Are New Yorkers the rudest people in the country? That’s a question that many folks have asked, especially those who have visited the Big Apple and experienced its fast-paced and sometimes abrasive culture. Some might say that New Yorkers are just honest, direct, and efficient, while others might see them as impolite, impatient, and arrogant. But is there any truth to the stereotype of the rude New Yorker, or is it just a myth?
A recent survey claims to have identified the rudest cities in all of America – and yes indeed, the Big Apple – A.K.A. New York City, topped the list with over a third of the vote. NYC was crowned the rudest city in all of America.
With 34.3 percent of all respondents putting NYC at the top of their list, it had nearly twice as many votes as the second-place finisher, Los Angeles, California.
That survey was not the only one to have given the city that dubious distinction. Another survey – this time from Travel.Alot.com – also named NYC the place with some of the worst residents in the entire country.
It shouldn’t come as too much as a shock that the Big Apple earned this not-so-great badge of honor, as the reputation for rudeness has been following New Yorkers for centuries.
As far back as 1774, when President John Adams said:
“I have not seen one real gentleman, one well-bred man, since I came to town. At their entertainments there is no conversation that is agreeable; there is no modesty, no attention to one another. They talk very loud, very fast and altogether. If they ask you a question, before you can utter three words of your answer they will break out upon you again and talk away…”
As if topping the list of the rudest places wasn’t enough, the Empire State has still another strong contender for that title.
A different kind of survey was released by Insurify and it based a city’s rudeness on the temperaments of their drivers. Who are the most aggressive people behind the wheel? That honor went to Schenectady.
According to Insurify:
Despite having just over 67,000 residents, Schenectady greatly surpassed more populated New York cities with a 120% higher rate of rude driving violations than the state average. Schenectady is the only city that appeared on last year’s list as well.
The upstate city was found to have one of the highest percentages of drivers with violations on their record – with 1.93 percent, which is 120 percent higher than the state average.
All told, the Empire State takes the cake–and for many of us, it’s a bitter bite to swallow.
