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Tourists should respect, show consideration for local citizens |
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Tuesday, 10 June 2008 |
So it’s now the beginning of tourist season.
I’m from Asheville, a town where our economy survives off of tourists and their business. Most of our stores downtown have high prices because we all know the tourists will drop $50 on a beaded necklace.
Now that I’m in Boone, I see the same things happening. It’s nice, though, because our tourist season runs from mid-spring to the end of fall. My job depends on the Floridians and northerners. As a housekeeper at an inn last summer, my job depended on them too. Can’t clean rooms without visitors, can you? Nope.
My
job last fall was as a server at a restaurant in Banner Elk. If no one
came in, I couldn’t make money by sweet-talking and being a good
server. I felt useless and actually wished for the rude elderly people
to come in and walk all over me so that I could make $5 off of their
table.
I could try sweet-talking my co-workers but it wouldn’t have the same effect.
The fact that a town’s economy depends on out-of-towners can be a big
downer for the locals and students working jobs that won’t turn into
careers. I’ve noticed that most people come here with very little
respect for our town’s ways and people.
I consider Boone to be laid back and easy going. The speed limit is 35
mph everywhere. We have one main street and a lot of great, unique
restaurants to eat at. They need the business more than anything along
with our little shops selling one of a kind clothing and jewelry. I
believe in supporting local businesses because they were a dream of the
town to extend what they have to offer to others.
But when I’m tailgated by someone from Florida who obviously can’t see
the speed limit is 35 and I’m already doing 45 (due to me being a speed
demon), I get irked more than anything.
I don’t appreciate someone coming from somewhere else and being rude to
me whether or not they think I’m from the area. It’s disrespectful and
annoying. I shouldn’t have to be an aggressive or defensive driver
because someone is in a hurry to a place they probably don’t know how
to get to.
Nope, nothing like it.
I also dislike the general rudeness of tourists. Is my southern accent
such a turn-off to my personality or intelligence? Is it so bad that
I’m from two charming towns in western North Carolina?
No, I don’t think so. I get enough disrespect from adults for being a
youth. I don’t need any more disrespect because I’m from the south. My
accent should be cute and delightful. Plus, I don’t say “y’all” either.
Like I said, the upside to tourists is the money they bring here to us.
Without them, Asheville would probably be in the pits and we’d have no
reason to grow. Businesses wouldn’t thrive and dreams would be crushed.
I’d be broke and out of work, which would make me very sad. We can’t
have that, can we?
Another upside to tourists is that I get to meet different kinds of
people and regain faith in humanity by having in-depth conversations
with them. There’s nothing I like more than talking about where people
are from and why they came here. I hope I get to meet more people like
the good ones I have encountered. It’s those talks that put me in a
good mood.
So don’t get me wrong. I don’t think all tourists are horrible
Floridiots or ignorant northerners. Just the ones who look down on
myself and my friends, leave me $1.50 in tip money when I’ve done
everything short of giving them a piggy back ride to their cars, and
the ones who can’t drive.
I’ve already received three speeding tickets. I don’t need someone
agitating me to the point of putting the pedal to the medal.
I just ask that if you go to a town that isn’t your own, please respect
those that have been there much longer than you and the ones who
provide a service to you.
I’m an Asheville native and I get so hurt when people from all over act
as if they own the place. It’s not cool. We need you just as much as
you need us.
Respect. It’s not just a song by Aretha Franklin. It’s one of the golden rules.
Jameykay Young, a junior technical photography major from Asheville, is a photographer.
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