I go on a day trip by bus to a tourist spot several hours away from my home, and on the way back at the end of the day, we are held up by an accident on the motorway. Our bus doesn’t move for a little while. The lady sitting behind me doesn’t take kindly to this, and literally every few minutes she shouts:

Passenger: “I don’t understand why every other lane of traffic is moving except ours!”

Several passengers try to explain that it is because the accident is in OUR LANE, but she isn’t having any of it — until one of her friends has clearly had enough and snaps:

Passenger’s Friend: “Tell you what, Christine. I’ll ring 999 and tell them you’re on the bus, and that’ll make them clear the road faster!”

It’s getting close to closing time at the visitor center. A family of four walks in. I do my usual cheery greeting.

Me: “Just to let you know, we’re closing in only three minutes.”

There’s not a single acknowledgment from the family. Our visitor center isn’t very large, and I am only about ten feet from them, so I know they’ve heard me. I watch them for those three minutes and notice they are speaking English, so it doesn’t seem to be a language barrier.

At closing time, I announce to everyone that we are now closed but will reopen at 8:00 am. Everyone thanks me and leaves except for the family of four. Once again, they do not acknowledge me at all. I just go about my closing procedures: closing the blinds, locking doors, turning off the park film, and partially shutting the gate for the gift shop.

I then remind them again that we’re closed.

Again, no acknowledgment.

Finally, ten minutes past close, the kids come up with cash to buy things.

Me: “I’ve already closed down the register and I can no longer accept cash, but I can do a credit card transaction.”

They put the stuff down and went to tell their parents what I said. The family finally left, the mother yelling at me the entire way out telling me how rude I was. I just laughed and shook my head in disbelief.

Related:
Not So Closed Minded, Part 33
Not So Closed Minded, Part 32
Not So Closed Minded, Part 31
Not So Closed Minded, Part 30
Not So Closed Minded, Part 29

I work at a museum dedicated to the Titanic and its tragic story. A tourist family is going through the exhibits, and the father comes barrelling over to me.

Guest: “So… this huge ship really existed?”

Me: “…yes, sir.”

Guest: “And all this really happened? The iceberg and the sinking?”

Me: “Yes, sir.”

Guest: “Wow! That’s incredible! They should make it into a movie!”

Related:
A Titanic Gap In Their Knowledge Of History

I work at a British tourist destination that happens to be a very old cathedral. Even though it mostly serves tourists, it’s still very much a working church, so a conservative dress code is enforced inside. This includes covering shoulders, and we provide little scarves and shawls for guests that need them.

A family is in line and sees the signs that describe the dress code.

Female Guest #1: “This is ridiculous! I shouldn’t be expected to adhere to such outdated views on modesty!”

Female Guest #2: “Exactly! If these people want our money, we should be able to wear what we want!”

Me: *Overhearing* “Excuse me, ladies, but since this is still a place of worship, the dress code is a requirement. We’d ask you to respect it and leave your complaints quietly and respectfully.”

Female Guest #1: “I’m being respectful! I’m a g**d*** Christian woman, d*** it!”

Female Guest #2: “Don’t tell us how to be respectful in a g**d***ed church!”

Me: “Ah, I see where the confusion is. You think this is a ‘g**d***ed church’. This is, in fact, a g**-und***ed church. Should you wish to find some g**d***ed places, I’m sure there are some satanical churches you can go to and wear whatever you like. But for here and now, you either wear the scarf or you leave politely.”

The two ladies scoffed and turned heel. Their husbands or partners decided to still pay and walk around the church. They took their time while the woman waited outside… in the g**d***ed rain.

I am staff at a Great Lake in a national park. We are on a jetty overlooking the lake, and I am taking a break outside the dock office, having a cigarette.

A park guest comes over to bum a cigarette, and since it’s early evening, we notice the clear skies and the stars beginning to come out.

Guest: “It’s crazy to think how many of these stars are dead.”

Then, he points at an airplane in the sky.

Guest: “Like that one right there is dying right now.”