# Wankers who whine about tourists in their towns **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 29, 2010, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410 "2010-07-29T02:37:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/21 "2010-07-29T15:30:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s kind of hard to explain unless you’ve seen it firsthand. For reasons I’ve had explained to me, but don’t fully understand, Brazilian shoppers treat sales staff like shit. Come on, not every last one of them! My Brazilian friend is literally the nicest person I know; she’s overly nice to everyone she’s ever met to a fault, sales staff included. Maybe she’s like that rare soft spoken, height-weight proportinate American you hear about but never see. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/22 "2010-07-29T15:49:35Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > From the OP’s perspective, your 4 points undermine your original two paragraphs. Your post is no different than what people said in those other threads and yet we were called “wankers that whine”. So I guess that makes you a wanker too. Welcome to the club…I guess. Hardly. Your post basically read as, “I put up with the tourists because they bring in money and I knew what I was getting into when I moved to Washington, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” My post is “I love you, tourists, but don’t do the following things, 'kay?” [QUOTE=pravnik] Come on, not every last one of them! My Brazilian friend is literally the nicest person I know; she’s overly nice to everyone she’s ever met to a fault, sales staff included. Maybe she’s like that rare soft spoken, height-weight proportinate American you hear about but never see. [/QUOTE] Weirdly, the three Brazilian people I actually know are also nice to a fault, even in shops. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/23 "2010-07-29T16:00:13Z")
How is “I love you, tourists, but don’t do some of these things” different from [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12732669&postcount=52), > [@me](#): > > Cool. Fine. Glad to have ya. Hey, do you think you can stand on the right when you ride the escalators? Thanks. And you can take two minutes to read the instructions. That’s fine. You can even ask me for help. But don’t expect me to actually enjoy your presence. That’s asking too much. which is basically “I like you, but you’re an imposition. To lessen that impact, don’t do some of these things.” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/24 "2010-07-29T16:33:31Z")
Well, I didn’t call them an imposition. I will be perfectly happy to have them around (in greater numbers, in fact), regardless of whether they follow my helpful suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/25 "2010-07-29T18:18:07Z")
I live on the Florida Gulf Coast and for as long as tourists have been coming here, we’ve been complaining about their driving, it’s tradition. Sure we love what they bring to our economy, we just don’t like their driving. You can have our complaining when you can pry the cold, dead Canadians from my hands! Er … wait, that’s not right. Oh well, you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/26 "2010-07-29T18:37:35Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > I work in DC. It’s not tourists who bother me so much as huge events/protests that take place on the Mall that block traffic and overwhelm the Metro, etc. I hate it when I forget an event is going on, and need to come into work on a Saturday to pick up some papers. That 7 mile drive from Alexandria has taken in excess of 2 hours when the Mall is occupied. Generally, the tourists don’t bother me hugely. Some things can get frustrating - especially the snapping of photos of the escalators in the Metro, always taken right at the top. But I’m just as irritated by anyone who stops right at the top of an escalator, so it isn’t that they are tourists. The one specifically tourist related thing is the buses. I’d like to see them actually enforce traffic rules, so they cannot block the entirety of a lane just outside the ESPN Zone while picking up while I am trying to drive home. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/27 "2010-07-29T18:41:01Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > > [@Mach Tuck](#): > > > > The town of Woodstock, NY \* is in a different part of the state, but they turned their town into a tourist destination. To this day, people make the pilgrimage to Woodstock, not realizing that the actual festival took place somewhere else entirely. > > On the other hand, Woodstock seems to be the place where you can truly say “I don’t do any of that touristy shit”. It’s not like there’s a hippie roller coaster theme park or cheap stores full of mass produced crap. Judging just from pictures and from driving through there at night (twice!), I’d like to actually visit there some day, because it seems like a small Vermont town but with the geography of New York that I grew up with. No chain stores and no Wal\*Mart. I went on a date there once, after we drove around to visit some of the Hudson Valley mansions. Yes, IIRC that sums it up, it felt very much a weekend getaway town for those with not-so-lowbrow tastes (I’m not in that category but my date was). It was a nice evening, and I had completely forgotten about the stop in Woodstock until you mentioned that. Anyhow. I agree with the OP. Chicago sales tax is 10.25%. Come, shop, stay the night. Wear your shorts. ---
**Author:** ![cuberdon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/45deac/32.png) [@cuberdon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuberdon)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/28 "2010-07-29T18:50:35Z")
I think tourists are great. They’re a huge benefit to the San Francisco economy. And they provide amusement. I speculate that visitors think that because San Francisco is in California, it must be Baywatch weather all the time. We make a sport of “spot the tourist”. They’re the ones shivering in shorts and Escape From Alcatraz sweatshirts they bought at very inflated prices at Pier 39 so they wouldn’t freeze. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/29 "2010-07-29T19:07:44Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > 1. My fellow Britons: nobody here cares what football team you support, even other tourists. Don’t bring your football strip on holiday. Also, I thought you’d have figured out that pasty white people sunburn easily, but you haven’t. Trust me, you’re going to need an awful lot more sunscreen. It doesn’t matter whether you care or not. It is my duty to inform and educate you. It’s for your own good. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > 1. No, sales tax is not included in the price. No, it’s not a rip-off, it’s just how it’s done in America. Sales taxes are different everywhere you go, so printing price labels with them included is often impractical. Anyway, it’s only 7%. Would you rather be paying VAT or GST? I like the fact that sales tax isn’t in the price. VAT always struck me as a stealth tax to the extent you don’t know how much the government is taking. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/30 "2010-07-29T20:59:31Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@fluiddruid](#): > > > > Says you. Countless tourists drive through town on our fine interstates, but do they ever stop to enjoy West Des Moines’ fine historical Valley Junction area? Hell no, they don’t. All that fudge is getting sold to townies. > > You sound like someone who would appreciate the [Iowa Apology Song](http://www.yellowtailrecords.com/ub/apology.htm#iowaapology) (lyrics only, sadly). Well, that was awesome. Not as awesome as our parks and historical bridges, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/31 "2010-07-29T22:30:55Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I live in L.A. - I don’t hate the tourists at all. I just feel sorry for them. I think they’re cute. It’s fun watching them get excited about stuff I see every day. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/32 "2010-07-29T22:37:02Z")
You realize the title of that second thread is “How do tourists **annoy** you?” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/33 "2010-07-29T23:40:18Z")
> [@villa](#): > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > 1. No, sales tax is not included in the price. No, it’s not a rip-off, it’s just how it’s done in America. Sales taxes are different everywhere you go, so printing price labels with them included is often impractical. Anyway, it’s only 7%. Would you rather be paying VAT or GST? > > I like the fact that sales tax isn’t in the price. VAT always struck me as a stealth tax to the extent you don’t know how much the government is taking. Er… really? I distinctly remember knowing that VAT (in the UK, at least) was 17.5% when I was eight. It’s not very stealthy. I don’t mind sales tax much nowadays, since I used my check card to pay for everything. But back in the day when there was a not-insubstantial number of places that only took cash, it annoyed the fuck out of me because it meant I had to deal with change. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/34 "2010-07-29T23:55:03Z")
I can live with tourists doing touristy stuff. Getting lost, not knowing what to do, going to cheesy atractions. Dressing goofy. Asking “stupid” questions. Hey, its just the nature of the beast. You folks have a good time. We get some money. You win, we win. Its all good. My peeve with tourists is this: Don’t behave more rudely/crudely/irresponsibly here than you would if you were at home. Yeah, what happens IN the hotel room stays in the hotel room (good for you and have at it). Everywhere else? Not so much. Or, don’t act like an ass in public JUST because your not at home. The locals and the other well behaved tourists don’t appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/35 "2010-07-30T00:09:43Z")
Look, I’m sorry we were humping on the hood of your car, and I promised to pay to get it waxed. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/36 "2010-07-30T01:57:39Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Look, I’m sorry we were humping on the hood of your car, and I promised to pay to get it waxed. Brazilian, I assume? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/37 "2010-07-30T02:14:02Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > Says you. Countless tourists drive through town on our fine interstates, but do they ever stop to enjoy West Des Moines’ fine historical Valley Junction area? Hell no, they don’t. All that fudge is getting sold to townies. They’re just avoiding the West Collector, like any sane individual! 😃 Probably they’re en route to Riverside. After all, how many [future historical markers](http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2081) are there? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/38 "2010-07-30T02:44:26Z")
The first time I used the Metro in D.C. I was as lost as any tourist could be. I also wasted a lot of money because I thought I was buying a 3 day pass and what I bought was 3- day passes (and nope, they wouldn’t refund it- I ended up giving t2 of them away). It’s confusing when you’re not used to that, though I have to say some locals were actually very friendly in helping you out even without asking. What’s funny is that by the third day or so that I was there I was damned near like everybody on those other threads. “Move to the right newbie! And for God’s sake keep on moving!”😃 ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/39 "2010-07-30T03:54:29Z")
I work at a resort – it’s known as a ski resort, though summer is busy too. My only issue is when people leave their brains at home on vacation. My car is no less dangerous when I am driving than the cars wherever they come from, so I’d appreciate their not wandering randomly in front of it. Stuff like that. And the letter in the paper last year from some Californians who got a ticket for going 37 just outside the airport…in a 25…and bitched and moaned that the cops ruined their vacation! Shit, people, it’s a small town! Where do you think they make money? Think! Otherwise…yes, please, come here, spend your money, yes, it’s beautiful here, I love it. And without the tourists, we wouldn’t be here. The town nearly died before the resort was built. And it’s such a lovely place, it’d be a waste. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410/40 "2010-07-30T03:57:59Z")
My sister lives on the Gulf Coast. She has enjoyed this “Year without tourists” due to the oil spill and the economic downturn, but then save for a rental condo her income doesn’t depend on tourism [the condo’s not her major source of income], but even she concedes that the effects on the economy are devastating and she’s hoping it resumes soon (one thing being that her condo probably will _cost_ her money this year whereas it usually makes money and there’s no market to sell it). The real pity is that while the news networks would have you believe it looks like the sand is covered in petroleum where she lives that’s far from the case- there’s oil, yes, but the main danger is to the ecosystem and the oil isn’t that severe and doesn’t affect the beaches themselves at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wankers-who-whine-about-tourists-in-their-towns/548410.md?page=3)