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I think people need to use some common sense when trying to analyze these surveys on rude cities.
Cities like New York City, D.C. ect that score highly on the rude school shouldnt shock everybody. These are high paced, frenetic, and high volume cities that produce some tenision and anxiety.
When going to New York or D.C. if you get lost or need some information, rather than stop someone on the street who is in transit to get somewhere else, go into restaruant, news stand, or grocery shop and ask your questions.
I am not going to argue that yes indeed New Yorkers or DCers can be rude or terse------I guess I can be also when I have my mind filled with things that I am reviewing on my way to an appointment or visit. It would be great if they stopped and politely answered all your questions, but life goes on and you just have to grin and bare it.
New Yorkers can be very pleasant also----it depends on when you catch them and at what place in their frenetic day it is. Dodging thousands of bodies a day in Manhattan, avoiding speeding taxis, and trying to make their way around town while traffic is moving at a snail pace sometimes breeds what is perceived to be rudeness----understand that when you are in New York or D.C.
I think people from DC are much more rude than folks from NYC. NYC is just busy, move fast, and tell it like it is, but you can ask anyone for help, directions, or recommendations. Ive had great times in NYC, but then again...I am not a lost tourist.
That list is very subjective though.....Ive had bad experiences in small towns (Ft. Walton beach) that I never saw in big cities.
I agree with Jefff - people perceive a place to be rude simply because everybody isn't nodding and smiling as they pass thousands of tourists scarfing down a hot dog. Shocking that the densest, most pedestrian oriented cities on the east coast are also considered the rudest. I've had great conversations with strangers and never had trouble asking questions or answering them when others need help.
So tired of these travel "journalists" resorting to the most cliche stock monument photos they can for DC. Can't they travel enough to get a picture of this rudeness or at least one with people actually living in the city?
You got to be somewhat stupid to think its not. Ride on the Metro and you have to deal with idiots in a way many would consider rude. Anyone stupid enough to talk to people they meet on the street would be eaten alive. Keeping a cautious distance avoids a severe beating.
You got to be somewhat stupid to think its not. Ride on the Metro and you have to deal with idiots in a way many would consider rude. Anyone stupid enough to talk to people they meet on the street would be eaten alive. Keeping a cautious distance avoids a severe beating.
That is the rudest post I've ever seen on here. If you go around calling people stupid, you should expect to get your ass kicked. No one's ever asked you for directions or for a type of food in an area? For as gruff as they are initially, New Yorkers are notorious for giving out great advice and directions to strangers on the street. I get asked questions all the time. They initiate, not me.
This is life in a big city; if one thinks the overall behavior is rude (obviously rude stuff happens) it's probably more indicative of a more suburban or small town life experience and expectation or perhaps an unwarranted fear of the city. Once you get used to it, you realize most behavior isn't rude at all. You'd be amazed at how nice people are when you ignore the punk kids looking for a reaction and stop pretending you live in a war zone with everybody else.
This is life in a big city; if one thinks the overall behavior is rude (obviously rude stuff happens) it's probably more indicative of a more suburban or small town life experience and expectation or perhaps an unwarranted fear of the city. Once you get used to it, you realize most behavior isn't rude at all. You'd be amazed at how nice people are when you ignore the punk kids looking for a reaction and stop pretending you live in a war zone with everybody else.
I agree with you that rudeness seems to come hand-in-hand with big cities, but why does it have to be that way? Nobody is forced to become a jerk as soon as they move to the city. If you're like me and don't like it, do everything you can to break the cycle!
But I agree with O.P. - by far, the thing I hate most about DC is how rude people are and how customer service is totally nonexistent. It's really the only thing that makes me question living here.
I think in a lot of cases people don't want to impose upon others (ie by randomly making small talk with a stranger on the metro) or they keep to themselves to avoid unwanted attention (ie, those people asking you for money when you are at the metro station). I like to think I'm friendly and helpful - there have been a handful of times that tourists have approached me with questions, or I overheard a conversation on the metro/street and tried to help them out. But I can understand why people might perceive individuals in this area as being not friendly or always in a rush or something.
There are a few experiences I've had where people really were flat out rude though. One time I was at the amtrak station and tried to ask this guy a question about the platforms (because it was my first time taking the amtrak), and he sounded extremely annoyed when he replied. Now he was a total a hole.
I suppose living and visiting places are two entirely different entities. However, I went to the District for business for a week in August and really didn't find the residents to be standoffish even. Didn't actually meet a rude local. I did witness a couple of crazy horn blowers, however.
You want a city that defines rude, provincial and cliquish? Louisville, Kentucky. I've lived there and I'm not joking. (I know Alanboy would probably disagree with me, but I'm glad he's had a good run there.) Oh, the stories...
I left DC for a slower better paced life in the south and haven't look back. If I had a nickel for every time I held the door for someone and they didn't say thank you in DC, I'd be a millionaire. Rude, awful, egotistical people. Glad I made it out.
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Agree...
