Quote Originally Posted by 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.
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.