To absolutely HATE New York

[GreetingsFromVenus]

Dreamed of going there for many years. Thought it would be amazing. Everyone seems to think it is.

Here now and I hate it. Extortionate prices, rude ignorant locals, so many aggressive beggars. mentally ill people shouting in the street. loads of homeless people. The subway stations are disgusting and feel very menacing compared to London.

I find it really depressing actually and feel that the way Hollywood has portrayed New York is all smoke and mirrors. It is nothing special at all IMO. In fact it has a LOT of social issues and it made me feel quite sick to be spending $100 just for a mid range meal for 2 (no dessert) while there were people asking for food outside.

Central Park - pffttt!

Cannot wait to get home next week and will never complain about London prices again!

Anyone else felt the same?

Appropriated objects from elsewhere are hardly interested because by being moved to the middle of NY they've lost all historical context and significance.

There go most of the museums in London.

www.centralparknyc.org/locations/belvedere-castle

The castle was built in place. Worth reading about.

The Obelisk was a gift from the Egyptian government.

From www.centralparknyc.org/locations/obelisk

In the 1870s, the Egyptian government gave one obelisk to England, and the second obelisk was gifted to the United States by the Khedive Ismail Pasha in commemoration of the opening of the Suez Canal. The removal of the Obelisk and its transportation to New York took over a year, and was a significant feat of logistics, diplomacy, and engineering. It was installed in Central Park in January 1881.

Oops, I misread that but nevertheless, a gift.

People from NY are known all over the world for being rude and abrupt. I mean, they're Americans so that's a given! At least people from NY usually have a sense of humour to go with it unlike many Americans. But to say Americans have a rude way of speaking and lack manners is hardly news, it's well known? They just have a very rude culture and speak to each other in a way that would never be considered acceptable in most of Europe, so obviously is a culture shock for European visitors. Even more so for people from countries like Japan where politeness is even more central to the culture. This is just a fact of differences in cultural norms surely.

That might be YOUR opinion. I find the majority of Americans I've ever met to be extremely polite and pleasant - and certainly nothing like the whining Brits I have encountered!!!

Honestly, I don't know what to say to OP. She's reported blood on the floor, (that she thinks is from stabbings), being accosted by pan-handlers every five minutes, paying more than $100 for a bad meal for two without desert, narrowly avoiding being ripped off $27 for a carton of take away fruit and ... she hates all the coffee in NY.

Far be it for me to wonder how hairy her palms might be, or why she can't use google to, at a minimum, find a great coffee place near her hotel, but I'll just say before the pandemic I was in NY every few months for five years for work. None of these things have ever happened to me. I've stayed in the usual chain hotels, Hyatts, hiltons, Marriotts. Only an occasional homeless person asking for money. It's winter and bitterly cold and OP seems to be a bit short on compassion.

And I used those take away deli style places for food every time. Even in WholeFoods (affectionately known as WholePaycheck over here) a carton on fruit is not $27. I wonder where she went.... I just don't get it... I recommended a few things, as did many people, but she seems comfortable in how much she hates it.

On the other hand, her thread has garnished a w-h-o-l-e lot of interest and I for one have enjoyed comments from regular posters like Misconduct and Princess Nutella, while being amazed, as I often am, by the overt prejudice some people think it's fine to direct at Americans.

Brit here by the way.

Thank you, anotherone! Let me reach across my blood-drenched subway platform for a friendly handshake!

It looks as if someone has forgotten that NYC is full of people from all over the world, and their descendants. I think NYC is fundamentally a Dutch city, with lots of Irish, lots of Jews, lots of Sicilians and Puerto Ricans, all adding their own special sass.

On my first, flying, trip to NYC many years ago, I was bowled over by the cheery helpfulness of the security guard in Penn Station who took a suitcase of ours and walked us out to the street on the right side for where we were going, then hailed us a taxi, the uncomplicated curiosity of complete strangers on the train form Long Island about the reason DD and I were schlepping two huge suitcases and two bulging backpacks, and above all, the offers of delicious food. DD is something of a fresh airian, but all I had eaten since leaving home that morning was a bagel in Baltimore airport and I must have looked starving. The taxi driver who returned me alone to Penn Station after dropping DD off offered me a bite of his sandwich, and it smelled so delicious I almost took him up on it. I settled for some of his fries. I dived into the bowels of Penn Station along with hundreds of commuters when my train to Long Island came up on the old noticeboard, and then took a taxi with two other passengers from the station to Islip airport - surprise surprise - winding our way via back lanes to a strip club out in the boonies where one of my fellow passengers left our taxi and asked the driver to wait while she picked up some money she was owed. We waited and waited and waited and waited. The passenger beside me in the back seat asked me if I was also trying to get back to Chicago on the last flight that night. More than half an hour later the woman came out and hopped back into the car, and we booted it to the airport. On the way, my backseat companion and I checked the meter and got our cash ready. As soon as the taxi stopped, fellow passenger slapped our money (plus tip) into the driver's hand and we legged it through the airport, which was almost empty. Fell into my own bed many hours later, dreamt of lox and bagels.

Outside of New York, 15-20% is expected. New Yorkers are greedy and rude. There is nothing there there.

@Ericaequites, you should get out more. See more of the country.

People from NY are known all over the world for being rude and abrupt. I mean, they're Americans so that's a given! At least people from NY usually have a sense of humour to go with it unlike many Americans. But to say Americans have a rude way of speaking and lack manners is hardly news, it's well known? They just have a very rude culture and speak to each other in a way that would never be considered acceptable in most of Europe, so obviously is a culture shock for European visitors. Even more so for people from countries like Japan where politeness is even more central to the culture. This is just a fact of differences in cultural norms surely

Americans are different all over the US and shouldn't be painted with a broad brush.

I live in a western state in the US and people here will always wave to each other when they're out driving. People will even stop their cars in the middle of the road to chat to someone. If there's a car stopped on the side of our many miles of open country, everyone passing will stop and make sure they are ok. Mind you, here you can drive 50 miles before you see another car on the road. We don't lock our doors or our vehicles.

My family/visitors from England were always amazed that the people here were so nice to each other.

“People from NY are known all over the world for being rude and abrupt. I mean, they're Americans so that's a given! At least people from NY usually have a sense of humour to go with it unlike many Americans. But to say Americans have a rude way of speaking and lack manners is hardly news, it's well known? They just have a very rude culture and speak to each other in a way that would never be considered acceptable in most of Europe, so obviously is a culture shock for European visitors. Even more so for people from countries like Japan where politeness is even more central to the culture. This is just a fact of differences in cultural norms surely.”

I find that really offensive and the complete opposite to what we experience. If anything it’s the reverse. Part of the reason I love the US is the people. The positivity, kindness , sense of humour, openness, zest for life….The minute you touch down in Blighty you’re dragged back down to Earth with the grumpiness.Travelled all over and my Dh has American family.

Maybe it’s attitude.We have come across nothing but kindness or professionalism in NYC on a budget. Never rudeness. 2 stories. We got married in NYC at City Hall. Forgot we needed witnesses. Freaking out and a lovely young couple gave up their entire morning and lunch hour to queue with us snd be our witnesses. So much help from various sources getting the paperwork done from pillar to post( it’s a ball ache). Another time got lost on the subway and a lovely bloke stopped his journey to personally get us on track and walk us to a better and quicker route and train…

@PlantingTulips

Oh dear. No sweetie, it's 2022. Wakey wakey!

Americans are rude. Fuck’s sake, even for a troll you’re a total melt.

@PrincessNutella

Yes it’s quite ground breaking. Was thinking of writing a book on my special techniques of communicating with the savages (Americans). It’s an unusual form of communication which basically involves me not being an arsehole. So far they have responded well to it so I’m thinking many could learn from it.

Years since we've been to NY so can't really comment but disagree with posters who lump all Americans as rude. We've had some brilliant road trips in the Western States and met nothing but kindness. We had a puncture in the middle of nowhere and, while my son was doing the necessary, 3 different people stopped to check we were OK - one on a large Harley had a gun in his belt which we'd never seen before. Waiting for elevators in Vegas, the Americans politely stood back 'after you', a breath of fresh air after England.

Saying all Americans are rude is like saying all Europeans are rude.
Just ridiculous.

I found New York one of the friendliest places I have been.

Was there last week and its great. It isnt usually normal to punish a homeless person for being homeless. Yes NY has lots buts thats because the US is a money obsessed cruel merciless society that destroys people who fail or choose the wrong path an grinds them into dust with no chance of redemption. Zero tolerance society. Its not because of New York. SanFrancisco and Honolulu are much worse they really are the pits of hell for homeless addicts. Make New York look like a holiday camp.

My DD went there for Christmas this year but stayed with her friends parents who live there. She loved it, they went to a show, and that famous Godfather Restaurant, and did some sights. I think it must help to be with someone who knows the place. She had no trouble at the airport and a taxi took her to where she needed at a fair price. I was relieved that she was with someone who knew the city though. It does not appeal to me at all.

@mathanxiety

It looks as if someone has forgotten that NYC is full of people from all over the world, and their descendants. I think NYC is fundamentally a Dutch city, with lots of Irish, lots of Jews, lots of Sicilians and Puerto Ricans, all adding their own special sass.

On my first, flying, trip to NYC many years ago, I was bowled over by the cheery helpfulness of the security guard in Penn Station who took a suitcase of ours and walked us out to the street on the right side for where we were going, then hailed us a taxi, the uncomplicated curiosity of complete strangers on the train form Long Island about the reason DD and I were schlepping two huge suitcases and two bulging backpacks, and above all, the offers of delicious food. DD is something of a fresh airian, but all I had eaten since leaving home that morning was a bagel in Baltimore airport and I must have looked starving. The taxi driver who returned me alone to Penn Station after dropping DD off offered me a bite of his sandwich, and it smelled so delicious I almost took him up on it. I settled for some of his fries. I dived into the bowels of Penn Station along with hundreds of commuters when my train to Long Island came up on the old noticeboard, and then took a taxi with two other passengers from the station to Islip airport - surprise surprise - winding our way via back lanes to a strip club out in the boonies where one of my fellow passengers left our taxi and asked the driver to wait while she picked up some money she was owed. We waited and waited and waited and waited. The passenger beside me in the back seat asked me if I was also trying to get back to Chicago on the last flight that night. More than half an hour later the woman came out and hopped back into the car, and we booted it to the airport. On the way, my backseat companion and I checked the meter and got our cash ready. As soon as the taxi stopped, fellow passenger slapped our money (plus tip) into the driver's hand and we legged it through the airport, which was almost empty. Fell into my own bed many hours later, dreamt of lox and bagels.

Brilliant story

I lived in New York for 12 years and I loved it. I have no idea what it is like in the middle of a pandemic. though. there is so much to see and do in NY. The shopping is great and honestly don't find the locals any ruder than they are in London. I feel safer in NY than I do in London. It's possible you had high expectations based on TV and film. At the end of the day it's a large city, full of people getting on with their lives. Get the ferry to Staten Island (free) just to see the views. Take a walk around Battery Park City (views). There are really lovely parts to Central Park. Don't write it off because it didn't live up to your expectations. Take it on it's own terms. Get the train up to the Cloisters art gallery at the very top of Manhattan. It's a great city for walking around.

People saying that Americans are all rude is pretty funny and certainly not my experience, although I've only actually been to NYC once when I was very young

I own a business in the UK and we have very many US customers, from all over the US but especially from NYC. As far as you can generalise they are great customers, vocally appreciative and genuine and good spenders. These same people though have no hesitation in letting you loudly know that service has slipped and not met their expectations, which is a quality imo

New Yorkers aren’t even remotely rude, that’s a total myth. What they are is extremely open and forthright, which I bloody love because you always know where you stand with them and they’re never slow to give a compliment as well as an opinion.

And for what it’s worth I had no experience of Americans having a ‘rude culture.’ Quite the opposite in fact, everyone we met spoke to us so nicely. Of course we spoke to them politely too and didn’t give the impression we were looking down on their entire culture so I imagine that helped.

Exactly.

I live in one of the Most Hated Counties in England, and we're apparently Renowned for being rude/insular/snobby/other vacuous insult. Some of us probably are, to be fair- but in my experience, you get what you give.

I think the kind of person who comes onto a popular forum like Mumsnet to bitch about somewhere, be it New York, Middlesbrough or Timbuktu, is going to find 'rude' people wherever they go.

Op - have you walked across Brooklyn Bridge yet? Or hired a bike and cycled it? Or taken a bait around Manhattan Island? Or walked the High line? Or taken the free Staten Island ferry? Or been in Moma or the NYC public library? Have you been to Battery Park and eaten from a food truck? Or taken the Path or a water taxi over to New Jersey and looked back at the Manhattan skyline? Have you been to the 9/11 museum and memorial - it’s incredibly moving. Have you gone to the top of the Rock and looked out over the skyline at the Empire State Building, or gone up the Empire State Building? Have you walked along Spring Street and home in all the little shops? Been to the enormous Strand Bookshop or McNally Jackson? Explores the West Village? Harlem? Seen a film at the Angelika? Gone to an off Broadway show? Been to the Met, the Guggenheim, the Air & Space Museum? Been to Ellis Island? Eaten in Little Italy or China town? Gone to Grand Central station and had a drink at the bar that overlooks the concourse and watch the whole world go by?

Can't agree more with you! Over the years I have had to make several trips to NY with my work, always staying in decent hotels and eating in expensive restaurants all paid by my company. Yet I never looked forward to traveling there, and always felt overjoyed when I was in a taxi on my way to the airport for my flight back to London. It's just not my vibe, I suppose, very brash, self-obsessed, crazily expensive (even compared to London) and actually quite fake, if you know what I mean. I think it would be different if you actually lived there for a number of years and were able to find your own "soul" places and people that you feel comfortable with /in. Having said that, I actually hate LA far far more having had to make multiple work trips there over the last 15 years. I'd say as much as I am not a fan of NY, I'd pick it any time over LA. And yes, I agree, each trip to NY or LA makes one appreciate one's life in London more and more.