"Get out of my face" or "You talkin' to me?" are heard regularly on the mean streets of New York City. "Excuse me" and "I'm sorry" are not. New Yorkers greet the world with a mixture of a can-do spirit, an incredible work ethic and, well, anger.

Conflict is everywhere in the Big Apple. People are constantly shouting on the street. Cab drivers do not acknowledge they have even heard you when told your desired destination.