We don't want to be in the middle of international conflicts

[DEDixon 39]

Oh indeed I have heard that. On more than one occasion. Most recently in Frankfurt about a month ago. It was disgusting. The man actually said "In America we don't treat people this way!" What's worse, it's not as though the people at the airport had any control over the weather.

I also was fortunate enough to witness similar behavior at a restaurant in Bolivia. "Don't you understand I'm American?!" (or something similar...this was about 7 years ago).

There were a couple of occasions where I saw/heard the loud and obnoxious behavior on other travels as well. And yes, they were American, not British, Canadian, etc. I made a point of asking.

so a few times over seemingly 7 years and it is a crisis? my oh my what is the world coming to?

glad to report i've never seen an american acting up in a bad way anywhere outside the US... some have fun, get loud in a happy way, but getting angry and nasty, i've never ever witnessed.

and since you "made a point of asking," it seems like you are looking for such incidents so you are likely overreacting to what you see.

[DEDixon 39]

i don't hide that fact that i'm american no matter where i am. i probably would in the ME, but i've never been there.

i just wish, if only for a month, the world asked nothing of us and we asked nothing from the world. the news, for one, would be a lot different.... like sort of a relief from one source of BS.

[alienlovechild 75]

Oh indeed I have heard that. On more than one occasion. Most recently in Frankfurt about a month ago. It was disgusting. The man actually said "In America we don't treat people this way!" What's worse, it's not as though the people at the airport had any control over the weather.

I also was fortunate enough to witness similar behavior at a restaurant in Bolivia. "Don't you understand I'm American?!" (or something similar...this was about 7 years ago).

There were a couple of occasions where I saw/heard the loud and obnoxious behavior on other travels as well. And yes, they were American, not British, Canadian, etc. I made a point of asking.

So not one American you heard actually said they deserved better service because they were American. If haven't seen pissed off people of various nationalties in airports you missed out on a lot.

Instead of checking passports and grumbling you should have to talked to those folks as may not be aware of local realities.

I'd also say seen and heard at least an equal number of foreigners treat Americans abroad like ####### regardless of what they do so I'd call it even.

[jundp 191]

so a few times over seemingly 7 years and it is a crisis? my oh my what is the world coming to?

glad to report i've never seen an american acting up in a bad way anywhere outside the US... some have fun, get loud in a happy way, but getting angry and nasty, i've never ever witnessed.

and since you "made a point of asking," it seems like you are looking for such incidents so you are likely overreacting to what you see.

Um, wow. Assume much? Since you seem to care, I asked because I was curious, not because I was 'looking for incidents' though I'm super impressed with your ability to deduct from my comment that I likely overreact to what I see.

And actually I've been traveling since I was less than a year old, several times a year. These are the few instances I've noted. Which, I most certainly never said was a crisis. I did say it bothered me. Bothers me when Germans become obnoxious too. Or the Irishmen in the last hotel I was at. Why? Probably because I find public displays of temper to be unnecessary and gauche.

Carry on with your assumptions.