Economically disadvantaged – it really is the new politically correct term for “homeless people” or “welfare bums”. Please. Most people my age living in NYC would consider themselves economically disadvantaged.

I’m not judgmental when it comes to homeless people. I don’t believe they are all lazy or that they are all addicted to drugs or alcohol. It’s sad to see so much of it on the streets of NYC.

What I don’t understand, however, is when and why homeless people began to act so entitled – to my money. Last week, two of my co-workers came into work irate over two separate incidents that had just occurred in front of our building. One “economically disadvantaged” woman harassed my co-worker as she came out of Dunkin’ Donuts. When she did not offer up any spare change, the woman spewed at her, “I know you got money – you can afford to buy coffee and breakfast but you can’t give me any money? You make all this money and you can’t give me nothin’?” A similar comment from an “economically disadvantaged” man was made to another co-worker. He was insulted that she was going into a “big fancy building where you must make a lot of money” and she couldn’t spare any for him.

Like I said, my co-workers were pissed when they came in. One of them said, “Yeah, I have money and it’s because I work hard for it. Why should I feel like I have to give out change just because I can afford to buy a cup of coffee every morning? What makes them entitled to my money?”

It’s an interesting method to try to get money – are these “economically disadvantaged” people appealing to our guilty conscious? Like, if they make us feel guilty enough about having money, we’re going to give it them? Maybe it works for some people – but for me and my co-workers, it just pisses us off.

I appreciate people who don’t make me feel like I owe them anything, but instead, those who have creative methods – like this guy who sets up shop in the corridor between Port Authority and Time Square station.

I’ve never felt the desire to tell him off – but I do enjoy giving him my change.

overheard, rants | No Comments »

Before I moved to New York I often heard the stereotypes of the inhabitants: they’re rude, pushy, snobby, and always in a rush. Last year I talked of New Yorker’s as “them” compared to “me.”Now, a year later, them = me. And you know why? It has little to do with one’s personality and everything to do with the pace of the city. Although I was never a slow-paced, exactly easy-going person, I’ve found that my traits have only been enhanced by my surroundings.

Slow people annoy the hell out of me, I glare at tourists walking in circles with maps around me, and I refuse to move out of the way if someone is in my path. I might sound like a total bitch, but the truth is, I’ve become a total New Yorker. And it’s not a bad thing.

 What non-New-Yorkers don’t understand is that we don’t hate you; you’re often simply in our way. Think about it: What if everyday, a huge group of people were conglomerated around your workplace, making it almost impossible to get inside. The difference is that you (non-new-yorker) most likely don’t work in or around gigantic tourist inducing areas like New York offers. For tourists, New York is an amazing, bright-lit, enormous building-filled city of endless possibilities. For New Yorkers, it’s a place where we live and work. And usually, we’re trying to get to one place or another…and that’s where you get in the way.

I happen to work near the Empire State Building; while tourists are wandering around, admiring the monstrosity, I’m trying to weave through crowds, picking up my lunch and running errands. My hour only allows for much time – and that doesn’t include standing in lines and being gracious to slow-paced tourists. 

Like I said before, I’m not a complete bitch; people often ask me for directions (I’m always surprised that I look knowledgable or approachable) and I always stop and answer them. The bottom line is: we are often pushy and fast-paced and rude. But it’s only because we have somewhere to be and you’re often in our way. Don’t take it personally. 

why i love new york city | 24 Comments »