New York Stunk Long Before New Jersey's Swamp Gas
Eau de New York City
In my past I have held jobs where I had to visit New York City on business. Although the architecture of New York City (especially Manhattan) is quite fascinating, I found the way New Yorkers--and those that visit New York everyday trying to make a buck--treat others really stinks. In fact, I hate visiting New York City because of the suspicion that everyone is trying to put their hand in my pocket.
During one business meeting I stayed at a so-called 4-star hotel directly downtown Manhattan. Of course the corporation I worked for was paying the tab and they got a corporate discount, but the accommodations were anything but comfortable in contrast to the cost for the room. One would imagine that a $400 per day room ought to have some decor and a bed that was firm but comfortable. One would imagine that there wouldn't be mold on the shower grout because the maids were supposed to clean every day. One would imagine that a plate of fries and a burger, at a room service cost of $14 with a built-in tip of 17.5% and a tax of 11% for a total of $18 would actually taste good. One would imagine that after being billed for 17.5% gratuity the room service delivery person would not have their hand out for an additional tip. One would imagine that merely opening a door at the front of the hotel would not prompt the doorman to ask for a tip. One would imagine that with all the diversity in NYC that people would be less prejudiced and more accustomed to working with diverse groups. But none of that is the case in NYC. Everyone seems to have their hand out for a tip no matter what someone has already paid or how miniscule the assistance given might have been.
I am not against tipping someone for service. But we have become a nation where we are so accustomed to tipping that we are un-critical of whether or not a service has been done. We have become puppets of the restaurant and service industries, as well as financiers for the hotel, restaurant and transportation industries who are benefiting by not having to pay folks working for them a living wage.
One would also imagine that walking down the street of a bustling metropolis might occasionally result in some expression of kindness. A classical illustration of the point is the incident where I was waiting to be picked up by transportation arranged by the company while attending a training session. While standing outside the hotel with a couple other colleagues, some Hindu priests walked by us in traditional garb. Having spent a little time in India, I greeted the priests in a traditional gesture and expression. The guru scorned at me, the majority of the priests ignored me... only the lowliest acolyte noticed my greeting and ran back to return it. In India, my gesture and greeting would have been the basis of a 20 minute exchange.
So while there are a lot of jokes about this incident of swamp gas floating across the river to cause a stink in NYC, I have always thought that despite all the attractions and activities available in town, the emotional environment in the city offers a bigger stink.
In my past I have held jobs where I had to visit New York City on business. Although the architecture of New York City (especially Manhattan) is quite fascinating, I found the way New Yorkers--and those that visit New York everyday trying to make a buck--treat others really stinks. In fact, I hate visiting New York City because of the suspicion that everyone is trying to put their hand in my pocket.
During one business meeting I stayed at a so-called 4-star hotel directly downtown Manhattan. Of course the corporation I worked for was paying the tab and they got a corporate discount, but the accommodations were anything but comfortable in contrast to the cost for the room. One would imagine that a $400 per day room ought to have some decor and a bed that was firm but comfortable. One would imagine that there wouldn't be mold on the shower grout because the maids were supposed to clean every day. One would imagine that a plate of fries and a burger, at a room service cost of $14 with a built-in tip of 17.5% and a tax of 11% for a total of $18 would actually taste good. One would imagine that after being billed for 17.5% gratuity the room service delivery person would not have their hand out for an additional tip. One would imagine that merely opening a door at the front of the hotel would not prompt the doorman to ask for a tip. One would imagine that with all the diversity in NYC that people would be less prejudiced and more accustomed to working with diverse groups. But none of that is the case in NYC. Everyone seems to have their hand out for a tip no matter what someone has already paid or how miniscule the assistance given might have been.
I am not against tipping someone for service. But we have become a nation where we are so accustomed to tipping that we are un-critical of whether or not a service has been done. We have become puppets of the restaurant and service industries, as well as financiers for the hotel, restaurant and transportation industries who are benefiting by not having to pay folks working for them a living wage.
One would also imagine that walking down the street of a bustling metropolis might occasionally result in some expression of kindness. A classical illustration of the point is the incident where I was waiting to be picked up by transportation arranged by the company while attending a training session. While standing outside the hotel with a couple other colleagues, some Hindu priests walked by us in traditional garb. Having spent a little time in India, I greeted the priests in a traditional gesture and expression. The guru scorned at me, the majority of the priests ignored me... only the lowliest acolyte noticed my greeting and ran back to return it. In India, my gesture and greeting would have been the basis of a 20 minute exchange.
So while there are a lot of jokes about this incident of swamp gas floating across the river to cause a stink in NYC, I have always thought that despite all the attractions and activities available in town, the emotional environment in the city offers a bigger stink.
New Yorkers have spent the last few days getting sneering phone calls and e-mail from friends in distant places. Some recommended their favorite air fresheners or asked if we washed our socks. Others worried that this week’s big stink was a plot of some kind — perhaps terrorists, of course, since we always think that first now. But perhaps it was the work of somebody launching a fancy new oxygen atomizer: fresh air from the islands at only $5 a whiff.
What happened on Monday morning at 9 was that large swaths of Manhattan started to smell extremely bad. Described by most as the smell your gas stove makes when you forget to light the burner, the odor lasted about an hour. It was so bad in some areas that people decided not to go outside and smoke for fear of igniting the neighborhood.
posted by Jim Downey at 7:16 AM
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