You can smell it from a far? They drive differently?

Or something else?

28 comments

  2. definitely, i think it’s a telepathic energy field personally. LA has one, new york has one, houston has one. probably most major cities do that have a very distinct culture that’s been around for a long time. they’re quite distinct too. LA is like a vast wave of childish ignorance, and NY pretty much the direct opposite, total no-nonsense attitude.

  4. Oh yeah. New Yorkers specifically have an accent, fast talking, and there’s a certain inflection. You can discern these across races and cultures. These things are kind of universal. Then some dress a certain way.

    States can have it. Certain cities can have it. It’s not all the same.

  5. I can tell when someone’s from Texas, primarily because they don’t shut up about it

  8. OP, do you live on earth? New York vs London or Paris, or Tokyo vs. Kyoto, all sorts of cities and regions have their own vibe. It’s not a specifically American thing.

  10. Vegas has its own vibe. You can feel it. It is a mixture of excitement, disappointment, and frenetic energy.

    Every city has its own vibe, I think some are just easier to describe than others.

  11. Some cities are more culturally idiosyncratic than others but no city is exactly like another

  15. “New York Energy” just means we think you’re an asshole but we’re far too polite to say so.

  17. New Mexico is often semi-jokingly called “the land of mañana” (meaning “tomorrow” in Spanish) because it does have a distinctively laid-back vibe and there’s a lot of, shall we say, flexibility about time there. Tends to drive transplants crazy, and it was actually something I had to work on when I moved elsewhere because I quickly realized that stuff I thought was normal made me look like a flake, lol.

    I’ve actually guessed correctly that people were from New Mexico in other, distant parts of the country because of that and their mild accents (New Mexican accents are things I don’t think everyone really notices, but there are a couple distinct ways of speaking that stand out if you’re used to hearing them). Only has happened twice, but I still think it’s funny.

  19. There’s some people in SoCal that sound like sooo annoying I wish I could like explain how like slooooow and chill they sound.

  20. I’m from Tokyo and live in NYC. I’ve lived in central locations of both. They are high energy cities, but New York has a distinct buzz that starts at 5am and ends around 2am. Only three hours of relative quiet. The buzz feels like electricity, but is probably just traffic.

    The atmosphere is noticeably more tense in New York as well. One walks from point A to point B with purpose. You can relax but you don’t ever completely let your guard down.

    Tokyo is lively and fast-paced, yet more relaxed and orderly. I’m a native so can navigate all the unwritten etiquette rules easily. My son, a New York native, is in constant violation of these rules…talking to me on the train using a normal indoor voice, for example. Like, dude, is anyone else talking as loudly? The city does feel like it goes to go to sleep between midnight and 5am.

    I don’t think I can tolerate living in a place quieter than Tokyo. I become depressed when there is quiet.

  22. Coming from NYC a vast majority of American energy just feels like meth and guns. I have no problem having words with my fellow NYers. Whenever I travel I mind my P’s and Q’s. Y’all are crazy.

  23. I hate to say it but people from DC were some of the worst I’ve ever dealt with/met. I know that’s anecdotal and of course I don’t hate everyone from DC but man if the energy wasn’t awful, lol

    It was as if there was a “blanket” of stress that tucked everyone in at night or something… made everyone really uptight and have a chip on their shoulder about stuff that didn’t matter. I know NYC must be similar in this regard but I feel like everyone was always comparing “comp” or “status.” It was what (high) school did your kids go to, what neighborhood do you live in, where do you work, etc. I think it was because DC is so “small” that all the workaholics end up in a tiny square mile.

  24. For a minute every blue dot in a red state wanted Portland energy, but it’s different now because of the housing market, pandemic, etc etc etc

  27. Yes! Accent, beliefs, traditions, etc. Different regions have different subcultures.

    In California, I got a flat tire, pulled to the side of the road, I was 16 (f), and no one stopped to help not even the police. In So cal people are far more self instrested and prioritize personal convenience. Same situation happened in Virgina, and several people stopped to help and asked if I was OK. All genuinely concerned… we call it ” southern hospitality” because they generally prioritize politeness and community.

    People from Florida are wild and unhinged, lol 😆 like the ” Florida man” stories .

    Texas feels like the best and the brightest of America…. but the one star on their flag describes the general experience of the place, lol

    I feel like even as a foreigner, you could notice a different vibe and see similarities of people from specific regions.

    Of course, these are generalized stereotypes… lol… but jokes are funny because they are rooted in truth.

  28. My friends in college all thought I was from California. But they were all kind of small town farm people. My parents are both from California. I get a Portland every now and then. I grew up in Minneapolis.

    Now since I live in Japan, everyone just calls me an American, because I very clearly come off as an American.

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