From Gothamist:
- Never ever ever EVER refer to the city as "the Big Apple." If you say this, you are a tourist, and a clueless one at that. Using the phrases "only in New York!" and "a New York minute" falls in the same category, but they may be used, sparingly, by long-time residents, with a heavy dose of irony.
- Don't wear "I Heart NY" t-shirts, or indeed any article of clothing that mentions New York in any capacity, with the exception of gear supporting a sports team.
- Don't ask people where you can find good "New York Pizza." In New York, it's just called pizza... do not say you prefer Chicago, New Haven or (God help you) California pizza. This is a direct route to a heated argument.
- This one is absolutely vital—don't interfere with others' privacy. New York is a very crowded place. The way people deal with it is to create their own space. Thus, what outsiders often see as aloofness and isolation is, in fact, a sign of community; there is a shared ethos that everyone respects others' privacy and expects others to respect his own. This is chiefly communicated through eye contact. If you stare at someone on the subway; if you linger in looking out your window into someone else's bedroom; if you react to or interrupt a celebrity; or if you seem to be intentionally listening in to another's conversation, you are violating one of New York's most sacred unwritten rules. Keep yourself to yourself, buddy, and let others do the same.
Here's one from me: If you are on a crowded sidewalk - especially if you're in a group - please...
