patrick.net

41% of 2011 American venture capital spending was in Silicon Valley.

That makes it _much_ easier to find jobs which are interesting technically, with business plans lacking truck sized holes, where the companies are early in their life with their biggest problems lacking solutions and decent equity shares available.

I spend more waking hours working each week than I spend in my house, and am a lot more concerned about how good that situation is than how big and nice my home is.

Good weather is also a nice fringe benefit, although with enough money (about $5M) in the bank that I could be comfortable without working I'd be open to moving back to Boulder, Colorado.

Ceffer says

Another lady down the street, who was a professional litigant slip and fall artist, had one of her fleabag lawyers declare her back yard a "bird sanctuary" so that she could get away with capturing and poisoning her neighbors' cats.

Sounds like a good way to piss of the cat people.

You NEVER want to piss of the cat people!

New Renter says

Ceffer says

Another lady down the street, who was a professional litigant slip and fall artist, had one of her fleabag lawyers declare her back yard a "bird sanctuary" so that she could get away with capturing and poisoning her neighbors' cats.

Sounds like a good way to piss of the cat people.

You NEVER want to piss of the cat people!

B.A.C.A.H. says

edvard2 says

I've been there a number of times and to me, the people were a hell of a lot nicer

Lemme guess, you're white, and if you're gay, you keep it to yourself.

That said though, just because Bay Area Hipsters aren't bigots does not mean they're not obnoxious.

Superficial "niceness" doesn't mean people are actually nicer. In gun cultures, people learn to appear "nicer" in person, in order to avoid getting shot, then they express their concealed obnoxiousness at the polls. The obnoxious behavior in SFBA is merely uninhibited, the people aren't necessarily more obnoxious inside.

Sometimes, you need to peel back the layers of superficial obnoxiousness to get the to true, deep obnoxiousness inside.

Who said they were nice?

Not me. I wouldn't know as the only Texans I know are cousins. They're almost always nice. To me and my family.

But I hafta disagree with you about the obnoxious Hipsters, and obnoxious elites who came here from afar. At least they are consistent: obnoxious inside and out.

Born and raised in Los Angeles suburbs.

My job is here, girlfriend is here, lifetime family and friends are here. In short, I'm bound to LA as my entire life is here.

If I didn't live here, sans winning the lottery, I'd choose San Diego second, Las Vegas third, Texas a distant fourth, and southern Atlantic states a very distant fifth(can you tell I don't like the cold?)

I've been to Texas before and it doesn't bother me except for the humidity...but that often come with warmer weather. I like San Antonio and Austin quite a bit and presume I'd like Dallas too.

But California is where I'm from and who I am. I suppose if the politics became as hateful as some of the posters on Pat.net are, maybe I'd change my mind. But with a Latino dominant population, you don't really have to worry about that. Most are pretty moderate, even if they always vote for democrats. Just have to avoid places like Santa Monica which is really no issue as Santa Monica is easily the worst beach in LA or OC(other than Cabrillo which doesn't really count).

curious2 says

Superficial "niceness" doesn't mean people are actually nicer.

Sorry, I can't bite my tongue any longer.

This is not 'In my opinion', this is 'In my experience'.

It is what it is and may differ from your experiences there.

First, of course there are nice people in Texas. In fact, I met more 'extreme' leaning people than in California, such as athiests, gun enthusiasts, and anti government views.
Also, I found them more sexually active.

Oh yes, I got lots of toothy smiles. And called a California bimbo behind my back. They don't seem to like Californians.

No matter how much contract experience I got in other states in my time there, it was never good enough for Dallas. In fact, the agencies would have their 'trainee recruiter' call me.

Negative? Yes, it was.

dodgerfanjohn says

Santa Monica is easily the worst beach in LA or OC(other than Cabrillo which doesn't really count).

Yeah, Santa Monica, and Huntington Beach are just so dirty now. Laguna Beach is getting like this too, but at least the community manages to clean it up nicely.

zesta says

lakermania says

Have you been to Texas? You do know that California has over 4 1/2 times the hate crimes per 100k ppl versus Texas right, despite TX having over 50% more agencies reporting to the FBI a hate crime occurred .

http://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-2011-hate-crime-statistics-2012-12

I can't believe you're using that study to prove that TX is more tolerant than CA. According to your data, among the 10 states with the LEAST amount of hate crimes reported, 7 are in the Bible Belt: OK, FL, TX, AR, LA, GA, MS

And how about that, in 2011, the entire state of Mississippi had 1 hate crime reported.

I'd say it says more about the tolerance of hate than the tolerance of people.

Look at how many reporting agencies they got
info from MS on...50 compared to 700 in Cali and over a 1000 in TX

lakermania says

Look at how many reporting agencies they got

info from MS on...50 compared to 700 in Cali and over a 1000 in TX

The number of reporting agencies is irrelevant IF the agencies themselves discourage reporting or choose not to classify crimes as hate crimes.

You can look at the numbers and believe that out of 1000 TX agencies, only 5% of them had a hate crimes in that year and that's a sign that the people commit fewer hate crimes. My common sense and experience tells me that while Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and perhaps Houston may be tolerant, that's only 20% of Texas.

The state of Texas has no law preventing workers from being fired due to sexual orientation.

It's not just sexual orientation, it's religious intolerance. How about this gem from the Texas Constitution:

Sec. 4. RELIGIOUS TESTS. No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office, or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the existence of a Supreme Being.

As a foreigner who doesn't live in the US but has a home in Monterey, who has worked in a number of different countries, and who has travelled extensively, I can safely say much of CA is very nice indeed.

Weather. Redwood trees. Ocean. Mountains. Mexicans (hard working, super nice - someone's gotta get shit done around here).

The San Francisco Smug Alert! http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s10e02-smug-alert

Caution:Some intolerant language.

I stay because it's relatively easy to find work here. The weather is not extremely hot or cold. You have everything nearby like great restaurants, public transportation, hiking, biking, beaches, basically lots of outdoor activities. Lake Tahoe is near if you want to go skiing during winter. Lots of beautiful women everywhere. Vegas, Hawaii, Disney Land....all within a few hours from SF by plane. To me, it is centrally located and easy to get to places. Housing prices are ridiculous but then again, you don't have to drive far to get anything. Did I mention, you can get just about anything here.....

smaulgld says

There are only three major reasons NOT to live in many parts of California -cost of living, taxes and earthquakes.

You forget yearly wildfires and annual rains that make homes slide down the hillsides.

mmmarvel:"You forget yearly wildfires and annual rains that make homes slide down the hillsides."
Oh yeah, that too!

RichieRich says

I stay because it's relatively easy to find work here

California's reputation for high unemployment suggests otherwise.

B.A.C.A.H. says

Lemme guess, you're white, and if you're gay, you keep it to yourself.

That said though, just because Bay Area Hipsters aren't bigots does not mean they're not obnoxious. The Bay Area is one of the most obnoxious places in the world. And nearly all of the obnoxious ones came here from somewhere else.

Not sure what any of that has to do with anything. My comments weren't meant to be some sort of trick. I've been to Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Repeatedly I would go to bars, eating joints, or even to the store and met people at sheer random who were super outgoing and friendly to me. A far cry from the two other places I've lived in: The East Coast, where people were seemingly simply cold and sometimes rude to California where the coastal areas are a bit more laud back but still somewhat obnoxious.

Let me put it this way: I was born and raised in the Rural South. I have then as mentioned lived on both coasts. I have seen the full gamut of what these two distinct regions are like. Most people have never lived in both places and thus why so many like that make really generalized statements about either place: aka- "California is full of liberal!" or- "The South is nothing but slack-jawed rednecks!"

Neither comment is true. The reality is you'll find most people are similar in their treatment of others.

Having lived in both NorCal and SoCal, and even spent sometime in good old Eureka, I can say "smug" exist all over the state, it's just slightly different in certain regions.

Liberal/"Saving The World" Cali Smug - Usually found in SF Bay Area, some beach communities in SoCal
This type of smug you will encounter in politically liberal areas. The hipster, gay rights, no GMO, OCCUPY wall street, down with the 1%, I'm a social media master at a startup trying to bring fresh water to the 3rd world, my girlfriend doesn't shave her pits, but she's a philosophy major so she's so much more than hygiene, I claim to be agnostic/athiest but was probably raised catholic, and you only eat at Trader Joes or Whole Foods, crowd. These people can be condescending, and annoying, and the worst part about it is, if you try to shoooo them away, they will continue to berate your eating habits, and political leanings because they think they're trying to save you. "Also fuck the South, bunch of uneducated, bible thumping hill billies, unlike myself who is enlightened, educated, and high and mighty." Fuck, these liberal twats can be annoying.

Conservative/Aristocracy Cali Smug - Usually found in Orange County, West LA, parts of Marin County
The I only drive "german luxury sedans", my house is 3,000 sqft in a fortress community, no black people or hispanics in my neighborhood or white flight, who cares how foie gras is made, my boat is docked at the harbor and I use it 3 times a year, WASP to the bone, there is a gate blocking entrance to my neighborhood even though my city was ranked #1 safest city in all of the country, type of crowd. These are the type of people to cut you off on the road, or in line at the store, because... well, they're just more important than you, and fuck you, you peasant. I'll talk about my wealth, and tell you how much everything I bought cost just because it makes me feel good. BTW, my kid got into Harvard. Did you hear that? Harvard.

City Dweller Cali Smug - Found in major metropolitan centers, LA, San Diego, SF, etc
The I love the city life because I can get groceries at 2am, ride the MUNI back home from the bar, looks down upon "birthers" living in their boring burb bungalows, hanging out at the trendiest club in West LA dropping $25 a drink, wear a suit when I go to the local CVS because I just got off work, and I'm going to walk home to my 5th story 1 bedroom apartment that I pay $3,600 a month for in SOMA, there's no elevator but that's okay it's "cardio", but just in case I have my 2 year membership to 24 hour fitness where I go workout with my girlfriend or boyfriend, or just friends in general. Except I have none of those because I spend too much time at work, and I'm really anti-social because I'm jaded by society in general and I trust no one.

Those are the types of smug I've encountered numerous times in California. Strangely enough, I've met people who are a mix of 2 or even 3 of the above categories.

Goran, seen 'em all.

In recent years, immigrant version of #2 has become dominant in the "Silicon Valley" portion of the Bay.

B.A.C.A.H. says

Goran, seen 'em all.

In recent years, immigrant version of #2 has become dominant in the "Silicon Valley" portion of the Bay.

I can see that. Chinese version of that already happened in San Marino in SoCal.

Yup. If you see a new Lexus or Mercedes SUV on the road, keep clear. Doubly so if it is champagne colored. Aside from the fact that the driver is likely to be unsure of what planet they are driving on, your life has no value if the car you are in is older or costs less than theirs. If you are too poor to drive a $70k+ vehicle, it is clearly because you are too stupid and lazy to go out and make money.

Jokes aside, it's mostly a function of the fact that anyone with money over there has a driver and then they come here and have to do it themselves. Imagine learning everything you know about driving only by watching someone else navigate the roads in China for a decade. If you have ever been on the road there, you know what I mean. Americans are bad enough at driving as it is given the joke of a driver training program we have, but the driving test should be doubly stringent for foreigners.

That being said, I love, love, love living in California. Looking out over the coast in Orange County, I know I don't need Hawaii, or any other Pacific island, I have all the beauty right here.

But let's not act like our shit don't stink. People are super smug here. Feel extra sorry for the single guys who have to catch one of these California girls. Better have a thick wallet unless you find the unicorn who doesn't care.

Ceffer says

Faces of angels, bodies of goddesses, souls of pitch, covetousness and callow greed up the yang yang, the ethics of black widow spiders, look sweet but rough and mean...the perfect dumb stick Venus fly traps.

If you want a wife, go find yourself a nice Southern gal who has her values.

Hmm, in these parts that could very well be the same person.

Here in the SFBA (LA too, I suspect).

If that Southern Girl is a southern girl who is from southern Asia.

Ceffer says

If you want a wife, go find yourself a nice Southern gal who has her values, a good heart, who likes being a woman and has a practical head on her shoulders.

Wow, I hope by "Southern" you mean South American, not southeastern US Bible belt. The latter category aren't practical at all, I remember a sad and frightening BBC interview in the 2008 election where a husband and wife were asked about candidates. The husband talked about the economy and tried to weigh who would create jobs. The wife went on and on about how no one should vote for Obama, because his mother was an atheist; when asked about the economy, she said the good lord would provide. Read the original Cape Fear to get a handle on how deeply divided and misruled by preachers that part of the country is. There are individual exceptions of course, but the operating principle of divide & misrule governs the majority, and the mechanism of it is to get small children to accept an especially divisive set of beliefs so they can remain as divided as possible their whole lives. It's a bit like the weird foods that certain areas grow up with but no one else can stand, and that seem to have a function in identifying in-group vs outgroup. That kind of division may have conferred advantage in prehistoric times when human tribes weren't much bigger than ape pods, but it's a "severe conservative" handicap in larger civilizations.

But they are nice people.

Goran_K says

Better have a thick wallet

Sometimes a thick something else will suffice.

curious2 says

Read the original Cape Fear to get a handle on how deeply divided and misruled by preachers that part of the country is. There are individual exceptions of course, but the operating principle of divide & misrule governs the majority, and the mechanism of it is to get small children to accept an especially divisive set of beliefs so they can remain as divided as possible their whole lives. It's a bit like the weird foods that certain areas grow up with but no one else can stand, and that seem to have a function in identifying in-group vs outgroup. That kind of division may have conferred advantage in prehistoric times when human tribes weren't much bigger than ape pods, but it's a "severe conservative" handicap in larger civilizations.

I usually try to understand your often thoughtful and well documented commentary, but I have to admit, I need an interpreter for this one, it is a bit of a mish mash.

I was talking interpersonal relationships, companionship and friendship, not politics.

Ceffer says

I usually try to understand your often thoughtful and well documented commentary, but I have to admit, I need an interpreter for this one, it is a bit of a mish mash.

I was talking interpersonal relationships, companionship an friendship, not politics.

Thanks, I'll try to clarify. Watching the BBC interview, I couldn't help wondering, if these two have children, how are parents with such radically discordant worldviews going to get along? The father will be trying to encourage the children to plan ahead, think things through, evaluate candidates (or other choices) based on objective information. The mother will be telling them to ignore all that, focus on religion, hate the devil and the infidel, and the lord will provide. It's like seeing a physician married to a faith healer. It might also explain part of why the Bible belt has a higher divorce rate than the rest of the country.

the primary reason why Californians stay is that they adopt 'personal lifestyle choices' that are impossible anywhere else in the world except maybe New York but even that's a stretch these days. Yes indeed, the land of Fruits and Nuts is the only place for fruitcakes and nutjobs. Most of these 'lifestyle' choices are based around feminism, but not all.

Goran_K says

they will continue to berate your eating habits, and political leanings because they think they're trying to save you.

sounds like the Christians whom they completely despise.

MershedPerturders says

sounds like the Christians whom they completely despise.

I have found little difference between the Westboro Baptist Church types, and the Athiest who call anyone who believes in any higher power an idiot/brainwashed/robot.

Goran_K says

But let's not act like our shit don't stink. People are super smug here. Feel extra sorry for the single guys who have to catch one of these California girls. Better have a thick wallet unless you find the unicorn who doesn't care.

It is the same thing for California gals looking for a California guy. Some California men believe they are God's gift to the female and do not treat women with respect. Besides being flaky, non-committal, stingy, cheap, etc.

Also, a women's options are limited in the Bay Area because depending on where you live, there is a whole population of gay men, so that immediately decreases the playing field.

Lots of words in this thread, so for brevity sake

Duh. Its Cali-for-nye-aye!

ITS SO EFFEN COOL!

As a person who grew up in the Bay Area it really irks me that I have seen my generation (Gen X) be priced out of living here. Most of my friends and practically my entire hs graduating class had to move out to the Central Valley or Sacramento area or further to purchase a house and have a family, while their parents stay on in the Bay Area. The ones who have bought here either bought early in their twenties, are living in their parent's house, had major help from family to purchase a house, or are majorly struggling to keep afloat.

Sometimes I fantasize about moving out of the Bay Area where I could buy a large house with a huge modern kitchen and a big yard, but then I think I'd be THERE, not HERE. So I don't. I stay and suffer the indignities of not being able to afford what my parents (war generation) could afford, even though they made less than I do now. I can't even afford what my older siblings could afford (boomer generation), who bought their homes in the late 80's and early 90's. It comes down to: This is where I am from. My family is here. My friends are here. The weather is nice. And maybe I am being stubborn. I refuse to be pushed out of my home area.

Indiana Jones says

Sometimes I fantasize about moving out of the Bay Area where I could buy a large house with a huge modern kitchen and a big yard, but then I think I'd be THERE, not HERE. So I don't. I stay and suffer the indignities of not being able to afford what my parents (war generation) could afford, even though they made less than I do now. I can't even afford what my older siblings could afford (boomer generation), who bought their homes in the late 80's and early 90's. It comes down to: This is where I am from. My family is here. My friends are here. The weather is nice. And maybe I am being stubborn. I refuse to be pushed out of my home area.

This is the epitome of what people struggle with in pricier areas of SoCal and NorCal.

Goran_K says

I have found little difference between the Westboro Baptist Church types, and the Athiest who call anyone who believes in any higher power an idiot/brainwashed/robot.

LOL - if you see atheists disrupting the funerals of American soldiers, and even President Clinton's mother, with placards saying the deceased deserve eternal torment, then let me know. Even in red states, most people can see a huge difference. Maybe that's a point in favor of red states: since you rarely see Westboro adherents in coastal California, you may have lost some perspective here.

Indiana Jones says

a women's options are limited in the Bay Area because depending on where you live, there is a whole population of gay men, so that immediately decreases the playing field.

Yes, depending on where one lives / works or spends a lot of their time.

"Silicon Valley" has become a male ghetto.

Indiana Jones says

Also, a women's options are limited in the Bay Area because depending on where you live, there is a whole population of gay men, so that immediately decreases the playing field.

Presumably a lot of gays come from somewhere else and just group there. In which case it doesn't reduce the supply of (non-gay) men relative to the number of women.

You also have a huge supply of nerds, but women nowadays don't settle easily.