Is the hostility towards New Yorkers justified? (Arlington, Boston: to buy, gated)

[vitalove]

Originally Posted by tpk-nyc

The point is that it's the same phenomenon. Hipsters moving to Brooklyn are the same as New Yorkers moving to Pennsylvania. It's sophisticated and comparatively wealthy people moving into blue-collar areas (like Williamsburg or Allentown) and the current inhabitants feeling threatened.

It's all relative, and related. Is a graphic designer moving from Manhattan to Brooklyn for a larger apartment any different than a New York City family moving to Pennsylvania because they want to own a house? The same forces are at work.

It's easy (and socially acceptable) to be angry with the rich. In the city it's Yuppies and Hipsters, in Pennsylvania it's New Yorkers in general.

The traditional exurbs, like Fairfield County, Connecticut have had longer to adjust (or be assimilated/gentrified).

Yes that was my point. You simply expanded on my one sentence comment.

[vitalove]

Originally Posted by LongIslandCitizen

I am a New Yorker and have lived in many places throughout the U.S because of my Military career. You have to understand the mindset of many people across the country. People view New Yorkers as part of the problem and not part of the solution. Contrary to popular belief New York is responsible for electing that carpet bagger Hillary Clinton. Most of the country was stunned. In addition New York is very very blue. Anti-gun laws , High cigarette tax, many obama supporters , very liberal laws, high taxes, high real estate etc.

New Yorkers are viewed as very arrogant. Very rude. very overbearing , etc. Most of the country...of course I'll leave out California...I'm specifically speaking about the south, southwest, and middle America are more polite. It isn't hard to spot a New Yorker. New Yorkers are more confrontational. A New Yorker, and again , not all think it is weird to say hello to a stranger.

New York is actually way behind most of the other Major Metropolitan areas in the U.S. I know this is sacrilege to say but there are other places where fashion, technology, and science are way ahead. Lets face it... the suffocating taxes of this state have chased away a lot of industry and have made New York as a whole an archaic, stuffy place.

Lets take Dallas/ Ft.Worth Texas for instance. Their structures are fresh and new, their nightlife is hot. That whole area consist of three major cities in one area surrounded by sub cities called the metroplex. All of their sports arenas whether it be football, baseball, hockey, or basketball are within minutes from anywhere and tickets are always available. I am a Giants fan but look at Jerry Jones new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington...Puts the new Meadowlands stadium to shame. Look at their Ballpark...the Yankees is embarrassing. Their Technology is phenomenal.. Their Police Dept's are equipped with state of the art mobile computers, videos, radars, GPS, Traffic control systems, and weapons systems.They have had these systems since the early nineties..New York has been slowly getting them since 2003 or so. Their nightlife is vibrant and there is plenty to do. Everything is accessible via modern highways. That area is a melting pot for professionals from all over the country.And many of the people there look good. And their accents rock.

Now a New Yorker still views Texas as cowboyish, desert, backwoods, and tumbleweeds. I understand that many New Yorkers have never left the state and stereotype lots of different places but that is what gives us a brash reputation. People actually want to like New Yorkers but it doesn't take long for one to put their foot in their mouths. A New Yorker can be rightfully proud just like a Texan can but you have to be a diplomat and represent this state.

In my opinion New Yorkers believe in a lot of things other parts don't. Liberal views are not welcome in a lot of places. A majority of the U.S feel New Yorkers are a threat to the constitution. I know that is probably an offensive comment, It is a strong comment but I have heard it over and over again. New York is very PC orientated and support lifestyles other places don't.

Much of what you said are stereotypes of NY'ers. Many people in this city/state are a lot more conservative than what most people around the country would think. Most NY'ers get out and travel. Duh! That's why so many people know of places to move to outside of NY and are doing so.

Many NY'ers are not rude, do smile and are polite. Some even say hello to each other out of courtesy, but usually after seeing a person around the neighborhood or at work and it isn't considered weird. It usually depends on the neighborhood that you live in.

For the record, I've met some of these people who are from these so-called more polite states and they were more rude and self-righteous than any NY'er. So the stereotypes can go both ways, positive or negative.

I could go on and on, but the point is that most people stereotype you coming from NY before getting to know you. But then again, people stereotype everyone.

[mattjd]

I think a lot of this has to do with New Yorkers (and people from jersey) not properly understanding the communities that they are moving into. I have a friend that is a real estate agent west of the Lehigh Valley and she tells me crazy stories about people, mainly from NJ, that show up and ask about how gay friendly the town is. We're talking about a rural farming community, where the town is about 12,000 people total. I mean, come on. She told me about how she'll get people wanting to move into a "cute little farm" but also close to some nice ethnic restaurants, book stores, and coffee shops. Again, we're talking about a town of 12,000 people that has fast food restaurants and an Applebees. I won't even get into how many morons call asking about the "art scene" of the town. I mean, just a bunch of really, really stupid people that think they can move into Nowhere, PA and still get the same lifestyle of the East Village for 1/3 the price. It would be like having thousands of Southerners move into Chelsea and start asking people where the nearest shooting range is. This creates a lot of animosity. New Yorkers really need to get out more and understand that the rest of the country isn't like New York. Hell, they need to get out and see the rest of the city! I remember years ago how annoyed I got when my friend talked about how "weird" things were in Williamsburg, as if she had visited Egypt and everyone talked different and had different customs. After 20 mins of hearing about her big adventure into Brooklyn I got mad and reminded her that she's really from Wisconsin and has only lived in the city for less than a year.

[LongIslandCitizen]

Originally Posted by vitalove

Much of what you said are stereotypes of NY'ers. Many people in this city/state are a lot more conservative than what most people around the country would think. Most NY'ers get out and travel. Duh! That's why so many people know of places to move to outside of NY and are doing so.

Many NY'ers are not rude, do smile and are polite. Some even say hello to each other out of courtesy, but usually after seeing a person around the neighborhood or at work and it isn't considered weird. It usually depends on the neighborhood that you live in.

For the record, I've met some of these people who are from these so-called more polite states and they were more rude and self-righteous than any NY'er. So the stereotypes can go both ways, positive or negative.

I could go on and on, but the point is that most people stereotype you coming from NY before getting to know you. But then again, people stereotype everyone.

Absolutely Vita it would be unfair to say everyone and people from everywhere stereotype.

[analyticalkeys]

Originally Posted by mattjd

I think a lot of this has to do with New Yorkers (and people from jersey) not properly understanding the communities that they are moving into. I have a friend that is a real estate agent west of the Lehigh Valley and she tells me crazy stories about people, mainly from NJ, that show up and ask about how gay friendly the town is. We're talking about a rural farming community, where the town is about 12,000 people total. I mean, come on. She told me about how she'll get people wanting to move into a "cute little farm" but also close to some nice ethnic restaurants, book stores, and coffee shops. Again, we're talking about a town of 12,000 people that has fast food restaurants and an Applebees. I won't even get into how many morons call asking about the "art scene" of the town. I mean, just a bunch of really, really stupid people that think they can move into Nowhere, PA and still get the same lifestyle of the East Village for 1/3 the price. It would be like having thousands of Southerners move into Chelsea and start asking people where the nearest shooting range is. This creates a lot of animosity. New Yorkers really need to get out more and understand that the rest of the country isn't like New York. Hell, they need to get out and see the rest of the city! I remember years ago how annoyed I got when my friend talked about how "weird" things were in Williamsburg, as if she had visited Egypt and everyone talked different and had different customs. After 20 mins of hearing about her big adventure into Brooklyn I got mad and reminded her that she's really from Wisconsin and has only lived in the city for less than a year.

Uh.. this doesn't sound like New Yorkers, just a few stupid people. Why would anyone move anywhere without doing research on the area first?

[dman72]

Originally Posted by mattjd

I think a lot of this has to do with New Yorkers (and people from jersey) not properly understanding the communities that they are moving into. I have a friend that is a real estate agent west of the Lehigh Valley and she tells me crazy stories about people, mainly from NJ, that show up and ask about how gay friendly the town is. We're talking about a rural farming community, where the town is about 12,000 people total. I mean, come on. She told me about how she'll get people wanting to move into a "cute little farm" but also close to some nice ethnic restaurants, book stores, and coffee shops. Again, we're talking about a town of 12,000 people that has fast food restaurants and an Applebees. I won't even get into how many morons call asking about the "art scene" of the town. I mean, just a bunch of really, really stupid people that think they can move into Nowhere, PA and still get the same lifestyle of the East Village for 1/3 the price. It would be like having thousands of Southerners move into Chelsea and start asking people where the nearest shooting range is. This creates a lot of animosity. New Yorkers really need to get out more and understand that the rest of the country isn't like New York. Hell, they need to get out and see the rest of the city! I remember years ago how annoyed I got when my friend talked about how "weird" things were in Williamsburg, as if she had visited Egypt and everyone talked different and had different customs. After 20 mins of hearing about her big adventure into Brooklyn I got mad and reminded her that she's really from Wisconsin and has only lived in the city for less than a year.

Hilarious. I know many people who are members of the "hipster class" who take on these kinds of attitudes. "Long island, is like, the boon docks..I never leave Manhattan, everything is so uncivilized.."

Eh, where did you grow up?

"Illinois"



You don't HAVE to immediately become a snooty ponce when you move to NYC, but it seems like many people think you do to "fit in".

[clevedark]

Originally Posted by mattjd

I think a lot of this has to do with New Yorkers (and people from jersey) not properly understanding the communities that they are moving into. I have a friend that is a real estate agent west of the Lehigh Valley and she tells me crazy stories about people, mainly from NJ, that show up and ask about how gay friendly the town is. We're talking about a rural farming community, where the town is about 12,000 people total. I mean, come on. She told me about how she'll get people wanting to move into a "cute little farm" but also close to some nice ethnic restaurants, book stores, and coffee shops. Again, we're talking about a town of 12,000 people that has fast food restaurants and an Applebees. I won't even get into how many morons call asking about the "art scene" of the town. I mean, just a bunch of really, really stupid people that think they can move into Nowhere, PA and still get the same lifestyle of the East Village for 1/3 the price. It would be like having thousands of Southerners move into Chelsea and start asking people where the nearest shooting range is. This creates a lot of animosity. New Yorkers really need to get out more and understand that the rest of the country isn't like New York. Hell, they need to get out and see the rest of the city! I remember years ago how annoyed I got when my friend talked about how "weird" things were in Williamsburg, as if she had visited Egypt and everyone talked different and had different customs. After 20 mins of hearing about her big adventure into Brooklyn I got mad and reminded her that she's really from Wisconsin and has only lived in the city for less than a year.

I have to agree on this one. I was born and raised in North Jersey and spent my adult life in NYC. When I was almost 40 we moved to Massachusetts and oh boy was there culture shock. And I was very well traveled all over the country, it's not like I'd never been anyway, but the fact was, I'd never LIVED anywhere else (except Miami which doesn't count). I never realized that people in other regions of the country detest New Yorkers on principle until I moved away!!! (Esp. in Mass, it seems, unless you're living in Brookline where I live now--all us ex-NYers live here).

I could not believe the low level of sophistication and lack of city ways that the people in the seaside village we initially moved to displayed. I was completely blown away--I had no idea that people who lived in beautiful colonial houses, in a very expensive suburb lived that way, caring only about sports, laughing at gay people, never seeing brown black or asian face. We went to a Mark Morris Dance Co performance in Boston and people were actually laughing out loud at a very sad, moving section of a piece--it was an elegy, really.

I was at the supermarket and a well dressed woman complained to me that she had to make a zucchini quiche for her daughter's french class and she didn't even know what a zucchini was! Well, I have to admit, I didn't know what "American Chop Suey" or Patriot's Day was until I moved to MA, and I didn't know you had to order rice separately in a Chinese restaurant to get it, and the Chinese restaurant in town gave us ROLLS!!! with our food. But that's another story.

Now, almost nine years later, I get it now, and I can accept it and not be obnoxious or shocked. But when I first moved to MA I am SURE that my neighbors were offended by my wondering comments and questions and my way of dressing ('cause I made all the other ladies look totally dowdy!.

Don't even get me started on septic tanks and generators. That's for another day.

[anders]

Originally Posted by clevedark

I never realized that people in other regions of the country detest New Yorkers on principle until I moved away!!!

Well, yes.
I'm a native NYer, have lived in other states, and am the polite, low-key, no-drama type ... but found that many people equate "New York" with everything that's bad in the world, or any post-1950s trend they dislike, and for which they need a convenient punching bag. (And, of course, to them, New York State consists entirely of New York City.)

It's a combination of urban-phobia or urban rivalry, plus whatever extremes they've picked up from TV, movies, or religio-political cultism.
I got used to people railing vs. NY as if it were the Pit of Hell, or assuming that I'd seen multiple homicides daily ... and _then_ implying that NY was some kind of model: "we have a real New-York-style deli," "betcha our shopping is just like New York's," etc. etc.
I felt like saying, "I don't care -- so why do you? Why, exactly, is this so important to you?"

[Drover]

This is not a new phenomenon and hostility is not reserved for New Yorkers. Ask people in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, etc., what they think of all the Californians moving into their states. Ask the folks in northern Wisconsin what they think of all the Chicagoans buying up lakefront property up there. Et cetera.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Shizzles

I live in PA and I'm from NY. Pennsylvania is for all intensive pruposes a mix between The South and Appliachia. Ignorance is celebrated here.

And this, folks, is why you encounter hostility.