Rude Tourists! - Not New Yorkers! (hotel, college, live in)

[AndNYC]

Everyone's heard about "rude New Yorkers", even though I personally don't find New Yorkers to be rude. New Yorkers are always giving directions to the millions of tourists that come here.

I've helped plenty of tourists...even at 8:30am on my way to college, I walk out of the station at Bryant Park and I'm asked often for help. I normally don't mind, as I understand that it's not easy for everyone to get around.

I just can't stand it, when I'm obviously walking rather fast to get somewhere [college] and I'm stopped by a rude tourist demanding directions. How can someone demand directions? I hate when "please" isn't used or when there is no sign of politeness. "Tell me how to get here now." I swear that pisses me off. Especially in the morning.

I'm sure this happens to a lot of other people. It pisses me off. I was once stopped when I started crossing the street!

I also hate when people ask for directions to a place they're standing directly in front of! I try being polite but the sarcastic comments just fly out of me!

It's not just me dealing with rude tourists, right!? I'm just glad I end up with nicer tourists most of the time, but the rude ones tend to come along often.

[Fred314X]

One can only speak from experience. In five and a half years as a conductor in the subways, I can tell you that I never ran into a rude tourist. Quite the contrary, I always looked forward to the summer months, when I knew that I'd have more than the usual numbers of tourists on my trains. The only problems I ever had in dealing with the public came from my fellow New Yorkers.

[COOLSCREENNAME]

i live in nyc all i have to say nyc is a different world

[Viralmd]

Except for small sojurns elsewhere, I've lived in NYC my entire life. I, also, have never met a rude tourist! I guess it was just your (un)lucky day.

[vitalove]

There are some rude tourists in this city. I've noticed it most recently. So I know you aren't making this up. Many of them aren't from this country or think that everyone here is rude so they can be rude too.

[Classicalguy]

Or, was it possibly someone who didn't speak english very well, who didn't know the right words? Tourests are usually appreciative of help.

[AndNYC]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. And the ones I've dealt with spoke English w/o a problem.

[Henna]

I don't see how it's rude to ask for directions to a place someone's standing directly in front of, unless it's done in a rude way. Obviously if they are asking directions to the place then they don't know they are right in front of it.

[IAmAngieBowie]

My favorite example of a tourist being all hurried and stuff was when I was on Broome St. a couple years ago. I had just finished dinner and a couple ran up to me and was FREAKING OUT about hailing a cab. They just couldn't figure out how it was done and they NEEDED TO KNOW RIGHT THEN AND THERE. Sheesh, people! (But it is a compliment to be mistaken for a native, hehe.)

[bmwguydc]

I think that the rudeness that some may have encountered from tourists is not intentional, but some people literally do panic when they are lost, and at such times their manners may elude them. New York is such a huge place that it can overwhelm people who are not familiar with big cities. On one occasion I met a couple (not Americans) who were on the verge of tears and panic because they were lost in Manhattan and afraid to ask for help, but they took a risk on me for some reason. And, those poor souls were genuinely terrified, and they were in Midtown!

I could see them just go blank when I was explaining that they were two blocks away from their hotel, and I just decided it was easier to escort them back to their hotel. Needless to say, the panic subsided and they were left with a good impression of the city.

That said, there are people who can tend to be a little on the rude side in general, though I have not yet encountered that tourist myself.