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Apparently, everyone hates Detroit

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) on Jun 25th 2009 at 4:30PM

TripAdvisor.com conducted a survey of 3,400 Americans, asking them their opinions about various cities. The result may or may not surprise you: Everyone loves New York and everyone hates Detroit (above), which was not only listed as the "Least Favorite," but also the "Least Healthy" and "Dirtiest."

Second and third place for least favorite city? Los Angeles and Atlanta. Why's everybody hating on Atlanta? They did win for "Nicest Sounding Accent."

San Francisco was the second favorite, and Boston and Chicago tied for third. Conversely, Boston also got "Most Annoying Accent." Clearly, these people have not been to my hometown of Minneapolis.

Other cities with mentions include Miami for "Sexiest" and Honolulu for "Most Romantic." Seattle got "Healthiest" and Washington D.C. got "Best Free Attractions." Cleveland got "Most Boring."

My favorite part of this survey:
Friendliest and Most Helpful: New York City
Least Friendly and Helpful: New York City

Ah, sweet paradox. I will forever argue that New Yorkers aren't mean, they're just fast. Almost everyone in New York will be happy to help you if you bottom-line your question.

Click the images below to read about the world's dirtiest cities:

Filed under: United States, News

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 9)

Kelso Rogers Jun 25th 2009 7:03PM

And why are they hating on Los Angeles? It may be urban sprawl, but it it full of life and mostly happy people - hey, it's California. But, Detroit is right on. What a pit - dirty, dangerous, parts of it still burned and fenced-off from years ago. They built the Ren Center and the new stadium, which is nice, but the rest of it just sucks. Sorry if you live there.

Tony Jun 27th 2009 10:02AM

Don't feel sorry for me. I live in the Detroit area, and I love it. I will never leave. I feel sorry for all the people in this country that think Detroit (or the Detroit area) is the worst place to live. We have many faults, this I agree with, but there are many reasons our area is a great place to live.

Randi Jun 27th 2009 10:34AM

Kelso, do not feel sorry for me please! I have been to LA and it was very nice but I was only a tourist so do not know the "feel" of your city. I know the feel of mine and would not live anywhere else. My son stays in LA for months at a time for work and cannot wait to get back to Detroit. Also, I gather from your post, you have not been here in a very long time or have never been here. Do not believe all you read. Love my city, my state, my 4 seasons, yes..even the snow, love it all and right now the state needs help, not pity.

Kelly Jun 28th 2009 2:40PM

I love how everyone hates on Detroit for their run-down areas with burnt, boarded up and falling down buildings. No one stops to think that EVERY major city has these "attractions". I have been to LA, NY, Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh...omg I could go on and on. In EVERY one of these cities I have seen destruction, people struggling to live yet so proud of what they do have. It boils down to "sections" of these cities. There are very nice parts of NY, LA, Chicago, Atlanta, etc; however, keep in mind that there are some very sad and scary parts in all of these cities as well. Detroit is not alone.

DJ Jun 26th 2009 1:31AM

I am living in Europe, and even Europeans talk about how bad Detroit is. So, the feelings are worldwide!

Ringo Jun 27th 2009 10:47AM

Does anyone in the U.S care what all of Europe thinks? Not me. I live here, love it and you all have no clue so your opinion does not count in my book.

reduxredux Jun 27th 2009 11:06AM

You were the worst beatle

Paul Jun 27th 2009 12:47PM

How can a person have an opinion of a place if opinions are based on news info only? if this is the case I feel sorry for Europe in general.

bruce Jun 28th 2009 6:47PM

I love detroit..... we have heart.... and it is not that dirty.... most people would go out of there way to help you here.... I do not live in detroit but in a suburb of the city and drive through the west side to the east side early every morning.... and I always feel safe..... there is a lot of good history in detroit.... not to mention we love our sports..... beautiful parks.... excellent resturants and hotels..... etc. etc.... so stop beating up the city I was born in..... I would not want to live anywhere else.... other than where I live in the nice suburb of the Motor City!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike Jun 28th 2009 6:54PM

Why do cities turn bad?

kath Jun 26th 2009 7:42AM

I understand how New York can be on both lists. As a native New Yorker, I've always known that the natives are the nicest and most helpful people. It's the transplants and tourists who tend to buy into the rudeness stereotype and I've even overheard someone telling her friends that it's OK to be rude in NY. People - it's never OK to be rude and obnoxious, no matter where you are.
What we ARE is sarcastic. Maybe that's what some people consider rudeness. New Yorkers invented sarcasm, and sometimes there is a fine line between it and rudeness. I guess where that line is depends on where you originally come from. Some people just "get" us and some people don't.

Lucy Jun 27th 2009 8:12AM

You are right on. You and I know that Manhattan is just 1/5 of NYC. If you really want to see NYC you have to see all of it, the other Boros. Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. That is the real New York and the great people. Not just Manhattan where the transplant live who give us real natives a bad rap.

Lucy, NYC born and raised : )

Rose Jun 27th 2009 9:50AM

I so agree with you. I was not born in NY but spent most of my life there, I now live in Atlanta and miss NY every day. I love New Yorkers, I love getting to the point and the intelligence to appreciate sarcasm is priceless. New York and New Yorkers rock.

Me Jun 29th 2009 3:33PM

Part of it is that NY'ers tend to be more straightforward. It's just like on a subway. You'll see the meanest looking people help a lady with her baby carriage....and once they get to the top of the stairs that person who helped doesn't stop to even be "properly" thanked. They keep going because they are in a rush. That's just how NY works. I can contrast that you other places where people smile at you - call you sir or ma'am - but won't hesitate to stab you in the back the first chance they get. I've experienced it in many other states....which I won't even name right now. There are rude people everywhere - and likewise nice people.

Anna Jun 27th 2009 1:37PM

Kath,
I visited NYC only once and loved every minute of it. The people were friendly, extremely helpful and very interesting. I would go back today if I had the chance. You have a beautiful city! Oh, I forgot to mention...the delicious food!!

Joyce Jun 27th 2009 1:40PM

I moved to PA after 20 years in the Rockies and spend time in New York City where my child lives. My experience with New Yorkers has been very positive. I've stood on a corner confused about which way to go and have had people come up and ask if I needed help. One woman even walked me to the nearest subway station without asking for anything. Most taxi drivers are nice when you start a conversation. Some aren't but there are friendly and not friendly people everywhere. In the small shops and restaurants, people are generally pretty nice. I love NYC. Nothing bad to say about New Yorkers. They have a great, great city and they're mostly nice folks. :)

GERALD Jun 28th 2009 4:48PM

PLEASE I grew up in NewYork and moved before Hig Schho to south Florida. You can keep NEW YORK!!! You have no basis in reality of how nice and helpful people are if you think New Yorkers are nice in comparison to peope from around the country. I have Travelled extensively as my job requires it.New York is a nice place to visit but having lived in a few other places and now living in South Florida I can tell you New Yorkers are far ruder then they are in many other places.LOL they are fasy is just the typical excuse the people use and then when they eally start getting Elitist and Feel that they are superior then others ,they start saying well people aren't intelligents enough or do not get sarcasm. LOL hypocrites to say the least.YES people from all over get saracasm and theyy understand the difference between that and a-holes and you that think you are just realy saracastic are in reality a-holes.There are definitely Some Rude and Sarcastic peope here in South Florida but I recognize them right away as my Former Bretheren from NEw York(transplants). The same people I was happy years ago to get away fom.They are of course just like you others saying oh it's just saracsm and saying how everything is better in New York and how much they hate it here .LOL go back home!! I didn't move this far for you psychos to stalk me and live next to me. FAIL !!!! Yes their are many nice helpful NewYorkers but or the most part many of them have the same hypocritical and bigoted attitudes of the people posting on here.Other are just not intelligent enough to pick up on our Saracsm(excuses for everything rather then accepting that you have huge faults).

TNA Jun 28th 2009 5:28PM

So true. My husband was born and raised off Exit 17 in NJ. Met and married him in California, we've been together many years.

One day he comes home and asks me "Do you think I'm abrupt? Someone called me abrupt at work."

To which I replied: "Honey, you're not abrupt, you're from New Jersey."

I love NYC, the problem is that some tourists often mistake sarcasm for rudeness. This is most likely due to an undeveloped sense of humor and a tendency to take themselves and life too seriously.

Joyce Jun 28th 2009 6:47PM

I am a native southerner and my dad took me to NYC when I was 14. I loved every minute of it. The only thing that made me shake my head is that every time I asked someone something or said something, they looked at my dad and said, "What did she say mister?" A priceless memory for me. Thanks New York.