7 Things That Are Rude Everywhere Else But Normal In NYC

Katherine Ripley • April 11, 2016

New Yorkers are definitely not known for their manners. Perhaps that just goes with the territory when you live in a city of 8 million people, and nobody wants to be anyone’s door mat. Here are seven things that would be considered rude anywhere else, but are acceptable in NYC:

1. Cutting someone off

Yeah it’s rude, but when you make the decision to drive in NYC, you’re tacitly accepting the terms and conditions of our roads, and it’s a dog eat dog world out there.

2. Driving straight through the crosswalk

Pedestrians beware: most drivers feel no obligation to let you cross, even when the walk sign is on. If they think they can make the turn without hitting you, they’ll go for it. Don’t purposely walk in front of them to try to teach them a lesson. This is the city where you’re most likely to get away with a hit and run.

3. Claiming that subway seat for yourself

Unless it’s needed by someone who is old, pregnant, or has a disability, it’s totally acceptable to make a beeline for that subway seat and maybe jostle one or two people in the process.

4. Shoving your way onto a crowded subway car

If it’s a choice between pushing your way in, and waiting 10 minutes for the next train, you’re going to push your way in. People will moan and groan about it, but they know they’d do the same thing.

5. Cutting the line at the club

NYC nightlife is not a democracy—it doesn’t belong to the people, it belongs to the elites. If you’re trying to get into a club and you don’t know that, you’re going to be waiting a while.

6. Not tipping for take-out

It’s an expensive city. You order take-out so that you can avoid tipping, even though it sure would be nice to throw some money at the guy who took your order and boxed it all up for you.

7. Ignoring people

Whether it’s panhandlers, subway performers, people yelling about Jesus, or annoying protestors, you don’t have to feel bad about looking the other way. You develop an immunity to it after a while.

Cover photo credit: Jens Schott Knudsen/Flickr