The Rudest Place in America

[Bijo]

In the U.S. what city, location, etc. has the rudest, most vile, wretched, overall community or society? From what I know it has to be New York City, but perhaps others can shed some darkn light on it.

And while we're at it... what place in the U.S. has the most friendly, nice, peaceful community or society?

[Proletariat]

World of Courtesy: Ranking of 35 Cities
Below is a ranking of the most courteous to the least courteous -- 35 major cities included in RD's Global Courtesy Test. Figures reflect the percentage of people who passed in each city. When multiple cities had identical scores, they are listed in alphabetical order.

New York USA 80%

http://www.rd.com/content/good-manners/2/

Don't believe the hype about New York, it's a very friendly city.

[Lemur]

I have been in much ruder, meaner places than NYC. Try Detroit, or example. Try Gary, Indiana. Seend the night in East St. Louis, if you dare.

New York doesn't even rate among the most rude, evil, dangerous cities in America.

[Husar]

Very surprising I have to say, you hear about New York's rudeness quite often.

I think generally cities are more forgiving at least, if you get some villagers to hate you, you can just as well move away, in a city it's not as bad as there are many people around and city people are used to meeting a lot of different characters unlike villagers. I'd call that a general trend partly supported by my own experience though I'm not an american obviously.

In that context I also found it surprising to hear that some villages in the southern US are apparently very friendly places.

[Geoffrey S]

NYC? I doubt anyone who's been there can claim it's a particularly rude city. It's unique in the sense that everyone seems in a hurry because everything everywhere is so busy, but rather than interpreting that as rude perhaps not adjusting to the circumstances is in fact ruder? I found most people I met there friendly and informative, at worst brusque I had too many questions or the like.

[Bijo]

http://www.rd.com/content/good-manners/2/

Don't believe the hype about New York, it's a very friendly city.

Well, I'm not much of a believer to start with. It's just that I've been to places there and NYC was one of them. From all the U.S. places I visited NYC was the worst.

Granted, I have not seen it all which is why I said "from what I know..."

In fact, any place in America I visited seemed to be full of rude, dishonest, manipulative, evil, selfish people regardless of colour, race, class, etc. I ain't just talking they're in a hurry, no: they are plain RUDE and NASTY. The reason for this... I don't know in detail, but the fact stands.

Now, fellow people of the ORG, THAT... is one of the reasons I dislike that country.

[KukriKhan]

I have been in much ruder, meaner places than NYC. Try Detroit, or example. Try Gary, Indiana. Seend the night in East St. Louis, if you dare.

New York doesn't even rate among the most rude, evil, dangerous cities in America.

I've been to all those places - not so bad, IMO.

Rudest big US city I've visited (as in unhelpful, even hostile, to outsiders of any type): Atlanta, Georgia.

Friendliest big US city: Honolulu, Hawaii. A traveller there can almost get annoyed with how many smiling faces he sees per day.

Full disclosure: it's been 20 years since I've been to those towns.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Well, I'm not much of a believer to start with. It's just that I've been to places there and NYC was one of them. From all the U.S. places I visited NYC was the worst.

Granted, I have not seen it all which is why I said "from what I know..."

In fact, any place in America I visited seemed to be full of rude, dishonest, manipulative, evil, selfish people regardless of colour, race, class, etc. I ain't just talking they're in a hurry, no: they are plain RUDE and NASTY. The reason for this... I don't know in detail, but the fact stands.

Now, fellow people of the ORG, THAT... is one of the reasons I dislike that country.

That's a real nice generalization Bijo.......

Explaining that would be kinda nice, and you might want to take into consideration your apparent lack of tolerance. I mean how many other people regularly put up threads just to complain about things that they hate?

I'd have to say NYC isn't that bad. The people are in a rush sure, but do you expect everyone to stop on the street and say "Hi" like in a village or quite country road? No. And if you go to a restaurant, theater, or almost any other normal establishment the people are quite nice, informative and helpful. Oh yeah and there's some great food.

[Rodion Romanovich]

Very surprising I have to say, you hear about New York's rudeness quite often.

But they have the NYPD :
http://songphon.files.wordpress.com/...e_diehard4.jpg

[Ser Clegane]

In fact, any place in America I visited seemed to be full of rude, dishonest, manipulative, evil, selfish people regardless of colour, race, class, etc. I ain't just talking they're in a hurry, no: they are plain RUDE and NASTY. The reason for this... I don't know in detail, but the fact stands.

Hmm ... speak for yourself but don't call it "fact" as it rather seems to be a perception of you than a fact.

My own experience from half a year as an exchange student, a number of visits in the US in various areas since then and the daily interaction with people from the US in my day-to-day work supports none of your points.

When traveling in the US I rather found that in general people in the US were extremely friendly and helpful and the majority of people who spent time in the US made the same experience.

Perhaps you can give some examples of incidents that led to you (IMHO) somewhat unusual view?
Where have you been in the US and for how long?

[Geoffrey S]

In fact, any place in America I visited seemed to be full of rude, dishonest, manipulative, evil, selfish people regardless of colour, race, class, etc. I ain't just talking they're in a hurry, no: they are plain RUDE and NASTY. The reason for this... I don't know in detail, but the fact stands.

The only fact I see standing is that it's your opinion, and not one many share. Some might even say that your comments here are rather rude and nasty to an awful lot of people from NYC.

[Bijo]

That's a real nice generalization Bijo.......

Explaining that would be kinda nice, and you might want to take into consideration your apparent lack of tolerance. I mean how many other people regularly put up threads just to complain about things that they hate?

I'd have to say NYC isn't that bad. The people are in a rush sure, but do you expect everyone to stop on the street and say "Hi" like in a village or quite country road? No. And if you go to a restaurant, theater, or almost any other normal establishment the people are quite nice, informative and helpful. Oh yeah and there's some great food.

No, it was not a generalization. I simply said that every place I visited in America was more or less BAD. This experience (among other factors) MADE me dislike the country AND I am not saying that any place in it is like how I described those others. And my lack of tolerance, whether true or false, is irrelevant.

The fact stands and it cannot be negated.

[Bijo]

If I visit places and I objectively notice people are rude, is it not a fact that these people in these places are rude? Do you really think I would allow emotion, beliefs, subjectivity, and such for judgment? The fact that they were rude stands.

The only fact I see standing is that it's your opinion, and not one many share. Some might even say that your comments here are rather rude and nasty to an awful lot of people from NYC.

You should know by now I do not like opinions unless they are necessary. And the people who might think I am being rude should know I am not if they remember how I would operate in debates and discussions. I provide the facts and that's it. What you're saying comes close to ad hominem.

---

Ser Clegane:
Some examples:
- ignoring when you talk
- looking dirty at you
- cursing you out

I've been there a few months.

[seireikhaan]

Hmm, can't say personally for rudest. Friendliest? Well, Iowa's pretty friendly for the most part, especially in comparison to other parts of the country I've been to.

[Lemur]

I objectively notice people are rude

How can you objectively declare a phenomenon that is, by definition, subjective? I'm not saying that people weren't rude, I'm just saying that I think you might have to lose your license to use the word "objective" for a while. Felony malapropism!

[Geoffrey S]

If I visit places and I objectively notice people are rude, is it not a fact that these people in these places are rude? Do you really think I would allow emotion, beliefs, subjectivity, and such for judgment? The fact that they were rude stands.

Considering a city, or as you expanded it later a nation, as a whole rude hardly sounds objective to me.

You should know by now I do not like opinions unless they are necessary. And the people who might think I am being rude should know I am not if they remember how I would operate in debates and discussions. I provide the facts and that's it. What you're saying comes close to ad hominem.

Seems like you're having some trouble separating your opinion from fact.

Regardless, I remember quite well how you operate in debates and discussions. Can't say I was particularly impressed. Ad hominem? Sure; by definition one's opinion of another is.

[Marshal Murat]

I'm sure that when I visit Greece I'll give it a purely objective view...

Rudest place? I'd say Miami. The city of Miami is a nice place, but the traffic is horrendous, crime is up, and it's dangerous to be anywhere after dark.

Nicest place? I'd say Cedar Key, Florida. Small island off the west coast, fishing town, friendly. Honolulu is close second, but you can't go wrong with Florida State fans.

[Veho Nex]

Novato, California... Due to the fact that every here thinks they're better than every one else. just try to cross the street and you'll get run over.

The nicest place

Fairfax, California... Due to the fact 99.9999999% of the population is a bunch of hippies who are constantly high on LSD, pot, cocaine... it goes one

[English assassin]

In fact, any place in America I visited seemed to be full of rude, dishonest, manipulative, evil, selfish people

On my (obviously) limited samples, I'd say I have been struck by how very polite Americans are.

I'm afraid they must get a nasty surprise when they come to England.

[Geoffrey S]

One thing that I found noticeable is the amount of service; at restaurants, at shops, anywhere. It's not necessarily better, but there tend to be a lot more people than in the Netherlands/England and service is quicker. I'd imagine that'd be annoying for Yanks heading over this way.

[Devastatin Dave]

I have been in much ruder, meaner places than NYC. Try Detroit, or example. Try Gary, Indiana. Seend the night in East St. Louis, if you dare.

New York doesn't even rate among the most rude, evil, dangerous cities in America.

Actually East St Louis isn't very rude, they hardly say anything to you when they sneak up from behind to murder, rob, or rape you.

[Devastatin Dave]

Rudest big US city I've visited (as in unhelpful, even hostile, to outsiders of any type): Atlanta, Georgia.
.

Thats because of all the damn yankees thats moved down there, ya jerk!!!

[Kralizec]

I haven't been to the USA myself, but some of the most obnoxious people I met when on vacation were...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Dutch.

As tourists, our reputation is horrorible and I can see why. Last year I went to the Garda lake in Italy, the year before that to Mallorca (Spanish island) and at times I was embarassed by proxy, and sorry for the fact that neither my English or German was good enough to pretend that I wasn't one of them. Of course not all or even the majority of them...err, us are obnoxious, antisocial trash but the ones who are make enough noise to give that impression.

Beat that, NYC

[Lemur]

I lived in Madrid, Spain, for about half a year, and I gotta say the worst-behaved tourists were

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

More than any other group, they refused to speak the local language, and mangled it horribly when they did. But then, I think Spain is where their yobs go to get drunk and obnoxious.

[PanzerJaeger]

Detroit. Ugh. Horrible.

NYC is a very pleasant place.

Any of the cities in the South, as long as you aren't in the ghetto, are very friendly besides ATL.

Also, Im wondering what made everyone act so hateful towards the OP. Do you use deodorant?

[Boyar Son]

MIA got fare share of spanish talkin' people I don't like.

[Peasant Phill]

Haven't been to the USA so I can't comment on the most rude American city.

The most annoying tourists? Definitly the Brits. I also get annoyed by the Dutch but that's probably because Belgians are sometimes mistaken for Dutch in other countries (same language).

[Banquo's Ghost]

I must say that in my visits to the United States, most people have been delightfully polite. There is a deep vein of hospitality that reminds one of the way I fancy the Old World might once have been.

That's not to say that your average American (let's assume there is such a person) once he takes it into his mind that you are deserving of dressing down, cannot be the most inventively rude person on the planet. New Yorkers particularly, can insult one every which way - and you will know it from the first syllable. A Parisian will destroy you while you smile, and you will only discover your fate after your last friend blanks you.

Most Americans take pride in their directness, which can be alien to those of us from more "subtle" Europe. As regulars here will know, I have the tendency to fall into pomposity, and that particular vice is anathema to our trans-Atlantic cousins. They will tell you so, and bluntly. Sometimes, if you persist, they will simply ignore you. This is hard on the ego, but good for the soul. Being direct is not rude, but can be interpreted as such by the delicate hothouse flowers of the European court, such as myself.

I have also found (to the cost of my self-esteem) that my Mr Spock impression - widely revered in the salons of l'ancien regime, provokes humiliating derision among the colonists.

Even in LA, everyone's a critic.

[Odin]

Come to Boston, we enjoy being rude to everyone, you idiot.

[Fragony]

I haven't been to the USA myself, but some of the most obnoxious people I met when on vacation were...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Dutch.

As tourists, our reputation is horrorible and I can see why. Last year I went to the Garda lake in Italy, the year before that to Mallorca (Spanish island) and at times I was embarassed by proxy, and sorry for the fact that neither my English or German was good enough to pretend that I wasn't one of them. Of course not all or even the majority of them...err, us are obnoxious, antisocial trash but the ones who are make enough noise to give that impression.

Beat that, NYC

So true. No surprise we dutchies avoid eachother when abroad. Best tourists, americans and germans, always polite always calm. Worst, brits, dutch, russians.