Boy, nytraveler, you stepped into an unscooped pile of dog poo with that statement!

You know, I've always wondered about that whole "New Yorkers are too rushed too...." or "NYers don't have time to..." When you think about it, it's just plain silly.

That said, I want to say that I don't think I've ever made a visit to NY (and there've been quite a few over the past forty years) when I didn't have a pleasing encounter that brought a smile. And I'd think..."unfriendly New Yorkers? No way!"

One of the most memorable was when we had our 6 year old daughter and 4 year old son with. I had them both in tow, crossing a street to get to Gristede's for some morning food fixings. And a driver unloading his truck called out, "Beautiful children, Ma'am!"

Now that I live rural, after many, many years in Chicago, I do notice the difference between city-folk attitudes (typically much less open and friendly, which certainly can be seen as attitude in the direction of rudeness) and country.

Rude? Nah! Quick and to the point? Yes! Wouldn't you want someone to be honest with you? I just returned from New York City, and I ran into a few nice people (RUDE PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE IN THIS WORLD. We just deal. Think about how many people live in NYC too.). When the group I was with was in Central Park, we got lost going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I told my friend I'll just ask someone. Before I could ask, the woman right behind us just jumped right in and pointed us in the right direction. She was walking most of the way we were going so if we made any wrong turns she made us aware. There was a friendly man at the Delta terminal. I had a small conversation with someone at a Yankees game. In general, everyone was great. Now, there was one person at a shop in Times Square who was rather rude. Someone put their items on the counter and they were told to move them because that was their space. Then, the same person needed a pen and the person was quite rude before they handed one over. Seriously though, I have dealt with worse here in Alabama. I have never talked to a rude NY'er on the phone.

Faina, My dad told me about that thing on CNN while I was there last week. I told him that most of them probably would be nice if you ever got a chance to slow down and talk to them. It is rush rush rush everywhere. I was glad to get in my car at home and drive freely.

During my last trip to Paris a couple of years ago, I remember thinking, "this is not the REAL Paris, the people are much too polite. And they have suddenly remembered all that English they learned - how nice."

Sometimes a place gets a bad rap & no matter what the people do, it just stays with them. I think NY is a place like that.

The pace is a lot quicker in NY than many other areas of the country, which unfortunately results in some rude behavior. But I have experienced rudeness all over the country (and world) and would be loath to single out NY.

I did meet a family from Indiana on a cruise last year. The wife was an absolute daredevil, had done many things that most middle-aged women would probably not do, i.e., skydiving; bungi-jumping; but figured - hell, when you live in Indiana, you gotta do something! In NY, just getting back & forth to work every day is a major challenge.

"2) even at home you probably don;t have to deal with so many time-consuming issues that we do."

I think I'll take my midwest nap now. Wake me up if the cow needs milking.

JJ5, I never said sales people in America have fake smiles. Europeans say it.

I'm a bit late with a reply on this topic, but here goes...

Not saying thank you or please does not make a person rude. What makes a person rude is when they assume that others are rude simply because they din't say please, etc. That makes them rude, and ignorant.

NYC is a busy place, so we tend to save the formalities. If that makes you feel uneasy, then check into a self-esteem clinic, where you will receive instructions on how to be less self centered. The end result: you won't feel the need to recieve a thank you or please, or whatever salutaion makes you feel all warm and fuzzy.

Summary: Get a life.

Is there really a Fodor's Jacka$$ Hall of Fame? What a great idea, obxgirl!Do they mount a nice little tarnished plaque w/your screen name on it when you get inducted?

Well, yankee, I lived in NYC for seven years and all the service people with whom I dealt were almost uniformly polite. They didn't "yes, ma'am" me to death the way people do in Georgia, but they were almost always polite.

It is in large groups of people that the niceties matter most. It's more important that a long line of people wait patiently and kindly, as groups can turn into mobs and mobs---well, they're dangerous by nature. I think most New Yorkers know this instinctively. They may not give voice to extra "please"s and "thank you"s, but they act nicely, and in a densely populated area, isn't that what constitutes polite?

Who is YankeeDoodle and why is this their first ever post? Why this topic? Why this old thread? Why at this time?

Hmmm.... I have my theories but only a select few posters (or one?) will ever know.

nytraveler you need to get over yourself. After spending a lot of time in NYC (business and pleasure, in tourist destinations and residential areas, at expensive places and cheapo ones) I have to say that your attitude and self-importance seems to be the minority. 98% of the people I have encountered are not at all what you describe - they have had 2 seconds to say "please" or "thank you" (the idea that you too busy rushing around to say 2 words to people is amazing) they have held doors and performed other niceties and I have always tried to return in kind. I have nothing but positive things to say about New Yorkers I find it one of the friendliest cities; I was however upset that the man attacked by a person with a cordless saw on the subway yesterday said no one would help him – apparently you must have been on his train and were too wrapped up in your own little world to help. You are the type of person who gives the rest of the city a bad reputation and you shouldn't be surprised when you are treated as you treat others.

Pay attention to whom your are addressing when you reply to a post.

The man was attacked at 3:30am. I, and probably not many others, were on the train, or even in the station at that hour. But of course, your telepathic powers allowed you to see everything, everyone, and their exact position in relation to the person that was attacked, and their ability and willingness to assist the man.

You're the type of person who talks a good game, but would be the first to put your tail between your legs when it came time to help another person.

YankeeDoodle, why are you responding to a comment addressed to nytraveler?

Hmmm......

Why don't you follow the bouncing ball.

YankeeDoodle, having trouble keeping your personalities straight?

I think we've answered the question in this thread title...

"What rude New Yorker!"

Now, we know which one. (Maybe not which personality, but at least we have a name)

grantop,

Have you realized yet that you initially replied to the wrong person, and that you erroneously addressed nytraveler, instead of me? Does that not impress upon you that the only conclusion to arrive at would be that nytraveler and I are indeed two seperate people? Or is your mind so filled with "voices" that you are incapable of distinguishing between your own personalities and the personalities you perceive to be with other people?

starrsville,

For someone so apparently concerned about the propriety of addressing anothers message, you sure do stick your nose in where it doesn't belong. Don't you have dusting you need to finish?

>>> where you will receive instructions on how to be less self centered<<<

Great advice. Concentrate on being a bit less self centered.

READ!

grantop's comment was addressed to nytravler NOT to you, YankeeDoodle (unless you also happen to be nytraveler).

PS - thanks for your concern, but I do not dust.

If you are having trouble following this, then take a few minutes to read the comments by nytraveler that stirred up quite a dust storm (pun intended! )

Every five years or ten years they do this survey.

Every time NY comes up on top.

Every time people are surprised again, it's the NJ people that are rude, not the New Yorkers.

Z.
(A proud New Jersey resident)

I'm sure I come across as extremely rude when I find myself late for a meeting and I am trying to navigate the tourist clogged sidewalk around my office (Rock Center). It is so incredibly frustrating when people are just standing in the middle and not moving. A simple "excuse me, please" usually does NOT work. A louder "EXCUSE ME" usually does not work. Finally, you just have to push your way through followed by a helpful "Not a good place to stop". Usually, I'm given the evil eye when I do this but come on!

As for the whole "please", "thank you", "thanks for shopping here miss" business.... I'm just happy when I receive efficient, COMPETENT assistance so that I can get my prescription, dress, dry cleaning, furniture, etc. and get out.