HEY, USA

Survey Shows Politeness In New York Is Not A Contradiction In Terms

Reader's Digest recently concluded a survey of 36 cities in 25 countries in an effort to quantify courtesy. Turns out NYC is the only metropolis in American that the results smiled on.

The Big Crabapple also beat London, Moscow, and even its generally affable northern neighbor, Toronto.

Those who dread Gotham take note: 90 percent of New Yorkers who unknowingly participated in the study held doors open for others; 19 out of 20 store clerks said "thank you"; 63% of men and 47% of women helped with dropped papers.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was not surprised, primarily because it’s his job to praise New Yorkers. Specifically, he maintained that when he travels abroad, he hears praise for the Big Apple's good manners. "We want to think the worst of ourselves,” he decided, and then affirmed, “and people from around this country and around the world think exactly the reverse."

Those who wish to enjoy the exotic splendors or mercantile obsessions of Asia might prepare themselves. Eight out of nine of the cities in Asia, including Mumbai, India, ended up in the bottom eleven.

Visitors to Europe’s newly or, at least, nascently democratic nations, might also be on guard. Moscow and Bucharest were ranked the least polite.

You can con the results yourself in the July issue of Reader's Digest.

If you happen to be reading the issue in New York and it drops out of your hand, we’re sure a courteous passerby will bend down and pick it up for you.

RETURN TO HOME