About a month ago, I attended a school field trip with my niece and her class. We traveled by bus to the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory in Livingston, Louisiana. The tour of LIGO was fascinating. There was a hands on learning area for students to gain added perspective on various science concepts. The Aquarium was enjoyable. The students were well behaved and quite pleasant for the most part. I cannot complain about these aspects of the trip in any way.
I do have some complaints about the bus ride. Time spent traveling on the bus was not enjoyable. The tour director was insufferable. As were many of the adults attending the trip with their children. I had no way of satisfactorily addressing the unpleasant parents on the bus. But, below the orange squiggle is the letter (minus specific identifying information) I was compelled to send to the tour director.
Dear Madam Tour Director,
I had occasion to travel with the class to LIGO and the New Orleans Aquarium earlier this month. My observations during the trip lead me to write you with some suggestions.
When people travel on one of your tours they form an opinion as to whether or not yours is a tour company with which they would be inclined to do business. There were a number of issues on the trip that would certainly limit the number of potential repeat customers.
When one uses a microphone with a public address system it is not necessary to raise one's voice. Using a loud shrill voice when speaking into a microphone makes the experience unpleasant for the travelers on the bus. People with hearing impairments or using hearing aide devices find loud sounds overly amplified to be at best, distorted, and at worst, painful. These people would not be inclined to sign up for another bus tour.
People who hold differing religious or spiritual beliefs are not inclined to hire a tour director who insists on leading group prayers on the bus public address system.
People who value and promote science are not inclined to hire a tour director who announces that the LIGO facility will promote ideas "that WE DON'T believe in" and then announces her own spiritual beliefs regarding creationism. (It seems especially inappropriate that you make disparaging and derogatory comments about LIGO while hosting a tour to LIGO.)
People who value the United States government's support of developing science and technology are not inclined to hire a tour director who makes derogatory comments about the government funding that has made LIGO an internationally renowned observatory.
People who value the scientific method and the patience and determination to pursue developing concepts and technologies are not inclined to hire a tour director who makes disparaging comments regarding a PERCEIVED lack of progress in developing concepts and technologies.
People who value compassion, diversity, and the dignity of all humans regardless of social, economic, and cultural status are not inclined to hire a tour director who goes out of the way to stare at and verbally make sport of people walking down the streets of New Orleans.
These situations are all things that can negatively impact your ability to progress in your career and your ability to expand your tour business. These are all things that can be quite easily corrected.
Surely you must realize that not everyone shares what would appear to be your fundamentalist Christian beliefs and that some people find them offensive. You must, as well, realize that not everyone shares your apparent disregard and disdain for the development of science and technology. Surely it occurs to you that there are other cultures and ways of living that are different from yours. It must be obvious to you that some people have a more generous regard for human dignity, as well as a larger capacity for compassion for all human kind. Each of these perspectives and points of view are present among potential tour clients. Do you really want to cut yourself off from such a large share of the travel and tourism market?
In summary I recommend that during bus tours you:
o Refrain from speaking loudly into a microphone when addressing tourist on a public address system.
o Refrain from public prayer and announcing your religious/spiritual beliefs.
o Refrain from announcing your views on governmental/political issues.
o Refrain from making disparaging remarks about science and technology.
o Refrain from passing judgment and making negative comments about citizens walking down city streets.
It would serve you well to reassess your tour directing habits and carefully evaluate your presentation. Of course, it's your choice to make. Perhaps you are only comfortable doing business with people who share your belief systems and your world view. If that is, indeed, the case you would be wise to insure that all your clients share your beliefs and perspective. Then, your clients would be more likely to be repeat clients.
Sincerely,
Not A Repeat Customer
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I don't know if there's any way to get through to the tragically mean-spirited and small minded people in our midst. Perhaps an appeal to their own financial best interest and business potential will work. I figure it was worth a try.
All I can do is hope that the children of the mean-spirited and small minded parents are exposed to other points of view. Otherwise, many of them may well adopt those of their parents.