in many foreign countries supporting corrupt regimes. While most american would rightfully opose and fight "foreign occupying forces", "they" use a different standard, when it comes to their troops. People have standard response to justify this, which may come up in this thread ;-)
Was very interesting to hear excerpts from Eisenhowers speeches, btw.
Was very interesting to hear excerpts from Eisenhowers speeches, btw.
Jul 28th, 2006, 12:27 PM
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This is going to sound horrible and I'm merely pointing out a statistical significance for what it's worth...
I (yes I am pathetically an over planner) read thousands of hotel reviews in planning our up and coming trip to England. There was a greater (10-1) probability of a displeased poster (complaining about service, peeling wallpaper, mean stares) being from New Jersey, New York, or California than any other states...
Many explanations come to mind..more travel from there...but I ruled that out as in 40 reviews for one hotel there were only 4 from there and the rest from the Southeast or midwest and the only three who complained were from New Jersey...
or they're just quicker to complain and can't go with the flow as easily...I don't know but it was amazing how I would find a hotel that had 20 great reviews and one bad one thrown in and they were from those mentioned states. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned them, only future posts will tell.
Tara
I (yes I am pathetically an over planner) read thousands of hotel reviews in planning our up and coming trip to England. There was a greater (10-1) probability of a displeased poster (complaining about service, peeling wallpaper, mean stares) being from New Jersey, New York, or California than any other states...
Many explanations come to mind..more travel from there...but I ruled that out as in 40 reviews for one hotel there were only 4 from there and the rest from the Southeast or midwest and the only three who complained were from New Jersey...
or they're just quicker to complain and can't go with the flow as easily...I don't know but it was amazing how I would find a hotel that had 20 great reviews and one bad one thrown in and they were from those mentioned states. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned them, only future posts will tell.
Tara
