# Egotistical New Yorkers!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 16, 2005, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273 "2005-11-16T05:55:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/41 "2005-11-16T15:39:47Z")
Well… it’s just like the Yankees being the greatest team in baseball. It’s a fact. You don’t have to like it, especially, or anything else. It’s just that, well, NYC is the greatest city in the world. The capital of the world, some people call it. It used to be Paris. It’s not, anymore. And, after the 70s, most of us are really glad to live and work in a place we can be proud of. After Sept 11th, and the Blackout of '03, we’re even more proud that most of us did the right thing, stuck together, and helped our fellow man. Because it didn’t use to be that way. But now it is. And that just makes a great city even greater. That was one of the coolest things I ever saw, when the lights went out, how people shrugged, looked around, and started directing traffic… and the drivers obeyed. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/42 "2005-11-16T15:53:49Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > So New Yorkers, yes, you come from a great city. Just shut up about it already. You dumbfucks from Podunk are the ones what oughta shut up, y’know? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/43 "2005-11-16T15:56:44Z")
In NJ, I always got confused by people occasionally referring to Philly or Trenton or even Red Bank as going to the City. It is not Ego, The City just commonly means NYC. Philadelphia is Philly. Trenton is a large Town, Red Bank is a small Town. NYC is the City. This is just how most of us in NJ were raised. I am sure this is true for Long Island and most of NY state and large parts on Connecticut. As far as NYC vs. London, Paris and Tokyo. Please don’t forget Tokyo. These are the top 4 cities. I can’t say which is #1 they all offer more than anyone can do in a lifetime. Interest article that kind of backs up what I am saying. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global\_city#GaWC\_Inventory\_of\_World\_Cities](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city#GaWC_Inventory_of_World_Cities) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/44 "2005-11-16T16:15:05Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > When New Yorkers refer to “the city”, they actually mean Manhattan. To the point where some of us forget the distinction doesn’t exist to everyone. :smack: Would that clear things up for you, **Rodgers01** , if you knew those people were saying “I’m from Manhattan?” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/45 "2005-11-16T16:25:58Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > I didn’t realize various Greek dialects counted as different languages now. I know you’re making a joke (I might have used Russian, having lived in Forest Hills in the past), but for those who don’t know, Queens County is often cited as the most diverse population on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/46 "2005-11-16T16:41:09Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > I wonder if being ignored isn’t one of the best things Chicago has going for it. Too much limelight can be bad; being ignored helps to let interesting things happen – and keeps the rents down. Posting here before I read the rest if the thread, so if someone else said this - sorry. We here know how cool Chicago is. It’s our secret, and if the rest of the world doesn’t catch on, it’s because we are discreet enough to laugh and snicker quietly to ourselves. And yes, I love in suburbia, but I was born in the city and spent most of my adult working life downtown, and make it down as much as I can whenever I have a decent enough excuse. Ahem, and shall I say one more time: **World Champion White Sox** ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/47 "2005-11-16T16:43:27Z")
The claim that any thing or city on the Right Coast is the Best or the Greatest in nonsensical on its face. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/48 "2005-11-16T16:44:17Z")
In da Bronx, we also say “we’'re going to the city” meaning we’re going into Manhattan, although you also hear “downtown” meaning the whole boro too, not just below 14th St. or something. Went to college near Boston and we said “going downtown” if we were going into Boston, but “going to the city” meant the girl was going to NYC. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/49 "2005-11-16T16:53:45Z")
A badly remembered quote: “If a man is from Texas or is a graduate of Harvard, they’ll find a way to let you know within 30 seconds of being introduced”. VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/50 "2005-11-16T16:53:53Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The claim that any thing or city on the Right Coast is the Best or the Greatest in nonsensical on its face. 😃 I lived in San Diego, I visited LA often and my BIL lives there. I have been in Frisco 3 times. All 3 together don’t add up to NYC. I like Frisco the best, it is an interesting city. LA is just too spread out with too little mass transit to have a real city feel too it. It reminds me of North Jersey with better Weather and better Beaches, but at least in North Jersey is a quick train ride to “The City”. Frisco feels like a city, it has the sounds and the rhythm of a city. You can get to most places by Cab or transit. Very nice place. Not NYC, but a great city. San Diego just wasn’t a city to me, I lived there almost 4 years and I never did figure out what San Diego was. I am thinking it is just a giant beach community. I don’t know which city you live near, but this was my East Coast view of California. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/51 "2005-11-16T17:00:15Z")
> [@Dead Badger](#): > > This thread keeps reminding me of perhaps the [worst commercial I’ve ever seen](http://www.mylifemycard.com/commercials/spot5/index.html) I god, I do hate that commercial. It’d be so great if it were for, y’know, something other than a credit card. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/52 "2005-11-16T17:14:13Z")
Having lived in/around Chicago for all of my life, I can agree that I enjoy the Second City status. I was in and out of NYC (mostly 5th Avenue, for work) fairly often, and loved every minute of it. There’s an energy, a feeling of being “in” the whole melange of NYC. It is a great, vibrant feeling. Is it the “Greatest” city? Not sure, I haven’t been to London, Paris or Tokyo yet. One thing I don’t like about smaller cities (I guess everything from Phoenix on down (btw…hate Phoenix)) is that there usually isn’t much variety. There is usually one museum, a bunch of chain restaurants, and one area of bars filled with people who go to the same area weekend after weekend. I cringe to think what that would be like. I think it was Rodger01 who mentioned Chicago first…I will happily be my hometown’s #1 promoter. Lastly, we do the “City” thing around here, too. For most of the Midwest, I think “The City” is Chicago. Better food ehre than in NYC or London, btw. -Cem ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/53 "2005-11-16T17:18:59Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > I god, I do hate that commercial. It’d be so great if it were for, y’know, something other than a credit card. Seriously. The first time I saw it I was convinced it was a charity thing until the end; the second time I saw it I nearly threw something at the TV when it got to the “my heartbreak” bit. Blech. Something weird is going on in Commercial Land at the moment. Somehow, ads are getting out that are clearly not viewed by a single human being before release. Here in the UK there’s one for City & Guilds, a vocational education college, called [The Real You](http://www.therealyou.org.uk/). Go to the site, watch the ad, and see if you can tell me that the message isn’t (and don’t peek before watching): “City & Guilds courses: they’re a bit like getting caught wanking by your mum.” \ ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/54 "2005-11-16T17:22:26Z")
I would just like to say, to those that don’t like New Yorkers saying that New York is the greatest city in earth, thank you. Thank you for hating me. I really appreciate it. You are wrong of course in your opinion but you are entitled to it. But I am glad that you can now openly hate New York again in a way that hasn’t been done since 9/10/01. I prefer the hate. The loathing. The fear. I didn’t move to NYC and put up with all the hassle of NYC to be pitied. I like the fact that when I say, “I’m from Brooklyn” strangers instantly get a look of fear, and although they wouldn’t admit it, respect in their eyes. Yes, I am a New Yorker. Fear and Loathe me. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/55 "2005-11-16T17:28:34Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > New York City residents, please take note. You are not the center of the world. You are not center of the US. The US extends west of the Hudson. Buy a friggin car and take a cross-country trip. :eek: Nooooooooooo! Don’t encourage them! There are no worse, more homicidally aggressive, or purely incompetent drivers than those with the NY tags! They’re a major scourge on the roads of New Jersey (like we don’t have enough bad drivers, and potholes, and other problems to contend with). ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/56 "2005-11-16T17:29:39Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > Having said that, I simply need to add: > New York is the capitol of the Universe. and you would be correct - with the addendum (because I cannot spell ‘proviso’) that you need a mother of an income to reside there If NYC is “The City”, then where I live is “The Island” - try saying that to someone from, say, Minnesota! 🙂 Long Island is nice - close enough to NYC to have it accessable at will (if you can stand that traffic) and far enough away to not have to deal with it 24/7 (Westchester can claim that as well) What I find ojectionable is NYC area based TV stations taking about only NYC or “North & West” of the city as the only geographic locations worth reporting on. What are we that spread over 200 miles to the east? Chopped Liver? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/57 "2005-11-16T17:31:29Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I would just like to say, to those that don’t like New Yorkers saying that New York is the greatest city in earth, thank you. > > Thank you for hating me. I really appreciate it. You are wrong of course in your opinion but you are entitled to it. But I am glad that you can now openly hate New York again in a way that hasn’t been done since 9/10/01. I prefer the hate. The loathing. The fear. I didn’t move to NYC and put up with all the hassle of NYC to be pitied. I like the fact that when I say, “I’m from Brooklyn” strangers instantly get a look of fear, and although they wouldn’t admit it, respect in their eyes. > > Yes, I am a New Yorker. Fear and Loathe me. Wow my brother just loves the Food & Bars. Oh yeah and the fact he can jump on the subway to Manhattan & Yankee Stadium. On Food: I think **Cemetery Savior** you might be mistaken. NYC has great food and largest variety of any city I have ever seen. (I have not been to Paris) Chicago has great food; NYC has great food and a larger variety. New Orleans had the best food but that might take a while to recover. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/58 "2005-11-16T17:43:50Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I would just like to say, to those that don’t like New Yorkers saying that New York is the greatest city in earth, thank you. > > Thank you for hating me. I really appreciate it. You are wrong of course in your opinion but you are entitled to it. But I am glad that you can now openly hate New York again in a way that hasn’t been done since 9/10/01. I prefer the hate. The loathing. The fear. I didn’t move to NYC and put up with all the hassle of NYC to be pitied. I like the fact that when I say, “I’m from Brooklyn” strangers instantly get a look of fear, and although they wouldn’t admit it, respect in their eyes. > > Yes, I am a New Yorker. Fear and Loathe me. Where the hell is that coming from? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/59 "2005-11-16T17:52:42Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Where the hell is that coming from? From the heart, baby. It’s coming from the heart. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2005, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273/60 "2005-11-16T17:59:00Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > From the heart, baby. It’s coming from the heart. Then that is a dreadful persicution complex, if having someone disagree with your belief that you live in the greatest city in the world is the same as hating, fearing and loathing you. And what is this ‘I come from brooklyn so fear me’ crap. ‘I come from a modern city where I am never more than five minutes from a tripple caramel mocha latte and double McCheeseburger so **fear** me’. It’s just laughable. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egotistical-new-yorkers/331273.md?page=4)