Please tell me that I did not just see that happen...............
Aug 1st, 2006, 06:02 AM
#161
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If reading such stories bothers you, why do you continue to read this thread as it gets added to? Sounds like some of us enjoy it more than others. You said pretty much the same thing back a dozen posts or so, yet you continue to follow the posts. Why?
I fail to see how posting stories about rude behavior when traveling makes the poster sound like the "type" he is describing. If you post that you were falsely arrested by a policeman who was spitting tobacco juice at you -- does that mean you are prejudiced against all policemen, or that you are the same type of person as that policeman? What kind of logic is that?
Posting and reading stories of what is offensive may even make some people realize that what they have been doing could be noticed and could be bothersome to other people.
By the way I once mentioned that I was practically assaulted by a huge group of Japanese tourists taking hundreds of pictures in my face at tea at the Ritz in London. I was labeled a racist for that comment. Huh? Anyone who doesn't realize that groups of Japanese tourists take a lot of pictures has never seen a group of them while traveling. It isn't a biased or racist remark. It's simply a fact of what happened.
I fail to see how posting stories about rude behavior when traveling makes the poster sound like the "type" he is describing. If you post that you were falsely arrested by a policeman who was spitting tobacco juice at you -- does that mean you are prejudiced against all policemen, or that you are the same type of person as that policeman? What kind of logic is that?
Posting and reading stories of what is offensive may even make some people realize that what they have been doing could be noticed and could be bothersome to other people.
By the way I once mentioned that I was practically assaulted by a huge group of Japanese tourists taking hundreds of pictures in my face at tea at the Ritz in London. I was labeled a racist for that comment. Huh? Anyone who doesn't realize that groups of Japanese tourists take a lot of pictures has never seen a group of them while traveling. It isn't a biased or racist remark. It's simply a fact of what happened.
Aug 1st, 2006, 06:28 AM
#162
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Sorry Neo, but your analogies just don't hold water. When you enjoy sharing stories that show others in a bad or humiliating light you're saying something about yourself. Gee, it doesn't surprise me that you've never heard that. Or can't imagine that it applies to you.
Like most people, after checking the new posts, I click on my <i>own</i> name and look at things members on the other side of the globe have posted in the night. I am just too much of a damned liberal to read something that purports to describe billions of people and not comment on it.
Like most people, after checking the new posts, I click on my <i>own</i> name and look at things members on the other side of the globe have posted in the night. I am just too much of a damned liberal to read something that purports to describe billions of people and not comment on it.
Aug 1st, 2006, 07:32 AM
#163
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Telling the funny stories of what we have seen on our travels is not insulting to other people, we are all laughing at ourselves at the same time. You have to be really without a sense of humor if you can't see how funny some of these tales are.
That's not being a liberal that's being a nitpicker.
That's not being a liberal that's being a nitpicker.
Aug 1st, 2006, 07:36 AM
#164
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Amen!!!
No one would say I'm not a liberal. But what in the world that has to do with what you're talking about beats me.
I would think that if a thread offended me as much as this one seems to you, kswl, when I clicked on my previous posts I would ignore seeing what other "offensive" things had been added during the night, unless I was simply itching to read them so I could post some more comments about how terrible every one else is. It would be very easy to just ignore a thread that you know is offensive to your sense of "values". I suggest you try it instead of trying to reform the world.
No one would say I'm not a liberal. But what in the world that has to do with what you're talking about beats me.
I would think that if a thread offended me as much as this one seems to you, kswl, when I clicked on my previous posts I would ignore seeing what other "offensive" things had been added during the night, unless I was simply itching to read them so I could post some more comments about how terrible every one else is. It would be very easy to just ignore a thread that you know is offensive to your sense of "values". I suggest you try it instead of trying to reform the world.
Aug 1st, 2006, 07:51 AM
#165
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True story:
I went to Europe a few years back on a tour. I met these 2 American girls, so we decided to all go out to a traditional British pub in London. I was having a great time and I was talking to various people...I met a French girl, a couple of Italians and some Aussie's (but no Londoners..go figure).
Anyway, the American girls were kind of off on their own even after numerous attempts to get them to join in the conversation with me and the Aussie guys and other people I met.
Then one of the girls came up to me and said "this is lame, we are going to TGI Friday's" I knew what TGIF was, but there are none where I live (which is Ottawa), so i didn't know what the appeal was.
I was flabbergasted...I said why would you go there when you could easily do that at home.
They shrugged and left the pub and apparently had a terrific time at TGI Fridays. The burgers are supposed to be top knotch, or so they told me.
Unfortunately after they left a cool local band started playing and dedicated a song to me, and started to play some Neil Young (only Candian band they knew I guess). Plus the band bought me and my new friends I met at the pub a round of drinks. Good times.
Too bad they missed it, but I am sure those burgers at TGI Fridays were amazing!
I went to Europe a few years back on a tour. I met these 2 American girls, so we decided to all go out to a traditional British pub in London. I was having a great time and I was talking to various people...I met a French girl, a couple of Italians and some Aussie's (but no Londoners..go figure).
Anyway, the American girls were kind of off on their own even after numerous attempts to get them to join in the conversation with me and the Aussie guys and other people I met.
Then one of the girls came up to me and said "this is lame, we are going to TGI Friday's" I knew what TGIF was, but there are none where I live (which is Ottawa), so i didn't know what the appeal was.
I was flabbergasted...I said why would you go there when you could easily do that at home.
They shrugged and left the pub and apparently had a terrific time at TGI Fridays. The burgers are supposed to be top knotch, or so they told me.
Unfortunately after they left a cool local band started playing and dedicated a song to me, and started to play some Neil Young (only Candian band they knew I guess). Plus the band bought me and my new friends I met at the pub a round of drinks. Good times.
Too bad they missed it, but I am sure those burgers at TGI Fridays were amazing!
Aug 1st, 2006, 08:19 AM
#166
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Americans don't hold the exclusive rights for rude, boorish and insensitive behaviour as anyone who has been around British late night binge drinking can testify to. in London on weekends in summer, people are vomiting on the streets in the west end, gross.
But to add fuel to the fire my worse 3 "don't tell me I did not see this happen in order:
1. Cairo museum in the special room where they keep the ancient mummies of the dead Egyptian kings, two Egyptian women gossiping about their families at high volume in spite of the signs that this room is a tomb and should be respected as such
2. Budapest, the Cathedral on Buda hill, the most sacred place in Hungary, and national shrine, German tourists wandering around inside with open beer bottles swigging away
3. London tube, Leicester square, one of the busy pedestrian connection tunnels at rush hour everyone slowed down and made a diversion, someone just did a fresh dump in the middle of the tunnel, absolutely the grossest incident I have ever seen.
But to add fuel to the fire my worse 3 "don't tell me I did not see this happen in order:
1. Cairo museum in the special room where they keep the ancient mummies of the dead Egyptian kings, two Egyptian women gossiping about their families at high volume in spite of the signs that this room is a tomb and should be respected as such
2. Budapest, the Cathedral on Buda hill, the most sacred place in Hungary, and national shrine, German tourists wandering around inside with open beer bottles swigging away
3. London tube, Leicester square, one of the busy pedestrian connection tunnels at rush hour everyone slowed down and made a diversion, someone just did a fresh dump in the middle of the tunnel, absolutely the grossest incident I have ever seen.
Aug 1st, 2006, 08:38 AM
#168
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So let me see if I got this right:
It is simply horrible for anyone to come here and post stories about boorish or rude behavior they have seen when traveling. Talking about such behavior makes them just as bad as the person who did it.
It is perfectly fine for someone to come here and complain about how others post and what they say. Even calling them racists is fine. Doing so does not make that poster as bad as they are.
OK, I think I got it now. Carry on.
Aug 2nd, 2006, 11:53 AM
#170
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We’ve all seen people make a plate at a buffet and bring it to the room for someone who wasn’t feeling well or preferred to stay in their room. Or wanted to enjoy a hot mug of coffee upstairs while getting ready. That is completely different than any story that has been described here. Making sandwiches and stuffing them down your pants is STEALING. And it isn’t up to the guests to decide what the hotel should or shouldn’t do with the leftover food. OR what time the buffet closes. I cannot believe that people would defend stealing a days worth of food from the buffet. And to say that you don’t know someone’s circumstance and that they might be trying to save money – of course they’re trying to save money! I would have loved to save money on lunch today but there are laws about that kind of thing.
One of the worst things I’ve seen was in Ireland in Glendalough. A woman walking through, strolling across ancient tombstones while screaming on her cell phone. I’m sure she really enjoyed her day and got a feel for the place.
One of the worst things I’ve seen was in Ireland in Glendalough. A woman walking through, strolling across ancient tombstones while screaming on her cell phone. I’m sure she really enjoyed her day and got a feel for the place.
Aug 2nd, 2006, 01:29 PM
#172
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It's official!
So says the Mirror...
BRITS are the rudest, worst behaved and least adventurous holidaymakers in the world - and Germans the best.
Tourist offices placed us bottom of 24 countries, according to a survey.
In contrast those sunbed bandits from Germany ranked highest for behaviour and their attempts to speak the local language. Dermot Halpin, boss of online travel service Expedia which conducted the survey, said: "Much as it pains me to say it, the Germans deserve the best sunbeds.
"British holidaymakers are some of the most widely travelled in the world. But that doesn't mean we're good at it." Expedia questioned tourist offices in 17 popular destinations worldwide. Britons were worst for rudeness, followed by Russians and Canadians.
They were also worst for their behaviour, learning the language and enthusiasm to try local delicacies.
Next on the bottom of the list were the Israelis, Irish and Indians. At the top, the Germans were followed by Americans, Japanese, Italians and French.
Americans were the most polite and Italians the most adventurous eaters.
So says the Mirror...
BRITS are the rudest, worst behaved and least adventurous holidaymakers in the world - and Germans the best.
Tourist offices placed us bottom of 24 countries, according to a survey.
In contrast those sunbed bandits from Germany ranked highest for behaviour and their attempts to speak the local language. Dermot Halpin, boss of online travel service Expedia which conducted the survey, said: "Much as it pains me to say it, the Germans deserve the best sunbeds.
"British holidaymakers are some of the most widely travelled in the world. But that doesn't mean we're good at it." Expedia questioned tourist offices in 17 popular destinations worldwide. Britons were worst for rudeness, followed by Russians and Canadians.
They were also worst for their behaviour, learning the language and enthusiasm to try local delicacies.
Next on the bottom of the list were the Israelis, Irish and Indians. At the top, the Germans were followed by Americans, Japanese, Italians and French.
Americans were the most polite and Italians the most adventurous eaters.
Aug 2nd, 2006, 01:40 PM
#173
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Last night at a local restaurant I was kept thoroughly entertained by the woman behind me. Although the place features about 10 salads, none of them were what she wanted. She carefully described all the ingredients she wanted in her "special" salad. When the waiter finally said, "oh that's the _____salad except with blue cheese instead of mozzerella, she became nearly hysterical. No, she wanted the salad she described -- with the dressing on the side, which she insisted is nothing like the _______salad, despite the fact that has all the exact same ingredients except for the type of cheese. The waiter smiled and got the salad she thought she had personally concocted. OK. When the salad came she spent the next 15 minutes, saying this wasn't the dressing she usually gets. She wanted their dressing that is sort of tangy and thick. The waiter kept describing the four salad dressings they have and have always had since they opened. But she wouldn't hear of it. He finally brought her samples of all four. No, there's another one that she always gets and she went off again insisting that's the one she wanted. Finally she gave up and said, "well, this will have to do. The waiter I usually have would know but he's not here tonight." Everything was an issue. When the manager stopped by to ask how everything was, she was off again, and I listened to the entire salad dressing story again. And although she asked for tomatoes in her salad, she didn't like the ones they put in there. She wanted the cherry tomatoes, something the waiter says he doesn't remember them ever having.
The point of all this? Guess what nationality she was. No, not American, but I'm not telling. The real point is that she WASN'T American.
The point of all this? Guess what nationality she was. No, not American, but I'm not telling. The real point is that she WASN'T American.
Aug 2nd, 2006, 01:59 PM
#175
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Darn. I forgot one of the most important parts of the story. The reason I was so aware of this entire episode is because this woman was SOOOOO LOUD! And that's the part that many of you would really pause at -- because many of you think that only Americans are loud.
Aug 2nd, 2006, 02:10 PM
#176
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Neil's post gave me a giggle as so many times when I have been in various Womens Restroom here in N California I have been shocked (yes shocked!) at women in their cubicle having a conversation on their cell phone. One time an acquaitance I was with did that. Never went shopping with her again, lol.
Aug 2nd, 2006, 03:14 PM
#177
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Man A enters a public restroom and sits down in his stall. Suddenly he hears a voice next to him.
Man B: Hi. How you doing?
Man A: Uh, well, I'm doing OK I guess.
Man B: Isn't it a fantastic day?
Man A: Yea, sure is.
Man B: You know I'm just having the best time. We should get together and talk about it, maybe have a drink.
Man A: Well, I'm kind of busy. Got to get back to the office.
Man B: Sorry, Fred. I'll have to call you back. Some jerk in the stall next to me keeps talking out loud.
Man B: Hi. How you doing?
Man A: Uh, well, I'm doing OK I guess.
Man B: Isn't it a fantastic day?
Man A: Yea, sure is.
Man B: You know I'm just having the best time. We should get together and talk about it, maybe have a drink.
Man A: Well, I'm kind of busy. Got to get back to the office.
Man B: Sorry, Fred. I'll have to call you back. Some jerk in the stall next to me keeps talking out loud.
Aug 2nd, 2006, 03:40 PM
#179
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Every time my parents talk about the time I took them to Niagara Falls they start laughing about the small Japanese lady that somehow pushed my Mother out of the way until she positioned herself closer to the boat's edge. She is in every picture on my father's lap.
Two lessons learned from this type of experiences; 1) I "fly" the other way as fast as I can whenever I see Japanese tourists approaching, 2) I only do breakfast buffets very early when not crowded. Otherwise, thanks, but no thanks.
Two lessons learned from this type of experiences; 1) I "fly" the other way as fast as I can whenever I see Japanese tourists approaching, 2) I only do breakfast buffets very early when not crowded. Otherwise, thanks, but no thanks.
