What do Cali people think of New Yorkers? (San Francisco: transplants, neighborhoods)

[bronx_kidd]

I'm curious...

I have daydreams of moving to Cali sometimes ...this cold is killing me!!

how are ny'ers percieved ?

[Dean Trails]

Californios are just New Yorkers without the accent!!
Come on out you will be very welcome I am sure!

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by bronx_kidd

I'm curious...

I have daydreams of moving to Cali sometimes ...this cold is killing me!!

how are ny'ers percieved ?

Depends on where you live. In my experience most people in CA are either natives from elsewhere in CA, midwestern transplants, or from the sunbelt (AZ,NV,TX). They generally do not have much of a perception of NY beyond a tourist trip or Seinfeld. They don't get sarcasm, they don't like complaining (kvetching), they don't know what a Jew is (or any yiddish references), they don't get the accent, etc. They won't find your "NY attitude" cute or funny.. they will be intimidated by your forwardness.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Depends on where you live. In my experience most people in CA are either natives from elsewhere in CA, midwestern transplants, or from the sunbelt (AZ,NV,TX). They generally do not have much of a perception of NY beyond a tourist trip or Seinfeld. They don't get sarcasm, they don't like complaining (kvetching), they don't know what a Jew is (or any yiddish references), they don't get the accent, etc. They won't find your "NY attitude" cute or funny.. they will be intimidated by your forwardness.

This is all so true.

Sarcasm is just not used much out here, people don't get it. In NY, or even on the entire East Coast, is it perceived as intelligent and humorous to use sarcasm. Not the case here, people will just stare at you like you are offending them.

My wife and I moved here from NYC (Manhattan), first thing we noticed is that people NEVER honk, not even if a car comes into their lane...they would rather change lanes than honk at the oncoming vehicle.

However, the main perception of NY's I constantly hear in CA, is that NYrs are rude and mean. Mainly because they honk, and don't say hi when walking by. Inversely, NY's think Californians are fake because they are too nice and say hi all the time... Another general perception; people are nicer to your face here in CA and harder to make friends with, in NY people are harder to your face, but once you are in, you are friends for life.

[mmouwse]

The opinions of Californians about New Yorkers are as many and varied as the people who are here!
California is a huge state, tremendously diverse in culture, character, and acceptence of others.
It all depends upon where you choose to live in California.
San Francisco is often referred to as the city in the state most like New York in character and flavor.
Maybe the best way for me to answer this question is to ask you another question...
How would it be for a Californian moving to New York? Would they be accepted there? Would acceptance be based upon where they chose to live? Maybe acceptance is based in part on who they are as an individual i.e. their individual behavior as well as where in the state they chose to live.
You think??

[Mach50]

^^^I have done this move as well, Californians are generally perceived in NY as: left wing liberal, whiney, fake, nice to your face(stab in the back), surfing hippies and somewhat dimwitted in the NY social circle.

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by mmouwse

San Francisco is often referred to as the city in the state most like New York in character and flavor.

In my opinion the similarities between NYC and SF are usually highly overstated. Aside from some visual similarities there is very little about the two cities that I have found to be similar. I think NYC circa 1970 would be a lot closer to SF.

Also note that calling California "Cali" instantly outs you as being "Jersey"

[sav858]

I agree with the first two posts about how Californians don't get sarcasm, don't like complaining, or honking b/c even though I am a native Californian that is how I am somewhat; I am very sarcastic, complain A LOT, and and tend to be straight forward and don't BS around. That attitude can rub some people the wrong way even though you're not trying to be mean or anything. I sometimes have to tell people to not take me so seriously when I'm sarcastic or complain about something. Sometimes I think about moving to New York b/c their personalities seem more like mine and I'd like to check it out, I'm not as laid back as a lot of people here. Personally I like and don't mind the stereotypical NY attitude and think some of them are pretty funny characters overall but most Californians probably would want that attitude toned down. As long as you're not obnoxious and a real jerk then most people probably won't have a problem with NYers in general.

[mmouwse]

Hmmmmmm...Sassberto, I do beg to differ with you. I find great similarity between the two cities! Not just visually, but culturally too. People settling in SF tended to group together in "ethnic neighborhoods" i.e. Irish, Italian, Latin, etc. and also by economic standing, but experiencing diversity and mixing it in or "melting together" is part of the experience of the city.
SF reminds me very much of NY! Alive, vibrant, ethnic but accepting, lots of cultural events and opportunities, fine arts, education, thriving nightlife, thriving businesses (internatioanl, natioanl, and local), strong attitudes, acceptance and mixing of cultures... They are both port cities...
mmmmm...so much more similar than differrent, imho.

[Mach50]

I just want to share this little anecdote on the topic:

We had a visitor from NYC (orginally from Scotland) come out here (OC/LA) for the first time. The first thing that bugged her was that everyone was Blonde and drove a BMW. She then turned to us and said: "wow so it is true"...as the weekend went further, she became more and more nauseated with the "fakeness factor".

We are moving back up to RWC this weekend, so she will come out and compare SoCal to NorCal in a few months...I am curious to see the differences she picks up.