Magazine rudely ranks Atlanta as 7th rudest U.S. city
Being a Southerner and True Gentleman, I could teach a course on manners. I even recall the lost arts of salad forks, soup spoons and which side of the sidewalk to be on when escorting a lady. If I ever take my wife to fancier environs than the Trackside Tavern, I’m ready.
Atlanta visitors often cite the city's slow and outdated taxi service as a cause of outrage.
Imagine my chagrin when learning Atlanta has been crowned the 7th crabbiest city in America by readers of a magazine I’d never heard of until today.
According to my research (aka Google search), the same publication, New York City-based Travel and Leisure, ranked Atlanta as the 11th rudest city the last time they compiled their list, so residents of our city have regressed a bit.
Fortunately, I have a ready excuse that absolves native Georgians of much guilt: yankees.
Perhaps it is summed up best by reader Craig T. Jones, who read this blog entry and emailed me about it instead of working.
Atlanta’s 7th “only so because we have so many people who have migrated here from the 6 crabbier places,” wrote Jones.
Yes, our once and future friendly city has been overrun by northerners who’ve grown tired of shoveling sidewalks and decent public schools. Why just the other day I saw someone wearing a New England Patriots cap yelling at a giant TV in a sports bar while pumping his fist. “Ravens suck!” he proclaimed loudly at some poor chap who later told me he was from Baltimore. Not sure what set that dude off.
The magazine’s readers rudely label Atlantans as unattractive and say the The City Too Busy To Hate also seems too busy to party. Maybe they need to visit the Clermont on Thursday night and we need to craft a list of America’s Rudest Magazine Readers?
Here’s an abbreviated list of America’s Rudest Cities: [Complete List]
1: New York City — I’ve always liked the Big Apple except for its weather and baseball teams. Especially the ‘96 baseball team.
2. Miami – I surmise this city too is overrun with northerners, but I know the locals are quite friendly. Once, in a small cantina, I ordered a Coke and the nice waitress I couldn’t understand brought me a piece of cake. Such kindness is rare.
3. Washington D.C. — Full of politicians that’ll argue about anything except what matters, lowering my taxes and raising someone else’s.
4. Los Angeles — The former #1 has dropped a few pegs. Perhaps it’s because the porn industry is leaving town?
5. Boston — Another northern town. Last time I was there it was 8 degrees and even the duck boat driver was cranky.
6. Dallas – Their cheerleaders, long considered No. 1 among prepubescent lads, are actually No. 2, just behind New England.
7. Atlanta – Perhaps the loss of the Atlanta Thrashers has angered more residents than initially feared?
8. Phoenix — Never been there but it looks hot.
9. Baltimore – A miserable experience, according to fellow Georgian Gram Parsons.
10. Orlando – The price of beer at Epcot would put a frown on anyone’s head.
11. Philadelphia — This has to be wrong. You can get your bell rung there just for asking the way to Market Street.
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256 comments Add your comment
My Rudest List
January 25th, 2012
6:08 pm
1) Miami
2) Washington
3) Jackson, MS
4) Houston
5) Philadelphia
No way NYC is #1 or that Atl or Dallas should be in the top 10. Memphis used to be terrible, but has gotten much better. A good example of improvement. Charlotte, NC is on the downslide, big-time.
pat
January 25th, 2012
6:17 pm
Being from the rural area of Georgia I “marvel” at the rudeness each time I travel through Hartsfield Jackson…….TERRIBLE….. or ride on MARTA. It seems a significant number of people who work in either of these systems are angry. I travel a great deal and have been to numerous airports. Each time I leave or return to Atlanta I am once again made aware of their angry attitude. ….and I am being very nice when I say “angry” attitude.
Rude Fits
January 25th, 2012
6:18 pm
No surprise about the rudeness in the ATL! It starts the moment you land at the airport with rude staff and police ordering you around like slaves and continues into the city at hotels, meetings, etc.. It’s the rudest city I’ve been to.
And the big deal is...
January 25th, 2012
6:20 pm
I like Boston, but on my first trip, I actually got yelled at by the driver for getting on the wrong trolley. I replied, “Gee, you people sure know how to treat tourists!” Trust me, I sent a long, long letter to corporate!
Yes, I said it!
January 25th, 2012
6:24 pm
NYC, will ALWAYS be the rudest place. Didn’t fool me one ounce with the so-called love and caring after you know what. The place still reeks.
I was born and raised in GA, and yes, the city has gone down hill over the last couple of decades. Too many transplants have taken away the Southern Charm that we used to enjoy and be known for.
4xtra
January 25th, 2012
6:34 pm
Man ..you guys got me started,
Now lets go over some interesting facts…
So yall hate “yankees”?
Why is it that the top current and former leaders are all from the “north”?
Kasim Reed ? New Jersey
Shirley Franklin? Philadelphia
and there are plenty more..
You guys are so SLOW the northerners had to come down and run the city for you.
Just having conversations with people here I noticed that Jim Crow really did some damage to the mindset and culture here.
I have seen some extremely blatant racism here and the blacks here just walk away WITH THEIR HEAD DOWN and shuffle their feet.( YEA that’s right, I AM BLACK)
That is totally unacceptable.
They say that ATL is the black mecca,,,,,,,,
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Minus the barber shops, hair salons and the like.
Blacks aren’t really running the show here.
Do ANY blacks here own just ONE gas station in the entire metro ATL?
I am pro black and I am all for our people to get ahead
(TRUST ME, I am borderline militant but not racist)
But it all boils down to the level of education you have and the conversation starts from there.
I have NEVER seen so many “$30k a year millionaires” in my life,
What is a $30k millionaire?
Drive a BMW/Lexus/MB or a 1984 Cutlass with $10000 rims
Spend more on their weave and hair than groceries
Live in a $150k+ home BUT have 4 roommates WITH NO FURNITURE
In your free time argue all day who is the best rapper or
what rapper makes the most money
Watch TMZ, ATL Housewives and Jerry Springer
Make it rain at Magic City or Pink Pony with their income tax return
Think that being gangsta is making videos online about how you will beat someone up and how tough you are
You are over 40 but act like you are 16
Talk gibberish (what yo name iz? Mash dat button ova dare! U prolly rite bout dat!)
Stop blaming everyone for the downhill spiral of this city.
I have met some GREAT people from ATL, I have met some good people from the north. When you gripe about “yankees” you are making yourself appear to be a victim and you are not..
anna
January 25th, 2012
6:37 pm
The reason we are known as the rudest, we have too many northern people that do not have a clue what Southern hospitality is all about.
Moving soon
January 25th, 2012
6:40 pm
@JaiRS…look, dude…it’s not that me or anyone else is GETTING IN YOUR WAY…it’s that you are going TOO DARN FAST, to the point of practically running over folks…this shows itself in insane driving, rude behavior in lines, you name it…it’s the vibe, the attitude created by certain people…you stated it PERFECTLY-it comes through in your writing…we will agree to disagree…again, I DON’T THINK a cross-section of folks from the entire nation (or even world depending on the readership of the magazine) can be so wrong…
Trust me-if I came within 100 feet of you, just by how you describe yourself-I will be more than happy to get out of your way and not bother you…you happier now?
allison
January 25th, 2012
6:43 pm
I have lived in Atlanta my entire life & i’m surprised we’re #7 and not in the top 5. Atlanta has the RUDEST people, the most idiotic drivers and the most embarassing sports team. I cannot WAIT to move.
Walter Fahren
January 25th, 2012
6:46 pm
I’ve lived all over this country. New York, Texas, California, Main, Illinois, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Atlanta. I can say that Atlanta is by far the rudest city of the bunch. New Yorkers may be blunt but Atlanta citizens are smug (it’s the Yankees fault), insincere (bless their heart!) angry (Oh no you didn’t!) and backward (which explains how the dusty and smelly Pano’s and Paul’s lasted as long as it did). The blacks hate on the whites and visa versa, even the professionals, and they all hate the Yankees which by the way raised the property values and turned thousands of dumb redneck builders and home and auto insurance salesman into millionaires. Finally the lid is off the pot. I bet Atlanta scores worse next year!