Dumb American tourists

XPViking · Post by **XPViking** » 2003-03-29 08:36am

Zeon wrote:Why do Americans need to learn anything about the internal features of foreign countries, except by choice,

XP wrote:You don’t, but it might help stop the stereotype that is continually being perpetuated. Especially when traveling abroad.

I noticed that you left out this part in your rebuttal. Again, before a person ventures abroad it would be nice to learn a little bit about it before you go. Speaking from experience, before I came to Korea I made it a point to read up on the history, etc... to avoid being completely in the dark. And when I got here, I made it a point not to come across as a know-it-all.

Zeon wrote:Russia may be the largest nation on Earth, and Canada the second - But in the northern climes such as they are, they do not have the range of climatic diversity as America, which also has Alaska, thus also matching their furthest northern climates. Our island outposts in the Caribbean and the Pacific complete the picture, giving us a whole range of experiences to be sampled without need for a passport, or crossing a national border.

India and China are indeed very diverse, far more diverse than most people realize, at that - But their diversity is equalled and matched by a USA which has taken immigrants from every part of those nations, and every part of the globe.

You forget that Canada is also an immigrant nation.

Zeon wrote:The Hopi villages? Cahokia? They may not be of the same nature as the Pyramids or Angkor, but we do have our own impressive and native constructs of notable age.

But they ain't the Pyramids are they? Unless you're including the one in Las Vegas.

Zeon wrote:And I was hardly disagreeing! I was just saying that ignorance prior to that - like her's - is not something that's necessarily a horrible evil. It's being rectified in her travels, after all.

Of course it's hardly an evil and it's great that her ignorance is being rectified. But basically you are saying that there is no good reason to leave America in the first place since you can "sample" a range of diversity at your fingertips. Which is all fine and dandy. But I think that is a poor excuse not to travel and see the world. That is, in my hometown in Canada I can eat Japanese food, see a picture of Mt. Fuji, and talk to a Japanese guy, but is it really a subsitute? Nope.

XPViking

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-03-29 11:27am

I do have to mention one all time classic from "American Idiocy via the Internet"*

I was speaking with one lass over ICQ, who was absolutely amazed that we had television in Scotland and that we did not all run around the hills wearing tartan kilts and chasing wild haggis....

The fact I was communicating via a computer seemed utterly lost on her.

*Disclaimer : There is plenty of idiocy available from non-american outlets, but given the title of the thread thats all thats being peddled right now.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-03-29 11:35am

Illuminatus Primus wrote: I live in Tampa Bay.

I was up shopping with a girl friend today up in Tampa. Got to love Tampa Bay.

Where'd you go, International? Citrus Park?

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-03-29 01:46pm

phongn wrote:
Illuminatus Primus wrote: I live in Tampa Bay.

I was up shopping with a girl friend today up in Tampa. Got to love Tampa Bay.
Where'd you go, International? Citrus Park?

Why leave out University? Why, I ask you, why?

And, because of my half-Scottish heritage (the other half being Irish), I cannot resist:

Keevan_Colton wrote:I was speaking with one lass over ICQ, who was absolutely amazed that we had television in Scotland and that we did not all run around the hills wearing tartan kilts and chasing wild haggis....

You mean you don't??

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-03-29 01:49pm

*laughs*
No...the wild haggis are all extinct and so....besides the people in aberdeen who have resorted to sheep....there's nothing left to chase.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-03-30 12:10am

phongn wrote:
Illuminatus Primus wrote: I live in Tampa Bay.

I was up shopping with a girl friend today up in Tampa. Got to love Tampa Bay.
Where'd you go, International? Citrus Park?

International.

I lost a bet and she made me dress up for her like an Abercrombie and Fitch model.

...

But I got mine later.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-03-30 12:13am

Illuminatus Primus wrote:International.

I lost a bet and she made me dress up for her like an Abercrombie and Fitch model.

...

But I got mine later.

I live here, but I have yet to go to International. Strange, eh?

I had three girls dress me up in Mecca one time. And they got pictures. Not fun.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-03-30 10:46am

XPViking wrote:
Zeon wrote:The Hopi villages? Cahokia? They may not be of the same nature as the Pyramids or Angkor, but we do have our own impressive and native constructs of notable age.

But they ain't the Pyramids are they? Unless you're including the one in Las Vegas.

On a somewhat related note. This part of the discussion made me think of the full size replica of the Parthenon in Tennessee.

I don't think it's painted accurately (everyone likes their Greeks stuff to look like white marble) but it's the full blown (actually pre blown-up) Parthenon with the giant statute of Athena inside. Who needs to leave America?

We've got London Bridge down here in Arizona. We got a crap load of fake stuff in Vegas. There's Epcot Center in Florida:D , why would we ever need to leave the U.S. ?

Having been to a few non-American countries I will say that a good reason for going to other countries is the people. In particular I mean the babes. Australlia in particular must be in violation of some sort of international law because it just isn't right that they'd have such a high proportion of hot chicks.

XPViking · Post by **XPViking** » 2003-03-30 07:28pm

Tsyroc wrote:Having been to a few non-American countries I will say that a good reason for going to other countries is the people. In particular I mean the babes. Australlia in particular must be in violation of some sort of international law because it just isn't right that they'd have such a high proportion of hot chicks.

The euphenism for that is, "For adventure" when asked, "Why did you come here?"

XPViking

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-03-30 07:43pm

Inflammatory thread title changed from "stupid fucking Americans" to "dumb American tourists".

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2003-03-30 08:07pm

XPViking wrote:But they ain't the Pyramids are they? Unless you're including the one in Las Vegas.

Technically, Cahokia rates as a pyramid. As do many temple mounds scattered throughout the mid-west and north-east. Truncated pyramid is a better term, but you get my drift.

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-03-30 08:45pm

XPViking wrote:The euphenism for that is, "For adventure" when asked, "Why did you come here?"

XPViking

Seriously?

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2003-03-30 08:48pm

XPViking wrote:The euphenism for that is, "For adventure" when asked, "Why did you come here?"

XPViking

A fantasitc opener I must say.

As to why going to other countries...for the sight to see how other culture live, it's quite fascinating and wonderful for any pallette in anything imaginary or otherwise.

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2003-03-30 09:09pm

Ah tourists.. we Floridians can't get rid of them no matter how bad we want to.

(I'm from the Brandon area btw)

XPViking · Post by **XPViking** » 2003-03-30 11:41pm

Frank Hipper wrote:Technically, Cahokia rates as a pyramid. As do many temple mounds scattered throughout the mid-west and north-east. Truncated pyramid is a better term, but you get my drift.

Fair enough. But I'd bet that if you ask the average Joe on the street "Where are the Pyramids?" the most common reply will be "Egypt." A shameless appeal to popularity I know.

"Hey, I'm going to Berlin tomorrow!"
"Which one?"
"Why, the one in Connecticut, of course!"

XPViking

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-03-31 01:20am

RogueIce wrote:
Illuminatus Primus wrote:International.

I lost a bet and she made me dress up for her like an Abercrombie and Fitch model.

...

But I got mine later.
I live here, but I have yet to go to International. Strange, eh?

I had three girls dress me up in Mecca one time. And they got pictures. Not fun.

You didn't get compensated?

What Tampa man are you?!

Shame.

Post by **Zaia** » 2003-03-31 01:39am

*reads through Ando's encounters*

Jeeeeez.....I hope I never said anything that sounded even 1/10 as stupid as that when I was travelling abroad.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-03-31 02:23am

They're bad everywhere. I'm sure RogueIce and phongn will agree on the intelligence of the damn snowbirds and damn French Canadians who flood down here like rats.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-03-31 02:25am

Illuminatus Primus wrote:They're bad everywhere. I'm sure RogueIce and phongn will agree on the intelligence of the damn snowbirds and damn French Canadians who flood down here like rats.

I'd prefer you kept them down there