Why do New Yorkers speak so aggressively?

It's a struggle to survive there. You have to be tough (that or depend on the Lord).

The accent is separate from speaking aggressively. New York is a big, bustling city, and people don't have time to spend on chatting. Where I live, when you go to the store, you chat with the employees. A friend of mine, who had previously lived in New York, was in a deli there. When the man asked her what she wanted, she said, as we would in the South, "I just can't decide- it all looks so delicious." He just said, "Hmmmph" and went off to wait on other customers. As long as you don't waste their time, they won't treat you badly. just don't take the brusqueness personally.

They have a perception of always hustling, gotta be seen/out there, constantly on the make, otherwise you miss out. There's a reason it's known as the city that never sleeps.

not all of thern do that, i used to live there