Upstate NY and NYC proper are very different areas (might as well be different states).
Upstate NY have more in common with west MA, Vermont, NH, than with folks in the NYC area (where most of NY residents live).
The difference even more than someone from Alexandria/D.C with south VA, (e.g Danville, Roanoke, Halifax County etc...).
Yeah, I've noticed that as well, which is why I mentioned "upstate" specifically. We do get people from both parts, but tbh I don't think most of us NC people can tell the difference other than by food preferences and that the people from upstate tend to be more 2nd amendment. Otherwise, both seem more similar to each to other than to southerners.
But is it wrong to call people from upstate NY "New Yorkers" - or is that term only reserved for city people? If so, what are they called?
I was meeting a co-worker who introduced herself as a "New Yorker" (from Long Island) and I told her about how a there were a lot of New Yorkers here, like one of my close friends from Syracuse.
She gave me basically the same patient response I got here about how upstate was different. So I'm trying to be more conscientious about how I use that particular demonym and the context of it. But truth be told, I tend to throw most people from the north into a pretty broad "Doesn't like sweet tea and sometimes might talk loudly" category - so I'm still not able to guess if someone is from a different part of NY unless they tell me.
The difference even more than someone from Alexandria/D.C with south VA, (e.g Danville, Roanoke, Halifax County etc...).