Touristism

We all know tourists walk slowly. We know tourists stop on the sidewalk and take pictures. We know they say ooh; we know they say ahh.

But why do New Yorkers hate tourists?

Superficially, I get it: you have to make it to work on time and these people with dumb twangy accents are standing in your path. They don’t understand! They must stand to the side! Move, foreigners, move!

But listen. These people are admiring your city, the place you’ve chosen to live. They are paying massive amounts of money to stay in its hotels and eat its food. Sure, they haven’t “earned it” by learning subway routes or paying rent, but shouldn’t a city serve its visitors as well as its residents? Shouldn’t somebody appreciate Times Square?

Contentious, I presume. So comment.