It's a sad fact for me, but I use American tourists as my personal lightning rods when I'm overseas. Loud, wealthy and obvious are the type its handy to have around. Despite being a hair under 2 metres with red hair, the trouble goes to the American tourists when they are nearby. Pickpocketing, nagging sales people, police, security etc are far more likely to go for the American with 2 big cameras and flash clothes. I firmly believe that my travels have been made easier by the poor treatment of Americans that travel.