Tourists arrested over lingerie stunt

[JohnK]

That's true, but who did they offend? On another occasion, in another place, this may have offended someone, though it turns out they didn't in this case, it was just an overzealous police officer. Perhaps a member of the Catholic minority?

They have offended many people and not just people in the Catholic minority. By the way this is not an isolated incident. It has been happening for many years and the locals are fed up with it.

I don't mean to offend but what is it with British thugs/hooligans on holiday? One of the reasons why I have not been back to Thailand as a couple of them took a dislike to me on my last trip. Very scary experience I would not recommend to anyone.

Greek Islanders protest unruly British tourists

Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:37pm BST

MALIA, Greece (Reuters) - Hundreds of local residents on the holiday island of Crete took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against what they say is the lewd and violent behaviour of young British tourists.

Hotel and business owners, municipal officials and even the mayor of the town of Malia, on the northeastern coast of Crete, closed off the island's main highway, disrupting traffic and handing out leaflets, saying they were fed up.

"They get drunk, they exhibit themselves in front of our eyes. We won't put up with these acts," one of the protesters told Reuters television.

Unfortunately I would say that on this occasion the global economic crisis may have clouded the judges' decision....

 

[JohnK]

I'm not suggesting an eye for an eye, but without naming all the cultural problems in Australia, maybe visitors here should respect the beliefs and customs here too, and in the UK. It probably wouldn't change a thing, but it might make tourists heading the other way have more respect.

I will agree with you on this point. I think many of the recent migrants to Australia have not embraced the culture of their adopted homeland. They are able to get away with things in Australia that we would not be able to get away with in their country of birth/origin. But that is for another debate on a different forum.

Probably the main thing to note is that this could happen a lot. UK tourists go to places like Crete a lot for short holidays, with the full intention to get drunk and have fun, and the country knows that's why they come. That and the nice weather.

This is where the phrase "Ibiza crowd" comes to mind. The types of English tourists that predominatly visited, and still visit, Ibiza are now going to other places like Malia and Thailand. In my opinion regardless of the amount of money they bring these type of tourists mainly cause trouble and are not welcome wherever they go.

I have no desire to turn this into a religious debate, as practical jokes aren't always picking on religions, but maybe if the many religions of the world stopped imposing their values on others they wouldn't be such big targets?

I don't think it should be a religious debate which is why I included insulting the king of Thailand as one of things that is totally unacceptable. I am sure there are other examples.

I would expect in Crete that Catholics are not in the minority.

I would say that Catholics anywhere in Greece are in the minority but that is still no excuse for what happened. There are around 30,000-50,000 Roman or Greek Catholics in Greece living mainly in the Cyclades islands and I guess Crete as well which is not part of the Cyclades.

 

[drron]

Now I am not a member of any church and do admit to having worn similiar attire as these hooligans-but it was at a well advertised event on a university campus and was ~ 40 years ago.Anyone who came there who was offended wanted to be offended.
In this case these people had no idea who would be present.Are people here suggesting that members of the Catholic church dont go to popular beach resorts?So they really didnt care if they offended or not.
As to the free speech idea-where in australia for example can you publicly denigrate members of a minority ethnic community and be free of any criticism or punishment.Free speech has its limits anywhere you go.It is not up to me as an australian to tell the people of Crete what their limits should be.
On this subject i fully agree with Simon and John.

 

[samh004]

There are plenty of bad tourists, I just think this was a bit of fun that was taken the wrong way, much like the bar mat incident.

I'm sure they weren't purposely trying to upset any catholics, they were just having a good time and letting off steam.

 

[2muchplastic]

Perhaps I just have particularly high tolerance levels, but personally if I see someone dressed as a lingerie wearing nun, I don't think "Oooh I'm offended", more like "Bloody idiots". I know people's feelings run deep when it comes to their various religions, but surely one of the first things that your religion teaches you is tolerance and understanding? i.e. to tolerate misguided fools who think they are just having a laugh, and to understand that not all in the world share your devotions.

There is course a time and a place for everything. Dressing as nuns in a known party hotspot, falls much more in the "shake head in disbelief at the idiocy" category, as opposed to someone doing a full streak across St Peter's Square, which would be conceived as hitting offensive and beyond.

 

[Moody]

Perhaps I just have particularly high tolerance levels, but personally if I see someone dressed as a lingerie wearing nun, I don't think "Oooh I'm offended", more like "Bloody idiots". I know people's feelings run deep when it comes to their various religions, but surely one of the first things that your religion teaches you is tolerance and understanding? i.e. to tolerate misguided fools who think they are just having a laugh, and to understand that not all in the world share your devotions.

There is course a time and a place for everything. Dressing as nuns in a known party hotspot, falls much more in the "shake head in disbelief at the idiocy" category, as opposed to someone doing a full streak across St Peter's Square, which would be conceived as hitting offensive and beyond.

I disagree with the highlighted comments. Doesn't anyone remember the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence? They were not idiots but an international movement and fund-raising order for the various groups vilified and discriminated against for their sexual orientation. I would like to think that these innocents were part of the UK chapter who were spreading the message of love and tolerance to some misguided Cretins.

 

[2muchplastic]

I disagree with the highlighted comments. Doesn't anyone remember the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence?

No, and I was thinking that I would like to meet them until I looked it up on Wikipedia. :mrgreen:

..... I would like to think that these innocents were part of the UK chapter who were spreading the message of love and tolerance to some misguided Cretins.

Nah. They were just a bunch of p***head football players from Bristol. They'd rip your head off if you so much as suggested that they should join the above order