Massachusetts is ranked one of the rudest states in the US (Boston: transplants, renting)

[bostongymjunkie]

Rude-schmude. Rude is one of the most overused terms going. It is so subjective it's almost meaningless unless it is being used intraculturally. And then there are those people who consider anyone rude if they don't kiss their rear-end. There are aspects about Greater Boston culture I don't care for (just like other places) but this generalized "rude" business is BS.

[bostonguy1960]

I find it rare in the Boston area if someone *doesn't* say "sorry" or "excuse me" when bumping into me at the store. Same in traffic, as they'll almost always stop while I cross the street in a crosswalk, as they must stop, anyway. Or they wave me thru even while I cross illegally, so as not to hit me, I guess

Maybe most of us just recall the relatively few unfavorable incidents and forget the pleasant ones?

But even when not in a major crosswalk, they'll often stop, then wait for me to cross until I sometimes just wave them through instead.

Maybe it's that I'm 60 plus and some of them wouldn't usually give that courtesy to much younger people?

But, yes, I do occasionally encounter the rude MBTA employee as well as regular folks when out and about.

But several times in Quincy while walking this year, people have said "hello" or nodded. But usually not. I was walking through a Milton neighborhood on the Quincy border on a Sunday morning, and a man my age said "hello," maybe thinking I live in the immediate neighborhood; but in reality, I couldn't afford a house or even a condo in Milton!

And when I chat people up at the store, most have been receptive, but not all. Same with CVS and grocery store employees.

Oh, and maybe my being white does help in most cases, but would be a detriment in others?

But I'll admit my cousin from Ontario, Canada and her husband from way upstate NY complained when they moved just outside of Portland, Maine, about a very unfriendly household or more on their street in an upscale area. He simply chalked it up to, "Hey...it's New England!"

[tovarisch]

I felt like giving a rude response but I restrained myself. But I'm in W. Mass., anyway.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

I find it rare in the Boston area if someone *doesn't* say "sorry" or "excuse me" when bumping into me at the store. Same in traffic, as they'll almost always stop while I cross the street in a crosswalk, as they must stop, anyway. Or they wave me thru even while I cross illegally, so as not to hit me, I guess

I find it varies. There are certain towns where I know I can stand on the edge of a crosswalk with a toddler in my arms, and 20-30 cars will drive past me without stopping, and then there are certain towns where all I need to do is turn and face the street and cars will slam on the brakes for me to let me cross. It's dramatic how much of a difference it can be.

As to which towns those are, i'll keep that to myself.

[Cape Cod Todd]

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

Didn't take even one C-D page for someone to inject partisan politics into what would normally be a simple question about local human nature.

Well the study was of America and many of the most offensive states happen to lean Left in the majority of their politics. I wouldn't know since I have always lived in Mass. but my wife has lived in red states and she found the people to be more open, friendly and willing to help. than they are here in the Bay state.



Locally I know people with opposing political views and those that identify as Democrats are far more uptight and rude than those that do not identify with that party.



This is 2020 and most things have been aligned with politics so putting a partisan spin on this thread is just another thought, another angle up for debate as to why Mass. is ranked one of the rudest in the US.


I guess an easier answer would have been to blame the weather?

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by Cape Cod Todd

Well the study was of America and many of the most offensive states happen to lean Left in the majority of their politics. I wouldn't know since I have always lived in Mass. but my wife has lived in red states and she found the people to be more open, friendly and willing to help. than they are here in the Bay state.



Locally I know people with opposing political views and those that identify as Democrats are far more uptight and rude than those that do not identify with that party.



This is 2020 and most things have been aligned with politics so putting a partisan spin on this thread is just another thought, another angle up for debate as to why Mass. is ranked one of the rudest in the US.


I guess an easier answer would have been to blame the weather?

Are you capable of viewing the world through a lens which isn't that of persecuted 'conservative'? Nearly half of the listed states have a strong R lean ... there goes that 'theory'.

The easier answer is that this 'study' used metrics which favors/punishes certain behaviors ... behaviors which may or may not reflect poorly within a local 'culture'. Or just bad data. MA scored worst in it's "unfriendly" ranking, which appears to be some s___ travel survey via social media. Yeah, bad data.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by Cape Cod Todd

Well the study was of America and many of the most offensive states happen to lean Left in the majority of their politics. I wouldn't know since I have always lived in Mass. but my wife has lived in red states and she found the people to be more open, friendly and willing to help. than they are here in the Bay state.



Locally I know people with opposing political views and those that identify as Democrats are far more uptight and rude than those that do not identify with that party.



This is 2020 and most things have been aligned with politics so putting a partisan spin on this thread is just another thought, another angle up for debate as to why Mass. is ranked one of the rudest in the US.


I guess an easier answer would have been to blame the weather?

Well--let me throw a major wrench in your theory--Minnesota is one of the friendliest states I've ever lived in, and the last time they voted for a Republican for President was 1972.

[msRB311]

There are rude people everywhere.

[charolastra00]

What does rude mean? I think even that term runs the gamut based on where you're from and what your experience is.



I grew up in ruralish Georgia and remember that a lot of interactions with strangers that others peg as being friendly felt really rude to me: cashiers commenting on the entire contents of my grocery cart (not necessarily in a negative way), lots of chatting with strangers in line or in waiting rooms, neighbors who know a little too much, etc.



It was a huge relief to move to Massachusetts. I could exist as an introvert and no one thought the less of me! I've always found people in New England to be really slow to warm up to you and unlikely to make small talk compared to elsewhere, but very fast to help out. You also know where you stand with New Englanders.

[Bettafish]

Originally Posted by charolastra00

What does rude mean? I think even that term runs the gamut based on where you're from and what your experience is.



I grew up in ruralish Georgia and remember that a lot of interactions with strangers that others peg as being friendly felt really rude to me: cashiers commenting on the entire contents of my grocery cart (not necessarily in a negative way), lots of chatting with strangers in line or in waiting rooms, neighbors who know a little too much, etc.



It was a huge relief to move to Massachusetts. I could exist as an introvert and no one thought the less of me! I've always found people in New England to be really slow to warm up to you and unlikely to make small talk compared to elsewhere, but very fast to help out. You also know where you stand with New Englanders.

Maybe it is difficult to make friends when people just "mind their own business"?