https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/01/new-zealand-tourists-john-johnson-tina-cash-arrest.html (https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/01/new-zealand-tourists-john-johnson-tina-cash-arrest.html)
I saw this yesterday and thought it was both a good laugh and strangely heartwarming. The gist is a group of uncooth Brits on vacation to NZ behaved badly and the entire country basically turned against them. My favourite part is when the locals try to voice their displeasure but can't quite bring themselves to say anything truly venomous, although the statement by the father is classic ("I've been looking at the Hobbits my whole life, since I'm born, that was originally what our plans was, but it's all been f–ked up now." ), and the horrible little boy ("I'll knock your brains out!") is great too.
Oh well this soap opera drama has been filling the summer hole of our news agencies...
Not quite sure if we are just lucky that there's either not more real drama to report or that this might be just a superficial and populist deflection from real issues.
After having a laugh about it I think it's time to move on and get on with having a life.
... and did anyone check out that link in that article with our prime minister?
Here it is:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107442623/kindness-not-hate---jacinda-arderns-message-to-donald-trump-and-the-world (https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/107442623/kindness-not-hate---jacinda-arderns-message-to-donald-trump-and-the-world)
and take that:
https://www.vogue.com/article/jacinda-ardern-new-zealand-prime-minister-vogue-march-2018-issue (https://www.vogue.com/article/jacinda-ardern-new-zealand-prime-minister-vogue-march-2018-issue)
And no, you can't have her. Don't mess with NZ.
Wow and I thought my Maine coastal community had obnoxious tourists
Quote from: movinginslomo on January 20, 2019, 12:33:49 PM
Wow and I thought my Maine coastal community had obnoxious tourists
Just wait for it, maybe Maine will be their next stop on their world tour...
Of course you unfortunately see obnoxious behaviour and stuff everywhere from all sorts of folks, tourists or not.
In some place like Bali or Mallorca I think it's probably a way too regular occurance and almost part of the daily routine for some I'm afraid.
Chances are there's a TV series in the works that they'll star in.
And thank gawd it wasn't a bunch of American's. We get a bad enough rep as is...
Quote from: gordo on January 20, 2019, 05:37:27 PM
And thank gawd it wasn't a bunch of American's. We get a bad enough rep as is...
Thought exactly the same thing. Was reading about this family with dread, nearly certain they were American and they were ruining whatever positive reputation we might have had left. :o
Gotta take it with a smile...
Quote from: gordo on January 20, 2019, 05:37:27 PM
And thank gawd it wasn't a bunch of American's. We get a bad enough rep as is...
At one point, the Daily Mail were running daily articles about new bands of travelling folk in England wreaking havoc.
The American Tourist Stereotype is pretty much just the Victorian Englishman stereotype with a new accent. Loud, complete self-assurance, and an unshakable belief that everyone in the world can understand you if you SPEAK... SLOWLY... IN... ENGLISH... SAVVY?
"We're here to see the Hobbits," he said. "I've been looking at the Hobbits my whole life, since I'm born, that was originally what our plans was, but it's all been f–ked up now."
Seems legit.
What the hell, this is uncalled for!!? Isnt it our job (aus/nz) to make complete asses of ourselves and behave like unwanted guests in the UK!??
(Well, at least thats what you hear)
Quote from: chromesphere on January 21, 2019, 08:40:34 PM
What the hell, this is uncalled for!!? Isnt it our job (aus/nz) to make complete asses of ourselves and behave like unwanted guests in the UK!??
(Well, at least thats what you hear)
Yeah nah, that's just you Aussies... ;)
Quote from: cooder on January 21, 2019, 08:59:13 PM
Quote from: chromesphere on January 21, 2019, 08:40:34 PM
What the hell, this is uncalled for!!? Isnt it our job (aus/nz) to make complete asses of ourselves and behave like unwanted guests in the UK!??
(Well, at least thats what you hear)
Yeah nah, that's just you Aussies... ;)
It's all those kiwi jokes that have made guys resentfull isnt it?
Ah, us American tourists! When my family and I went to Australia this past June, people in Queensland kept guessing that we were Canadian and/or expressing surprise that we're from the States. A friendly local in Townsville shed some light, mentioning that we were the nicest Americans he had met. It also seemed like visitors from the U.S were comparatively rare in those parts other than Cairns, so maybe a few bad apples really stood out in peoples' minds. I'd say Bali is where I witnessed the most bad American and European tourist behavior.
Between Australia and New Zealand, I'd say people were equally friendly when we visited. On the West Coast of NZ's South Island, people may have been a bit crankier, but with that amount of rain I can hardly blame 'em. And yes Stephan, we totally want your PM to come over here and take over!
Quote from: Bret608 on January 22, 2019, 08:52:56 AM
Ah, us American tourists! When my family and I went to Australia this past June, people in Queensland kept guessing that we were Canadian and/or expressing surprise that we're from the States. A friendly local in Townsville shed some light, mentioning that we were the nicest Americans he had met. It also seemed like visitors from the U.S were comparatively rare in those parts other than Cairns, so maybe a few bad apples really stood out in peoples' minds. I'd say Bali is where I witnessed the most bad American and European tourist behavior.
Between Australia and New Zealand, I'd say people were equally friendly when we visited. On the West Coast of NZ's South Island, people may have been a bit crankier, but with that amount of rain I can hardly blame 'em. And yes Stephan, we totally want your PM to come over here and take over!
Yeah I guess the friendly cheeky rivalry between US and Canada is somewhat similar to OZ/NZ shenanigans ....
And well, you have 65 times the population of NZ and loads of good people to choose from...
Remind, whom did you pick...? ( I actually don't want to start politics here... just taking the mickey...)
Well, they pinched Fred Dagg, for a start! ;) :) ;)
Quote from: alanp on January 22, 2019, 05:44:06 PM
Well, they pinched Fred Dagg, for a start! ;) :) ;)
... and let's not forget the 'underarm incident'.... (not that I give a toss about cricket or understand it... but still!).
And Pavlova! Without a doubt: ours!
Quote from: cooder on January 22, 2019, 04:08:36 PM
Quote from: Bret608 on January 22, 2019, 08:52:56 AM
Ah, us American tourists! When my family and I went to Australia this past June, people in Queensland kept guessing that we were Canadian and/or expressing surprise that we're from the States. A friendly local in Townsville shed some light, mentioning that we were the nicest Americans he had met. It also seemed like visitors from the U.S were comparatively rare in those parts other than Cairns, so maybe a few bad apples really stood out in peoples' minds. I'd say Bali is where I witnessed the most bad American and European tourist behavior.
Between Australia and New Zealand, I'd say people were equally friendly when we visited. On the West Coast of NZ's South Island, people may have been a bit crankier, but with that amount of rain I can hardly blame 'em. And yes Stephan, we totally want your PM to come over here and take over!
Yeah I guess the friendly cheeky rivalry between US and Canada is somewhat similar to OZ/NZ shenanigans ....
That comparison was at the front of my mind when I read this. Something along the lines of, "Hey, Kiwis are like Canadians!" The extreme (excessive?) politeness of the responses also hits that stereotype pretty hard. At the same time, I also thought there was something really beautiful about it. Maybe obsessing over it for the better part of two weeks is a bit much and I'm guessing that Kiwis have a bit of identity-based complex about Australia that can go over the line from time to time (god knows Canadians can take the American thing too far--and it also works less because I don't think Aussies actually have a reputation for rudeness/self-absorption), but IMO not letting the bastards drag you down into the muck with them is entirely praiseworthy. Usually when stuff like this happens the people calling out the bad behavior end up coming off just as badly as the people they're criticizing. Looks like that didn't happen here, and that's pretty cool.
Now bring on video clips of The Clean!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tf1wzg4rdE
Probably one of the most iconic Kiwiana songs out there.
And yeah, NZ really is a slice of heaven.
Dave knows. He is wise man.
(https://i.imgur.com/waP6dvw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/b370fjz.jpg)
Speaking for the UK: Do not underestimate the unfortunate proportion of absolute scum here that are both allowed to breed and are given passports. Though I suspect the latter is in the hope that they bugger off and forget to come back*
*where forget to come back = get locked up in a Thai jail.