Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I don't share the general perception that New Yorkers are rude or unfriendly. They may be more "assertive" or straightforward than the average American, but that's got nothing to do with unfriendliness.
Some of the arguments I've heard to back up those allegations are that people don't wave at you from their cars or greet you in the street.
Frankly if I was walking down a Manhattan street and saw a driver waving at people like a madman I would think he's deranged. Similarly it would be awkward, to say the least, greeting every one of the the thousands people you walk by in the street. I think some people really don't have a sense of context and scale.
I don't share the general perception that New Yorkers are rude or unfriendly. They may be more "assertive" or straightforward than the average American, but that's got nothing to do with unfriendliness.
Some of the arguments I've heard to back up those allegations are that people don't wave at you from their cars or greet you in the street.
Once when I was visiting someone in Staten Island I had garbage thrown at me from a car,though this was during Yankee playoffs so maybe it was just some more classless sports freaks.
Some of the arguments I've heard to back up those allegations are that people don't wave at you from their cars or greet you in the street.
Frankly if I was walking down a Manhattan street and saw a driver waving at people like a madman I would think he's deranged. Similarly it would be awkward, to say the least, greeting every one of the the thousands people you walk by in the street. I think some people really don't have a sense of context and scale.
I would NEVER wave to someone while driving a car, anywhere, unless I knew the person. If I were walking on the street in a small town and made contact with someone, however, I would nod or smile. When I am visiting my parents in suburban Miami and pass someone on the street I nod or smile as well. It feels strange to completely ignore someone's presense when you and s/he are the only people out on the street. Here in NYC, however, you pass so many people on the street that it simply would be impractical to greet all of them. For this reason, the norm is to not acknowledge the presence of others unless there is some kind of out-of-the-ordinary event like the subway being broken down or a car accident or fire. I don't talk to people I don't know on the street unless I have a reason to ask them something.
Tempted to say NY, but I'll say DC ... quite a few folks on their high horses with their noses way up in the air either due to money or affiliation, whatever it is, it's sort of the talk of the town if you actually live there who you know, where you work and how much money you have.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
