Amen, sistah!
Are the tourist here (South Walton) suicidal ?
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Amen, sistah!
but I take great offense that everytime someone is doing something stupid down there it is automatically assumed that it is a tourist. I don't believe that all of the locals know every single local that lives there. Don't locals ever do anything stupid? Perhaps there is a local that likes to run in the middle of the street, perhaps there are local families that like to walk out in front of cars, or not watch their kids closely, or whatever. The comments like some of the ones that I have seen posted here, and elsewhere about us tourists on this board really crawl under my skin.
I've been here a long time and regularly see, as many, if not more stupid things done by locals (natives and transplants) than tourists. Personally, I like summer tourist season. I think it brings a great energy to the area. Everything is just more fun!
Some of the stuff tourist do just appears "stupid." Like when they are merging east onto Hwy 98 from old 98 in front of Winn Dixie. I always laugh when I see them stopped, craning their necks to see a break in traffic so they can pull out. All the while completely unaware the "merge lane" is two or three miles long!
(there really should be a sign)There is a very important word being left out of this discussion. "Some" tourists exhibit stupid behavior, everyone will agree. But not "every" tourist does.
Just as "some" locals exhibit stupid behavior, as I have personally witnessed this.
I would never though come on this forum and say What is up with the locals, are they all stupid?
Due to one trying to run me down while driving the speed limit along 30-A and when I did, pass me on a double yellow line and scream obsenties at me and shoot me the bird, while driving a local delivery truck with a sign on it.
That would be wrong to paint all locals with the same stupid brush.
Great point, as usual, Minnie! There is a local independent business man who passes me using the turn lane in front of Butler Elementary at least twice a month all winter because I'm going 35 mph.
I think that is most of the locals!
I don't know that I would say all locals avoid trying to do "stupid tourist tricks". I occassionally blow off stress by wandering across 30-A at Seaside, stop in the middle of the road, raise my hand pointing, and say, "Oh look Mildred a palm tree!" I usually do this in the off season or at least when there is no traffic, but it's just kinda funn for me.
My other favorite past time is to drive the speed limit and stop at every cross walk or just let people cross. This is my favorite when some tourist is roaring down the road.
Just like in a big city you make sure your doors are locked before you drive, here you need to make sure that you look out for folks that are on vacation and may forget that it's not Main Street at Disney. It's all just a trade off for living in paradise. You can always move to Phoenix where you can mow down anybody not in a cross walk.
My other favorite past time is to drive the speed limit and stop at every cross walk or just let people cross. This is my favorite when some tourist is roaring down the road.
Just like in a big city you make sure your doors are locked before you drive, here you need to make sure that you look out for folks that are on vacation and may forget that it's not Main Street at Disney. It's all just a trade off for living in paradise. You can always move to Phoenix where you can mow down anybody not in a cross walk.
I found it particularly satisfying stopping for every person going south across 30A yesterday carrying a cooler, whether the folks behind me liked it or not, crosswalk or not. But hey, if I was on the beach waiting for the beer man I would want someone to let him cross the street. So if any of you were behind me and got POed, I apologize but that was my reason and I am sticking with it!
I agree with you Kathy, the locals there are just as capable of doing something stupid as a tourist is and probably have but you wouldn't know about it.
They can jog in the middle of 30A like a tourist could, their kids can run out in front of cars like tourists kids can etc. Tourists are not the only ones who do stupid stuff.
They can cut people off while driving or drive 10 mph in a 30mph zone. A wreck or two mentioned on here along 331 have been caused by locals and not tourists. Everyone in their lifetime at some point or another have done things that are considered stupid. :roll:
No one is perfect.
Apparently people who live in Sowal are smarter than the rest of us. . . .because I see this stuff everyday in Atlanta.
In all honestly, I think you get use to seeing the crazy things locals do -- but are shocked by the new crazy stuff that you see tourist do. And it becomes a fun, favorite past-time. "What crazy thing did someone in a group (that I'm not part of) do today." It's a fairly universal game. So watch out the next time you are out of sowal. You are probably the pawn.
In all honestly, I think you get use to seeing the crazy things locals do -- but are shocked by the new crazy stuff that you see tourist do. And it becomes a fun, favorite past-time. "What crazy thing did someone in a group (that I'm not part of) do today." It's a fairly universal game. So watch out the next time you are out of sowal. You are probably the pawn.
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I see stupid stuff here by the locals on a daily basis also. Cars on our three lane interstate zigging in and out of lanes of traffic, kids and adults both jaywalking across the road in front of oncoming traffic going as slow as they can go, it's like they dare you to hit them. People throwing on their blinkers and pulling out right in front of you and you are right on top of their car practically, never mind that they do this at a spot where they are supposed to yield to you, people tailgating you all the time. Never mind that you have about 6 cars in front of you causing you to have to slow down and then you have the fool riding your bumper. And of course there is the famous Memphis Autobahnconna where they drive 80 and 90. 
The cops love that spot, they easily make their ticket quota per month.
The cops love that spot, they easily make their ticket quota per month.I think most of us realize that. I as a matter of fact will be up your way in the middle of August and have told everyone that I was going up and acting like a tourist there. Hubby and I used to just jump in the car (before the kids & $4 gas) and drive around the gulf coast to random towns just for that purpose.
... and might I add; fill in all holes and remove all beach paraphanalia when you leave the beach at the end of the day.
Nobody is perfect for sure.....and yes locals do stupid stuff.......but usually not stupid tourist stuff.
My paycheck comes from the tourist industry and I would miss it if the tourists didn't come here. I'd like to see our visitors be more considerate of our towns, roads, bike path and beach and to use common sense and courtesy.
My paycheck comes from the tourist industry and I would miss it if the tourists didn't come here. I'd like to see our visitors be more considerate of our towns, roads, bike path and beach and to use common sense and courtesy.