Researchers and urban planners are turning New York City into a proving ground for Big Data and the interactive technologies that one day might make a planet of cities sustainable and livable. Photo: Michael Rubenstein for The Wall Street Journal

Researchers and urban planners are turning New York City into a proving ground for Big Data and the interactive technologies that one day might make a planet of cities sustainable and livable. Photo: Michael Rubenstein for The Wall Street Journal

IT’S one thing to experience the sights and sounds of New York City, but it’s another thing to truly live it.

It was Christmas night in New York City, 2014. Three weeks into my new life in the Big Apple, I had managed to score an invite to an up-market Holiday party where the champagne was flowing and the naughty list was growing.

It was here that I met a gentleman who quickly picked up the Aussie accent. Explaining I was new in town, he gave me this piece of advice I’ve never forgotten.

“It takes three things to become a real New Yorker in this city,” he purrs.

1. Cry in public.

2. Have a fight in public with a total stranger.

3. See a dead body on the street.

“Jesus,” I think to myself. “Is that what I have to do to become a true New Yorker? I’ve never even seen a dead body.”

To this day, I still haven’t. The closest I came to experiencing death in this city was when a crazed man shot himself in the head outside my building. Oh yes, that really happens here. Just a few weeks back, a gunman walked into Pennsylvania station (one of the main lines in New York City, and one which I pass daily), during the morning peak and started shooting, killing one and wounding two others.

The first two I checked off the list fairly early on. I cried in public after one too many drinks one night as I was walking home on a date. A stranger walked up to me and said, “you have a great spirit”, and I started bawling

“No stranger is ever that nice back home,” I thought, as ugly tears streamed down my face. Snotty tears. I couldn’t help myself. Suffice to say my date threw me in a cab, understandably never to be seen or heard of again.

Fights on New York City streets are fairly common, most notably thanks to the cab drivers who haven’t read a road rule in their life. You get used to these.

But in my opinion, there’s much more to becoming a New Yorker than tears and tantrums.

I asked Australians in New York City for their opinion on what it takes to become a true New Yorker. Here’s what they had to say.

You know you’re a New Yorker when …

Alette Winfield: When you see someone relieving themselves on the subway platform and don’t even flinch.

Kate O’Malley: When you’ve witnessed someone masturbating on the subway.

Eddard Frick: When its YOU asking a random person for change.

Sarah Cucuzzella: When you know the exact subway carriage to get on so that you’re at the exit/steps at your destination.

Stephen Carter: When you’re not surprised by getting seven slices of ham on a ham roll.

John-Paul Sukkar: When you’re the one yelling “MOVE ALL THE WAY IN!” when you get on a crowded subway carriage.

Azzalene Ann: When you steer clear of Times Square.

Rupert Noffs: When you have to take a deep breath and calm yourself down when people talk (or walk) too slow.

Gerald Lim: When you drink iced coffee and eat a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast.

Randall Berger: When you’ll eat anything from a street vendor.

Emily Green: When you use the expression “oy vey” and not ironically.

David Greenlees: When you say “excuse me” and think it gives you the right to do whatever the hell you want.

Beej Hudson: Whenyou refuse to date people in other boroughs or even on other subway lines.

Gerald Lim: You no longer look up when walking around mid town.

Marina Dojchinov: When your apartment is so small, you use your kitchen as storage for shoes and clothes.

Hania Joy: When you exit the subway from the right exit, either the North or South corner. That’s a pretty defining moment.

Ngaire Duncan: When you openly berate a cabbie who just tried to pull one over you because you have an accent and they think you are a tourist.

Annette Lin: When a rat streaks in front of you and legit you don’t even bat an eyelid

Do you have an example to share? Tweet @MattYoung to continue the conversation.