The RD Rudeness Survey

Amit wrote about it and I agree with him on the fact that the survey is anything but scientific; it ignores the vast cultural differences that exist between the west and the east. Let's forget the cultural differences for now. 
We are a country of over one billion people. Mumbai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area  in the world. The population density of Mumbai has to be way higher than that of any western city. This means that an average Indian has to work harder than an European or American for routine tasks like catching a bus, shopping, riding, driving... we, those that live in Indian cities, just don't have the time to stop and say hello even to people that we know, leave alone strangers. Indians that visit USA for the first time are bound to be taken by surprise when a stranger says hello. We don't say hello to strangers for the simple reason that there are too many strangers. If I were to say hello to every stranger I bump into, I will die of hello-fatigue.
It is that simple. There are too many people! Does that make me rude? If yes, well, too bad.

The population of Mumbai is about 13 million.
The population of NY is a little over 8 million.
New York City had a rate of 2,800 crimes per 100,000 people in 2004.
Mumbai recorded 27,577 incidents of crime in 2004.
NY is the safest city in the USA.
Wham-bam-thank-you-Sam.

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