As a native New Yorker, I was offended. I grew up in Long Island, went to college upstate, and have worked in New York City. I wasn't going to let this go. So I emailed this guy:
I wanted to get in touch with you about your article in Thought Catalog regarding Hurricane Sandy. While I agree with your criticism of the media's coverage of the storm I vehemently disagree with your assessment that New York isn't more important than any other area in the world.
To say that New York is only important because "we" say it is, is like saying that Wayne Gretzy is only the greatest hockey player who ever lived because "we" say he is. Aside from not only being the largest city in the United States, the New York metropolitan area is also the largest in the country - most estimates are around 20 million. So not only is New York the largest metro area by far, it is also the home to the United Nations, eight professional sports teams, three major international airports, 13 media companies, over 30 higher education institutions, and the largest mass transit system in the world.
The reason why I offer you this quantitative data is so when you reiterate that "New York is only important because we say it is" - that won't even began to be an argument.
Additionally, your article plays on this pretentious notion that the media is only covering the "whitest areas" of Lower Manhattan and North Brooklyn (your words, not mine). If you were following any local media in New York (which includes NY1 and News 12) you'd know that there has been extreme concern and attention for those in the Rockaways, Staten Island, and the south shore of Long Island. If you were focused on anything aside from your own arrogance and excitement in writing an article disparaging New York, you wouldn't have written something so blindly untrue. I could go on about how it's extremely unlikely that Harlem's subway system will be out for weeks but I wanted to see why you would come to the conclusion that New York isn't more important as anywhere else.
I wanted to see what qualifies your opinion, and what qualifies you as a writer. I began looking at your other articles on Thought Catalog - "The Importance of Honey Boo Boo" and "A Review of My Pets" seemed enthralling, but not quite the standard I would bare to someone willing to criticize the greatest city in the world.
Hurricane Sandy devastated the Atlantic coast. It was a humbling experience that showed people two things: Nature is stronger than man, and more importantly, we're all this together.
I have the utmost sympathy for anyone who has been affected by natural disasters. Whether it's New Orleans or Jakarta, no one deserves to lose their home, livelihood, or well-being to a storm.
For you to use Hurricane Sandy as an opportunity to criticize New York is not only stupid, it's irresponsible.
Sincerely,
Brian Lupo
If you agree that New York is the greatest city in the world, and shouldn't have to take shit after a tragedy because this guy's an idiot, tell him so! His Thought Catalog profile is here.
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