The Rudest Place in America

[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.

[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.

[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.

[ICantSpellDawg]

NYC is hell's butt hole. I live in Nassau and work half of my week in the city.

The people aren't evil, but the sheer number of them and their overall demeanor is: negative and rude. Plus, they tend to be pretentious know-it-alls.

I've lived in:
Ann Arbor, MI
Lyle, IL
Kingwood, TX
East Northport, NY
Hicksville, NY

I came from America's Heartland to America's athletic cup to America's over sized colon.
For some reason I keep getting closer and closer to the worst place on earth (other than the whole of European Russia)

[Craterus]

I'd say New Hampshire. Felt like an unfriendly place from the moment I crossed the border. Just before actually, you can see their welcoming slogan on plenty of signs just before you get there.

[CrossLOPER]

For some reason I keep getting closer and closer to the worst place on earth (other than the whole of European Russia)

Oh, come now.

[Husar]

Best tourists, americans and germans, always polite always calm.

Are you sure about Germans? What i hear is they drink a lot, reserve the best places in the sun hours before the sun comes up etc.
And no, I'm not a german tourist, I hardly ever get out of here.

[ajaxfetish]

Best tourists, americans and germans, always polite always calm.

That's surprising to me. My impression both personally and through the stories of others is that the 'American Tourist' is clueless, self-centered, and loud. However, most of our members impressions seem to be that their own countrymen make the worst tourists. Perhaps we're just a little self-conscious about how our nations represent themselves to others in the world?

For Geoffrey's sake,

It is fact that most of them were. Then I provide this fact to you/others. Is
ignoring a person when you shouldn't, subjective: when should you?
cursing a person out for no apparant reason, subjective: perhaps they have a reason?
being psychologically aggressive, very subjective
and looking/staring at someone in dirty ways, subjective: what is a dirty way?
not rude? We know more or less what is rude and what is not, we have more or less defined it and given it values and recognitions. Those examples I named ARE examples of general rudeness which we can all agree upon, unless you LIKE being cursed out and such? Subjectivity? Meh....

Subjectivity? Yes. A lot. Plus you still gave no specific examples. Who was psychologically aggressive? What did they do that you considered psychologically aggressive? What interaction had you had with them prior to their 'psychological aggressiveness?' Etc.

In my experience traveling in and out of my own country, people generally treat you the way you treat them, and you get as much out of traveling abroad as you expect to.

That may be your answer, Bijo. There's a lot of truth in those words.

Ajax

[mrdun]

I have been to America once, school skiing trip to Lake Tahoe. People there were all friendly especially in the skiing resort.

[Louis VI the Fat]

In my experience, Americans are very polite and friendly. Both the tourists over here and in America. I've never understood where the stereotype of the rude American comes from. In fact, the difference in general courteousness compared with Europeans is so great that it is simply embarrassing.

The one stereotype that is perhaps true is that Americans are loud. They talk louder, with bigger gestures and with more extensive facial expressions. But it is not obnoxious, simply the way they comunicate.

Entirely subjective and not based on any extensive travelling: LA was the worst, North Carolina the friendliest.

[JimBob]

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.

Damn straight. Gary and to a lesser extant Indianapolis are two of the most miserable cities anywhere. To the Europeans, skip 'em. Come to Chicago. We're nice people.