Article on "Tourist Syndrome" and bad behavior while vacationing

Interesting.

I'm just the opposite. I try extra hard to be on my best behavior and not embarrass myself or reflect poorly on tourists from the US. Sad to see this is not the norm.

I'm aggravated by this kind of reporting. Yes, some tourists are rude. They can be U.S. travelers AND those from other countries. As a frequent traveler to U.S. national parks, I see quite a few rude/inconsiderate foreign visitors.

I try to be kind and polite both when I travel abroad and a kind a polite "host" to people visiting my country.

I can only worry about myself and remember that I'm a guest in someone else's house.

That article did leave me scratching my head. What exactly is an inappropriate pose with a statue? And then there's this stat --

Additionally, 59.6% of Americans said they tip their standard amount or less while on vacation.

Umm... is that supposed to be a critique? And indication of bad behavior? Am I suppose to tip my standard amount or more while on vacation?

I find it interesting that the majority of those surveyed were under 50. Which leads me to think that most of the bad tourist behavior admitted to was practiced by young adults. That doesn't say much for the younger generation's ability to police their own behavior and much about their 'all about me' attitude.

a survey of 1,231 U.S. travelers

On the surface, the results seem rather shocking, but this is a very small sample and probably means nothing in statistical terms. The methodology as described here gives few additional details.

a self selecting survey is not a properly balanced survey. They don't say, but it sounds like that is how they did it. The numbers are absurd. Where exactly did they find people defecating publically in such huge numbers?

oh, and they say they invented the term tourist syndrome - it has no meaning

I am not surprised: there is no foreign embassy in Berlin, Germany, that violates traffic rules more than the US embassy. Even Saudi Arabia and Iraq are lagging behind. Seems to be a culturally shaped behavior?

Last week, a 65 year old American was arrested in Tokyo for trying to carve his family's initals into the pillars at the entrance to a shrine.

He's awaiting trial. They take this type of behavior very seriously.

And it's not just Americans who behave badly, Mark. While working in the tourist industry in the US years ago, I saw Germans who showed no respect in our national parks. Getting off their tour buses, they though nothing of walking up to the nearest tree and urinating even when there were toilets less than 50 meters away.

And if you really want to see bad behavior, go to NYC and watch all the "diplomatic" cars double park, go through traffic lights and disobey traffic directions from officers because they are exempt from fines. The area around the UN is notorious for this. And these are not Americans because they don't get immunity in their own country.

So enough finger pointing at Americans.

From what I observed during 8 years in Germany it's quite acceptable to urinate anywhere at anytime. The streets and alleys of Heidelberg would be quite pungent on an August summer evening.

So basically Americans behave the same way in other countries that they do in their own, although maybe not as much with statues in the US and they make different excuses for their bad behavior.

I wonder why Radical Storage felt the need to do a survey? Maybe they should just concentrate on their business. This was not a random sample and is a small sample, at that. Further, this topic and these surveys are tiresome. I have seen people of all nationalities, and ages behaving badly.

I'm in my early 60s, so guessing people would not think me young. I'm so over hearing about "young people these days". I see so many examples of older people being rude and when I see folks being kind, open minded and inclusive, it is often younger people. And, again, the sample size of this NONrandom sample is so small, that no conclusions should be made.

And, yes, Mark, Germans, too. A number of Germans come to our national parks. I watched a German family argue with a national forest employee on why they shouldn't have to pay to use the picnic table. I have also seen Germans cut lines and monopolize viewpoints.

Maybe, people could just concentrate on improving their own behavior and being extra kind.

Arguably, one of the more sketchy admissions was that nearly half
(49.7%) said they would “play the tourist card” to get themselves out
of trouble while away from home.

Another revelation was that 41.3% admitted to cheating on their
partner while on vacation.

Playing the tourist card is more sketchy than cheating on your partner??

In today's world I don't think any country has a monopoly on well behaved citizens. It is human behavior and not passport driven.

32.3% say they’ve inappropriately posed with a statue while away

Say what?

Half, or more, RS Forum tourists would have to confess that they broke the law of a host country.

Half, or more, RS Forum tourists would have to confess that they broke
the law of a host country.

My first question that came to mind when reading this thread was wondering if anyone has stories of there own. I must be quite dull, all that I have knowingly done is drive above the speed limit. No defiling statues, no graffiti, I don't think I've even been drunk in another country.

Posing inappropriately with a statue brings back my college days in blazing color. It's embarrassing to think about but we were young, stupid, and had energy to burn. Never hurt anyone, however.

Allan, when carrying a passport comes up, half the posts (maybe more) say they arent going to do it, even where its the law. Throw in a few other things I have read people doing, like with not paying traffic fines, and I would suspect half the "vocal" group here would have to say yes.

Additionally, 59.6% of Americans said they tip their standard amount
or less while on vacation.

In most European countries it is not expected you tip the way you do in the US. But the staff at bars and restaurants is able to spot the US tourist, and does take advantage of the fact that most Americans do not know this.

For example, at one bar i often go to the payment terminal used to process card transactions will have a set of buttons at the bottom of the display allowing you to give a tip. When a local pays the personel will tap the "0%" button before handing it over to the client so they can enter their PIN. With Americans they do not do that...

Additionally, 59.6% of Americans said they tip their standard amount
or less while on vacation.

If the question was "Do you tip your standard amount or less" then the answer shows a bit of savvy when it comes to tipping in Europe ... where the expected amount would more generally be expected to be less. In most of Central and Eastern Europe about half what is currently customary in the US. So we did okay on that question.

So…

32.3% say they’ve inappropriately posed with a statue while away (!?!?!?!?)

41.3% admitted to cheating on their partner while on vacation

For many, did those happen simultaneously?

And I wonder whether these folks are rude and misbehave in general, not just on vacation? Too bad TSA isn’t screening for that.

For many, did those happen simultaneously?

My thoughts, exactly. So, in all of Europe, which statue would be the most (in)appropriate?

32.3% say they’ve inappropriately posed with a statue while away

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/17/travel/florence-tourist-mimicked-sex-bacchus-statue-intl-latam/index.html

https://insidethemagic.net/2023/06/disney-world-bambi-statue-photo-jc1/

Posted by Mr É...............(Пан E ►) Magyarország / Rep of Texas

Allan, when carrying a passport comes up, half the posts (maybe more)
say they arent going to do it, even where its the law. Throw in a few
other things I have read people doing, like with not paying traffic
fines, and I would suspect half the "vocal" group here would have to
say yes.

Then add in the folks who don't carry their Rxs in the original labeled containers.

I can scarcely express how happy such "insult Europe travelers" articles make me.

The sarcasm should be obvious; if not please advise.

khansen, absolutely.

I wonder why Radical Storage felt the need to do a survey?

Free advertising for Radical Storage. Help get Travel Noire's name out there as a travel influencer.

Well as someone who is not a fan of Radical Storage, I would give two hoots about their survey. Maybe they should focus on their own business. I say this as we had reserved and paid for storage with them in Norway this summer, but the location did not exist. We saw reviews later about this same location and that it did not exist. We checked with the businesses next door etc and there never was a business at the address provided, or nearby. So needless to say, I have no love for them:)

For those that took the time to be critical of the OP posting something the OP found interesting and for those that took the time to be critical of Radical Storage, well, i presume Radical Storage thanks you, becuse both acts only serve to promote their efforts and give them legs. The way to defeat those like Radical Storage is to remain quiet. Also serves a good purpose for the OP.

Personally, I love when members post surveys like this. There were some fun discussion points in the thread.

Me too. I was just pointing out if you dont, better to be quiet.