Comments on: Overheard in New York

By: Virginia Postrel

Virginia Postrel — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 05:53:25 +0000

While I'm not exactly known for my fine manners, I was indeed raised in a household where "shut up" was banned and "poophead" was inconceivable. We were the only kids on the block who didn't call our parents "Sir" and Ma'am."

By: Victor Lombardi

Victor Lombardi — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 00:52:44 +0000

We New Yorkers, with our diverse ranks, are rather stubborn in our insistence that we honestly express our emotions, despite how the Anglo-Saxons have consistently showed us that supressing one's emotions is the civilized way.

Perhaps we're just doomed to having low "EQ"s.

By: Tom Guarriello

Tom Guarriello — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 02:27:57 +0000

I'm not sure why Virginia sees this little snippet of NYC "inside baseball" a "rude." Here's why.

I'm assuming this encounter has taken place in an apartment building (girl and mom together, hands full). Assumption, but I'm going with it. That implies understanding of the NYC rule-set. When the younger passenger transgresses, albeit in a minor fashion, the "gentleman" oversteps his bounds, in my opinion, with his second comment. One was fine as the younger passenger acknowledged. When the gentleman poked the young lady in the eye in a quintessentially New York fashion ("learn some manners") I hear him speaking New Yorker to New Yorker; tribal logic shared only amongst ourselves. This is a very unlikely next step between a New Yorker and an obvious out-of-towner. As is the young woman's response. She's saying, "hey, I live here too and I know I screwed up but not that badly you asshole." These are intra-familial goings on, no more "rudeness" than your kid sister calling you a poophead.

By: Virginia Postrel

Virginia Postrel — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 03:58:40 +0000

I have to disagree with Peter. While New Yorkers are not as consistently rude as their reputation, they are indeed rude, in exactly the way this little exchange illustrates. They are terribly worried that someone will take advantage of them, even if by not saying "thank you." Most other parts of the country are at least as welcoming to strangers (especially if they're not planning to stay permanently) but more considerate in everyday life. I personally find Angelenos far more polite than New Yorkers, especially when driving (someone will always let you merge in), and equally or more welcoming of strangers.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:34:01 +0000

Having spent extended periods of time in every continent except South America, and having worked and lived across both the USA and the UK, I have to state that, as a generalization, New Yorkers are the politest people around. One key purpose of good manners is to make strangers feel welcome, but manners are only effective for this purpose in cultures which welcome strangers. English culture, alas, does not. The English, who think they invented manners, are like unkempt and rowdy children in comparison with New Yorkers.