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The World's Most Polite and Rude Cities
I don't know how empirical this study is, but here's the skinny. Reader's Digest dispatched several undercover reporters in three dozen cities across the world. In each city, the reporters:
- Walked into public buildings 20 times behind people to see if they held open the door.
- Bought small items from 20 stores and recorded whether the sales assistants thanked them.
- Dropped a folder full of papers in 20 busy locations to see if anyone would help collect the scattered contents.
The reporters awarded one point for each positive outcome and nothing for a negative one. The results of this "study" show that the top three most polite cities are New York, Zurich and Toronto. Conversely, Asia fared very poorly. Eight out of nine cities there finished in the bottom 11. Could this be a cultural thing?
The least friendly city? Mumbai, India. They may be rude in Mumbai, but they sure can cook.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia, North America
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Uji May 20th 2008 8:16AM
Though culture is mentioned, there are too many problems with this survey and the sample sizes aren't big enough to be statistically significant.
I live in Tokyo, which is surprisingly more rude and unfriendly than the rest of Japan--as is often the case with big cities. But, then that depends upon what neighborhood you are in, what people populate that area, and what criteria are being used.
There are cultural differences and personality differences that can affect the results. In much of Japan, people tend to be more shy than other places, and will be less inclined to pick up papers for somebody because they will feel like they are being intrusive, but people will usually pick up a single item or point out a dropped item. People don't make a point of holdings doors for others here, for it is just not considered a common courteousy, but they won't let a door slam in someone's face either. For one, Japan doesn't even have a history of western style doors; doors were sliding, and their was nothing to hold open, and therefore no door to slam in another's face. Shop openers will almost always thank the customer, but also standardly greet the customer as well, (something that isn't common in many places). In fact, several employees might greet you here, but not offer any assistance, for the customer is often expected to ask for assistance.
Keith Wood Jul 7th 2008 1:54AM
I think Oklahoma City is very friendly. I've visited there for the first time last month and I can't believe how friendly and polite these people are. The airport staff were vere helpful and friendly. I went to a restaurant in Norman(15 min from OKC) and I had one of the most sweetest waitresses. She was vere hospitable to me. She even offered me a free to-go drink!!
Other friendly cities: Charleston, SC, Nashville, TN
Least Friendly cities: NYC, Wash DC, Atlanta, Chicago, LA.
Keith Wood Jul 7th 2008 2:38AM
To all you Southerners, forget the civil war. It's a done deal. It's dead!! This is the United States of America, not the Divided States of America! When was the last time you said the Pledge of Allegance? Forget about the past and let's move forward as one nation, not two or three.
Mystics Aug 2nd 2008 4:17AM
Yes, I agree Mumbai is the most rude city in the world. Infact, I think the whole Indai is rude!!! Once I was in Bombay, O my God, it was very terrible....... Thereafter, Bihar of Indai, thats much terrible !! However, Darjelling located between Indai, Nepal and Bhutan is awesome. The people there are very polite, helpful, frank and friendly. very smiling faces even in streets , greeting each other ..... wonderful !!
Towards polite, I think Zürich can be a topper, if not well next to NY. I find the Swiss people very helpful and friendly than any other in the world except the people from Darjeeling.
paul Mar 9th 2009 12:26AM
the story changes if the insider is from a poor country.he get positive results in ny coz hes a westener too. new yorkers will only be polite if you came from europe nor you look like them, but if ur an asian or african.....sorry they will snob you....they will even treat you as beggar or terrorists....they will descriminate everybody except their kind...
candice Jul 13th 2009 10:01PM
new yorkers are definitely not rude as the stereotype says. the rudest city in america is by far dallas, texas. i live in near fort worth, so i should know. i can't wait to move back to california - people there may not be friendly, but if they're not, at least they leave you alone. they don't make it a point to be rude to a stranger. texas in general is the rudest place i've ever been.
Izzy Jul 25th 2009 9:32AM
Nah.. I dont have to apologize for anything.
I see what I see and stand by my comments. Chinese and Indians are disgusting people. Their ethics are at the bottom of the barrel compared to other developed or developing nations in the world.
Intelligent? No. Not any more intelligent than any other people in the world.
Multiligual? They cant even read their own chracters.
People around the world speaking Mandarin. LOL. Hunny. Get a clue. No one is going to be speaking Mandarin. English will ALWAYS be the world language. Dream on. China is a backward, horrible country where the people operate like animals. No civilized person wants to speak that language. The only reason they might have to is that the barbarians in China cannot learn our language.
Powerhouse? LOL. Watch..China will collapse internally very soon. The country is a mess. The people are animals and the civilized countries are starting to turn against these people. China had its 2 minutes of fame. Its over. Buh bye!
Maria Feb 25th 2007 2:45PM
My family and I traveled to Hong Kong for a two-week trip in December, our first trip to Asia. We found shopkeepers and restaurant personnel to be extremely polite and friendly. We decided that people on the street don't mean to be unfriendly, but it is so crowded everywhere that one must keep moving all the time, especially if one is trying to keep up with others in a group. Additionally, I can understand why people were reluctant to help someone pick up papers, as people are cautioned that pickpockets use diversions such as that to catch people off guard.
ericsmusclecars Feb 25th 2007 2:44PM
It's nice to be able to say Hello to someone and not have them think you are a serial killer, the good old days are over...it just doesnt pay to be friendly anymore. Sad real Sad
Ariel NYC Feb 25th 2007 3:08PM
I am not in the least bit surprised, although I am proud. I like my native New York better all the time. One of the good things about being here and growing up here is the array of other-nationals we come into contact with from all over the world. Multiculturalism is our suit, as a result, and I am sorry to say that Asians have fallen from my list of favorite contacts--East Asians and Indians--from my dealings with them recently, which coincides with the list this article speaks of. I was thinking to myself that this is indeed the Year of the Pig, as the behavior I have been experiencing in Asian (and Indian) restaurants exemplifies. They have all been acting in a very piggish manner, to my dismay. As for the headline about Mumbai's cooking (the former Bombay), I disagree... They burn out bacteria with their spices, but one's epithelial cells, as well.
Eddie Lucas Feb 25th 2007 3:24PM
New York the top choice? I'm really suprised. Maybe I shouldn't be, as a pastor friend and his kids visited New York and they liked it.
southrules Feb 25th 2007 3:20PM
I suppose the one that took this poll must be from new york otherwise it never would happen.
kath Feb 25th 2007 4:36PM
As a native New Yorker, I'm not surprised at all. We are the nicest people in the world! NY is also one of the safest large cities in the world, too (or is it THE safest? I don't remember). The rude people you might encounter here are never the natives. They are always the transplants who feel that once they're in NY, they can be as rude as they want. If you encounter a rude person, ask them where they're REALLY from. Chances are, it won't be here.
fran Feb 25th 2007 3:33PM
Is it really so surprising? Think about how New Yorkers behaved in the wake of 9-11. While the rest of America was looking for someone to take revenge on, New Yorkers were asking, "How can we help each other?" Disaster can bring out the worst in people - or the best. As a former New Yorker I'm proud to say that it brought out the best in a town whose rude reputation doesn't reflect its reality.
Allison Feb 25th 2007 3:38PM
I am a native californian, but New York city is by the far the best. I could not get enough of the city, and the culture and way of life there is something for us all to envy. They have a way of life and unity that we definitly do not have out here. I'll go back any chance I have, and is at the top of my list when I consider vacation destinations.
bootz Feb 25th 2007 4:00PM
I'm not so sure about this list
I would rank Australians , Canadians and South Americans as the most polite and fun people to hang out with.
Texans would be among the rudest
Winston Salem and Raleigh , North Carolina tie for the biggest ghetto dumps I've ever visited
Bob Resnik Feb 25th 2007 3:43PM
How about Miami??? You can be INSULTED and IGNORED in TWO languages!!!
Stacey Feb 25th 2007 3:46PM
As a small town southern girl with dreams of taking a bite out of the Big Apple for my 30th birthday last year, I made my trek to NYC with much trepidation, because of the reputation of rudeness. To my surprise, the reputation was totally false. The thing that I learned on my trip, however, was if you say "Excuse me" every time you accidentally bump someone, that is all you will have time to do and say. If becomes part of the experience to just get used to people being close to you. The ONLY rude person was a guy working in the Hershey store that was taking up the whole aisle with HIS basket. He saw me waiting patiently to pass and wouldn't move either way until I said "Excuse me" and HE said, "I wondered if you were going to excuse yourself for being in my way" or something like that. Hello? Who doesn't have manners here? He probably was from somewhere other than New York, but I know he sure wasn't from Tennessee, either! :).
jennifer carlson Feb 25th 2007 3:45PM
This doesn't surprise me. I visit NY once a year and the very first time I visited 30 years ago I was surprised at how helpful and pleasant most folks were. Frankly, I would say it's even become more so since 9/11, perhaps that tragedy made people pull together even more. Certainly, I've had some exceptions, no place is perfect. But usually the only straight out rude people I've run into were toursits.
jennifer carlson Mar 27th 2007 2:05AM
This doesn't surprise me. I visit NY once a year and the very first time I visited 30 years ago I was surprised at how helpful and pleasant most folks were. Frankly, I would say it's even become more so since 9/11, perhaps that tragedy made people pull together even more. Certainly, I've had some exceptions, no place is perfect. But usually the only straight out rude people I've run into were toursits.