Should You Give Up Your Subway Seat for a Child?
No adult should ever feel inclined to give up their subway seat for a child.That's the contentious, hot take in a recent opinion piece for The Atlantic's CityLab. The article shot to the top of New...
View ArticleSpoiler Alert: Spoilers Make Things More Enjoyable
It sounds counterintuitive, but "spoilers" might actually enhance how much you enjoy a story.That's according to a 2011 study by Nicholas Christenfeld, a psychology professor at the University of...
View ArticleIs It Ever Okay to Listen to Podcasts at Triple the Speed?
Sure, it's efficient, but is it enjoyable?Some podcasts lovers out there have figured out a life hack: listen to podcasts at higher speeds to get the most content-per-minute. You'll get through a 40...
View ArticleIs It Ever Okay to Take a Picture of a Stranger on the Subway?
You've probably seen them: pictures of the manspreaders, the bag-splayers, or the generally uncourteous subway riders, showing up in your social media feeds after being surreptitiously photographed by...
View ArticleHere's Looking at You: Takeaways From Commuter Etiquette Week
In an ideal universe, every week on the train would be etiquette week.But for We the Commuters, this was officially Etiquette Week — because if a main goal of this project is to hold those in charge of...
View ArticleThe Buttered Roll: Charming New York Institution or Nah?
You've gotta give it to the buttered roll: It's not trying to be anything more than it is. It's a deli-and-bodega staple, a morning go-to, a small-coffee accompaniment. It's cheap. It's...
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Are Water Bugs the Same as Cockroaches?
"Oh don't worry, they're just waterbugs."If that's what you're hearing from your landlord, chances are they're trying to downplay your cockroach infestation. Which is strange because a water bug...
View ArticleIs 'Feeding the Meter' Actually Illegal?
Today is Columbus Day, so Alternate Side Parking rules are suspended, though parking meter rules remain in effect. That doesn't mean you need to "feed the meters" today. In fact, it's best you don't....
View ArticleThe Case to End Daylight Saving
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, which means we'll fall back an hour.And I know this comes up every year, but seriously—is changing the clocks an outdated practice?Here in New York, it feels like...
View ArticleAre You Cool With Lying to Kids About... "George"?
Warning: This segment alludes to Christmas secrets that you may not want little kids to know about. Listen at your discretion. He's not from around here. His closet is probably full of identical red...
View ArticleWhen Museums Say 'Pay What You Want,' Should You?
Locals, you know the deal. When museums and cultural institutions have pay-as-you-wish policies, they mean it. Give a dollar, or just the coins in your pocket, and you're in. But as out-of-towners...
View ArticleJersey Girls Don't Pump Gas - But Should They?
As of January 1, 2018, New Jersey now stands alone as the only state in the country where it's illegal to pump your own gas.Every few years, state lawmakers revisit the idea of doing away with the...
View ArticleThe Ice Cream Truck: Joy or Menace?
Now that summery weather is upon us, it's time for another low-stakes debate.For some people, the sound brings a wave of joy and excitement. For others, total dread. We're talking about the...
View ArticleExclamation Points Belong in Work Emails! (Disagree? Talk Me Out of It!)
"I'm circling back to check on the status of this. Can you let me know? Thanks! Looking forward to hearing from you!"If you've been on the sending or receiving end of one of these emails, WNYC wants to...
View ArticleDo Black and White Cookies Even Taste Good, or Is That the Nostalgia Talking?
There are a few moments in pop culture that can compete for the title "Peak New York," but this one's somewhere near the top of the list: This weekend, an Upper East Side bakery (that has claimed to...
View ArticleFireworks on Your Block: A Joy or a Nuisance?
It's that time of the year when people set off their own, small fireworks displays on the streets and in their backyards.Consumer fireworks are illegal to buy, sell, use or transport in New York; in...
View ArticleWhy One Bike Commuter Doesn't Wear a Helmet
"Where's your helmet?!" "Don't you know how DANGEROUS that is?" "That's crazy. You're gonna DIE."Eillie Anzilotti is used to hearing these phrases, from friends and total strangers. That's because she...
View ArticleWho Should Enforce the Rules of the Quiet Car?
If you commute by train, you might be one of those people who really savors the quiet car, the designated train car on many commuter lines where you're supposed to keep noise to a minimum. But whose...
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