I love alot of things about New York, but it is amazing how impersonal this town can be. Just try holding a door for someone. True, in it purest form you do it as a "gift" and don't expect a thing back. But.....come on, just a tiny little ol' nod, smile, wink, or quick glance is not really too much to expect in return, let alone actually saying "Thanks". Today I had just finished lunch and saw someone making a beeline for the restaurant that I was leaving....obviously coming in but still several steps away. I held the door for only a few seconds, but I definitely waited. The person walked in so fast I never even got a real good look at them! Not a sound, not a nod, not a glance....only the wake of 25 degree air as they cruised by. I laughed out loud as I let the door shut on it's own.
I headed right for the Post Office on Houston St. - I was inpired to try an experiment. I decided that for ten minutes I was going to hold the door for everyone who walked in or out of the Post Office and count how many people acknowleged it. I was genuinely pumped up about my little experiment...I had absolutely no idea what to expect. 42 souls walked into the Post Office in that ten minutes. 15.....only 15!.....displayed any sort of gratitude.
So in this extremely unscientific poll, if you hold the door for someone in New York City, you have about a 35% chance of receiving any recognition for your good deed. My instincts tell me that this would *have* to rank at the bottom of the list in the US....anyone else out there crazy enough to waste ten minutes and see?
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