Steve Mueller

In your experience, are Americans really overrepresented among tourists behaving badly or is this a bum rap? <BR> <BR>Americans may APPEAR to be worse than other tourists for a number of reasons. Many Europeans understand English, therefore Americans are much more likely to be noticed if they are too loud or say something stupid, offensive or insensitive. Also, Americans take the rap for the bad behavior of anyone that speaks English without an identifiable accent. <BR> <BR>I'm skeptical of many ugly American "reports." Descriptions of these encounters often seem exaggerated and rely heavily on stereotypes (e.g., 90% of these stories involve fat women in stretch pants). The real point of these stories seems to be to impress the reader with the sensitivity and sophistication of the person recounting the event, not a critique of genuinely obnoxious behavior. Has anyone really overheard a stereotypical ugly American tourist demanding to know "how much is that in dollars?" <BR> <BR>Apparently, one of the most egregious offenses an ugly American can commit is preferring McDonalds to a more "authentic" European dining experience. Newsflash - Many Europeans make an identical choice. Does anyone really believe that Parisians only go into McDonalds for the clean toilets? Frankly, if fast food buys one a few more hours to wander the streets of Edinburgh, I'll settle for a Big Mac. <BR> <BR>I suspect that most accusations of "ugly American" are leveled by other Americans. An enthusiasm for European travel is sometimes confused with a conviction that European society is superior to its American counterpart in every sense. In this mindset, criticizing any aspect of Europe or a European vacation (e.g., rampant socialism, high unemployment, lack of non-smoking sections in restaurants) constitutes culturally imperialistic ugly Americanism. <BR> <BR>What do you think? <BR>

Janice

Yup, heard a guy in a cafe in Rome, first off, refused to pay before he got his coffee (as has been done there for the last jillion years), insisted on table service at a self-service cafe, and then threw a very loud fit (in English) because they wouldn't take dollars in payment. He was with a woman, possibly his wife, and another couple, who all seemed to be in complete agreement with him. Direct quotes: "After we saved your ***es in the last war, you won't even take good old American dollars" and the ever popular (from one of the women) "You'd think for as much money as we're spending here, they could find some way to take real money and not that funny stuff they have." <BR>With God as my witness. And both women were wearing stretch pants, and all 4 had fanny packs...

John

Steve, unfortunately it is more fact than fiction. I have witness several examples which have made me pause for thought. And none involved "fat women in stretch pants". It also has nothing to do with an enthusaism for European travel or with any conviction that European society is superior. I think it has more to do with politeness, common consideration and just plain old decency. I think the acts I witnessed would have been just as aborhorrent in any US city or any city in the world. If you have not witnessed any such acts, then consider yourself lucky. However, there is more fact than fiction in the many accounts that people have revealed.

joe

Hi there Steve, I too thought it was fiction until I met some in Europe. Here's How To Be An Ugly American 101: <BR> <BR>1. Always compare tourist sites to what is available in the US and say "our's is better" or something thereof, <BR> <BR>2. Tell your wife or travelling partner that the US is the BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD very loudly, <BR> <BR>3. Assume that everyone would rather be an American instead of their own nationality, believe me, they don't, <BR>(does not apply to third world countries, they'd rather be in the 1st world, obviously) <BR> <BR>4. Be sure to complain constantly about the lack of whatever comes to mind. "oh the toilets!" etc.... <BR> <BR>5. Constantly talk about the strong US dollar and how cheap the items are in your own currency. Be sure to talk about it in front of the craftsman or vendor, <BR> <BR>6. and last but not least, always remind the Europeans that "the US saved their ass in the last war" Be sure not to forget to mention this fact! or to the Germans "how we whipped your ass in the last war", <BR> <BR> <BR>A Footnote: <BR>I was in Oz last year and some Aussies were asked by the waitress to sit at my table. They asked my name and then became very silent. I didn't understand this. Then I told them I was a Cdn and a big sigh and "oh" went around the table. I don't know what they were expecting, but I suppose it was "an ugly American"....

Beautiful American

We've probably all seen tired and frustrated tourists that weren't on their best behavior. You don't have to go to Europe to see that. I've been to Europe several times and never heard an American pitching a tantrum and mentioning WWII. <BR> <BR>To boring and slurpy- why don't you let us decide what is and isn't a waste of our time. I've been watching this website for four months now and I have not seen this subject discussed.

wendy

After three months in Western Europe, I have to say that the Ugly American stereotype is perpetuated by backpacking Aussies - they're white and speak English, so automatically assumed to be American.

joe

Hi Wendy I don't buy that, most local people I met in Europe can tell an Aussie a mile away by the accent....They tend to get confused about Aussies/New Zealanders, and US/Cdn. By your thought process it would be the Canadians who are giving the Americans a bad name...It looks like a classic case of denial to moi.

noname

First of all, the term Ugly American comes from a book of the same name, in which the title character was NOT an obnoxious embarassment, but rather the opposite! (Just a little bit of literature accuracy, folks!) <BR>Second, it seems that to Steve, anyone who dares to disagree with him is a "Whiney American." Sorry, Steve, you seem more the whiny American! <BR>But, most important, let's cut the crap about terming so many American tourists abroad what you call ugly Americans, because they're not. They are no greater in number (proportionately speaking) than ugly French, ugly Germans, ugly English, etc., etc., etc. Enough already!

JoAnn

Seems to me Steve gets a kick out of stirring the "stereotype pot", been quite a cook himself.... This is the guy whose contribution to the "Spotting Celebrities Overseas" was "-...believe or not I saw Spike Lee at the Louvre-". What a load.

Rex

I have my own UGLY AMERICAN story. In April 1996, my wife and I were staying at a penzione three blocks from San Marcos. The managers of the penzione spoke poor English and, delightfully, had only their own phone for guests. My wife and I got along well with the people. However, at breakfast one morning (and remember, breakfast is served in Italy for the convenience of non-Italians), an American woman in her mid-fifties(she seemed to me to be an upper middle-class "lady" from suburban New York like Greenwich, CT or Mahwah,NJ) began to berate a sixtiesh Italian woman who was serving coffee and rolls to the rest of us. She damned the penzione for not having a phone for the exclusive use of guests. The Italian woman pretended to ignore this beast of American femalehood and continued with her chores. This enraged the American "lady" even more. She bellowed out that she knew the Italian woman understood every word she was saying, implying that the Italian woman was being rude for not instantly providing her with a phone, the one penzione phone being used by another person at the time. My impression is that, very generally, the ugly American tourist is over fifty, female and newly minted into the high upper-middle class though her antecedants are formerly blue collar. I am often wrong but that is my impression.

Ben Haines

Fodors <BR> <BR>Dear Mr Mueller, <BR> <BR>Both fact and fiction. Every nation has people who behave badly and people who behave well. You've a good point on Americans being easily heard because English is widespread. And next time I behave badly in Bohemia I'll cheer myself up with the thought that the Czechs think I'm American ! <BR> <BR>I've never heard an American ask "How much is that in dollars", anywhere. <BR> <BR>Preferring fast food to real food is sad, whoever does it. <BR> <BR>I'd like to think that the prejudice is found only in snooty Americans. But I hear it also among Europeans, usually fairly educated (but not well educated), middle-aged, people whose families and class had more power in 1905 than they do now. These are not only bourgeois like me who over-praise the Age of Elegance, but also sons of heavy industrial workers such as miners and steelworkers, now without status, who over-praise the old working class. American tourists fit neither picture, I'm glad to say. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR> <BR>

Steve Mueller

noname: The whiney Americans weren't disagreeing with me, they were trying to censor this forum. Probably the same individuals that have tried to censor other threads. <BR> <BR>Ben: You touched on one of the more interesting aspects of this subject- do many Europeans tend to buy into the stereotype? Also, I agree that every nation produces tourists that behave badly, the point of my original post is that Americans are no worse than anyone else. Unfortunately, only Americans have a special label reserved for them when they behave poorly. This perpetuates the stereotype. <BR> <BR>joe: You're list is interesting because most of the items require that you understand what the ugly tourist is saying. That is why an obnoxious Japanese or Russian (for example) tourist would tend to pass unnoticed.

kk

That's funny, Steve, because when I am in Europe I often hear other people (natives) complaining about the Germans and the Japanese as travelers. The unliked characteristics of those two groups are somewhat different from the ugly American stereotype, but not so very very different. Especially in groups, the Germans and Japanese don't seem to be appreciated. But their spending surely is.

sam

<BR>OK, I will add my story. I took the Eurostar from London to Paris and this was my first time to Paris. I have heard all of the "ugly American stories" . Getting off the train, my friend and I went to the Taxi que. I had not been in Paris more than 4 minutes when I noticed a very upset American (50ish male) trying to talk to the guy who directs the taxis and points the riders so they will not get killed. He was upset that the taxi's charge 5 FF (.80 cents) to pick people up at the train station. His direct comment not in a kind way was"How much is that in American dollars." As my Parisian frined says, "How would you feel if I came to your country and demanded you speak my language and expect everyone to understand my exchange rates, food tastes, etc." Makes sense............

Miriam

Hello Steve, <BR> <BR>I´m German and I´ve met nice and awful people from all over the world. I wouldn`t point out the Americans as negative and as a matter of fact I don`t expect people from abroad to know everything about our habits and how to behave in certain situations and consequently I wouldn`t blame them for that. Of course, there are certain things everybody should know from childhood on. In Germany, I`ve never heard one bad thing about American tourists, in fact, if somebody is misbehaving, people will smile, because we know so much about American culture and a lot of people are in some way related to people living in the States. What Germans don`t like are Dutch or Scandinavians coming over for cheap booze, getting seriously drunken and calling us Nazis. That`s another thing.... <BR>So,I think you`re very welcome here. <BR> <BR>Miriam

Anne

I think that the Ugly American generally comes from the northeastern section of the U.S., the section with the closest proximity to Europe. They're ugly at home, too. People in other regions of the U.S. also have a problem with these "ugly" tourists. On the other hand, we're all so paranoid about being perceived as ugly americans that I think most of us go out of our way to be polite and appreciative. But there will always be those few bad apples who leave the most lasting impression.

Yank

The idea of the Ugly American came from the era when the dollar was so strong that travel was cheap and the US hadn't quite gotten over the idea that some how they had saved the world by participating in WW II. There are still boors out there, and some of 'em do have enough money to throw it around and expect to be groveled to. <BR> <BR>But much of what has been described here is a matter of ignorance and attitude, and Anne's post is a pretty fair example of exactly that. Those who live in the N.E., "closest to Europe," often have a pretty good idea of what European culture is like and don't commit the faux pas of expecting McDonald's everywhere, etc. Anne was generalizing and her generalization begs for a knee-jerk thought that most of the American clods I have encountered seem to come from the American MidWest, usually somewhere other than Chicago. But if we are honest with ourselves, we note that there are gracious travelers and craven idiots from everywhere. Including European countries.

Ben Haines

Author: Ben Haines ([email protected]) <BR> Date: 9/17/2000, 2:13 pm ET <BR> <BR> Message: Dear Mr Mueller, <BR> <BR> " Do many Europeans tend to buy into the stereotype?" I'm <BR> afraid I can't tell. I meet very few continental Europeans, a <BR> few dozen a year, and talkinmg about Americans is not a <BR> habit with me. Even here in London I don't much meet the <BR> kind of come-down families that I described. <BR> <BR> The Edwardian English had a label or two. There was still the <BR> "milord" (as in Edith Piaf), with money, bonhomie, and a <BR> habit of command. There was growing a new class of rich <BR> industrial families, the English self-made man and family, <BR> with a nasty habit of seeing everything continental as inferior <BR> to British. models. How soon King George V's aphorism <BR> "Abroad ? I hate abroad" became widely known I can't say, <BR> but it did us no favours when it was known. <BR> <BR> Ben Haines <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

anon

I believe the Germans and Japanese are disliked more in Europe (obviously not in Germany) than Americans. I know, there are plenty of nice ones, but you notice the loud, pushy, rude ones.

sue

Visited Paris this summer: French were largely pleasant & polite. Sorry, but there were some ugly american sitings & NOT from NE as earllier poster noted but <BR>SOUTHERNERS! Very LOUD, rude guests at my hotel and they werent even young though not SPANDEX clad! I think the truth is that tourists in general forget that they are visiting a city; that everyone there is not a diplomat or there to serve them in the capacity of tourist guide; that everyone else is not there on a vacation.