Rob

Hey Bruce. I think the response from Jim Rosenberg was right on the money. I'm always impressed by the politeness and friendliness of folks in the two Canadian cities I've spend much time in: Toronto and Edmonton. Ditto, for Minneapolis, which is basically in Canada, anyway, isn't it? One I'd like to add is Atlanta. I go there a lot on business and am always treated well. I've lived in DC for four years now, and have to agree with your assessment. I moved here for the career opportunities, and the cosmopolitan environment for rearing my young children, but there really seems to be very little sense of community here, even compared to other large cities where I've lived (e.g. Boston and New Orleans). It's a very transient place, and a very competitive place, full of Type A personalities. Good luck!

curious

I find myself agreeing with Leone again! Wherever I go people smile and say hello to me. It just may be that I am usually the first to do this. I never meet someone's eyes in passing without at least smiling if not saying hello. Try it and you'll see how much friendlier people seem to be.

Samantha

My opinions are based on where I've lived, not where I've traveled because I think while on vacation I'm extra freiendly and outgoing myself, so my judgement might be clouded to the friendliness of others. ;-)

That being said, and although I hate to make generalizations, the people in the smaller towns (populations of 15,000 and below) I've lived in have seemed to be friendlier to me than those in larger cities. Maybe it's because I've seen the grocery clerk on a regular basis, or the bank teller knew me by name, etc., but to me small town people are more friendly and genuinely concerned with each other.

Samantha

P.S. - To specifically answer your question, Bruce, those friendly towns I lived in are Cheboygan and Escanaba, MI and Arcata, CA. I must say, though, the culture shock you would get moving to any of those after living in D.C. would knock your socks off! ;-)

Leone

And I with Curious. Sometimes I've tended to forget what a smile will do ... just some straight eye contact, soft voice and a small smile, held. And you can wait for it to be reciprocated. Inner feelings leak, good or bad, and are returned. To brand one place unfriendly, well, start your assessment inside, and odds are you'll need go no further ... and certainly not out of the area. DC or Atlanta, unfriendly, nothing happening? Really? Have a nice journey. Ciao

PS. To Willy B: you understand the origins of the name you've chosen? No, not the deceased gorilla in your zoo, but back 45-50 years earlier, including the airport. Clue in the folks, why don't you!

karen

Interesting coincidence that you should post this question now...I grew up in NY and found many to be aggressive and rude (using professionals, cashiers and retailers as a basis of comparison). Moved to LA and found generally people were more friendly but superficial. Moved to N. VA just outside DC and have thought people to be generally pleasant. Just this weekend I went to Norfolk for the first time and was amazed at how completely friendly so many people were, from the police officers, bus drivers and chefs to the people we saw on the street who asked if we needed help finding a place. Amazing how the attitude changes the further you get from the big cities.

Willy B

Willy B the gorilla is/was named for William B. Hartsfield, the former mayor of Atlanta, the man responsible for, among other things, the airport, Cyclorama and the Atlanta Zoo, or as those backward Atlantans call it Zoo Atlanta.

L

Well, Willy, half right anyway. The old airport, probably gone before you arrived, if you're there. The Cyclorama ... you might want to recheck it. Regardless, sounds like you're a bit hostile toward the Phoenix ... has the traffic got you down? Possibly you lack that real, living sense of where Atlanta came from ... you didn't experience it several decades ago ... a city too busy to hate ... and don't think that trite until you've walked and watched the hoses, dogs and prods deter people in other towns from walking in their own streets for a deep cause. Ciao

Christie

The friendliest people I've found yet are out in West Texas. I guess everyone there is friendly because there aren't many people there, so they are just nice to everyone.

Willy B

Nope. Haven't lived in the big Phoenix for quite some time, although I still go back there to visit friends every now and then. 'The City Too Busy To Hate' is a P.R. slogan, no? If that were really the case people wouldn't tell me that MARTA stands for "Moving Africans Rapidly Through Atlanta".

L

Well, Willy ... I don't communicate with racists. I don't even give them a "ciao" ... but I do wish them a FY.

Chris

The South..hands down is the friendliest place on Earth.....even in the bigger towns....go to KY, TN, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC for some of the best people on the planet.

Chris is in KY

WillyB

L, there's not a racist bone in my body, not the case apparently in the city too busy to hate.

L

Willy, bad vibes there, guy ... but don't forget to pick up your own personalized FY. Unlike Atlanta, looks like you're not too busy.

Mia

Was recently in San Diego - aka Eden & Paradise...everyone we encountered was great - must be the exquisite weather. I notice that the maybe 2 weeks a year it's "perfect weather" here in Houston everyone's in a great mood!

Suzie

OOOOO Mia so true about SD. Was visiting my sister when she had access to many cars in poor working order. Wherever we went we'd need a push into a parking spot or out of a parking spot or over to the side of the road. EVERYBODY helped. Nobdy was ever asked, they all just jump out of their cars and give you assistance and then wave good bye. The police helped too. No admonishing on the sad state of the car either. Most places you get the middle finger salute for slowing down the traffic.

Nan

Sorry Windowseat for your experience here in Los Angeles. The people who ride the public transit here (mostly buses) are usually poorly paid immigrants who speak very little English. They are hard working and work long hours, they most likely are just too tired to smile and try to carry on conversations with strangers. They communicate fine with each other though, and if you came to know one I am sure you would find him/her pleasant, on the norm. The more middle/upper class people here very rarely take buses, they are each in a private car and there is one "major" subway line.
I also find that the more a store pays their workers the friendlier they may be. Unless you go to a really upscale shop, they may assume attitudes towards you the customer.

arabella

Oh, Bruce, paradise awaits. Buy some change of address cards, pack up your things and move to Charlotte, NC. This is the prettiest and friendliest city you'll ever encounter. You'll love it here.

Nancy

I just returned from a trip to NYC and my daughter and I couldn't get over how friendly everyone was that we encountered. We rode the subways, and so many people helped us out (probably because we looked so clueless with our map). People didn't necessarily come up and start up a conversation, but whenever we struck up a conversation or asked a question, everyone we met was helpful and friendly. It was a very pleasant surprise.

G. Kremer

Having lived in the Northeastern U.S. my entire life & traveled the U.S.& Canada quite extensively,I've found people to be the friendliest in Canada, then in the U.S. it would be the Far West,Southwest, New England, & the South. I find people in the Northeast to be the hardest to socialize with & someday I'll be OUTTA HERE!!!