What is Wrong with Tourists?

[jonesfam]

I started living in the Gulf (Karumba) in 1988, back then what paved road there was, was skinny, rough & bridges were a novelty.
Also back then you waved to everyone, not a full on wave but at least raise a few finger off the wheel as a "How you travelling?" type of thing & everyone responded.
These days we have mainly paved roads, thousands of tourists/caravaners & I still wave to them all.
But do I get a wave or even recognition back?
Probably only about 15%. And I think half of them are locals.
Are these people that self centred? I thought they did this sort of stuff to enjoy themselves, have fun, experience something different, have a look about.
It annoys me!
I even gave a big wave to a D4 with van in Georgetown the other day, the bloke was looking straight at me but not a sign of recognition came from him, very strange.
It's like some of the Vaners that stop at the Roadhouse, say "Gooday" & it's like you are going to bite them & you should see some of the reactions if my Indigenous staff are friendly or try to have a joke, they seem amazed we even speak English (with a heavy accent mind).
It amuses me when a couple of Doomadgee families are sitting out the front & a van pulls up, they sit in the car for a bit deciding if it's safe, then just the bloke will get out & walk over. You can tell he is trying to sort of not look at anyone & just doesn't know if he should even acknowledge those around him.
I should make it clear this is not all Vaners or tourist but it is a good number.
Some are really nice, friendly, take an interest & are interesting, others, not so much.
The other thing that has changed is if you stop to see if someone on the side of the road is OK.
This was normal practice & I still do it. If someone is stopped on the side of the road & obviously not pulled up for a break or cuppa then I check they are OK either by radio or stopping to ask. Some people react like I just came from Wolf Creek! Most are good & say fine thanks but others seem to be waiting for the AXE to come out.
Me, if I have a problem, I'd like you to stop. You may not be any help but the offer is help in it's own way.
I have lived in small communities for years where even if you did not know everyone personally & were on nodding terms & they know your kids. It seems people from the city are different, I find that sad.
So, if you are going bush, doing the big trip, becoming the Grey Nomad please pay attention to what is around you, you just might learn something.
BTW The local name for this group of people is Tourons! It's easy to work out.
Now I have completed my rant inspired by a different thread.
Jonesfam

[p38arover]

They have watched too many American movies where newcomers to town are treated with suspicion and are likely to be killed or gaoled.

[weeds]

Well I don't wave when touring.....but generally slow down and put my thumb up to see if they are OK when somebody is stopped on the side of the road....I encourage the kids to get the footy when we stop, esp if there are indigenous kids about as they are most likely to join in, I say g'day to who ever is sitting out the front of a roadhouse but steer clear of anybody propped under a tree drinking alcohol.

Other than that we are trying to escape to do our own thing.........

[85 county]

They have watched too many American movies where newcomers to town are treated with suspicion and are likely to be killed or gaoled.

but we do not have many gray nomads nicking of on dirt bikes into the hills

[p38arover]

but we do not have many gray nomads nicking of on dirt bikes into the hills

That's 'cos we don't have many hills!

[Cobber]

Feel better?

My question isn't what's wrong with tourists, it's where have people's manners gone? It's not that hard to say 'hello'. I always thought it was the polite thing to do

Seriously I do know what you're on about, it's changed here too. As for the stopping to help thing, I always stop and at least ask if they're ok or if I can help because I'd like to think if that were me stopped/broken down that somebody would do the same for me.

The waving thing used to bother me but I've stopped caring now if they don't wave back. Some might not see you, others may just be obnoxious but I suspect the main reason people don't wave back is because they are completely oblivious to what's going on around them ever tried to overtake ma and pa doing 70 on the highway with their van? Or travellers in a wicked camper type thing? Sometimes no matter how much warning you give some nearly run off the road in surprise when you overtake! Try doing it in a truck, that's another experience again!

Right, I feel better now!

[V8Ian]

We left home Tuesday last with van in tow and I reckon I get at least 85% success with wave backs. We've stopped three or four times for people broken down, no help required and given one fellow a lift into Alice so he could organize recovery for his three wheeled trailer.
My biggest gripe is people who don't slow down when passing on dirt roads. We stayed at the Gem Tree last night and from there to the highway is single lane bitumen. When driving road trains I expect the black, but in a car I'll give oncoming traffic a kilometre warning and get off; even calling them on the UHF telling them to stay on the road. Most still fly past me at 100 kph with two wheels in the dirt spraying rocks everywhere, even though I'm stationary.
I say g'day to everyone and find 99% reciprocate pleasantly.

[jerryd]

G'day Ian.........hope the trips going well, here's a few waves for you

[olbod]

I wave, I offer to help, I dont go ouy of my way to be rude, I just go on my way.
To be fair to some of those inexperienced travellers when approaching Indigeous folk at times.
Mostly city folk can be very wary.
In certain towns particularly outback NSW the black youth are very aggresive and can vandalise and intimidate travellers.
City people cant handle that and these sort of experiences are noted, passed on and shared on the net.
Its a shame because it is not the way it should be and those black youths are letting their side down.
Some white honkeys are no better with their attitude to the indigenous
people, these are the ones that I target and show my contempt to.

[2stroke]

Back in 1990 I remember stopping for 2 middle aged aboriginal fellas broken down in a HK wagon at the T section on the Yulara - Uluru road that goes to the Olgas. Gave them a jump start and diagnosed a dead regulator for them. Even back then the road was by no means quiet, vehicles driving past every minute (windows up, looking the other way). So I asked them how long they'd been there and he just shrugged his shoulders and said "all day". Must have been at least 3.30 pm.