Austin - Slacker Capital of the world? (Anderson Mill, Anderson: unemployment, established neighborhood)

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Personally, I prefer the term "bum". I mean, if I had a preference as to what people were going to call me based on where I was on a particular day, what I was wearing, or what I looked like....yup, I'd go with "bum". Slacker sounds too sophisticated.

[lake travis]

I have read many posts that are filled with generalizations and substantiated only by their personal slant, but this writer takes first prize. If you are going to chastise an entire population based on what you see, or think you see, please have the courtesy to back up your observations with facts. How many people did you speak with? What percentage of the population of Austin fell into the categories with which you denigrate all Austin citizens? How many days of observation were in your study? Where did you get your degree in statistics or sociology? To be taken seriously, you certainly need to deal with facts, not opinion. I await the results of your intellectual study.

[inthecut]

Originally Posted by lake travis

I have read many posts that are filled with generalizations and substantiated only by their personal slant, but this writer takes first prize. If you are going to chastise an entire population based on what you see, or think you see, please have the courtesy to back up your observations with facts. How many people did you speak with? What percentage of the population of Austin fell into the categories with which you denigrate all Austin citizens? How many days of observation were in your study? Where did you get your degree in statistics or sociology? To be taken seriously, you certainly need to deal with facts, not opinion. I await the results of your intellectual study.

Not many "studies" on here....just opinions, and this poster is entitled to his as well as anyone else...

[FueledByBlueBell]

Given the price of real estate here, they can't be slacking too much.

[bumpy_1954]

Personally, I am retired - got outsourced from Schlumberger after 28 years at the end of 2005 and immediately moved here from Houston. Here in Briarcliff (w/nw of city), it seems about 50% of folks are retired. My son graduated from UT last year as an engineer. He has only used his suit for interviews. I agree that the 'slacker' appearence is most likely UT students. Most people outside of TX don't know that UT - Austin is the largest public school in the country with over 50K students.
Don't be so harsh on southwest1230 - he (she?) was just making a casual observation as a tourist, as most people do in a strange town.

[bumpy_1954]

I wonder what southwest1230 would think if he had seen one of Austin's street characters such as Leslie parading around!

[FueledByBlueBell]

and the luxury of Austin is that you can be yourself regardless of your net worth. Seems like people in Dallas/LA flaunt it (whether they have it or not) while here they just want to focus their energies on something else.

[inthecut]

Never saw a grave yet that had written "This person showed up on time every day and worked hard".....though have seen lots of "Beloved..enjoyed life..much missed, etc.".....in other words, life is to be lived and enjoyed, and work is just a utilitarian means to that end, not an end in itself.....
Austinites are a rare breed that seem to have collectively have that figured out......along with smaller enclaves like Key West and such....

[ROnelson]

Yall need to remember that Austin is a college town. We have the largest community college in Texas along with UT and 4-5 smaller universities. What your noticing are people enjoying their life outside. In other cities that don't have the parks, lakes and other outdoor activities so people are indoors or so spread out that when you come to Austin its very noticeable.

As a realtor i drive the streets everyday and i have noticed more tourist out in the past year. This city is thriving..

[orbius]

As Bukowski said “Any damn fool can beg up some kind of job; it takes a wise man to make it without working."