MaineSkiLady
Angel Diva
I always say thanks. This being a "community" place, most people know one another and are on a first name basis, so "Thanks, ___." They seem to be eternally cheerful. It's contagious.
I think in general, people who do that tend to be just as clueless and rude at home. One doesn't usually change their behavior drastically depending on where they are. If that is how they are behaving, I'd say they are likely just that way in general. If they feel the need to curse out a clerk, that's probably just how they are. That doesn't make it right though.They pay no regard to the local culture, act like they're entitled to whatever they want and behave in a rude manner.
Agreed.I think in general, people who do that tend to be just as clueless and rude at home. One doesn't usually change their behavior drastically depending on where they are. If that is how they are behaving, I'd say they are likely just that way in general. If they feel the need to curse out a clerk, that's probably just how they are. That doesn't make it right though.
I agree, I love the advice to choose smaller mountains to learn. But I’m not exactly sure why it’s on a list of “how to avoid being a jerk”. I think there are plenty of reasons people choose larger mountains to learn on (more beginner terrain, better ski schools, more apres, more things to do that suit a whole family…etc), I don’t think they’re jerks for not choosing a small mountain…maybe I missed the point?I love the point in the article about choosing smaller hills, though I disagree with the assumption that non corporation resorts automatically treat their employees better.
They pay no regard to the local culture, act like they're entitled to whatever they want and behave in a rude manner. What do you think about that?
I’ve seen knock-down, drag-out fights in parking lots, over parking spaces, cars intentionally hitting one another - enough to realize that wasn’t where I wanted to be. Also incredible vandalism.
If people stopped staying in Airbnbs, that would help. They've made such an impact on affordability for locals. Yes there have always been vacation rentals and for a while, locas have been increasingly priced out, but Airbnb took this to a whole other level. They've been the ones to spend millions to lobby state legislatures to ban any attempt by municipalities to regulate short term rentals. So in Sun Valley/Ketchum, for example, it's illegal to regulate them, though the towns would like to, because of state law. And they've been the company to refuse to cooperate with places that DO have regulations. I think there are a lot of nice people that recognize the issues ski town workers have that still blithely rent Airbnbs. If we are looking for ways to stop being jerks, this would be a good place to start.There's been a lot of discussion on whether or not we say 'thanks' to the lifties and so on. But what about other ways we can avoid being jerks? What about the locals?
The problem is that they are unfamiliar with "roman" culture. I have lived in cities, beach towns, and ski resorts and all three cultures are massiveley different. Visitors don’t necessarily understand that they are being rude. I’m not talking about saying please or thank you or cutting a line for example. Big Bear is a small town but a quarter million visitors descend on us every weekend. One of the cashiers at the grocery store visits with every customer as they come through her check stand. It doesn’t matter if the line is 5 customers or 50, she is going to chat and visit. People from LA get super frustrated, impatient, and just don’t get it. They cut her iff and don’t respond. In their minds she is inefficient but in reality she is what this small town is all about.But there is something to be said for "when in Rome . . . do as the Romans do".
The problem is that they are unfamiliar with "roman" culture. I have lived in cities, beach towns, and ski resorts and all three cultures are massiveley different. Visitors don’t necessarily understand that they are being rude. I’m not talking about saying please or thank you or cutting a line for example. Big Bear is a small town but a quarter million visitors descend on us every weekend. One of the cashiers at the grocery store visits with every customer as they come through her check stand. It doesn’t matter if the line is 5 customers or 50, she is going to chat and visit. People from LA get super frustrated, impatient, and just don’t get it. They cut her iff and don’t respond. In their minds she is inefficient but in reality she is what this small town is all about.
So much truth here.I feel the road to courtesy and mutual understanding is a 2-way street.