Most Obnoxious Tourists? The French - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

aklim · #16 07-08-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarTek

It's just a personal theory but I think some of the rudeness amoung tourists is due to the fact that they're insecure about not being on their "home turf". Language barriers are especially stressfull because it's so critical to accurate communication and subtle nuances, unique to each culture can be misrepresented and misunderstood by everyone involved.

You wanna be comfortable and on your home turf? Stay there. If you wanna travel out of your home turf, expect to have those uncomfortable feelings. You can't have it both ways.

aklim · #17 07-08-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

I remember back in '73 when I was a youngster one step above backpacking in Europe. I was in Rome standing in a long line waiting to place a long distance call to the US. Nearby was a middle aged man from Texas who was talking very very loudly to a very polite Italian man from the phone company about how things were done back home....."Why if I wanted to call Italy at my home I would just pick up my phone and call"...

I turned to my wife after listening to him for a while and said ...."That guy is talking to an Italian who probably is fluent in about six languages".

So what if he is fluent in 100 languages? What does that change? Don't like what you are hearing from a guest? Give him directions to the airport. If I came to your house and started telling you how your wife needs a boob job, how you should control those brats you call kids, how I think your color choice stinks, I full expect you to show me to the door. If you cannot and/or will not, sit down and take it.

aklim · #18 07-08-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

We met a French couple while at an island resort. They were tanned and beautiful. Every time we looked out our window, they were happily involved in dance lessons or some other social activity. They wore the correct clothing for each part of the day, and of course they did everything perfectly. They weren't rude - just annoying!

Why are they annoying then?

aklim · #19 07-08-2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trakehner

I met a manager for a hotel in Turkey and he told me the Israeli tourists quite often asked for the minibar to be removed from their rooms because they didn't want to be accidentally charged for anything.

That I can see. I have been charged for a minibar quite a few times although I KNOW that I didn't have anything.

t walgamuth · #20 07-08-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

So what if he is fluent in 100 languages? What does that change? Don't like what you are hearing from a guest? Give him directions to the airport. If I came to your house and started telling you how your wife needs a boob job, how you should control those brats you call kids, how I think your color choice stinks, I full expect you to show me to the door. If you cannot and/or will not, sit down and take it.

Thanks, Aklim, we can always count on you for thoughtful, insightful responses.

Tom W

aklim · #21 07-08-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurkha

When it comes to penny pinching, obnoxious and downright nasty and disrespectful to women in general, Indians top the list.

IMO, that honor, as it might be, belongs to the Chinese. One generation back, women are quite often thought of as property.

aklim · #22 07-08-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Odd the Chineese got thrown into that bowl. I have always found Chineese or Asian tourist in general to be very polite and reserved.

They tend to be afraid of being out of their "zone" so they don't push the envelope. However, when they are in a zone where their own kind are, it might be different.

aklim · #23 07-08-2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trakehner

People i've met who work in the service industry say Indians don't tip, I'm not sure if they're being racist or not though.

I think that they are just unaccustomed to tipping. I do know that in the SE Asia region, they don't practice it. In fact, there are some areas that downright forbid it.

aklim · #24 07-08-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Thanks, Aklim, we can always count on you for thoughtful, insightful responses.

Tom W

And we seem to get a lot of statements from you that are highly expressive but lacking in content. What part of that do you disagree with? As I have said before, I don't care if you are a Texan in the middle of BFE. You are NOT in Texas and that makes you a guest. If you can't behave as a guest should, you can head towards the door. If I don't need your presence that badly, I can tell you to take your act elsewhere. If I do, I have to take it. I have had customers that do things I don't like and I just tell them plain out "I don't need your kind of business and I don't want it. Please leave.". If I am not in the position to do that, what choice do I have but to take it? If you are a $50 customer and misbehaving, I will tell you to take a hike. If you are a 10 million dollar customer and I need your business that badly, I have to swallow my pride and put up with your crap. What part of that escapes you?

How is that different from what I told Gurkha? If India is so desperate for Israeli money, STFU and swallow your pride. If you are not in that dire need, show them the door. In the case you mentioned, the Texan was allegedly being obnoxious. If the Italian was so superior, tell him to take his act somewhere else. If the Italian was in such desperate need of the Texan's money, sucks to be him. Swallow your Italian pride with a side of choice words in the 6 languages you speak and STFU.

So what has the 6 languages got to do with the Texan being rude allegedly? If that made him so superior, tell the Texan where to door is. I would.

Pete Geither · #25 07-08-2008, 03:53 PM

My brother and I just returned from a 2 week tour around Europe and it could not have gone better. They key ? I believe because he and I were traveling alone, the locals understood our plight of not knowing the language and customs, and went out of their way to help us. A businessman in the Paris Metro, took us out of his way, I am sure, to get us on the correct subway. A hotel owner in Switzerland took us on a 8 hour tour of the Alps,,, in his car. We tried to be on our very best behavior, and it certainly had it's rewards. After that experience, I would never go on a group tour with other Americans,,, it just would never work for me.

aklim · #26 07-08-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Geither

My brother and I just returned from a 2 week tour around Europe and it could not have gone better. They key ? I believe because he and I were traveling alone, the locals understood our plight of not knowing the language and customs, and went out of their way to help us.

We tried to be on our very best behavior, and it certainly had it's rewards. After that experience, I would never go on a group tour with other Americans,,, it just would never work for me.

I doubt that highly. I think the reason for their being nice was that you tried to behave and they can see that. Try traveling alone and being a jerk and tell me if it makes a difference. Therefore, I don't think it is the group, per se. It is the behavior. In a group, you cannot control the others and if they are bad, you are bad by association.

Hatterasguy · #27 07-08-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurkha

When it comes to penny pinching, obnoxious and downright nasty and disrespectful to women in general, Indians top the list.

And OMG they are hard to sell property to! Picky, picky, picky, picky, horrible reputation. They want everything for nothing, and are never happy.

I find New Yorkers to be the most annoying tourists around here. They think they are big ****, and have that NY attitude and acent that rubs me the wrong way.

Hatterasguy · #28 07-08-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Odd the Chineese got thrown into that bowl. I have always found Chineese or Asian tourist in general to be very polite and reserved.

In HS we had a pretty healthy exchange program with a similer school in China, always loved them. Very friendly, tried very hard to speak English, always put a lot of effort into whatever they did.

I really liked them.

Pete Geither · #29 07-08-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

I doubt that highly. I think the reason for their being nice was that you tried to behave and they can see that. Try traveling alone and being a jerk and tell me if it makes a difference. Therefore, I don't think it is the group, per se. It is the behavior. In a group, you cannot control the others and if they are bad, you are bad by association.

True.

Lexxani · #30 07-08-2008, 08:15 PM

French (to include French Canadians) are arrogant.

The indians STINK (really, deodorant does not exist over there, but mothballs do)

Africans (NIGERIANS, esp) are always attempting to bull**** you into believing something that is to their benefit. They should never be trusted.

Island people get loud and boisterous and are very self centered.

Puerto Ricans and Dominicans act like the whole world should speak Spanish

Asians just act wacky and cant dress worth a daamn, but are generally well mannered.

Just to make things fair- Americans are arrogant and lack common sense.

My vote for favorite tourist group. . .

The Canadians (no Im not of canadian decent, Im an American, through and through ) They are generally respectful and well behaved.

I deal with international tourists on a daily basis as i work at Orlando International Airport, these are just my observations, I don't mean to offend anyone.