Cosmo, were you treated badly on a cruise ship in another life? You seem to harbor extreme animosity. I seriously doubt that most tour groups even stop to consider YOU at all. They are not afraid of YOU, they are interested in convenience. They want someone else to take them to the cool places, and do it easily and cheaply. That generally means on a bus, on a schedule set by the tour group. I've seen hundreds of tour groups in Austin and San Antonio, from the US and all over the world, and I never once thought "Sheesh, I can't believe they are so afraid of me that they have to have a tour group." I have thought it a shame that they are not allowed more free time to see things off the beaten track, but life is full of compromises, and this is one they chose to make. Doesn't mean I have to hate them or call them names. At least they thought enough of my state that they came here in the first place, and spent a bunch of money here to help my economy. I guess Cosmo would prefer tourists to just spend their money elsewhere.
On the subject of cruise ships, however, I tend to agree with Cosmo a bit. It bugs me that the blissninny thinking is to render law abiding citizens defenseless in the name of safety. Do they do a background check to ensure that no passengers have criminal records? What do they do to keep known rapists from coming on board? How about anti-piracy measures? Those are far greater risks than having law abiding citizens, with valid concealed weapon permits, carrying their means of protection.
That said, I wouldn't say someone on a cruise is a fool or a sheep. They are just willing to live with different risks. No different from the person willing to go to the amusement park unarmed.
On the subject of cruise ships, however, I tend to agree with Cosmo a bit. It bugs me that the blissninny thinking is to render law abiding citizens defenseless in the name of safety. Do they do a background check to ensure that no passengers have criminal records? What do they do to keep known rapists from coming on board? How about anti-piracy measures? Those are far greater risks than having law abiding citizens, with valid concealed weapon permits, carrying their means of protection.
That said, I wouldn't say someone on a cruise is a fool or a sheep. They are just willing to live with different risks. No different from the person willing to go to the amusement park unarmed.