Dumb American tourists

[weemadando]

Sorry to cause offense, but a lady here in the cafe just came out with this:

Her: So how long have you lived in Hobart for?
Me: About 4 years, I moved down here for university.
H: *total shock and disbelief* You have a university here?
M: Yeeessss...
H: Really? *incredulous*
M: Yes.
Another customer: It is the capital city...
H: Really?
AC: Yes.
H: You know I thought that Tasmania was uninhabited, until I arrived in Australia that is. I mean, I saw the nature shows with the Tasmanian Devils, but I thought the whole place was a nature preserve, like the Galapagos Islands...
*everyone else in cafe, including a swedish guy and a few other Tasmanians look on somewhat bemused*
*She gets a look on her face that says: "I've proved myself to be an utter idiot haven't I?"*
*motionless nodding all round*
H: Thankyou, bye...


This is by no means an isolated incident, I get this, or a variant thereof several times a week. And guess what? Its uniformly Americans that do it.

[Perinquus]

We're trying to export our idiot population. Stupid bastards won't take the hint though; they keep coming back here.

[fgalkin]

Nothing new to me. I've quite a few American tourists while living in St. Petersburg.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[fgalkin]

Nothing new to me. I've quite a few American tourists while living in St. Petersburg.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

I've "encountered" quite a few American tourists, that is.

DAMN, on EDIT button.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[RogueIce]

Amusing. Wish they'd stay over there.

Still, I think the title is something approaching flamebait, don't you? You could've at least left out the "fucking" part. It had very little to do with sex, after all.

[RogueIce]

Amusing. Wish they'd stay over there.

Still, I think the title is something approaching flamebait, don't you? You could've at least left out the "fucking" part. It had very little to do with sex, after all.

By the way. It's Stupid American Tourists. The rest of us are smart enough to stay home so we won't go and do dumb things like that.

[weemadando]

Amusing. Wish they'd stay over there. :)

Still, I think the title is something approaching flamebait, don't you? You could've at least left out the "fucking" part. It had very little to do with sex, after all.

Another conversation:

*full cafe, no computers free*
*elderly american guy, probably a retiree on holiday walks in with his wife*
Him: *THICK Texan accent* Ah wanna yooz da inner-net. [sic]
Me: We don't have any computers free at the moment, but if you would like to wait for a few minutes -
Him: You know who ah ahm bu-ooee?
Me: *rolls eyes*
Him: Ahm an 'Merican!
Me: Indeed, but, we don't have any computers spare at the moment, so if you would like to -
Him: Ah don't think you uhnderstand bu-ooee. I'm an 'Merican an' ah wanna use da inner-net.
Me: *exasperated and pissed off* Sir, all of our computers are in use, but if you would like ot take a seat and wait, I'm sure one will -
Him: *looking likes he's been slapped* Bu-ooee! I'm tellin' yooo, I don' wanna wait - *his wife steps in and is MUCH more polite and tells me that they'd be quite happy to wait, and would I be so kind as to make her a tea*

Again, not an isolated incident.

[weemadando]

Amusing. Wish they'd stay over there. :)

Still, I think the title is something approaching flamebait, don't you? You could've at least left out the "fucking" part. It had very little to do with sex, after all.

By the way. It's Stupid American Tourists. The rest of us are smart enough to stay home so we won't go and do dumb things like that. :D

No, you stay at home and say dumb things like that one the net. :roll:

[RogueIce]

Another conversation:

*full cafe, no computers free*
*elderly american guy, probably a retiree on holiday walks in with his wife*
Him: *THICK Texan accent* Ah wanna yooz da inner-net. [sic]
Me: We don't have any computers free at the moment, but if you would like to wait for a few minutes -
Him: You know who ah ahm bu-ooee?
Me: *rolls eyes*
Him: Ahm an 'Merican!
Me: Indeed, but, we don't have any computers spare at the moment, so if you would like to -
Him: Ah don't think you uhnderstand bu-ooee. I'm an 'Merican an' ah wanna use da inner-net.
Me: *exasperated and pissed off* Sir, all of our computers are in use, but if you would like ot take a seat and wait, I'm sure one will -
Him: *looking likes he's been slapped* Bu-ooee! I'm tellin' yooo, I don' wanna wait - *his wife steps in and is MUCH more polite and tells me that they'd be quite happy to wait, and would I be so kind as to make her a tea*

Again, not an isolated incident.

Well, that's Texans for you...

Anyway, I still don't see anything about sex...

[RogueIce]

No, you stay at home and say dumb things like that one the net.

I've never said stuff like that!

*thinks about the comment some more*

Oh shit, just did it...

j/k

[Stuart Mackey]

We're trying to export our idiot population. Stupid bastards won't take the hint though; they keep coming back here.

You have my sympathys, just dont send them to my museum.

[fgalkin]

Amusing. Wish they'd stay over there.

Still, I think the title is something approaching flamebait, don't you? You could've at least left out the "fucking" part. It had very little to do with sex, after all.

Another conversation:

*full cafe, no computers free*
*elderly american guy, probably a retiree on holiday walks in with his wife*
Him: *THICK Texan accent* Ah wanna yooz da inner-net. [sic]
Me: We don't have any computers free at the moment, but if you would like to wait for a few minutes -
Him: You know who ah ahm bu-ooee?
Me: *rolls eyes*
Him: Ahm an 'Merican!
Me: Indeed, but, we don't have any computers spare at the moment, so if you would like to -
Him: Ah don't think you uhnderstand bu-ooee. I'm an 'Merican an' ah wanna use da inner-net.
Me: *exasperated and pissed off* Sir, all of our computers are in use, but if you would like ot take a seat and wait, I'm sure one will -
Him: *looking likes he's been slapped* Bu-ooee! I'm tellin' yooo, I don' wanna wait - *his wife steps in and is MUCH more polite and tells me that they'd be quite happy to wait, and would I be so kind as to make her a tea*

Again, not an isolated incident.

Good thing that most tourists in St. Petersburg were so dumbofunded by the difference between what they expected to see (wooden izbas and bears parading on the streets) and what they saw in reality, that they were incapable of speaking.

My condolences to you, Ando. Working for the tourism industry is hell.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[RogueIce]

Good thing that most tourists in St. Petersburg were so dumbofunded by the difference between what they expected to see (wooden izbas and bears parading on the streets) and what they saw in reality, that they were incapable of speaking.

My condolences to you, Ando. Working for the tourism industry is hell.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Wait a minute, St Petersburg is right across the Bay from me, and I've never seen any of that!!

(j/k - I think phogn (sp? - dammit all) is from around Tampa Bay, so he'd probably get it. And anyone else who's been to/knows about the Tampa Bay area in Florida, USA)

[fgalkin]

Good thing that most tourists in St. Petersburg were so dumbofunded by the difference between what they expected to see (wooden izbas and bears parading on the streets) and what they saw in reality, that they were incapable of speaking.

My condolences to you, Ando. Working for the tourism industry is hell.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Wait a minute, St Petersburg is right across the Bay from me, and I've never seen any of that!!

(j/k - I think phogn (sp? - dammit all) is from around Tampa Bay, so he'd probably get it. And anyone else who's been to/knows about the Tampa Bay area in Florida, USA)

I know of your cheap rip-off of the capital of the mighty Russian Empire.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[RogueIce]

I know of your cheap rip-off of the capital of the mighty Russian Empire.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Cheap? Well, they have...uh...um...they have...the...uh...Tampa Bay Devil Rays! Yeah, that's it!

I'll show myself out...

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Sorry to cause offense, but a lady here in the cafe just came out with this:

Her: So how long have you lived in Hobart for?
Me: About 4 years, I moved down here for university.
H: *total shock and disbelief* You have a university here?
M: Yeeessss...
H: Really? *incredulous*
M: Yes.
Another customer: It is the capital city...
H: Really?
AC: Yes.
H: You know I thought that Tasmania was uninhabited, until I arrived in Australia that is. I mean, I saw the nature shows with the Tasmanian Devils, but I thought the whole place was a nature preserve, like the Galapagos Islands...
*everyone else in cafe, including a swedish guy and a few other Tasmanians look on somewhat bemused*
*She gets a look on her face that says: "I've proved myself to be an utter idiot haven't I?"*
*motionless nodding all round*
H: Thankyou, bye...


This is by no means an isolated incident, I get this, or a variant thereof several times a week. And guess what? Its uniformly Americans that do it.

Why do Americans need to learn anything about the internal features of foreign countries, except by choice, considering their own nation is the third largest on Earth and has more internal diversity than the two largest? Even then, she should be complimented - She's traveling, and thus learning by experience. There's no necessity for Americans to travel; every experience and pleasure is contained within our own nation, and there is considerable risk abroad these days. So someone who does travel, and however ignorant at the beginning, learns as they do, ought be commended.

[Cal Wright]

Sorry Ando. We were going to send our stupid to Canada, but they could just walk back in. Figured if we put em across a pond, they couldn't possibly swim back over. So Australia was the most logical. They're dumb enough to try what Steve Irwin does.

[RogueIce]

Why do Americans need to learn anything about the internal features of foreign countries, except by choice, considering their own nation is the third largest on Earth and has more internal diversity than the two largest? Even then, she should be complimented - She's traveling, and thus learning by experience. There's no necessity for Americans to travel; every experience and pleasure is contained within our own nation, and there is considerable risk abroad these days. So someone who does travel, and however ignorant at the beginning, learns as they do, ought be commended.

You have a point there... Funny though the stories may be, the arrogance displayed by the "native people" (by that I mean the people who live there, ie Aussies, Brits, French, etc; couldn't think of a better general term offhand) when dealing with tourists...

I bet if you came over here we'd be able to make you look pretty damn stupid about our own geography and locales.

And by "you" I don't mean Ando specifically, of course... But hey, anyone not from the area is at a disadvantage when visiting, and most people aren't going to spend hours looking to see if there's a university someplace...

Amusing story? Yeah. But it does tend to get tiresome...

[Cal Wright]

Why do Americans need to learn anything about the internal features of foreign countries, except by choice, considering their own nation is the third largest on Earth and has more internal diversity than the two largest? Even then, she should be complimented - She's traveling, and thus learning by experience. There's no necessity for Americans to travel; every experience and pleasure is contained within our own nation, and there is considerable risk abroad these days. So someone who does travel, and however ignorant at the beginning, learns as they do, ought be commended.

While I wouldn't exactly brag that much about America, Duchess has some what of a point to this. America itself is highly diverse. If I was to travel however, I'd get a fucking clue about the country I'm going to. I mean, seriously, the one thing that peeves me the most around here are out of towners that can't even speak fucking english. Even though it's the most popular language in the entire fucking world. Only certain areas in the country have bilingual signs and shit. There is NOTHING like that in Alabama. Either way, like I said, I would at least learn the language, try to pick up the slangs and shit. Doesn't do to be ignorant, much less stupid.

[XPViking]

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

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

considering their own nation is the third largest on Earth and has more internal diversity than the two largest?

Proof? Besides which, are you going by land area or population? Canada has an extremely diverse population. As well, China and Russia are hardly monolithic blocks.

Even then, she should be complimented - She's traveling, and thus learning by experience.

Well, I suppose. Every traveler makes a goof-up here and there. As long as you learn from it.

There's no necessity for Americans to travel; every experience and pleasure is contained within our own nation, and there is considerable risk abroad these days.

I’ll agree about the risk part but I doubt that every experience and pleasure is within America. Unless the Pyramids, Great Wall, Angkor, etc… are currently being shipped over.

So someone who does travel, and however ignorant at the beginning, learns as they do, ought be commended.

As I said, if the person learns from their mistakes. In short Duchess, there are very good reasons to travel and see the world outside of any one nation's borders.

XPViking

[XPViking]

Damn! I mean to say Angkor Wat!

XPViking

[Spyder]

We had get the guy down the road to direct LotR before they could even find us on a map.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Proof? Besides which, are you going by land area or population? Canada has an extremely diverse population. As well, China and Russia are hardly monolithic blocks.

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.

Well, I suppose. Every traveler makes a goof-up here and there. As long as you learn from it.

She may indeed be ignorant, but she is learning in her travels - and that willingness to travel is what speaks highly of her, the fact that she is willing and has indeed travelled, now, more highly than her ignorance speaks lowly of her.

I’ll agree about the risk part but I doubt that every experience and pleasure is within America. Unless the Pyramids, Great Wall, Angkor, etc… are currently being shipped over.

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.

As I said, if the person learns from their mistakes. In short Duchess, there are very good reasons to travel and see the world outside of any one nation's borders.

XPViking

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.

[Next of Kin]

Another conversation:

*full cafe, no computers free*
*elderly american guy, probably a retiree on holiday walks in with his wife*
Him: *THICK Texan accent* Ah wanna yooz da inner-net. [sic]
Me: We don't have any computers free at the moment, but if you would like to wait for a few minutes -
Him: You know who ah ahm bu-ooee?
Me: *rolls eyes*
Him: Ahm an 'Merican!
Me: Indeed, but, we don't have any computers spare at the moment, so if you would like to -
Him: Ah don't think you uhnderstand bu-ooee. I'm an 'Merican an' ah wanna use da inner-net.
Me: *exasperated and pissed off* Sir, all of our computers are in use, but if you would like ot take a seat and wait, I'm sure one will -
Him: *looking likes he's been slapped* Bu-ooee! I'm tellin' yooo, I don' wanna wait - *his wife steps in and is MUCH more polite and tells me that they'd be quite happy to wait, and would I be so kind as to make her a tea*

Again, not an isolated incident.

Good gravy! Was this slack jawed yocal wearing a giant cowboy hat?

[Phil Skayhan]

This flamebait belongs in Politics why?