Posted on 06/20/2006 7:51:21 PM PDT by Mr. Brightside
World's Politest People? Poll Says New Yorkers
POSTED: 2:20 pm EDT June 20, 2006
NEW YORK -- New Yorkers are the politest people in the world.
Is that a joke?
No way. Residents of the city that's gained a reputation for being rough 'n ready seem to actually have better manners than people in places like London, Toronto and Moscow.
That's according to a poll conducted by Reader's Digest, which sent reporters "undercover" to 36 cities to measure courtesy. Points were awarded for responses, and the results were compared.
Each reporter did three things: walked into buildings behind people to see if they would hold the door open for them; bought small items in stores and recorded whether the sales assistants said "thank you," and dropped a folder full of papers in busy locations to see if anyone would help pick them up.
More than 2,000 people were put to the test.
New Yorkers turned out to be the best bunch: 90 percent held the door open, 19 out of 20 store clerks said "thank you," and 63 percent of men and 47 percent of women helped with the flying papers.
In short, four out of five New Yorkers passed the courtesy test -- topping the list.
So guess which city ranks last in the politeness poll?
Mumbai, India.
The rudest cities in general were in Asia, where eight out of nine cities tested finished in the bottom 11. In Europe, Moscow and Bucharest ranked as the least polite.
Reader's Digest, which reaches 80 million readers in 21 languages, will publish the results in its July issue.
There's just one hitch with the poll: It's not scientific.
So there's still a chance that a visitor to New York can conduct his or her own poll: to find some rude New Yorkers.
I'm not at all surprised. People here are friendly, polite, and helpful.
NYC in a 1970's movie is hardly the gold standard by which to judge.
Sorry, mate. New Yorkers simply cannot hold a candle to Parisians in terms of rudeness. To compare the two is to compare firecrackers to JDAMs.
To me, talking fast and walking fast and being impatient with everyone else to "move on" just don't correlate with being nice, polite and friendly, which take an extra few seconds of time.
I love NY! I have never had a bad experience with New Yorkers in the city or out east ("longuyland"). The only rude people I ever encountered were foreigners in the city.
Going to NY this coming weekend and can't wait! Love having drinks at Kennedy's and perhaps dinner, too.
With your attitude, maybe that's why.
Bingo. (handing numberonepal a see-gar!)
The pollsters must have been mugged in New York and senseless while collecting data that announced that outcome.
longuyland". That's funny and true!
They are forecasting rain for the weekend. Just hope your plans don't include beaching in Longuyland. If not, NYC is fun in any kind of weather. Enjoy!
I'm a native New Yorker and about one of the politest person you will ever meet.
Tick me off, and you will totally understand why New Yorkers have a bad rep.
And I moved out of NYC in 1982 at age 22.
http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2006/07/polite.php
They rank Bangkok close to the bottom of the list which is very accurate.
I've lived in both the South and NY.
Nyers are wonderful, good hearted people that will give you the shirt off their back. They don't have time for bs, and a lot of what passes for rudeness is simply their frank way of speaking at machine gun pace.
The south has some great folks too. I'm amazed at the true helpfulness of some of the folk I've met. But I can tell you, a lot of what passes for their politeness is simply that they aren't going to tell you what they really think of you.
I find sometimes I don't trust them, because they are more deceptive about their feelings. They'll smile at you and say "Bless your heart". It took me while to realize that was southern for "You idiot". NYers just roll their eyes and call you an idiot to your face.
Hi Swampmonster and Everybody,
My family and I have done a bit of moving around the country and have experienced mostly friendly people and hospitality in some form or fashion in every place we lived (we have zigzagged all over).
We moved to a city of 1.3 million and were told by friends..."just get used to the fact that you won't know your neighbors!" I told them if you make the effort, you can get to know your neighbors.
The first weekend in our house, our neighbor came over with a loaf of homemade bread, a jar of homemade preserves and a big,fat Sunday newspaper. I just had to ask where she was from and her reply was, "Wahoo, Nebraska!"
I made chocolate chip cookies for every new neighbor who moved in on our street (the street was partially developed when we got here). We may not know everybody on our street, but for the most part, most of the ones I do know look out for one another and their property as well. We all wave greetings, at the very least!
Poll or not...bottom line is I am just so proud to be an American! :D
As a European who travelled a lot in your country I have to say that New York is the friendliest town I have ever been in the USA.
When I visited Manhattan I learned how helpful NYers were. I was constantly lost, but all I had to do was go up to anyone and just say where I wanted to go, like "Times Square?" or "Macys?", and they'd stop and point me in the right direction. Everyone was very helpful and friendly.
That could simply mean "I hate litter"
..years ago, on a "carload" weekend trip to NYC, our vehicle's battery went flat. On approach to one "those" tunnels.
I was amazed at the folks that came of the line to help us. From shady Banger types to Joe Suburbia (NJ) in town with the wife and children for a ballet.
Running on a weak battery and no heat, we made it home.
Thankful for New Yorkers for getting us going.
That does not apply to New York waiters who all seem to be having bad hair days.
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