Help me find a word

November 5, 2009 10:01 AM

Is there a term which people use to explain why people behave badly/differently in unfamiliar surroundings? For example, tourists behaving badly on vacations.
posted by arcticwoman to Writing & Language (19 answers total)

What-happens-in-Vegas-stays-in-Vegas syndrome.
posted by kosmonaut at 10:14 AM on November 5, 2009

Stress + Anonymity= Stranonymity.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:21 AM on November 5, 2009

Anonymity
posted by amro at 10:24 AM on November 5, 2009

Agree with anonymity - it's an absence of social consequences.
posted by Miko at 10:26 AM on November 5, 2009

It's not exactly what you're looking for, but liminality is close.
posted by mkultra at 10:33 AM on November 5, 2009

Not to answer a question with a question, but is "tourists behaving badly on vacations" an actual phenomenon? I mean, you have two things. You have people who go to party destinations and get drunk, which results in obnoxious behavior (which is somewhat masked by the fact that the people around them are acting the same way; c.f. Spring Break). And you have what we call the "Ugly American" tourist. But those people -- they aren't behaving badly so much as they're behaving as they typically would, without taking into account cultural or social differences that might make that behavior stand out or seem obnoxious to the locals. (Maybe I don't understand the question...?)
posted by mudpuppie at 10:36 AM on November 5, 2009 [3 favorites]

"When in Rome..." is a term people often use to do things they wouldn't normally do, even if it's not really a local custom.
posted by blue_beetle at 10:45 AM on November 5, 2009

Mod note: few comments removed - if you can't answer without insulting people, please don't, thanks.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:47 AM on November 5, 2009

fish out of water syndrome
posted by nomad at 10:50 AM on November 5, 2009

'Having a sunstroke' is a good old explanation that can, in addition of actual medical condition, be expanded to cover the usual case of having an exceptionally long day in hot environment and drinking slowly the whole day, to avert dehydration, and ending up much more drunk than expected and not recognizing it until you've done something weird.
posted by Free word order! at 10:54 AM on November 5, 2009

This comment might have something to offer, although it's not a word. It's the story of bank executives who got all...wacky and free-wheelin' when told they were PRETEND HIPPIES.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 11:09 AM on November 5, 2009

You might find some of the analysis of the cultural roles of drinking establishments in allowing people to take on another persona in this this Social Issues Research Centre document also applicable to people going on vacation. (See this MeFi post for more info on SIRC and their corporate sponsors.)
posted by grouse at 11:25 AM on November 5, 2009 [1 favorite]

I don't really get this need to have "a word" for everything, but there's a Japanese proverb about it, would that work?

Tabi no haji wo kakizute: "You may scratch away shame committed while on a journey."
posted by exceptinsects at 11:53 AM on November 5, 2009 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: I don't think I'm expressing a "need" to have a word for everything, just wondering if there is such a word/phrase and what it could be. Thanks for the suggestions!
posted by arcticwoman at 11:55 AM on November 5, 2009 [1 favorite]

You may find this study on online disinhibition interesting.
posted by subtle-t at 1:47 PM on November 5, 2009

If there is such a word, it'll be in German.

Seconding mudpuppy: this is at least two different things.
posted by rokusan at 2:29 PM on November 5, 2009

Paris Syndrome
posted by maishuno at 4:24 PM on November 5, 2009

In the UK, we call this "Brits Abroad". In Europe, they just tend to call it "British."
posted by MuffinMan at 2:37 AM on November 6, 2009

One presentation of this is described by the widespread Internet Fuckwad Theory.
posted by booksandlibretti at 3:58 PM on November 6, 2009