Boston -vs- New York City...YIKES!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 6:00pm

I spent two weeks in New York (first time living there on my own) and it was marvelous. No problems at all. I found my way around easily, I was never in danger, I never felt in danger, I felt right at home.

Yesterday I went to Boston for the first time. Only was there half a day. It was unfriendly, scary, confusing, and even more dirty looking than New York.

In New York, I had people asking me if I needed directions when I looked like I didn't know where I was going. In Boston, I asked POLICE OFFICERS for directions and they were rude about it.

Unless I go for a show, I don't think I'm going to be going back.

[Yawper]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 6:27pm

Where's home for you?

[billygoatgirl300]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 8:07pm

Boston is a nice city but there are some rude people there. The majority of the people I have ran into have been really nice. Like the people who give tours along the Freedom trail.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 8:43pm

I've lived in both NY and Boston and I've found that there are friendly and rude people in both places.

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:35pm

Boston is really a nice place to live and some places like Cambridge are very nice but I have run into a lot of homeless people there and stuff but on the whole I find Boston A LOT more accomadating than NYC.

Plus... the Red Sox are so much better than the Yankees!

Updated On: 7/2/06 at 09:35 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:46pm

Oh come on. Look at it. You went to New York expecting to be "in danger." When it turned out you weren't, your expectations were relieved.

[meagan9848]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 9:52pm

Boston is a nice city once you get used to it. I live in Boston, and in my experiences, I've found the people in Boston to very friendly. It's like 70% college kids...

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:10pm

Now, if we were talking about which city has the worst drivers overall, it's Boston hands down!

[mominator]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:12pm

You got that right Jimnysf! I grew up in Boston and yes they are the worst drivers, and can be quite unfriendly.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 10:27pm

The native Bostonians (and vicinity) when I grew up seemed cold on the outside but once you get to know them they are very warm on the inside, kind, well-educated, polite and generous. At least from the lower middle class on up.

Much different than the surface friendly but vacant Californians I came to know living there (who were generally from someplace else).

Bostonians have MUCH better manners than New Yorkers, the true test being to ride the trolleys/subways in each place, and they are willing to make new friends, unlike New Yorkers who are very closed off, snippy and cliquey.

Bostonians also have much more respect for individuals than I find generally present in New York.

I love New York for many reasons, particularly the wealth of cultural offerings, but the people here are often very selfish and coarse.

[chealion313]

Posted: 7/2/06 at 11:08pm

Boston is probably the only other place on the east coast I'd want to live--I usually go up there at least once a year, but I noticed in the last year or so, it's totally different than it used to be. Some friends who live there told me the crime rate is increasing alot and I noticed I felt less safe walking around downtown late at night in Boston the last time I was there, whereas in NY, I feel totally safe walking anywhere in NY by myself, even after midnight.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:09am

Downtown Boston was never safe at night.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:34am

So I think we have our answer. Expecting "danger" in NYC, CapnHook was relieved to not have to poop his pants in the Big Apple.

Expecting a pleasant day with athletes in red stockings and perhaps a spoonful of baked beans in Boston, he sharted after approaching a police officer who didn't immediately become the city's ambassador at the visitor's center.

[RobbO]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:38am

is shart officially in the dictionary now?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:42am

Absotootley.

[RobbO]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 12:46am

great. i'm doing my review of "mame" right now and wanted to make sure that shart was, in fact, a word.

oh, and does shartting have one "t" or two?

[amasis]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 2:56am

Eh, I don't know... I lived in Boston for 11 years and went to NYC for work quite a bit during my last couple of years in the States, and I don't find Bostonians any more rude then New Yorkers. The streets CAN be confusing, sure... they don't have the nice, neat grid system Manhattan has, but I definitely didn't find Boston scary or unfriendly. Loved it there.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 9:31am

I go to school in Boston, and while I can say I enjoy all the hustle and bustle of NYC better, Boston isn't really that a bad town. And my school is located in one of the crappy looking parts of the town. For one, as a person who has grown up never using a public transportation system, I find the Boston T much easier than NYC's subway system. However, I don't like that Boston's isn't 24 hours. Also, NYC is the city that never sleeps, but in Boston, practically everything closes by 2 am. Besides those things, for those who don't enjoy the congestion of NYC may enjoy that Boston is more spread out and not as cramped. Newbury Street is very beautiful to walk down in the evening and has a lot of nice, but pricey, restaurants and boutiques. Boston also has a few theaters, and we have good national tours that come/will come through: Spamalot, Wicked, Light in the Piazza, High Fidelity, Hairspray, Little Women, All Shook Up, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, for example. And for those of you who haven't seen the Boston Gardens, it is a very beautiful area to walk around. I believe it's easier to walk around Boston. Unlike in NYC, especially Midtown, sometimes you may come across a huge crowd of people that is difficult to walk around. And yes, Boston does have it's fair share of homeless people unfortunately. I was getting out of a night club with a guy one time. We decided to sit in the park for a bit after and were approached by at least 3 or 4 homeless people - one guy was trying to get rid of his beer! So, yes, Boston has its problems, but overall, I wouldn't call it an unfriendly, scary, or confusing town (if it's confusing, look at a map - I recommend this small pop-out map I got with the picture of BU on the front and the T-system layout on the back). But you can find most of those problems in any urban area like Boston, NYC, Philly, or LA.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 9:32am

double post

Updated On: 7/3/06 at 09:32 AM

[peach]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 9:47am

Curious - where in Boston did you visit? Most of the neighborhoods the tourists visit are quite safe. As a visitor, you'd probably have no reason to venture into some of the more unsavory locales.

I like New york to visit, but Boston will always be my favorite. Sure, we Bostonians have a bad rap for being cold and unfriendly, but honestly, I think you find both rude and friendly in both Boston and in NYC. They are not much different in that respect, at least not in my experience.

Of course, that's just my experience. And I admit, driving in Boston is awful (The T, or walking, are much better options in the city!).

Too bad you won't be back - it's a lovely place.

[mominator]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 10:09am

Boston is a VERY walkable city. The MFA, and the Gardner museums are wonderful. The subway system is a lot easier to deal with. The streets however are just paved over cow paths (thus the confusing patterns) As I said I grew up there and paople can be stand offish.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 10:11am

given a choice i'd live in boston.

"Expecting a pleasant day with athletes in red stockings and perhaps a spoonful of baked beans in Boston, he sharted after approaching a police officer who didn't immediately become the city's ambassador at the visitor's center."

that made my day.