Are people nicer out west than on the east coast? If so, why?

Question

I have heard 'space to one's self' as an answer by a native Coloradoan. That goes hand in hand with Ransom's answer about pop. dentsity.

Answer 1

I agree with the other comment. Definetly more laid back.
I am a Texas/New Mexico girl but on a whim we moved to North Carolina near Wilmington. It seemed it was much more conservative in North Carolina, basically uptight.
I think alot of has to do with the variety of people here race and culture wise. People here are much more tolerant to change and different cultures.
There I felt as if they were still embracing or clinging on to old traditions which made them less tolerant to change and diversity.
Needless to say after a year and a half we moved back to NM.

Answer 2

I grew up in Oregon and have family all over the west coast. I am now on the east coast as a college student and have noticed some things about people's personalities.
People on the west coast seem to be laid back, warmer and somewhat more welcoming to strangers in general. Conversely it seems to me that people on the east coast need some time to get to know a person before they really accept them.
That being said I have amazing friends on both coasts, none of which i would trade for anything.

Answer 3

I don't think people should make that generalization.

First, I would like to qualify my answer: I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. Joined the Airforce and moved around quite a bit. Kentucky - 5 years, South Dakota - 5 years, Kansas - 5 Years. Many temporary duties to CA and UT. Now I live in OH.

I think the misconception about east v. west hospitality originated among city dwellers. No doubt the hussle and bussle of NYC makes people in general a bit edgy, but in my experience that goes in any city of more than 50,000. Topeka (175,000) has it's share of jerks and scumbags.

Hospitality seems to be inversly proportional to the number of people per square mile inhabiting a given area. Also, distance traveled away from city center.

You can find wonderful communities 10 miles outside NYC, but people who live in NYC don't go there.
The main difference between east and west is the number of people. People cause stress to each other. If you can't get away from them for a short while, the stress never quite subsides and it manifests into rage. This rage tends to be expressed as a defense mechanism of the human mind. In a society as anonymous as a huge city, people get away with expressing that rage towards strangers.

Road Rage: stress caused by congested traffic. Root cause - people.

Answer 4

People are individuals so you can't generalize about people as a whole. Westerners and Southerners seem to be nicer. The North East (Boston, New York, and Philadelphia) seems to have the rudest people. Maybe it has something to do with the larger population and/or larger cities. Small rural areas seem by far to be the nicest. Being from the South, I continually see North Easterners come South and they bring their rudeness with them.

Answer 5

Personally, I have found rudeness most places I've been. Philly was cool. NYC was pretty good. Hated Michigan. Chicago was good. My time in the south is restricted to VA, which for the most part has been quite rude. The people I encounter might be transplants however. Never been out west.

Answer 6

Ransom is right. I've been around a little bit. It's all about the population density.

Answer 7

its just the people nothing to do with east or west.

Answer 8

people are the same everywhere it depends who you talk to

Answer 9

I'm not sure if they're nicer....but they're certainly more laid back.

Answer 10

really??