Comments on: Why I Mock Tourists

By: Norah

Norah — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 06:14:15 +0000

I try so hard not to be the Tourist. I memorize maps so I won’t have to look at them in public. Hell will freeze over before you see me in a fanny pack. I was in midtown Manhattan in Decmber of 2001 and didn’t even CONSIDER going to gawk at the ruins.

Interesting, the contempt everyone holds for the stereotypical Ugly American. One could write an article…

By: Linnaeus

Linnaeus — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 19:45:46 +0000

Tourists visiting any locale, no matter where they’re from, can be annoying. I’ve heard supposedly urbane East Coast types proclaim their surprise that Native Americans actually live in cities out here and aren’t all on the res.

I suspect that in our travels, we’ve all pissed someone off with a silly mistake.

By: Kyra

Kyra — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 17:05:09 +0000

Ahhh. Time travel, anyone?

Although I’d recommend going back in time to 9/10, and stopping by the residences of all the different hijackers, and killing them in random ways. Resulting in:

1) No 9/11 terrorist attack.
2) Around 3000 lives spared.
3) George W. Bush has a mediocre 1-term presidency, and is replaced by John Kerry or whoever the Dems might have come up with without the need to run a wartime candidate.
4) No war in Iraq.
5) No threat of war in Iran.
6) Gas stays around a buck thirty a gallon.
7) The murder of twenty-or-so Arab men who had yet to do anything wrong might shine a spotlight on racism.
8) No backlash against Muslims.

By: Auguste

Auguste — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 08:10:11 +0000

As usual, the OINY headline writers prove themselves to be among the best humorists on the internets.

By: raging red

raging red — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 05:56:08 +0000

On the most recent Bill Maher show, he mentioned that movie about Flight 93 (which is definitely a compelling story) and asked whether it was too soon. I was taken aback when Heather Higgins said "It's about time!" It's about time? It was 4 1/2 years ago. I guess if it had been up to her, the movie would've gone into production as quickly as Bush & Rumsfeld started calling for war in Iraq. (Btw, she would not let anyone get a word in edgewise. And what exactly are her qualifications regarding anything at all?) Off-topic, I suppose, but then again, the post was just one word. :)

By: Mandos

Mandos — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 04:22:58 +0000

The weird thing is that 9/11 is becoming “historicized” for most Americans and that may actually be helping to chip away at Bush.

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 03:09:19 +0000

Very true. I don’t usually get mad at them, I just shake my head and laugh.

By: Marksman2000

Marksman2000 — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 03:07:07 +0000

That looks like an interesting site you linked to.

I don’t think there’s much use in becoming angry with “tourists.” After all, when these people return home to their jobs and families they’re just as clueless as they were when they rode subway in NYC two weeks beforehand. And when they finally fly home and cease to annoy you, another batch of idiots gets cycled in.

There’s no use. It’s like getting angry at Congress.

By: Pato

Pato — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 02:32:55 +0000

Wow, there’s so much wrong in that short exchange that I can barely unpack it…

I never cared for tourists, but after working in Times Square for a few years, now they just give me freaking PTSD when I see them on the train.