Is Los Angeles Unfriendly? Just bought a house here and... (refrigerators, living in)

[jen5276]

Having been born and raised in NYC, I disagree about the so called "friendliness" and "niceness" of NYers. I work in Manhattan (midtown) and come across rudeness and hostility EVERYDAY. I am so sick of it.

I hope to move to CA soon. Feel free to leave a note if I park in the wrong spot, I'd rather be aware if I'm doing something offensive in a new neighborhood.

[JosephPorterPitt]

Jen, there is rudeness and hostility everywhere. But surely not everybody or even most are rude and hostile in New York City.

Living in New York City it's impossible NOT to come across some rudeness and/or hostility everywhere. It's a huge city. But in the mix of that are very nice, good, friendly people. You have to get to know them. They don't smile and wave generally. But they're there.

[jen5276]

I hear what you're saying. I just find overall a real sense of coldness from people that I just hate. I am ready to leave.

For example, I was in a store on Friday and had to use the bathroom. It was a single occupancy bathroom. I locked the door and heard someone try to pull the door open. They did it once, realized it was locked, and then proceeded to try to pull it three or four more times. I'm thinking to myself, if it's locked, someone is in here! Anyway, when I was leaving the bathroom (maybe 2 minutes after she pulled the handle) she yells at me "YOU COULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING"! Well, moron, usually after someone pulls the handle once and realizes it's locked it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the bathroom is occupied!! I just looked at her like she was nuts and kept it moving.

Sorry to vent....but just an example of NY rudeness at its best.

[VLWH]

Originally Posted by JosephPorterPitt

It's true. I've grown up there and lived there my whole life. Yes, there are plenty of rude people there but anyone who was in the city on 9/11 will attest to the generosity of New Yorkers.

When Capt. Sully safely landed his plane on the Hudson River blocks from my apartment, immediately every ferry boat mobilized to help. And a local restaurant took in all the freezing survivors.

During the blackout a few summers ago there was the same outpouring of generosity of people.

It's a very crowded city with a past history of serious crime, so people adapted and learned to mind their own business and move quickly to get where they want to go.

Here's how LA is much worse in hostility. I'm always pro union, pro worker. I've seen countless protestors outside NYC establishments. They always are respectful during their protests.

Yesterday in LA I went to pick up a rent a car at 5777 Century Blvd. and I was verbally abused by these protestors outside the Hilton. They were seriously abusive. Screaming at anybody who drove in or out. One woman had a megaphone and was harassing everybody.

A man handed me a flyer as I walked down the alley to get the car and I said that I already had one. He screamed at me: "And you're STILL going there!!!????" I said, Excuse me, but I'm not going to the hotel. I'm renting a car.

I have never, ever witnessed such abuse. There are picketers all the time in NYC. They never act like that.

Put it this way: I was so angry at the abuse that I encountered and witnessed that I said to myself, I think I will frequent this hotel JUST to pi** off the abusive psychos out front who are harassing everybody.

Let's be real here, you could describe every personalty type in every major city. Generalizing that people are rude or kind based on a few encounters in cities with millions in populations makes no sense.

[BeauCharles]

Don't worry - it happens everywhere. My mom and dad moved to a new subdivision in Merced (the Central Valley) in the 90s when he was ill with cancer. A few weeks before his death a lot of relatives came to visit him and were parking all over the block. The man across the street came over to angrily complain about them parking in front of his home and my mom explained what was going on and that it wouldn't last forever. He apologized and told her if she needed any help to let him know. He and his wife ended up being very good to her after my dad was gone. Still, this was in a low-density small city. People are extremely territorial about the open parking in front of their homes.

[JosephPorterPitt]

Jen: That is a funny New York City encounter. And maddening, too. And let's not even discuss the New York City transit employees. The angriest and most miserable people you could ever meet! LOL New Jersey Transit only hires miserable, angry people who seem at any moment ready to go postal.

BeauCharles, Thanks for the info!

[yamota]

Well, at least they said please

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by 12buttons

maybe you should move back to NYC !-you sound like you brought your in your face attitude with you - so NOT LA..why fight it? you either fall in with the passive aggressives or you don't

You must be one of those anonymous note writers, aren't you?

[JosephPorterPitt]

LOL, yes, I suppose I should be grateful for that. Then again, their "please" was part of an overall imperious, condescending, admonishing tone.

I'm giving it too much weight anyway. I met two neighborhood cranks. But I met four very nice neighbors. And I'm glad they identified themselves as cranks right away. Maybe after thirty years of the previous owner they were feeling threatened by the "unknown" moving in to "their" neighborhood and figured they had to assert themselves and put the newbie in his place.

I won't be inviting them to any pool parties for sure.

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by JosephPorterPitt

Jen, there is rudeness and hostility everywhere. But surely not everybody or even most are rude and hostile in New York City.

Living in New York City it's impossible NOT to come across some rudeness and/or hostility everywhere. It's a huge city. But in the mix of that are very nice, good, friendly people. You have to get to know them. They don't smile and wave generally. But they're there.

New Yorkers aren't rude. We're just not as friendly and smiley as people are here.

And to the poster who asked if I grew up in Upstate New York, NO, it was the CITY. I never heard of the note thing until I moved here. I wouldn't mind if they put their name or apartment number on it for me to know who they are. When you don't do that it bothers me. I feel like I'm being secretly watched or something and I won't abide by your "request".

Besides notes, I still can't get over how many apartments won't automatically come with refrigerators here either, but I digress...