20 stupid questions asked by tourists

[Mr. Laser Beam]

example

I don't sound like that. Nor does anyone else in this city, either. And nobody here wears cowboy hats.

Or are you one of those people who thinks that everyone in Nebraska lives on a farm? We do have cities, you know.

Seriously, I really don't sound like the cowboy hat guy in the ad. If anything I sound more like the other guys. Maybe I picked that up from my frequent trips to NYC. In any case, I don't talk much at all, so I'm definitely not that chatty. Maybe it's why I can blend in relatively well. In fact, I have had New Yorkers (at least I thought they were - didn't look like tourists) ask *me* for directions. That did confuse me a bit.

I'm willing to bet he doesn't stare at the floor while riding the subway either.

No, not really. But the only people I ever see on the train who do that are winos.

 

[Garrovick]

Where in Hawaii can I exchange my U.S. dollars for Hawaiian money. But then that was back in the 1970s.

On the other hand, I find the native population in Dresden to be the friendliest and most helpful.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

I wouldn't call it stupid, but we once had a delivery at work the truck had come from Ontario, so the driver and his wife rode the BC Ferry over. she asked me if that was the Pacific Ocean.

See could see the Juan de Fuca strait,(From Esquimalt Harbour) I said no the Paciic ocean is about 60 mile from here.

But my mother once ran into a stupid Tourist when we were in Everett Wa.( we were at a camp ground).
She asked if we lived in Igloos, ( Here's your sign)

 

[John Picard]

^ As do I. I can't stand it when people swear they don't have an accent. *Everyone* has an accent, you just don't hear it. Go live somewhere else for a while then come back and you'll hear it.

I'm from Northern Illinois but haven't lived there since 1987. I make it back from time to time and everyone up there talks funny now Back when I was married, my ex told me that I sound just like those people. I've lived in Oklahoma since 1992 and as such one of my older brothers has told me, "The longer you live there the more you sound like a dumb hick."

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Tourists ask that question, do they?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

huh what?

This is a thread about questions that tourists ask. Not about IRC networks.

 

[SPOCKED]

huh what?

gamerbill, you should post your question in your own thread - perhaps in the Trek Gaming forum. It really doesn't belong here, is what Babaganoosh is saying. And he's correct

 

[Michael_One]

Here in LA tourists are constantly asking for directions to the Hollywood sign... the street signs near there have "No access to the Hollywood sign" but folks still keep driving hoping they can get there...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Here in LA tourists are constantly asking for directions to the Hollywood sign... the street signs near there have "No access to the Hollywood sign" but folks still keep driving hoping they can get there...

Don't worry, if I ever come to L.A., all I will ever ask you is how I can get here or here. I hope those wouldn't be stupid questions.

 

[hellsgate]

*LMAO*

Welcome to my universe. Though its usually *locals* in too much of a hurry, and ask stupid-sounding questions. Company drops by unannounced & the unwitting hosts can't afford the three or four seconds to read labels to distinguish "organic" items from contemporary items in my store. Some will stop momentarily, look over my shoulder and realize what they're looking for, is right behind me.

The tourists themselves usually ask for specialty items I've never heard-of. I usually recommend to tourists that they look up specialty items online & order them from (Do-It-Yourself-style) Garden Centers. In example, a tourist will ask for ~Thai~ items I've never heard of, (or items from other ethnicities,) and my store is (usually) ~Chinese~ items, in addition to the expected range of exotic fruits and vegetables in any other supermarket.

 

[TorontoTrekker]

I wouldn't call it stupid, but we once had a delivery at work the truck had come from Ontario, so the driver and his wife rode the BC Ferry over. she asked me if that was the Pacific Ocean.

See could see the Juan de Fuca strait,(From Esquimalt Harbour) I said no the Paciic ocean is about 60 mile from here.

Well, since the Governor-General thought that the Rocky Mountains could be seen from Vancouver, it might not be such a stupid question. I could see how someone who wasn't familiar with the geography of the area might not realize that the Juan de Fuca Strait wasn't just part of the Pacific Ocean.

 

[Holdfast]

It's becoming much rarer thankfully (I suspect the guidebooks are making the college system crystal clear these days), but it used to be a running gag that tourists would ask locals here in Oxford "where can I find the university?"

 

[Wally]

I currently work at Disneyland. It's frankly amazing that some people are able to function in life and raise a family and earn enough to come to the park and completely lack the most basic of common senses.
Asking 'are there going to be fireworks tonight?' AFTER the park closes. Like we regularily put on a show after emptying out the park.
'Where are the bathrooms' when everyone is basically a handed a free map at the entrance and there is basically a bathroom every 20 feet. Just close your eyes, spin around and walk, you'll run into one.
'Will this shrink?' when buying clothes. Don't you EVER buy clothes? If its 100% cotton, no not all, it's DISNEY COTTON, it's that damn magical.

 

[Holdfast]

...it's DISNEY COTTON, it's that damn magical.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

The one that really got me at University was how some tourists commented on "how they built EdinBORROW Castle right next to the shops!"

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Heard in a museum next to a display of Roundhead and Cavalier clothing: "Gee, did they have a civil war in England too?"

 

[Thena]

In 1996, I did a road trip up the coast of California and made a stop to tour Hearst Castle. There was another woman on the tour who very proudly told everyone that she was from Ohio. While we were looking at the ocean view from a balcony, she asked the guide, "I live in Ohio where we have Lake Erie. Which one of the Great Lakes is that one out there?"

The guide very, very patiently explained that we were looking at the Pacific Ocean and it was a lot bigger than any of the Great Lakes.

 

[clint g]

While not a question, I have seen more than my fare share of tourists stumped in regards to how to ride the subway. Thats always confused me since its really simple. Put money in vending machine. Pull out metrocard. Swipe card. Done.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

...it's DISNEY COTTON, it's that damn magical.

I wanna make that my new signature.

 

[TorontoTrekker]

While not a question, I have seen more than my fare share of tourists stumped in regards to how to ride the subway. Thats always confused me since its really simple. Put money in vending machine. Pull out metrocard. Swipe card. Done.

Not every city uses that system, though. Here in Toronto, you buy tokens or a pass from either a machine or the collector in the booth. If you're using tokens, you deposit one in the fare box or in a slot in the turnstile, and just go through. If you have a pass, you show it to the collector or swipe it in the turnstile.

The first time I rode the MARTA in Atlanta, I had no idea where to get a ticket or how to use it. And once I'd bought a ticket, I had no idea that you were supposed to tap it against the top of the turnstile. I was looking for a slot to swipe it through. And the idea of "refilling" a ticket you'd already used was completely foreign to me.

And there was one place I visited - I can't remember if it was Boston, or somewhere else - where you have to swipe your ticket to get out of the subway. I'd never seen that before.