13 hours ago - Culture
10 Boston etiquette tips for new students and transplants
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Photo: by Stan Grossfeld/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Steph here, with some advice for all the college students and transplants moving in this month.
The intrigue: The stereotype that people here are kind, not nice, bears some truth but is often misunderstood.
Source: I'm not a Masshole, but I've lived here on and off for 11 years.
- And I'm from Jersey, which has its own breed of j🤬🤬🤬offs.
Here are my 10 rules of Boston etiquette:
- If you're taking public transit, stay out of the way.
- When the doors open, step aside and let the passengers get off first. Otherwise, you not only piss them off, but hold up traffic and piss off the people behind you, too.
- This also applies to personal space. No "manspreading," no backpacks on, lest you turn around one day and hit an elder in the face with your bag.
- Don't yap on the phone while riding public transit, or at least don't be loud about it.
- Don't take up the whole sidewalk with your friends when you're walking down the street, especially on narrow sidewalks in the Back Bay or the North End.
- If you're in line to order food, decide what you want before it's time to place your order.
- If you can't afford to tip at a restaurant, stay home.
- Tipping culture may be out of control (I say this as someone who's tipped a cashier for a bottle of water out of habit), but don't take it out on a waiter or bartender.
- Clean up after yourself in public bathrooms.
- This shouldn't have to be said, but too many people in Boston tinkle on the seat and walk away.
- Wash your hands.
- We don't want any Typhoid Mary, COVID Kelly or Norovirus Nick getting us sick. Use soap and water for at least 30 seconds.
- If you're talking about Boston, look at ALL 23 neighborhoods.
- If you haven't been to Le Foyer in Mattapan or Habitat for Humanity's ReStore in West Roxbury or El Peñol in East Boston, you haven't really seen Boston.
- Also, Cambridge and Somerville are NOT Boston. Don't mix those up.
- If you're going to jaywalk, do it right.
- There's technically a jaywalking law on the books, but I've never seen it enforced.
- You're more likely to get cursed out or even hit by a car (I have seen that) if you make cars stop in the middle of the street. Chances are, that same driver would stop on the highway and help you change a tire.
- Driving through the Boston area takes a degree of radical acceptance.
- You're bound to get cut off, cursed out and delayed at a green light by someone running a red light.
- Try your hardest not to be that guy. It's just the
M🤬sshole way.