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I'm a native and I say it sometimes. It's not a big deal. Just semantics.
Maybe it bugs some people who are very prideful about being from the "outer boroughs" but when people say city in that context they are referring to the main economic engine which is downtown Manhattan no offense. They are thinking skyscrapers and massive density.
Last edited by NooYowkur81; 03-27-2013 at 10:11 AM..
I use "the city" and "Manhattan" interchangeably. However, I'd usually say a specific neighborhood name as well.
I also use "downtown" (ex. going downtown for Juniors) to mean downtown Brooklyn though, which I don't think is said anywhere outside of Brooklyn.
I find myself doing this now more than ever as well.
Agreed that when in Brooklyn, "Downtown" is Downtown BK. It stuck even after we annexed because we're the only other borough with a true Downtown district.
I don't really care when people say going to the city = Manhattan (mostly that's said by people that lives in the boroughs so that's no big deal), I just cringe when I see (on here mostly) people using the term outer boroughs. It just seems out of touch/obsolete with how the entire city operates now. I could see the term being relevant in the 1920's but in 2013. . . . I just don't see it.
The fact that New Yorkers reffer to Manhattan as the "The City" comes across as totally arorgant to the rest of the country. It infers there's no worthy city anyplace else. It comes across as doubly arrogant when New Yorkers scoff at the notion that this isn't a universally accepted part of everyones lexicon. Despite the complete douchiness of using "The City" as a synonym for Manhattan I can almost understand when it's used by New Yorkers wile at home. "When in Rome Act like a Douche" What's baffeling to the rest of us is when New Yorkers continue to use it even when visiting other cities. I vividly remember being introduced to someone from Manhattan at a party in Boston many years ago. When I asked where she was from she responded with "I'm from the City". When I asked her with a puzzled look "What city?" she responded "Well of course Manhattan! What other city is there?".This type of sheer arrogance is what makes people dislike New Yorkers. The most disturbing part is that she had no idea how ignorant she sounded. I agree Manhatten is a great city but it's not the center of the universe for everyone. So if your a New Yorker the next time you visit someplace else try to use a little common sense to avoid getting laughed at behind your back.
That person you met was a weirdo, I've never heard of anyone doing that before.
And there's nothing douchey about New Yorkers saying "the city" while in New York. Don't residents of all metro areas refer to their central cities as "the city"?
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New Yorkers should try using some Tact
