Today I was reading an article on Msn.ca about the worlds rudest cities. Toronto made the list.
It’s the city every other Canadian city loves to hate. It’s dirty, rude and crime-ridden, decry her most hardened critics. But in the latest StatsCan survey, Toronto actually came out third to last in police-reported crime statistics. Topping the list were prairie towns Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. As for being dirty and rude, we like to call it grit and character. True, Torontonians walk with steady purpose and may mow you down should you dare to amble leisurely down Yonge Street during pedestrian rush hour. But they do, after all, work in the economic engine of the country and have a lot of work to do. And if you live in a mono-coloured city of cookie-cutter houses in the rolling hills of suburbia, then yes, you may be thrown by the traffic, the diversity and the colourful characters you may meet. But remember, you’re not in Kansas anymore
Do you agree with this title? Having been in Toronto dozens of times I don’t think I’d give it that title. I’ve found other cities in Ontario way worse.
Thunder bay no question has the rudest ‚meanest people on the planet.
Toronto is a strange city…after living in big cities around the world I find the following:
Toronto is the most friendliest city when you need directions, maybe a little help and for general info etc.
Working and mixing with Torontonians is a different story…really rude…no please, no thank you…they are not interested in getting to you know you…just a little superficial chat is always good…usually about the weather…Its just very sterile…but perhaps the worst thing about Toronto is the quality of food.….the worst I have had in 39 cities around the world…just go up to Montreal to see the difference.
Bill (comment #93 and #94) got it right on! I won’t repeat what he said.
If you’re a pedestrian, the “rude” part of Toronto is the downtown — so roughly, Bloor/Front/Yonge/Bathurst boundary. There is very serious sidewalk rage in this area. If you are with elderly or disabled people, you just can’t go there for safety reasons. People (male and female) will slam into you like it’s a moshpit. It’s upsetting. And whoever says that doesn’t happen, does not go there every day like I have to, or is lying.
Service in restaurants/bars is known for being deplorable. You can go in with all the smiles and pleasantries you like, and it will get you nowhere. People are seen as commodities: Get you in, empty your wallet, get you out.
The other odd thing about downtown Toronto is people speak extremely loudly. It seems like attention seeking to me. It wouldn’t be so off-putting if so much of the language wasn’t foul.
Also, my mother was accosted by those guys pointing the toy guns demanding her money. Someone mentioned that in one of the blogs I was reading (not sure if ti was this one). She was terribly upset, and it cut our day short, and I had to take her home. How do you handle a situation like that? Do you call 911? I sometimes see police on bikes, but they’re way, way outnumbered by punks.
It’s beyond a lack of civility. I agree that humanity has left.
Absolutely not. I have lived in three Canadian cities and I am always at a loss re. Canada’s tiresome judgment and dislike of Toronto.
It’s a wonderful city–yes it’s big, yes it’s busy, sheeesh!
I have lived in downtown Toronto for well over a decade and scarcely recall a rude episode. Lighten up people!
If you look for rude you will find rude no matter where you are.
People who claim toronto is not rude either are in denial or have no clue about the rest of the world because they have not travelled outside of Toronto.
Fact is Toronto is one of the rudest cities in the world.
I am not talking about normal rude. I am talking about the passive aggressive rudeness, mixed with smugness and snobbishness and some coldness.
People are just plain stupid and rude here.
Fact.
Stop denying this.
Yes I do agree, I have lived in Toronto for a few years now and have noticed that Toronto is for sure the rudest city in the nation.