So much for being politically correct. Travel and Leisure magazine’s poll says Washington is the nation’s third rudest city behind New York and Miami respectively.

This poll is crap.

New York I can see off reputation, though my travel there in 2010 was a very pleasant experience. Made me rethink New Yorkers. They’re loud, but I didn’t find them especially rude. Miami? No idea where that comes from.

I’ve traveled to 36 states so I know a bit about people from different parts of the country and I don’t think we’re too different than others. Oh, I remember thinking in Louisville how weird it was for being asked how you doing and they meant it. Driving around North Dakota I noticed everyone waved hi when passing in the other direction, but there are so few cars that they probably think they know you.

But it’s not like Washingtonians are heathens. In fact, much of the population is from somewhere else so it’s hard to say it’s us when us is them. Or something like that.

Listen, we tell tourists not to block sidewalks and stand to the right of the escalators so people can walk past on their way to work. That’s really common courtesy that tourists aren’t extending so they’re the rude ones, not us.

Washington is still a town where men hold doors open for women and show some Southern grace. We’re not perfect, but we’re not the third rudest city.

Travel and Leisure – you can kiss your tax cut goodbye.