Not a tourist

[dudesomebody]

I have been searching the interwebs (I know, as weak in the force as I am...) looking for tips on how to not look like a tourist when traveling. I have found many useful tid bits of information, like no fanny packs, it's obvious but you would be surprised.

I wanted to ask my fellow forum crazies for a few helpful pieces of information to help the less traveled (like me) to avoid looking like a tourist. I am not trying to blend with the locals, that isn't going to happen because I'm not local. I just want to avoid screaming 'Look at me I'm a tourist'.

http://www.vagabondish.com/4-ways-to-be-a-traveler-not-a-tourist/
The link above has 4 useful, if somewhat obvious, tips. Mostly I just found it fun to read.

[ce_gray]

Well, I guess one of the things would be don't walk around everywhere taking tons of pictures. Another most likely would be don't complain about the weather/come prepared for it. Here in the Northwest, we have a lot of rain and very little sun. So you can tell who hasn't grown up here by who complains about the rain/wears shorts and a tank top during spring. Springs tend to be very wet here.

Also, don't be afraid to ask where the best place to eat is from someone. That'll give away that you're not from the town, but you can get a good meal out of it most likely.

[AmadeusMaxwell]

I recommend keeping your wallet in a front pocket, not really tourist specific advice, as it's just good advice to not being pick pocketed, but as a tourist you're especially prone to being targeted, which is why I recommend it.

[Yutrzenika]

Don't have a camera around your neck, because A) Somebody could run up, rip it off your neck and run off, and B) It looks touristy because you have a camera ready for a shot of some foreign animal or sight at a moments notice.
If you have a fancy optical cameras don't put one of those huge sniper rifle lenses on it (Seriously, I was in Alberta once, and there was a bunch of tourists with crazy huge lenses on their cameras, they were taking a picture of a bear no more than about 25 meters away, these things look like you can take a picture of a guys nose hairs from a mile away).
When I say "huge sniper rifle lenses" I mean this shit:

(This is about the same size of lenses I saw on the cameras of the tourists in Alberta).

[BrainBlow]

Well, I could give some tips for how to not look like a tourist in Norway.
What "looks like a tourist" varies from country to country.

Its quite easy: Weather is a bit cold? Fuck that thick jacket of yours! As far as I've noticed, tourists here around gets themselves all packed into thick clothing in temperatures where many Norwegians could easily walk around in a simple shirt without even taking notice of the temperature.
Just dress in the same amount of clothes that the average citizen does.

[dudesomebody]

Most of the advice I have found says the camera thing, now a days you can get a good digital camera that can fit in your pocket anyway. I imagine the tourist advice will vary from country to country, thats why I made the thread though, I know we have alot of people here from far and away. 

[--Pappa Cricco--]

Dont gawp and dont exclaim loudly and follow the local crowd.

And throw away the guide books.

And steryotypes.

Not all english people are hooked on Tea.

Just because most brits on here are is beside the point...

*drinks tea and crys over how steryotypical he is*

[TheLastOutlaw]

What the fuck is that thing? 

If the answer isn't:

1.  A weapon of some sort or,

2.  For taking pictures of objects not in our solar system,

I will be pissed.

I suppose taking pictures of hot chicks from VERY far away would also be acceptable...

And Cricco is right, stereotypes don't always hold true.  Me dear old mum is about as un-English as is possible to get yet she clings to her tea addiction with a passion that is frightening.

[ce_gray]

Where are you going?

[dudesomebody]

Me?? Slightly insane, but that is beside the point.

Actually I don't have time for travel or other such sillyness, I wish I did and I have a huge wishlist of places I would love to visit. If I ever do take to traveling I just want to know what kind of things to avoid and I thought the other forum crazies might also like to know. With a group of people with our diverse backgrounds I thought I could get some interesting answers.

[ce_gray]

Oh I see. An interesting reason.

[Yutrzenika]

What the fuck is that thing? 

I think it's one of those lenses that steals your soul...

[Log!]

Get into fights. Nobody sees a dude fighting another dude and says "Look at that guy, he's probably a tourist!" they say "Holy shit those guys are fighting.

[TheLastOutlaw]

I think it's one of those lenses that steals your soul...

Makes sense actually.

Get into fights. Nobody sees a dude fighting another dude and says "Look at that guy, he's probably a tourist!" they say "Holy shit those guys are fighting.

You really can't argue with that logic.

[Cheez]

Hmm...

Kill everyone you see and burn stuff. That way, you'll be an invader, not a tourist.