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New York magazine thinks New Yorkers need a reminder about the social contract - or at least how to lead life in a slightly classier way - so they've created "The Urban Etiquette Handbook." From David Cross explaining how not to alienate a celebrity, to guides for etiquette in City living (how do you make sure another resident of your building doesn't think you're a mugger), offices (do you invite your coworker to your wedding), cellphone and iPod usage, friendships (if you make more money, except to give the nicer gifts), dining out (if the food is bad, it's not the waiter's fault, so you still need to tip!) and awkward family situations ("Hey, my kid is kicked out of school!"), it's all about how to navigate through various situations with grace and aplomb that would still make many titter about you behind your back. Of course, our favorite section centered around the ways of subways and cabs; certain subway stock character were analyzed like this:
THE DOORMANUnexamined, however are the people who just stand in the doorway even though 20 people are getting out of the train car behind him and 30 more people are coming in - what is so hard about moving in?
Crime: Holding the closing doors.
Rudeness Factor: 2 (out of 10)
Why It’s Inappropriate: It’s the perfect illustration of Spock’s famous tenet: Sometimes the needs of the many (people already on the subway) outweigh the needs of the few (person rushing to catch the subway).
When It’s Appropriate: When you’re the person rushing to catch the train. Hold that door!
Of course, the most New York thing to do about "urban etiquette" is not to follow it. Which is why we loved Amy Poehler's suggestions for "being a civilized New Yorker": "When walking on a New York street, try not to spit, litter, bleed, or take a crap" and " Don’t ask white girls if they 'left their ass at home.'" Indeed.
What's your biggest peeve about the lack of city etiquette? Ours might be not walking efficiently enough on sidewalks - you know, either people walking more than two people wide on a busy street, stopping to chat in the middle (versus near a building) to chat, etc.
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Sidewalk hoggers, definitely. Also: people who get into elevators or subway cars before letting people get off; people who don't say thank you when you hold open the door for them; people who talk too loudly on their cellphones; people who spit in public; people who can't say a sentence without swearing; people who chew or yawn with their mouths open.
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Imitating Keith Herring would be my pet peeve.
Mrs. Manners, ironically enough, you just described 90% of the population in Chinatown.
I'm not sure what was ironic about my comment. But anyway, I see this type of behavior all over the city, from people of all shapes, sizes, ages and colors.
Able-bodied young people who don't get up on the subway for pregnant women or the elderly.
ok. the reality is people in chinatown spit here and there.
They curse in English in Chinatown, aristocrat?
I never there was such a large Asian readership to Gothamist.
Oh believe you me, they curse, especially at the whities who try to lowball them on knockoff Prada bags.
There sure is a large asian readership here - we come to review the latest on asians utilizing Facebook to perv out, or drive to the countryside to let their wives kill themselves.
That's why I love to add a lil piss to whitey's food.
what diff would it make, it's still salty.
If I see them with a Mac, you know there's going to be more stuff.
bon apetite.
can gothamist please curb the racist comments? does anyone moderate this stuff? it seems every entry these days has become an opportunity for some idiot to offer his racist rantings. it really takes away from the site in general.
I'm not too prudish, but one thing that I see in the LES a lot: putting a finger on one side of the nose and then blowing the other nostril's contents on the sidewalk. This has got to be the nastiest habit. Litter? Go ahead. Spit? Fine. Just use a f-ing kleenex when you blow your nose.
Realist,
Ahhh, the beloved "Coach's Kleenex". Many former athletes hold this practice in high regard, but it should only be allowed if you're participating in sporting activity at the moment of expunging.
Littering is terrible. I was in the park yesterday and noticed garbage under several benches, even though there were trash cans on either side! I don't know who these people think is going to pick up after them.
And the people who don't pick up after their dogs...
Not staying to the right, on sidewalks, stairs, anywhere in the subway system...
I also hate it when pedestrians cross against the light/dash across the street in front of cars, instead of waiting their turn like all the other people lined up at the curb, and then get all huffy 'cause they have to elbow their way through the people waiting for the light to change on the other side of the street. (And then, of course, the car that had to slow down to avoid hitting them ends up blocking the crosswalk when the light has changed.)
"Unexamined, however are the people who just stand in the doorway even though 20 people are getting out of the train car behind him and 30 more people are coming in - what is so hard about moving in?"
People do this because they want to retain their door leaner position when all the movement has stopped.
When I was growing up, the "coach's kleenex" was referred to as a "farmer's blow."
Clipping one's nails in public should be punishable by caning. Yes, I'm serious.
One of my pet peeves is people who light up their cigarettes while still on the subway stairs. Wait a few seconds more until you are outside, jeez!
"coach's kleenex" = snot rocket (and totally nasty)
i never understood people who leave their val-pak mailings (or similar) by the mailboxes, as if to say, in protest, "i don't accept this!" who do they think is getting that message? the super, who has to clean up after them? the other tenants, many of whom are polite enough to throw out their garbage in their home? who?
It's not exactly public rudeness--more like semi-public--but does anyone else have neighbors in their apartment building that insist on kicking the random menus left at their door over to your door, rather than pick them up? I live at the end of a hallway with three apartments, and each time the local Chinese and Columbian restaurants leave menus at our doors, I come home to the menus for all three apartments kicked against my door.
"i never understood people who leave their val-pak mailings (or similar) by the mailboxes, as if to say, in protest, "i don't accept this!" who do they think is getting that message? the super, who has to clean up after them? the other tenants, many of whom are polite enough to throw out their garbage in their home? who?"
I think some of them have the mindset that there is someone in their building who will actually want those stupid extra val-paks.
There is a special circle in hell just for people who use their cell phones like boom boxes. Especially on the subway. Seriously, that shit has to stop.