I only know one person from (or in) New York. And he went from just being a lovable, friendly liberal to a card-carrying commie in less than 10 years, as I witnessed on a leftie forum we used to hang out on. He would be a really good guy if not for the leftist bent. Oh well.... maybe it's something in the NY water...? 
@XenaLee Actually,it just occured to me that I was wrong when I just thought about my relatives from NYC. One,whose mother was cousins with my mother and went to NYC for work when she got out of school,married,and stayed there,came down here to visit when he graduated from high school. Kinda of a short vacation to meet relatives he had never met before going back to "the city" and start working.
Been about 25 years now,and he still hasn't gone back. About half-way through his 2 week vacation he called his mother on the phone and told her to send his clothes and tools to him because he wasn't coming back. When I asked him if he was ever going back to visit his mother,he told me "She knows where I live,and can come see me." One or two of his high school friends have came down to visit him on vacation,and stayed here,too.
His mother married a Irish guy,and that is it's own special kind of crazy,but his friends came from Italian families.
So,it IS possible for them to learn,but they have to leave NYC to do it because as long as anyone stays there they are living in an echo chamber with the ignorant leading the ignorant.
