Dear Mister Manners
I'm from NY area (New Jersey), and have been out west since 75. It took at least 7 years to 'relax a bit' from the hustle and bustle that you mentioned in your article on 'most rudest cities'. If you look into it a bit further, you might find that the language is more crass by nature which may explain the way East Coasters are perceived. 'Get outta here' replaces: Really? in question form. I think Jersey may be the original 'show me' state. Truth be told, whenever in the city I'd ask directions, stop for street musicians etc., New Yorkers were always quite considerate and polite to me. On the other hand, being from Jersey, when a woman asked me how to get to Carnegie Hall I replied, 'Did you just ask that? Are you kidding me? How do you get to Carnegie Hall? ...practice! practice! practice!' I waited all my life for someone to ask me that. Of course, I didn't tell the lady that I was from Jersey, but if she stuck around longer, she might've guessed.
Thanks again, Rita
Sorry to my Jersey friends if that reply offends you, but 'hey, get the f^(#! outta here'.