Are people in the DC area just a different kind of rude?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole no eye contact or acknowledgement when passing by people on the sidewalk drives me crazy.

This is not my experience at all in DC, but then most of my neighbors are longtime residents who have been here at least a couple generations. We acknowledge each other and say hi, even if we don't know each other. It's one of my favorite things about DC.

But the transplants, not so much.

Exactly. Same here in my little Bethesda neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of racism in this thread.

What am I missing? Where is the racism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of racism in this thread.

What am I missing? Where is the racism?

Calling people “flyover strivers.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of racism in this thread.

What am I missing? Where is the racism?

Calling people “flyover strivers.”

Umm yeah, sorry. I'm a white person who will call out white flyover strivers when I spot them. #sorry_not_sorry

[Anonymous]

I've left the area after a number of years. I came to the conclusion that many people in the DMV (I was in NOVA) are leading lives of quiet desperation.

The outside looks good, enviable -- nice house, cool car, designer clothes, interesting job -- but behind the scenes their lives are a mess. High amounts credit card debt loads fueled by the insanely high cost of living and cost of housing, but people feel like they have to play the game and keep up appearances. Their kids are falling apart and acting out because the schools are both socially dysfunctional and academically stressful. I could go on, but you get the point. Living that way for years makes people there insecure, exhausted and angry. Saw it all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of racism in this thread.

What am I missing? Where is the racism?

Calling people “flyover strivers.”

Umm yeah, sorry. I'm a white person who will call out white flyover strivers when I spot them. #sorry_not_sorry

Thank you for your service!

/s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We travel frequently and NEVER tell anyone we're from Bethesda, NEVER. Learned a long time ago that there is a preconceived notion of "Bethesdanites" and you know what, they are correct. I am embarrassed to be associated with the area, alas it's where I work for now.

What? No one knows where/what Bethesda is except some doctors who know NIH is there. Omg hilarious.

[Anonymous]

I am from the Midwest and have lived in Potomac for almost a decade and Have found the area to be exceedingly friendly and caring. It was a welcome surprise. My neighborhood is an extraordinary place that is inclusive and takes care of each other. Love it here. And no I don’t have designer bags and shop at Saks. I shop at Macy’s and Nordstrom rack.

[Anonymous]

I think people in DC are pretty friendly. I know my neighbors. We lend a hand to each other. Strangers say hi back when I pass them. My colleagues here are no different than they were in other cities I’ve lived.

I don’t experience what many of you are describing.

I’m 1/2 Asian, live on The Hill, married, I am a social worker and my husband is a teacher, we have one child, one dog, and have lived in DC 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've left the area after a number of years. I came to the conclusion that many people in the DMV (I was in NOVA) are leading lives of quiet desperation.

The outside looks good, enviable -- nice house, cool car, designer clothes, interesting job -- but behind the scenes their lives are a mess. High amounts credit card debt loads fueled by the insanely high cost of living and cost of housing, but people feel like they have to play the game and keep up appearances. Their kids are falling apart and acting out because the schools are both socially dysfunctional and academically stressful. I could go on, but you get the point. Living that way for years makes people there insecure, exhausted and angry. Saw it all the time.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

JFK once said dc combines southern efficiency with northern manners. Some truth to this but overall, I think people Are pretty polite and kind especially for a biggish city

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What OP describes can be experienced in any urban area. I also think Trump normalized talking to people like they're crap and it's taken off US wide.

As much as I hate Trump, this attitude prevailed well before him. Though, the holier than thous that OP mentions do happen to be Trumpsters, as it happens.

I am a super progressive person and one thing that drives me nuts about some people in DC is the fact that many of them seem to think they invented progressive politics. Like people will just randomly explain single payer or feminism to me with this condescending voice, and I'm like "Yes, I know. I was a women's studies major ffs." It's this weird thing where people for some reason assume they need to educate you.

So many people in this town are just looking for an audience to lecture at. It's like a group personality disorder.

You mean like this? :

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think people in DC are pretty friendly. I know my neighbors. We lend a hand to each other. Strangers say hi back when I pass them. My colleagues here are no different than they were in other cities I’ve lived.

I don’t experience what many of you are describing.

I’m 1/2 Asian, live on The Hill, married, I am a social worker and my husband is a teacher, we have one child, one dog, and have lived in DC 4 years.

+1 not on the hill but also downtown DC

[Anonymous]

If you say "Hi" to a stranger, you must be a stalker.

[Anonymous]

Most people here are not from here. DC natives are pretty friendly actually.