Unfriendliest Cities 2014

[JessicaTam]

Of course it is.......when everyone has to huddle together around the same fire drum to keep warm, you have to be friendly!

And it is the AFF social capital of the known universe.

 

[juddles]

And it is the AFF social capital of the known universe.

It has to be.

 

[RAM]

Originally Posted by JessicaTam
And it is the AFF social capital of the known universe.
It has to be.

It has to be.

Quad erat dictum!

 

[burmans]

I just saw the other half of the survey published on the SMH site - Melbourne and Auckland equal friendliest apparently. Sydney 5th.
Melbourne named the world's friendliest city, Sydney fifth

I've had mixed experiences in both Melbourne and Auckland (and have lived in both). Melbourne people are "friendly" in terms of willingness to talk to you but I found it harder to break into established social circles, whereas Sydney-siders are less outwardly friendly biut have a high percentage of people who are not Sydney-born and it therefore appears (to me anyway) easier to break into social circles.

Being Kiwi born myself would have to agree that Kiwi's are extremely friendly, sometimes embarassingly so. My mother-in-law, who comes from a small town on the South Island can't help herself in introducing herself to strangers, some of whom are not really very interested! But Auckland has a reputation in NZ itself of being a comparatively less friendly place, indeed plenty of Kiwi's would give you a fairly strongly worded assessment of Aucklanders. And the idea of breaking into social circles definitely exists, there are plenty of places that wont treat you as a local unless you are born there, which makes true friendship difficult.

 

[drron]

There are many places that newcomers find hard to be fully accepted.When we moved to Maitland in the Hunter Valley we found unless you had been there for the 55 flood you would never be a true local.One of the social queens was particularly frosty.
but then mrsdrron had a family reunion which was held in Morpeth.Found out that her family had settled in the area in the 1830s.she was related to half the town including said social queen who she greeted for ever after as "hello cousin".

 

[RAM]

There are many places that newcomers find hard to be fully accepted.When we moved to Maitland in the Hunter Valley we found unless you had been there for the 55 flood you would never be a true local.One of the social queens was particularly frosty.
but then mrsdrron had a family reunion which was held in Morpeth.Found out that her family had settled in the area in the 1830s.she was related to half the town including said social queen who she greeted for ever after as "hello cousin".

Can she please change greeting to:
"Hello cus!" PLEASE....

 

[kingzac]

Being Kiwi born myself would have to agree that Kiwi's are extremely friendly, sometimes embarassingly so. My mother-in-law, who comes from a small town on the South Island can't help herself in introducing herself to strangers, some of whom are not really very interested! But Auckland has a reputation in NZ itself of being a comparatively less friendly place, indeed plenty of Kiwi's would give you a fairly strongly worded assessment of Aucklanders. And the idea of breaking into social circles definitely exists, there are plenty of places that wont treat you as a local unless you are born there, which makes true friendship difficult.

I visit Wellington quite a bit and find everyone there amazingly friendly. I've chatted to a few other Aussies I've met over there who have mentioned the same thing. A common theme being locals noticing solo travellers in the bar and ensuring they have (new) friends.

 

[burmans]

I visit Wellington quite a bit and find everyone there amazingly friendly. I've chatted to a few other Aussies I've met over there who have mentioned the same thing. A common theme being locals noticing solo travellers in the bar and ensuring they have (new) friends.

Well I happen to be a Wellington boy so would have to agree with that!

 

[Melburnian1]

Beijing would have to be by far the least friendly place that I have visited. Moscow and St Petersburg are not far behind. Yet strangely, Shanghai was 'neutral.'

By comparison, Manila is friendly, as are Filipinos generally.

 

[Mattg]

I would say Prague, Czech Republic.
Stone cold / ice cold local population...

I struggled to see any locals who were actually smiling in Prague. Although there were so many happy tourists, so it wasn't quite so obvious when in the touristy areas. On the subway though...

 

[whatmeworry]

Of course it is.......when everyone has to huddle together around the same fire drum to keep warm, you have to be friendly!

Pfffft! Melbourne and Sydney on average both have the same amount of days it rains and Sydney has about double the amount of rain then Melbourne.

When you want some culture, good food and coffee come visit Melbourne any time when you want to leave that horrible humidity behind!

 

[burmans]

Pfffft! Melbourne and Sydney on average both have the same amount of days it rains and Sydney has about double the amount of rain then Melbourne.

When you want some culture, good food and coffee come visit Melbourne any time when you want to leave that horrible humidity behind!

Ah, still the Melbournites have the chip on the shoulder. Having lived in both I can tell you I'd never go to Melbourne for it's weather. The food and coffee is however pretty good.

 

[whatmeworry]

Ah, still the Melbournites have the chip on the shoulder. Having lived in both I can tell you I'd never go to Melbourne for it's weather. The food and coffee is however pretty good.

Melburnians never refer to themselves to as Melbournites that how I can you never were a Melburnian.

Melburnians don't have a chip on our shoulder, we just know we are Australia's best city and that is something Sydneysiders have for so long have been envious of.

 

[burmans]

Melburnians never refer to themselves to as Melbournites that how I can you never were a Melburnian.

In English maybe?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Pfffft! Melbourne and Sydney on average both have the same amount of days it rains and Sydney has about double the amount of rain then Melbourne.

When you want some culture, good food and coffee come visit Melbourne any time when you want to leave that horrible humidity behind!

I visit Melbourne and I visit Sydney but I live in Gods own country. As for humidity......I have previously lived in Melbourne for 4 years and suffered through some bloody awful hot, humid, stifling summers, so you cannot con me with that one . Let's be fair dinkum, when discussing the finer points of Melbourne's allure, NOBODY should ever mention the weather!

 

[burmans]

I visit Melbourne and I visit Sydney but I live in Gods own country. As for humidity......I have previously lived in Melbourne for 4 years and suffered through some bloody awful hot, humid, stifling summers, so you cannot con me with that one . Let's be fair dinkum, when discussing the finer points of Melbourne's allure, NOBODY should ever mention the weather!

Nor the beaches I suspect!

 

[JessicaTam]

I visit Melbourne and I visit Sydney but I live in Gods own country. <snip>

You mean Adelaide?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You mean Adelaide?

Something I admire about you Ms. Tam......your sense of humour

 

[JohnK]

Melburnians never refer to themselves to as Melbournites that how I can you never were a Melburnian.

Melburnians don't have a chip on our shoulder, we just know we are Australia's best city and that is something Sydneysiders have for so long have been envious of.

Thanks for the laugh. I like Melbourne but it is not quite Sydney. It is the second best city in Australia.

I visit Melbourne and I visit Sydney but I live in Gods own country.

Gold Coast?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Gold Coast?

mais oui! (the limit of my foreign language skills)