Social Dynamics

People tend to judge NYC most by the way people act. Between the stereotype that New Yorkers are rude and the idea that the subway is always dangerous, a lot of what people think about the city comes from quick assumptions, without ever even visiting. In reality, both are way more exaggerated than they are true.

"All New Yorkers are Rude"

People love to say New Yorkers are rude, but most of the time they are just direct and straight forward. The city moves fast, and people usually do not waste time with extra small talk, which can come off as rude if you are not used to it, but you will get accustomed really fast. Most people are just trying to get where they need to go, and that fast pace gets mistaken for attitude. In reality, New Yorkers are usually helpful when you actually need something, they just are not overly friendly for no reason. Ask for help you will receive, but truthfully they usually do not go out of their way. As Everywhere Once points out, what people often read as rudeness in New York is usually just people being direct and moving quickly. That stereotype has more to do with pace than actual attitude.

Movies and TV love to make New Yorkers seem aggressive, impatient, and rude. Shows like Seinfeld and How I Met Your Mother play into that stereotype by making the city seem full of blunt, sarcastic people with no patience. While that kind of personality definitely exists, it is exaggerated for entertainment. Most people in NYC are not rude, they are just busy and honest. They are also usually minding their own business, which is honestly a positive.

I have been to a lot of major cities including Chicago, Montreal, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Detroit, Houston, you get the idea. I can proudly confirm that there is no city that compares to the hustle and bustle of New York City. There is a reason they call New York "the City that doesn't sleep." Between being the most denselty populated place in America and also having the leading economy in America, people aren't always going to go out of their way for you, and honestly they might loose a little bit of patience which can lead to them being seen as rude. Maybe it is because I have grown up in the city all my life so I am accustomed to it, but I really do not see the nastiness people always refer to when talking about New Yorkers. Yes, people can be a little harsh at times, but that usually comes from the fact that everyone is always moving. There is no time to waste in NYC. Any other city I have been to moves slower, which can come across as friendlier, but in New York it is less about being friendly and more about getting where you need to go.

"The Subway is Always Dangerous"

The subway gets talked about like it is dangerous all the time, but for most people it is just part of everyday life. Millions of people take it every day to get to work, school, and everywhere else without any issue. It can be crowded, loud, and sometimes uncomfortable, but that does not automatically make it unsafe. Like any public place, you just have to be aware of your surroundings and use common sense. Also in recent years, there is always police down at the subway.

Usually NYC is depicted poorly especially when it comes to the subway. Media shows the subway in the most dramatic way possible, which makes people think it is always dangerous. Shows like Law & Order and movies like the Joker often use the subway as the setting for crime or violence, which adds to that image. In reality, most subway rides are just people commuting, scrolling on their phones, or trying to get home. The dramatic version gets shown more because it is more entertaining for media, not because it is the most accurate.

Here is what I think about the subway. Do I think ten year old children should be riding alone on the subway in NYC or any transportation in any city alone? No. Have I been riding the subway alone since I was ten? Yes. A commonality in all 5 boroughs besides Staten Island, is to have your child ride the subway alone. It is not bad parenting it is simply because that is just what New Yorkers consider the norm. Parents and guardians trust the NYC subway system which is why they allow it. According to governor.nyc.gov, the "New York City Subway is on track for its safest year in a generation. With two weeks left in 2025, subway crime is at the lowest level in 16 years". Honestly, I cannot pinpoint one time where I even felt like my safety was even the slightest bit at risk on the subway. Of course there are freak accidents that happen from time to time, along with your local New York "crazy person" on the subway. Most of the time they are usually just yelling while running around, and tend look a lot scarier than they actually are. If you are planning on visiting New York, the subway is a nonnegotiable, unless you want to spend half of your trip sitting in the back of an Uber or Taxi. It is also WAY CHEAPER. As for those moving to New York, specifically Brooklyn or Manhattan, the subway truly changes your life. Though it can e scary from time to time, with typical traffic it can save you hours.

Social Dynamics

"All New Yorkers are Rude"

"The Subway is Always Dangerous"

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