It’s a New York cliche that NYC locals aren’t always the nicest to those visiting our city. Like most cliches, this one is grounded in reality. New Yorkers can be rude, yelling at you if you block our path. We can be passive-aggressive, barging in front of your perfectly posed photo. That said, for every one New York local like that, you’ll meet ten who are friendly, helpful, and kind…a judgmental. Yep, judgey. This city is diverse AF but the vast majority of us are united by…a discerning eye. Ranging from kinda-sorta judgmental to EXTREMELY. Here some New York cliches we will judge you for, visitors of New York. And also some we (most of us) won’t. All in good fun.
1. Footwear Fashion
NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR...
Wearing flip flops.
We know how filthy these streets are and we know how disgusting your feet will be at the end of the day. Unless you’re near a body of water or just got a pedicure, don’t wear flip flops in NYC.
BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…
Wearing comfortable walking shoes.
Leave the Manolos for fictional fashionistas, the Big Apple is a pedestrian city. NYC visitors (and locals too) always seem to walk more than they think they will so keep it comfy.
2. Subway Etiquette
NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR…
Standing on the left side of the escalator
The RIGHT side of the escalator is for standing, the LEFT side is for walking. This is New York gospel. Locals WILL yell at you if you break this rule.
BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…
Getting lost on the subway
We’ve all gone uptown when we meant to go downtown and been confused by weekend service changes. New Yorkers are often happy to offer directions, I’ve seen practically a whole subway car speak up on the best way to get somewhere. Just don’t ask people who are in a rush or expect an answer from someone with headphones in!
3. Sweet Choices
NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR…
Buying M&Ms from the M&M Store
You can get a package of M&Ms from the newsstand across the street from the M&M Store for a fraction of the price of the ones inside! It’s not worth it! Why are tourists so into fancy colored M&Ms that taste the same!?
BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…
Purchasing a massive, absurdly portioned, Instagrammable dessert
NYC has so many options and locals have no shame in indulging in trendy desserts.
4. The Locals You Photograph
NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR…
Taking photos with the costumed characters in Times Square
They’re aggressive, they aren’t actual entertainers, and their hustle is wildly unoriginal. There’s nothing to support here and the picture isn’t even anything to Facebook home about.
BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…
Giving money to a street performer.
NYC is known for its artists and performers, many whom are struggling to “make it”. If you see a busker or street performer whose work you enjoy enough to take a video or picture, you really do owe them something (a small tip) in return.
5. Cultural Institutions/”Cultural Institutions”
NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR…
Visiting Ripley’s Believe It Or Not or Madame Tussauds
These are Times Square tourist traps you can find in many other cities! Don’t spend your precious time visiting one when there are SO many other uniquely New York things to do!
BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…
Visiting literally any other of the 83 museums in New York City. There’s something for everyone: the Met, the MOMA, the Museum of the Moving Image, even the Museum of Ice Cream is back in town.
6. Food Icons of New York
NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR…
Eating a bagel from Dunkin Donuts.
Our bagels are world-famous, ya shmuck!
BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…
Eating a slice of Dollar Pizza.
Locals love dollar slices, especially after a few drinks. Some of them are truly excellent and all of them are truly better than Pizza Hut.
7. Outer Borough Options
NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR…
Being scared to leave Manhattan.
Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island have so many fun, awesome things to do and see! Walk the Brooklyn Bridge! Take the Staten Island Ferry! Visit the Bronx Zoo! Think outside the Manhattan box a little!
BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…
Not actually leaving Manhattan.
The outer boroughs are awesome but yeah, no one ever has enough time when they visit New York. Manhattan on it’s own has more than enough for 20 visits – we get it.
8. Touristing to the MAX
NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR…
Wearing a Statue of Liberty crown.
Okay, they’re festive and cute for a photo op but this isn’t Disney Land and those aren’t the NYC version of Mickey Ears. Besides, unless you keep the crown and reuse it every Halloween , they’re terrible for the environment.
BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…
Wearing an I HEART NY shirt.
We heart it too…and might even have one of these iconic shirts in our closet!
9. Talking $%!*&@)!
NEW YORKERS WILL JUDGE YOU FOR…
Complaining about how much you hate New York and don’t understand how anyone could possibly like living here.
You can go home and bitch all you want, but don’t say this shit within our earshot! This is OUR city, and we will get protective of her! If you WANT to see New Yorkers get their rude on, this is a great way to provoke!
BUT WE WON’T JUDGE YOU FOR…
Being obsessed with our city.
I mean, FUHGETTABOUTIT, how can you not be!?
I agree with all the points, especially when it comes to talking shit about New York! Great post.
Yay! Definitely adds credibility that my list is Rendezvous approved! 🙂
Love this post! I live on Long Island and am guilty of wearing flip flops. Will try to remember not to!
Oh thanks, I’m so glad you liked it! Flip flops on Long Island make perfect sense (well, not this time of year…ha) – have you ever gotten into trouble wearing them in the city? Part of the judgment is also because so many things can go wrong- they’ll get stuck in a subway grate, someone in a crowd will step on the back which could easily cause them to break – plus the whole dirty streets part I mentioned!
Absolutely. I don’t think I would wear them into the city again. But I did wear them last weekend on Long Island. It was 68 degrees in January!!
My husband and I visit New York every year and we stay in Long Island City a stop or two from Manhattan (also have stayed once in Brooklyn). Having come to consider Long Island City our neighborhood, we have found restaurants and interesting places and things to do there. It’s also easy to get to Citi Field and the diverse food scene in Flushing.
That’s wonderful Margaret! You are VERY smart to stay in LIC, many visitors aren’t as adventurous/thoughtful! Funny you mention this- I actually moved to Sunnyside/Long Island City just over a year ago and I love it 🙂 I’ve been plannings a Queen Feature on the blog to highlight the neighborhoods, your comment is inspiring me to make this happen! 🙂 Thanks very much for reading and commenting!
You are back! How wonderful! And with a great post, too.
Hopefully -says the reader – you can keep up the energy to share funny and absurd NY moments with us.
All the best from Germany.
I am back! And comments like this give me energy to keep going like nothing else. Thanks so much Georg for sticking with me and reading from Germany! Hoping right along, dear reader,to keep up the funny and absurd 🙂