# Is NYC as interesting, intimidating or scary as it is made out to be **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 20, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029 "2015-09-20T23:20:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/81 "2015-09-23T15:20:40Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And yeah, fer cryin’ out loud it does not all smell urinous. I have to agree. As I said before, I have never smelled anything like it. Rank, yes, foul, yes, but not urinous. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/82 "2015-09-23T15:49:16Z")
As a capital-I introvert I have no trouble finding myself alone here. And I can get from home to work in under half an hour. My grocery store is around the corner and down one block. My office is steps away from a brand new world-renowned [museum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Museum_of_American_Art) and a most innovative [park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line_%28New_York_City%29). Obviously NYC isn’t everyone’s bag, but there’s no need to engage in dramatic hyperbole to make your point. (BTW, if the walls are vibrating all the time everywhere, it’s probably because you’re mental.) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/83 "2015-09-23T15:51:38Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > I have to agree. As I said before, I have never smelled anything like it. Rank, yes, foul, yes, but not urinous. I won’t say it smells of urine everywhere, but Old Yankee Stadium 100% smelled like a toilet. I was actually wondering if there was a sewage malfunction because the smell was terrible. The rest of city generally did not smell pleasant, but I wouldn’t say it was all toilet. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/84 "2015-09-23T16:03:41Z")
I hitched here in 1984 at the age of 25 after never having lived anywhere larger than Albuquerque NM. I found Manhattan (which is what most people think of when they think of New York City) to be well-geared to being easy to get around in for anyone 10 years old or older, although not so good for folks who aren’t able-bodied. The subway map is clear and kindergarten-simple. The streets are mostly a predictable grid (except the lower older part of the island which is a very different world). You can walk everywhere, everything is densely packed instead of sprawled out all over the place. In 1984 it was an ‘edgier’ more dangerous city but it isn’t these days. It’s probably safer than Albuquerque. ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/85 "2015-09-23T16:37:01Z")
I was there once years ago and didn’t find it intimidating but it was as a young Architect and it was fascinating. I would love to go back. My wife is from Chicago and has never been to NY. We have talked about it, but she has MS and can walk for awhile but gets tired easily. She has this lightweight wheelchair that I can push her in. I was wondering if we would have issues because of how fast paced everything is. We move pretty fast in the wheelchair I have to say, we went with some friends recently to Whistler, and I kept having to stop for them to catch up. As I recall overall it is pretty flat there isn’t it? It isn’t like Seattle or SF with all the inclines is it? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/86 "2015-09-23T16:44:27Z")
Manhattan has been largely flattened, but there are some minor hills in places. I don’t think you’d have any trouble with a wheelchair. People are pretty tolerant of disabilities and you won’t get any stink-eyes as long as you make a minimal effort to stay off to the side if you’re going to be slower than the people around you. (This isn’t always possible.) The one thing to be aware of is that not all subway stations are wheelchair-accessible. The ones that are have a ♿ symbol on the map. I believe 100% of buses are now accessible. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/87 "2015-09-23T17:14:27Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > (BTW, if the walls are vibrating all the time everywhere, it’s probably because you’re mental.) If anybody doubts my mental stability I challenge you to try it yourself. It is usually strong enough that you can feel it through your feet as you walk, but there is nowhere in NYC that you can’t rest your hand against any solid surface and feel the vibrations. I assume it is cased by traffic/subways/HVAC/other underground infrastructure, but it is very real. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/88 "2015-09-23T17:57:15Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > If anybody doubts my mental stability I challenge you to try it yourself. (places palm against the nearest solid surface) …nahhhhh. You’re mental. To be fair, I went to the movies at the Angelika on East Houston and Mercer a couple days ago. The N and R trains run underneath the theater, which is underground already, and the vibrations are obvious and irritating. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/89 "2015-09-23T18:03:06Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > (places palm against the nearest solid surface) …nahhhhh. You’re mental. > > To be fair, I went to the movies at the Angelika on East Houston and Mercer a couple days ago. The N and R trains run underneath the theater, which is underground already, and the vibrations are obvious and irritating. Yes, there are a lot of buildings like that where trains run directly underneath. But it’s definitely a small minority of them. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/90 "2015-09-23T18:18:55Z")
> [@Pabitel](#): > > If anybody doubts my mental stability I challenge you to try it yourself. It is usually strong enough that you can feel it through your feet as you walk, but there is nowhere in NYC that you can’t rest your hand against any solid surface and feel the vibrations. I assume it is cased by traffic/subways/HVAC/other underground infrastructure, but it is very real. Hmm… just tried it on my desk. Nope, no vibrations. Before anyone asks I’m in midtown between 2 major subway lines as my office is between 6th & 7th Ave. I have lived or worked here my whole life and I am aware of its shortcomings, as well as the great things. Threads like this always amuse me with how passionate people get on all sides of the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/91 "2015-09-25T05:17:34Z")
Hmmm. I feel no vibrations through the floor of my building and I live over a major subway line. Nope, you’re mental. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/92 "2015-09-25T14:29:14Z")
> [@Hakuna\_Matata](#): > > I was there once years ago and didn’t find it intimidating but it was as a young Architect and it was fascinating. I would love to go back. > > My wife is from Chicago and has never been to NY. We have talked about it, but she has MS and can walk for awhile but gets tired easily. She has this lightweight wheelchair that I can push her in. I was wondering if we would have issues because of how fast paced everything is. We move pretty fast in the wheelchair I have to say, we went with some friends recently to Whistler, and I kept having to stop for them to catch up. As I recall overall it is pretty flat there isn’t it? It isn’t like Seattle or SF with all the inclines is it? My sister was in a wheelchair and loved living in NYC. She took buses everywhere. Very rarely there isn’t a curb cut and you have to watch out for turning vehicles but otherwise it’s a great place for the wheelchair-bound. The wheelchair spots in Broadway theaters aren’t too bad so with a little planning ahead you can get a decent seat if that’s something you’re into. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/93 "2015-09-25T16:23:46Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Josephson’s Smokehouse in Astoria, Oregon, makes smoked whitefish equal to or better than anything I’ve had in the East. > > As for your horseradish…1. Boil beets. 2. Use boiled beets to make pickled beets. 3. Stir some of the broth into your horseradish. If you want, you can put it back into the bottle and pretend you bought it at the store that way. Sheesh, us New York Snobs have to explain how to do EVERYTHING. No beets are coming into my house! Unless I find my grandmother’s borscht recipe that is. And I don’t eat enough gefilte fish to make this worth it. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/94 "2015-09-25T17:09:15Z")
Speaking as someone born and raised in NYC, but who moved away ages ago… Yes, it’s as interesting as it’s reputed to be. But intimidating or scary? Nah. Even in the Seventies and Eighties, crime was not omnipresent, and today, serious crimes are very rare. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/95 "2015-09-25T18:51:00Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > No beets are coming into my house! Well, how do you think they get that horseradish in the bottle to go purple? Not Red Dye #2. You can also use the beet juice to pickle your hard-boiled eggs. Amaze your west coast friends with delicious pickled purple eggs at your next artisanal boutique beer party! ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/96 "2015-09-27T14:53:42Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Really? The example of how uninteresting New York is to you is to point out its geographic layout? Well, I guess I live in the city of grids, broken up by the occasional diagonal (Chicago), but… really? That’s about the last thing that comes to mind in terms of making a city interesting for me. Different strokes, I guess. It’s just one example, but yes - definitely. I like to walk around cities, and personally I find the unending grid pattern of so much of Manhattan monotonous. Combined with the fact that a lot of it is just high-priced commercial districts can make it feel at times like walking through a fancy mall. By comparison, I was in Rome a few weeks ago and found it very interesting to walk through. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/97 "2015-09-27T15:58:28Z")
Paradoxically I find the City so crowded it is easy to be alone. I don’t live there but I live nearby and go often, often by myself. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/98 "2015-09-27T16:35:45Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > It’s just one example, but yes - definitely. I like to walk around cities, and personally I find the unending grid pattern of so much of Manhattan monotonous. Combined with the fact that a lot of it is just high-priced commercial districts can make it feel at times like walking through a fancy mall. By comparison, I was in Rome a few weeks ago and found it very interesting to walk through. But that’s not the grid’s fault, it’s the landlords’ and City Hall’s. The “clean-up” of the last 20 years and the consequent skyrocketing of commercial rents \*\*\*did \*\*\*encourage that phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/99 "2015-09-27T20:51:49Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > But that’s not the grid’s fault, it’s the landlords’ and City Hall’s. The “clean-up” of the last 20 years and the consequent skyrocketing of commercial rents \*\*\*did \*\*\*encourage that phenomenon. It’s both. The effects of the clean-up you mention is a whole different matter. The grid in and of itself is just kind of wearying (to me) from an interest perspective. It’s so uniform - you get fewer of the surprises and unusual views that you get in other cities. (Again, though: it’s great from a practical standpoint.) ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029/100 "2015-09-28T00:52:42Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I’ve never been there, but I have spent time and lived in several of the 10 biggest cities in the US. When I was in Chicago I never felt unsafe or intimidated by it. Prior to reading any other posts the answer is: Yes, No, No. People in New York are just as happy giving you directions as in every other city I’ve been in world wide. Yes they walk fast, but so do folks in other big cities. Go! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-nyc-as-interesting-intimidating-or-scary-as-it-is-made-out-to-be/732029.md?page=6)