Why Everyone Swears They Hate Times Square... Yet Somehow Ends Up There
New Yorkers love to complain. It is part of the culture. And nothing gets more complaints than Times Square. People call it too loud, too busy, too bright, too expensive, and too full of tourists. They roll their eyes when someone mentions it. They swear they will never go near it again. But then, slowly, like a joke from the city itself, they still find themselves right back there.
It is funny how a place that causes so much stress can still bring so many people to it every day. Times Square is loud, yes. It is packed, yes. But it also has something that keeps pulling everyone back like a magnet.
The Place Everyone Pretends To Avoid
When someone needs to take visiting family out, they end up in Times Square. When a Broadway show catches their eye, they go there. When they want a late-night bite after a movie, their feet point toward the bright screens again.
People make big speeches about hating Times Square. They say they will never stand in that crowd again. But the same people will check deals online, just like some folks check odds on Hellspin Canada before they try out a fun little game. It is that urge for a bright moment that makes them forget every complaint they once made.
Times Square plays with memory. You forget the last time someone stepped on your shoe. You forget the long lines. You forget the cartoon characters begging for photos and money. All you remember is big lights, giant screens, and fun sounds that make you feel awake, even when you are tired.
The Streets That Feel Like A Show
Every corner in Times Square feels like a mini stage. Someone is dancing. Someone is singing. Someone is dressed as a superhero acting like they just saved the city. People stop and look because you never know what crazy thing will happen in the next ten seconds.
New Yorkers may pretend not to care, but a small part of them loves seeing something wild and random. They like watching life happen up close. Times Square gives them that. It feels like a cartoon that never pauses. Lights blink. Taxis honk. Huge ads move across buildings like giant TV screens.
Even the noise becomes part of the fun. Shouting, laughing, music, and car horns all mix together. It is chaos, but it feels alive.
Memories That Keep Pulling You Back
There is always a first-time story about Times Square. Maybe it was when someone moved to New York for the first time. Maybe it was a first date. Maybe it was the night they celebrated a big win or the day they saw a famous actor walking past.
People hold onto those memories. They feel warm, like home but louder. When someone says, “Let’s go somewhere fun,” Times Square pops into their head first without asking permission.
Kids love it. It feels like a giant toy. Teenagers love it because it feels like freedom. Adults pretend they do not love it, but their eyes say something different when those screens light up their face.
Times Square Is Annoying, But It Is Ours
New Yorkers complain because they care. Times Square is messy and loud, but it is also famous for a reason. It carries a piece of everyone who has ever passed through it. Millions of stories are packed into those few blocks.
And deep down, people like to be part of something huge. When they stand there among thousands of others, they feel like they are part of a big moment, even if they are just standing and eating pizza. So yes, Times Square can make anyone tired. It can make heads spin. It can make someone swear they will never go there again. But the next time a cousin visits, or a friend wants adventure, or someone gets bored at home, where do they go?