My comments on some tourists
 

I have to say that in my recent travels to Europe (specifically Italy & Greece), I saw a lot of tourists who I would have to wonder about "why did they even bother to leave home"

I'm sorry if this offends some people. It really isn't meant to, just to make some people reconsider their views on things. Why do you go visit other countries? Why do you put yourself amidst other cultures? Do you really expect them to be just like you?

At times I was embarrased to be a "tourist" not because I was trying to be something I'm not but because of how other tourists were acting. Things like:

500 other people waiting in line at Heathrow- this woman couldn't get over how "unimpressed" she was & how she didn't see the need for all the security etc. She also rolled her eyes everytime someone was escorted by airport personnel because they were trying to help them make their departing flight. Its like she thought she was the only one waiting in line & how dare THEY make her wait.

Or when English speaking people get frustrated at people in Italy who don't understand them. If you start talking down & making dirty faces at the locals I'm sure that will help.

Please- if you are going to travel to other countries be respectful & at least TRY to learn a few words in the local language. Don't roll your eyes & make dirty faces. It makes the rest of us look bad & don't act like you are in a 3rd world country if you aren't in one. Italy is NOT a 3rd world country & the fact that my toilet made a singing, screeching noise in Athens was charming. In Canada- yes very annoying but a "singing toilet" is just another thing that made me smile about my wonderful, unique experience in Europe. Actually, I'm reminded just now of the little game I would play in Europe I like to call "where is the button to flush the toilet"

Don't expect people to be the same as they are in North America. In fact- don't EXPECT anything specifically, jsut go with the flow & you will enjoy yourself a lot more.

I'm sorry but it does NOT IMO "make the rest of us look bad."

I don't feel the least bit responsible for anyone who doesn't act "right" when they travel and while I appreciate your concerns, feelings, and point of view, I refuse to go on any guilt trips because somebody who lives in the same country that I do acts like a jerk.

Sorry, if this offends you but that's the way I feel.

I sympathise hugely. But it doesn't make me feel bad. I just feel superior:):)

Agree with Dukey. Also, the ugly American thing has been done to death.

Hi C,

>Or when English speaking people get frustrated at people in Italy who don't understand them.

Doesn't it bother you when people who speak other languages do the same thing? :)

I think that you will eventually find that there are s*******s in all countries, and that some of them travel.

((I))

I actually didn't tell anyone that they specifically should feel bad about being a tourist.

I also didn't say anything about Americans but YOU did so maybe you feel that way.

I am not embarrassed by others who act like jerks, but it does bother me if people automatically lump me in with them based on my country of origin. I don't judge all Londoners (who generally were lovely) by the one cab driver who ripped us off, and I don't expect people to lump me in with some dastardly American tourist they met somewhere.

Also, one note about complaining. There is a difference between being a bad tourist and complaining for good reason. If you have a bad toilet in your hotel room, and you complain about it because you don't find it "charming," that's not misbehaving--that's insisting on what you paid for. (For what it's worth, some screaming toilet does NOT sound charming to me. I can only imagine what a jerk I would consider an American hotelier trying to convince a European tourist that his misbehaving toilet is "charming" and part of Americana.) As long as it is done with dignity, IMO, that's perfectly respectable in any culture.

Thank you for your post lukesaunt & I'm sorry if I came across wrong. However- you will note that I did not lump anyone in with a group based on their country of origin. Please re-read my post...I definitely did not name any certain country & assume everyone from that country is offensive. I don't believe that at all.

I loved Rome- I also didn't lump them all in the same group as the taxi driver who ripped us off. Once again- I did not say everyone who is from "blank" country is the same. I said SOME tourists. I genuinely meant people from everywhere. They were tourists from different places that I was describing.

As for the toilet- you are quite right. I do agree with you too, just that my toilet wasn't as bad as something I felt needed to be complained about (although if it was worse I may have). I was just telling that story as one of my personal "memories" But it was probably a bad example as a toilet that makes all sorts of noises in the middle of a night is definitely a cause for compaints.

So for everyone who was offended- I'm sorry I didn't mean it but I was not the one who mentioned a specific country except for the case of the times I mentioned the ones that I visited.

I agree with this - I've come across any number of tourists on my travels that have made me cringe with shame by association.

I don't think it's any specific country that provides more of these tourists than others - I've seen just as many annoying Brits and Canadians (I'm a Canadian) as Americans. What seems to be the common thread among them is, as chopinplayer, their inability to bring their open minds with them when they get on the plane.

My classic example is sitting outside at a little restaurant with a fantastic view of the Coliseum in Rome - the people at the table next to us were complaining VERY loudly that they just don't make pizza very well in Italy, not like "REAL" pizza from back home...

By the way - didn't the French invent rolling the eyes and shrugging?

"So for everyone who was offended- I'm sorry I didn't mean it"

Actually, you did. You started the thread to discuss other people's behavior which you found unacceptable. You had to know, from your tone, that you would offend people. No need to be passive-agressive about it by pretending you had pure intentions when your goal was to provoke and judge.

I agree - and I also agree all nationalities are "guilty".

I think Americans notice Yanks, Canadians notice Canucks, Australians notice Aussies, and so on, more just because the accents are so familiar.

I know when I'm in Paris I cringe when I hear Americans going on about something on the metro - but it is only because my hearing is more attuned to American accents.

Chopin player, To clarify, I didn't mean that you were lumping people in. I just meant, as sort of a side note, that it annoys me that people would associate me with others based on my country of origin, just as it bothers you that you might be lumped with some of these other offensive tourists. I wasn't disagreeing with you; just adding another thought. :)

Frankly it means little to me how others act with whom I am not traveling or otherwise associated. When one acts badly it is a reflection on themselves, no one else. Any reasonable person would see this. If someone judges or treats others poorly based on experiences they may have had with completely unrelated individuals they deemed to be from a similar background, they themselves are guilty of boorish behavior, IMO.

With respect, you did mention and/or intimate Americans. You said "Don't expect people to be the same as they are in North America". I guess you must be have been talking about those darn Canadiens.

"So for everyone who was offended- I'm sorry I didn't mean it"

Actually, you did. You started the thread to discuss other people's behavior which you found unacceptable. You had to know, from your tone, that you would offend people. No need to be passive-agressive about it by pretending you had pure intentions when your goal was to provoke and judge."


Ok LOL- I'm going to attempt to clarify once again,
I DID mean that I was bothered by annoying, hard to please tourists. I did NOT mean Americans. I never once said Americans, it was posters after me that did.

I'm not American, I'm a Canadian & since Americans were brought up I will go on to say that I found some Americans who I thought were quite charming, I found some British people who were kind of annoying (though I gotta say I LOVE that accent!) I found some Italians were rude & I found some Canadians also annoying.

I never pinpointed a certain group of people...other posters after me did. I never said a person from one country means all other people from that country can now be labelled the same.

"With respect, you did mention and/or intimate Americans. You said "Don't expect people to be the same as they are in North America". I guess you must be have been talking about those darn Canadiens."

For the record- I'm Canadian & yes I was meaning them. I was also meaning British people when I said "English speaking people" I was also meaning Americans when I said above "I found some Americans to be quite charming." I mean anyone who is intolerable of other people's cultures, & then going to visit them without appreciating the differences. Since I'm North American I was thinking of myself & using my experiences as a comparison. I shouldn't "expect things to be the same as they are in North America" & I don't think other people from here should either.

Ah, you're Canadian. That explains it all. The passive-aggressiveness now makes perfect sense :)

In my experience and opinion, as unfortunate as it is, what you do while in another country absolutely is a reflection on that country. It SHOULDN'T be that way, but most of the time it is. That is not to say that while traveling one should constantly think about what one is doing or saying, but it's just a simple fact. First impressions, like it or not, do exist, and I have been embarassed by people from my country behaving badly in other countries. But those same people, more than likely, behave badly in their native countries as well, and just like the idiotic drivers on the highway, you just have to sigh, shake your head, and try to make a better impression than they did....IMO of course.

"Ah, you're Canadian. That explains it all. The passive-aggressiveness now makes perfect sense"

LOL- & you with your snarky & witty comments are from where?