Why do people who visit New York City stop dead in the sidewalks?

Well, the link below is to an excellent, and hilarious, webpage titled "How Not To Be A Douchebag Tourist In New York City," and the number one thing ranted about there is exactly that, stopping dead in your tracks on the sidewalk.

Anyway, it's a really great how-to guide for visitors to the city, so maybe we should print them up and hand them out at the airports and tollbooths...

I also find it annoying when they stop at the top of an escalator. Or when they don't stay on the right so others can pass them.

Some people just don't realize that they are sharing the space with others. They treat it like they are in their living room. New Yorkers know that everyone has to keep moving or everything will grind to a halt. In most places it isn't like that. I can stop dead on the sidewalk of the city where I live and nothing will happen because there are so few people.

It's completely unintentional, I assure you. When people visit New York, especially for the first time or from a much smaller rural area, the city can be very overwhelming and confusing to them. It's easy to get lost in such chaotic, unfamiliar surroundings. When they stop to check their map, they're probably so concerned with figuring out where they are/what they're doing that they don't realize they are in the way of other people.

It's a bit inconsiderate and an inconvenience to others definitely, but I don't think people do it on purpose. They're just flustered and distracted.

As a native New Yorker, I was just as confused as you were until I did some intensive research on the subject.

It turns out, that it is us, not them, who have an issue. Living in New York and growing up in the area leaves natives susceptible to the billows of murky pollution which cover our city. Breathing this pollution, on a constant bases fouls our eyesight, so we cannot see what the tourists see.

You see (well, you can't see), New York is not only home to New Yorkers, but there are thousands and thousands of fairies that inhabit the streets as well. Tourists, whose eyesight has not been hampered by the smog, are enthralled with the fairies, which exist nowhere else on the planet. Hence, when they stop, they are admiring one of the friendly creatures. The fairies even take the subway and escalators, like normal people, which is why many tourists will stop short in these high-pace locations.

In many international cultures, a NY fairy is the most prized possession that one can have, and the most effective method of catching a NY fairy is a map. The more expensive and overpriced the map, the more effective it is at catching fairies.

Additionally, if one wishes to take a NY fairy home with them, to a nation where English is not the primary language, the fairy must hear the language immediately when first faced with their captor, else they will be unable to learn it. Thus, many tourists talk very loudly in their native tongues to ensure that if a fairy does happen to pass by, it will be able to understand their dialect, and they are thus able to catch it.

I hope this clears things up.

Oh, come on. These people are in a place they've never been. Yeah, they should step to the side when they need to stop, but they're probably not accustomed to being on such crowded sidewalks.

God, I hope you don't say anything nasty to these people. New Yorkers already have an undeserved reputation for being rude, and people like you, while in the minority, only reinforce this stereotype. Perhaps you're the one who should have some consideration.

Seconding that Herald Square H&M! Also, there is a great Forever 21 on 568 Broadway and another pretty nice one on 50 West 34th St... There's also a MASSIVE Herald Square Macy*s, between 34th and 35th on Broadway with another entrance 7th Ave and 34th St.

WOW, what a native attitude LOL.

I am sure when you will go somewhere besides city, you will walk with a map as well, and stop in the middle of nowhere and ask questions if you need to and completely disregard those around you. How do I know? I am that way and I am from NYC. LOL

they are in awe cause they arent use to so much going on and all the tall buildings and such...i guess im a new yorker to so i have no idea

lol I totally agree with u. They r some people also. I should say a lot of people who cross the street while the crossing traffic light is at red. Like wtf! Then the cars have to wait till the next green light comes.

i know wat u mean.tourist visit ny and most of them are not familiar with ny streets and have to look at a map but they have little consideration for us native new yorkers. america love it or leave it right?