Let's face it folks, and Uncle Sam, the behavior we are making fun of on this post is NOT limited to Americans. It is the way people act when they have not been exposed to cultures, manners, and ways of doing things that are different from their own. It's not malicious rudeness; it's just a lack of awareness.

Americans, living in such a large country that is (more or less) unified by language and manners, have little experience of other ways of doing things. OTOH, Europeans have often been in several different countries by the time they are adults, hence they are more sophisticated about these differences.

I think my fellow Americans are among the most kind-hearted, generous, and well-meaning people in the world, but they often do not have a clue that everyone in the world does not do things the same way they do, and that their behavior may, without meaning to, be at worst offensive or at best amusing, to others.

I agree with Sheila and Marylyn. We are making fun of ourselves. We wish we lived on the continent to be able to travel in so many countries by car and enjoy other people. I limit myself to France and England because that's where loved ones are, and funds not available to explore other places. I got the time but ain't got the money for my desires but I don't understand you, SAM why you are here except to say unkind things, why not hang out at the US forum?
There is so much turmoil in the world and trouble makers on the web, but whenever we try to have fun, you come along or someone like you to make other people feel anti-US.
God bless you.

Anyone that believes that the McDonalds of Europe are full of Americans has not been to Europe.

I said much of the same ideas as the last few posters earlier and now it has been deleted. I really don't think anyone who has travelled abroad can say Americans have the corner on the market on tacky and loud. It's funny to make fun of the stereotypical American with map in hand, camera around neck, speaking loudly, etc. up to a point. This image has been around for so long, that most Americans are too saavy to perpetuate that image. Look at how many people post here all the time wondering how to dress, or what the correct protocol for a particular situation is. In fact, I think Americans seem a little paranoid about looking like a tourist!! The world has gotten so much smaller since the initial reputation of the Ugly American began, that this whole issue is rather tired out. Let's move on with discussing travel, and quit perpetuating something I saw absoutely very little, if any, evidence of.

My sister commented when she came home from Italy that it wasn't the clothing that distinguished Americans (every nationality seems to have its own quirks in that department) or loudness of conversation (we have NO corner on the market there), but this--are you ready for it--the posture! She said we are the biggest slouchers of the world. So straighten your spines, all, and sail forth into the great big world...and travel.

Although a few of the above responses are creative and humorous, most simply exploit the trite, stale "Americans as buffons" stereotypes that have been repeated ad nauseam by those that would regard themselves as "sophisticated travelers."

I find these remarks irritating not because they are somehow anti-American, but because they seem to reflect a snobbish elitism that is not uncommon in this forum.

When people relate, or fabricate, stories about loud overweight Americans wearing baseball caps, white tennis shoes, and fanny packs, they are actually trying to convey the message that "I'm not like all those other clueless tourists. I'm special."

Well, Newsflash... If you're there to gawk at the cathedrals, palaces, and art museum exhibitions you are exactly like all those other tourists. Just because you didn't pitch a fit when that guy at the hotel or restaurant didn't give you exactly what you wanted does not make you any more gracious than any other common tourist. You're one of the hordes. Get used to it.

I don't see how any objective observer could regard the wearing of white tennis shoes or a fanny pack as some type of cultural offense. Perhaps people that feel that it is inexcusable to wear such items are suffering from an unhealthy obsession with social conformity. The same observation, legitimate or not, can be spun to reinforce the prejudices and intolerances of any perspective.

"SAM why you are here except to say unkind things'

Not unkind...merely stating a fact!

US

From smueller:

"Just because you didn't pitch a fit when that guy at the hotel or restaurant didn't give you exactly what you wanted does not make you any more gracious than any other common tourist."

I doubt that behavior describes a "common tourist", but I beg to differ. Indeed, it DOES make a person more gracious to know better than to engage in such behavior. Good manners, sensitivity to others and self-control are too essential to be dismissed so lightly. It doesn't take a superiority complex to recognize the importance of being polite and to learn how to manage appropriately in different environments.

As for the original post, it was shared in good humor and I'm happy to see that most people have taken it that way. Happy travels to all.

Wow, what a turn this thread took. Sour grapes. I thought this was all about humor and being able to laugh at yourself.

Flyboy

This has been a most entertaining thread. Learning to laugh at yourself is a great stress reducer and a very healthy way to live. Laughing at ourselves in a group is really a lot of fun.

Just remember, every party has a pooper thats why we invited Uncle Sam & smuleller.

>>I told my 9 year old that when we are out and about in London to keep her voice down. <<

If only people said that to their children in the USA. It always boggles my mind as to why parents think it is okay for their children to scream like banshees in supermarkets, dept stores, etc...

Let's face it, as someone else said, someone who is rude while traveling, is rude during their day to day life. And someone who can't have fun read this thread is someone who is a sour puss and yes, most likely seems themselves in the jokes, and takes it personally.

We all do something things when traveling, we're not in our comfort zone, we don't speak the language, we're tired...etc...but as long as we keep our sense of humor, who cares? It makes for a funny story when at a party and you admit the stupid thing you did while in traveling.

I really would be interested in hearing specific examples of the behavior we're talking about here, because I just have not seen it in my travels. I wonder if the stereotypes portrayed here are for the most part urban legends.

Uncle Sam,

The irony is that if this post was making fun of liberals or the French, (which even a cursory review of your previous posts on this forum clearly indicates you enjoy doing), you wouldn't have any problem with it. In fact, I'm sure you'd join in with bells on!

Why don't you post the Top Three Foreign Tips for American Liberals? That'll make you feel better.

Mary_Fran,

I think you're right, some of the behavior we've laughed at on this message have become "urban legends". But I also think that some apply to all tourists of every nation. I've seen Europeans in town visiting, they are stopped in the middle of the sidewalk looking at a map, I've seen tourists from all over not realizing that we Americans are very entrenched in "lines" when waiting for food, etc...

Tourists are tourists all over, that's why we have to laugh at it and not take it so personally. We're tourists and sometimes we'll do stupid things, big deal.

Uncle Sam, now, now...

Oh Mary Fran, believe me they are not urban legends. I have cringed many times at the behavior of my fellow Americans. David Sedaris, in his very funny book "Me Talk Pretty One Day", has a hysterical anecdote about listening to some Americans in the Paris Metro talking about him under the assumption that he was French and didn't understand English. If only they had known that their behavior would end up in print!

Uncle Sam, I think the behavior we are laughing at is not rudeness per se, it is ignorance. And perhaps making fun of it is a way to learn more about others' customs.

You know how I learned not to handle the merchandise in European stores? I got yelled at by a rather nasty saleswoman in a shoe store in Frankfurt, Germany. I wasn't being rude, I just didn't know the "rules". If anything, she was the rude one, to yell at a foreigner and not think that I might have different customs in my country.

LIGHTEN UP! This WAS a very entertaining thread...if you don't like it, go to another thread where you can be taken seriously with your expert advice. You objectors would probably take the fun out of &*%#@#!!

Oh Susanna!!!! I, for one, will NOT participate in ANYTHING that would take the fun out of &*%#@#!! Never, ever!

Flyboy, I think you inverted the meaning of my sentence, which is that "common" tourists don't behave this way either. My fault for not being more clear.

I have probably traveled in Europe at least as much as the average contributor to this forum and I have yet to glimpse this mythical overweight, loud and obnoxious American tourist who wears a baseball cap, white tennis shoes, and a fanny pack, and constantly demands to know "how much is that in dollars?". The only conclusion that I came come to is that those of you that insist this man is everywhere must be following the Globus bus from site to site.

I think that some people need to believe in this legendary lout to feel better about themselves. It offers a low hurdle for acceptable behavior. Just watch the shoes you wear and don't say a word about how we do things in the US, and you will be admired and respected by Europeans everywhere. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Moreover, most Europeans are intellectually sophisticated enough to judge you by things more important than your footwear and the size of your butt.

Now I will add my top travel tips:

1) God forbid that, while visiting a foreign country, you become ill and are forced to visit a health clinic. However, if this should occur and you notice that the tongue depressors taste faintly of fudgesicles, you are probably in a socialist country that offers universal healthcare.

2) Expect to see dogs in French restaurants. Their presence is not merely tolerated, it is necessary because they make excellent employees. They don't go on strike, don't object to being called "garcon," and immediately investigate when a patron snaps his or her fingers.

3) That loud obnoxious person that just called that German guy a Nazi is not a stereotypical American tourist, it's the Italian Prime Minister.

Funny thread, Flyboy!

And whether a thread is fun or mean, dull or witty, one always learns something. The gem I've taken away from this one is the "Americans as Buffons" concept. You just have to love it.

I shall be on the lookout for American Buffons in ALL my future travels, for I'm sure if we can be Buffons in Europe, we can be Buffons anywhere! I suspect there are Buffons lurking in my very own home town.