We’ve all heard it. New Yorkers are rude. New Yorkers have an attitude…they don’t care. Rude? Well yes, that can happen. Don’t care? Not in a second.
Just within the past 24 hours two incidents confirmed New Yorkers do care, a lot.
Heading up Broadway on just an ordinary day in the city…People not moving fast enough, high humidity, irritability at an all time high, you get the picture. Suddenly an elderly woman stops in the middle of the crosswalk. And in slow motion she starts to collapse and several of us jump in to hold her up. She was heavy and I mean really heavy. Not obese, just heavy from not having the capability to stand on her own. Let me tell you…within seconds we probably had ten people assisting us. People running out of their stores to help, bringing a chair for her to sit down, a person calling 911, a young man purchasing a bottle of cold water from a street vendor. Within minutes paramedics arrived and took over. I’ve never witnessed anything like it. People stopped. People of all ages and walks of life wanted to help. People cared.
Walking in the Hell’s Kitchen area after attending a photography seminar, there was a sense that someone was walking my pace. I can’t really explain it other than I’m always aware of my surroundings and this time I could sense something unusual. Within a split second this guy moves in front of me, holds up his iPhone and begins to take photos of me about a foot in front of my face. We’d progress forward and he would stay at my pace making sure he stopped at the crosswalk just to keep a few feet in front of me. At that point I’d purposely slowed, making sure he didn’t get behind me. This went on for a few blocks until we met up again. Once again he turned quickly to see if I was there and our eyes locked. Within a second I held up my camera and tried to photograph him, but it all happened too fast and the end result…well this is what I got.
While waiting for the “don’t walk” sign to change, a man standing beside me looked over and in a very genuine way asked me if I was feeling uncomfortable because of this guy, as he had seen the camera phone episode as well. Not uncomfortable, not scared, just a creepy feeling. We chatted for a second and he walked beside me for the next couple of blocks. We both watched as this guy made his way down the steps heading to the subway. The nice man looked at me and said, “have a nice day” and continued walking. This man cared. (And to the weirdo…I hope you enjoy your photos dude.)
So just for the record, don’t believe what people say – New Yorkers do care! Now rudeness, that’s a different story and one for another time!
Both of these stories are amazing frissy. But that guy with the camera phone does sound really creepy. How strange for someone to do that. I’m glad you are safe, and thankful the nice man beside you walked with you for a while. Love you. More! GH
It’s nice to know that people are people everywhere..and no matter what – there is an element of caring. Beautiful stories – both of them.
I know, I thought the exact same thing about Sydney here in Australia.My freind and I discovered that we couldn’t read maps to save our lives, but it didn’t matter we’d simply hold it in front of us on a cute, perplexed angle, and within thrity seconds are kind Sydney citizen would be helping us out.Isn’t it nice to regain faith in society?
Never a dull day in The City, Gotham Girl. I’m glad you are safe. Thanks for sharing. 😉
Two stories for the price of one! Thanks for sharing these, Robin, and for making a good point about NY. And yes, I’m very glad you’re safe. Next time maybe you’ll raise your camera faster?!?!
Amazing stories. Good people are everywhere. I think it is by intuition that you see the difference between the people. Mostly we live on little islands. But when we can be of help, the right people will jump forward!!!
Have a great day and please be careful out there. Congratulations on the 3 years, in September it will be me, 3 years in our apartment, so I know how you feel 🙂
Sis
When we went to New York last year to visit your City, that was my first observation, I was told that New Yorkers were rude and did not care,I seen from the first day of traveling the streets of the city all those rumors were not true.To all the people who helped you YOU GO NEW YORKERS!!!!
NYC isn’t nearly as bad as peploe think it is. Honestly, I think peploe in Toronto are ruder than peploe in NYC!I’m glad the peploe that bumped into you excused themselves it’s always so nice when peploe do that. Maybe they were Canadians, though..