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Is it time to declare San Francisco, an overrated city?
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2014 Feb 20, 6:01am 27,712 views 64 comments
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Rin
2014 Feb 24, 9:55am
Some SoCal curiosities I've noticed, having moved from NYC to LA 6 years ago: valet parking for hamburger joints; sunglasses worn indoors; nobody will drive more than a mile to meet friends, but they'll sit in traffic for 2 hours to go to work;
I think the expression, Californication, is about the Lala land of SoCal and its delusional denizens. And thus, I think folks are prepared for that, when they venture into LA county.
On the other hand, SF was suppose to be something special, completely unlike SoCal.
Even "friends" do it to friends, adding an even greater layer of insincerity and mild betrayal to what should be small tests of loyalty, forthrightness, regard, ethics and bonding.
The aforementioned musician in SF, the guy who's originally from MA, is thinking of moving back because even though he's only 35, he's worried about dying alone in SFBA, esp if his girlfriend and him don't settle down long term. He doesn't want to spend his middle years in a place where ppl don't really know how to make friends and keep 'em. Right now, he counts his transplanted high school/college pals in CA, as his only true friends in the region. From my perspective, that's almost like being a part of a diaspora than a part of America.
Well, I'm sad to think of the kinds of Californians you all have met. I'm a transplant, but your descriptions don't fit my experience in the many years I've been here. I immediately met incredible, genuine people who walk the talk. Good luck finding new friends! The ones you've made so far sound horrible!
I think they're mis-characterizing all Californians as those NIMBY busybodies and activist poseurs, just like they accuse Californians of mischaracterizing east coasters. The sort of people they talk about it are easily encountered in Berkeley, hipster enclaves of San Francisco, etc. Like I said before, most people are the good, friendly, caring sort and the fringe is what sullies the image.
rooemoore
2014 Feb 24, 12:49pm
Like I said before, most people are the good, friendly, caring sort and the fringe is what sullies the image.
Pretty much the same story everywhere in the world.
"“If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.†~ AL
Rin
2014 Feb 24, 1:57pm
The Beach Boys (prior generation) and David Lee Roth (my childhood) endorsed California ...
"“If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.â€
Nah, that's cynical. I think a glib cliché is just as damaging as an overcritical eye.
Rin
2014 Feb 24, 2:30pm
One more tidbit on Boston music ... I know a cousin of the lead singer of this band.
They covered a song by a prior Boston act, The Cars, and the guest keyboardist is Greg Hawkes (of the original Cars), supporting them in this movie segment.
So while this is a track for a Hollywood movie, the roots of Boston rock are very tight knit here ...
I've been to Japan recently for many weeks, its tough there, but much cleaner and lower crime and a lot of work - but here in Berne Switzerland , very expensive to buy, but to live - you can LIVE here. 5 weeks vacation, respect for your time - employers respect you must go home at 5. Trains work and on time, schools good, learn many languages, food is awesome.
The USA is trash. Think of going from San Francisco to Guadalajara. That is a big difference, a big drop in standards into the 3rd world.
Well coming from Switzerland to Mexifornia and San Fran Sicko is the same horrible drop. The quality of life STINKS. And its sad to see the scam of the American dream-turned-police-state-nightmare be sold.
I am done with San Fran Sicko. The USA is in serious, serious decline. I recommend anyone who still lives in fantasy world visit Tokyo and Zurich so you can realize you live like animals in San Fran Sicko and the lame bay area. Horrible schools, horrible air quality, horrible commutes, horrible "regular" food.
I wish I didnt have to come back.
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Starting from the Google Bus protests:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2014-02-19/news/evolution-of-protest-google-tech-bus-apple
adding in the spraying of the homeless:
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/2/18/san-francisco-tensionbetweenhomelessandsecondtechboomers.html
And then, the fact that a majority of the cityscape is dingy... it's practically a Philadelphia-by-the-bay?
And in Philly's defense, at least it's got an excuse. It's an eastern rust belt city where huge chunks of the population fled to the 'burbs in South Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Delaware, during the decline of east coast manufacturing jobs along with the rise of local street gangs. Plus, it's next to a virtual sewer, the Delaware river, and the stinky industrial piss hole of Chester PA.
In contrast, I was told my whole life that SF was Boston's west coast sister city, a type of western *London culture* with a vibrant music scene plus an avant-garde bohemian thing going on but all I saw during my trips there were trash, homeless, and ruffians (but more doped up than Philly's thugs) with the photo opts of the Golden Gate park to the Embarcadero area posing as a front, to fool the tourist magazines. And then, the so-called hipsters and/or hippies appear to be the brain dead Bostonians or New Yorkers, who couldn't hack the winters back east.