<p>tanman: Love the blog you posted. I think I've been on those tours. I agree that those folks on the tours who insist on letting everybody know that they're "special," stems from pure insecurity and a feeling of inferiority--that they somehow don't belong--so they have to let everybody know they do. I think it gets really amusing after a while. </p>
<p>One of the funniest stories I ever heard was a friend telling us about taking their older daughter (graduated a few years ago from Duke) on the college tour. Their much younger son accompanied them. They visited Brown, and while on the rather crowded tour, they got separated from their son. They knew he was in the crowd--they could see him--but he was at the far end from where they were. Halfway through the tour, while stopped in front of some building, someone asked about the total costs to attend Brown. When the tour guide spelled it out for them, and all got quiet, they heard this voice booming over the crowd, "Dad--hey Dad-- Alison can forget this school. We can't afford it. Let's get outta here." And the kid started leaving. Probably funnier if told in person (or you had to be there), but I loved that story. :)</p>