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over the past few months i have been visiting this forum, gathering information in my preperation to move to southern california this summer. if i had a nickel for every post that said "why do people like LA", "how can anyone want to live here", yada yada yada, id have a good chunk of extra money in my pocket.
ill tell you all why i want to move there and im sure i can speak for MANY MANY others. growning up in a small midwestern town, we are constantly bored, get tired of the weather, drive down the highway not even 10 miles before smelling a skunk, sometimes go for a drive just to SEE other people, work VERY hard and get VERY little money, and enjoy wonderful views of FLAT land for miles and miles. we have less violence as far as numbers go but we always seem to get the worst weirdos out there. im not saying that LA is better than where i live for everyone. but i am saying that after living in a place like this, driving on a freeway full of cars under the sun almost sounds fun. paying more money to live doesnt sound fun but MAKING more money does. the option of having a little vacation every weekend to the beach or mountains or just another community with a completely different culture is unreal to us. we dont have many real clubs, mostly just bars. and if you think its "nice" when everyon knows everyone, well just know that thats how we get gossipers and back-stabbers.
basically, maybe somewhere like where i live would be good for you, because you are tired of the craziness of LA. but the craziness of LA sounds good to me because im tired of the boredom of where i live. we all just have different experiences and i know the op was simply providing an explination, but to the others who get on here just to hate on where you refuse to move away from...well, it just gets kind of old.
just wanted to provide my explination as an outsider moving in. a little background info...im a 22/f, middle class, lived in so cal for 3 months 2 years ago, am very worried about the money situation but still VERY excited to make the move
Thank you for your post and positive thoughts. A lot of us like LA's craziness too. That's part of the reason why some of us choose to live here. Organized chaos can be exuberating at times.
Now you are trying to insult my friends. Nice. Since you directed your comment at me, I responded. Listen I hope you come to L.A., you'll fit right in. Another transplant who thinks he's everything. btw, I never said CSULA was in the ghetto. I said the school IS ghetto, by reputation. Enjoy.
How am I insulting your friends?!?!
And because I disagree with you I think I am everything? I've tried to be nice this whole time, but you do nothing but insult me and others.
Seriously saying people that come to LA are cocky is basically being racist. Just because people come from another place does not mean they are different. You have no right to judge me when you don't even know me.
Like I stated earlier, you must have misunderstood one of my earlier posts to be taking it this far out of proportion. I'm sure you're a nice person in real life. I don't judge people I don't know you so I'm not going to judge.
So once again, I never personally attacked you or your friends. I said that you can choose your own friends. Do you disagree with that? I honestly cannot see how that is an insult. I didn't say that you have bad friends. I said that you don't have to be friends with bad people.
Like I also stated in an earlier post, many transplants that would seem to be cocky are actors/actresses. That's why many come to LA so I guess that may make sense where some of you are coming from. I'm not coming for that reason. I want to work for LAFD. I could stay right here and do the same, but I want to work in an area with a higher call volume. I like to help people, and LA gives me a better chance to do so. If that makes me cocky, well then I don't know what to say.
Last edited by ffknight918; 03-11-2008 at 12:00 AM..
over the past few months i have been visiting this forum, gathering information in my preperation to move to southern california this summer. if i had a nickel for every post that said "why do people like LA", "how can anyone want to live here", yada yada yada, id have a good chunk of extra money in my pocket.
ill tell you all why i want to move there and im sure i can speak for MANY MANY others. growning up in a small midwestern town, we are constantly bored, get tired of the weather, drive down the highway not even 10 miles before smelling a skunk, sometimes go for a drive just to SEE other people, work VERY hard and get VERY little money, and enjoy wonderful views of FLAT land for miles and miles. we have less violence as far as numbers go but we always seem to get the worst weirdos out there. im not saying that LA is better than where i live for everyone. but i am saying that after living in a place like this, driving on a freeway full of cars under the sun almost sounds fun. paying more money to live doesnt sound fun but MAKING more money does. the option of having a little vacation every weekend to the beach or mountains or just another community with a completely different culture is unreal to us. we dont have many real clubs, mostly just bars. and if you think its "nice" when everyon knows everyone, well just know that thats how we get gossipers and back-stabbers.
basically, maybe somewhere like where i live would be good for you, because you are tired of the craziness of LA. but the craziness of LA sounds good to me because im tired of the boredom of where i live. we all just have different experiences and i know the op was simply providing an explination, but to the others who get on here just to hate on where you refuse to move away from...well, it just gets kind of old.
just wanted to provide my explination as an outsider moving in. a little background info...im a 22/f, middle class, lived in so cal for 3 months 2 years ago, am very worried about the money situation but still VERY excited to make the move
That was great. Honestly. There is level of self-hatred/derision here in this town that I have never really understood. And yes, if you refuse to move from a place you hate, that's your problem. Why subject people to that? It doesn't make any sense.
If I hated it here (or anywhere else for that matter), I would either work to improve what I don't like, or move.
For my part, I grew up down the freeway in OC. It wasn't for me so I left for many of the same reasons you stated.
Look at the traffic in the opening credits. When I see movies like Karate Kid or ET or this one, its enough to make you cringe.
I keep going back and forth in my mind, over and over and over, do I really want to live here.
-The traffic is insane here obviously, but I think it'll be true in any big city. Unless you go to a small or mid sized city. But I dont think you can run away from the traffic if you want to live in a big city.
-People say, oh, the weathers not enough to make you stay. But people in this city forget, most of the rest of the country shuts down for 3 or 4 months out of the year. This is April, in some parts of the country, people are just now getting out of winter, sleet, storms.
-I think what I miss most vs the 80's or 90's is a sense of commonality. Not small town commonality, but in a general sense.
If you go to a fast food place, restaurant, if you're in your 20's or 30's, you dont have much in common with the people serving you. In some cities it might be sports, or things you did as a kid. Or something that binds you together. You dont feel like a complete stranger.
Everyone is off in their own world here. The city is very compartmentalized, places on the other side of town seem like a different world. The valley vs central LA, or the southbay vs la.
-The lack of holiday spirit does get depressing. Thanksgiving, Christmas, just arent the same as on the east coast or in different parts of the country. The 24/7 work culture doesnt take a break here to really enjoy it.
-The lack of americanism, patriotism. I guess we've replaced it with consumerism to some degree.
-Lack of real culture. LAUSD has something like a 60% graduation rate, you forget in other parts of the country, kids can get a rich experience at school. In music, science, art.
You can get some culture...the Getty, or the Hollywood Bowl (which I really love in the summer), but its rare.
Some of the city is world class, some of it is 3rd rate.
Lately, I've been going to flickr and typing in different states to see whats going on in the world. The lack of traffic is one of the first things that jump out at me. It isnt bumper to bumper cars on that street, wow.
I think the traffic makes time go by much faster here vs the rest of the country. It distorts everything to say the least.
I read these forums, wondering why in the heck anyone would want to move here. I've lived here my whole life (40+ years), and I just want out of here.
I get it. I finally get it. CA is beautiful. The opportunities are seemingly endless. The lifestyle is varied and fun. I get it, finally.
But, I also understand why I am so unhappy here. I remember when rush hour only lasted an hour each way. I remember when the only "violence" at the public schools was a fist fight. I remember when the majority of homes were single family, on a large-ish lot. I remember when our communities were cohesive...people smiled at each other. Neighbors knew each other, and looked out for each other. It was never perfect, but it was slower and not so congested.
So, this is kind of an apology for negative comments I've made, but at the same time, an explanation. If you come here from another state, it seems really cool because...it's California. If you've lived here all your life, and you've seen your little town become congested and traffic afflicted, and the weather is all you enjoy, it's not worth it anymore. When you avoid driving, unless you absolutely have to, it's not worth it anymore. I've become very claustrophobic in the past few years due to the sheer number of condos and cars and people. I have a great view of the mountains, though. It's no longer worth it.
Now, to convince my husband that it's time to go.
Hope is on the way...come 2009...if you must leave...do...but be aware...things will change, starting next year.
I understand perfectly. I grew up in Mayor Bradley's Los Angeles and my heart is broken to see what this beautiful, wonderful place I grew up in has become. (I'm convinced the Mayor saw the the writing and died so he didn't have to see this) This time next year, I'll be in Arkansas. I can't take it anymore.
I'm sorry your experience with Los Angeles went down the tubes. I've lived here 20 years, and love it. I think it really depends on where you were living. If you lived in an area swarmed by gangs and run down homes from the 1950's, and had a long commute I can understand your reasoning. I hope the best for you in Arkansas. Don't forget your mosquito repellent!!
I'm sorry your experience with Los Angeles went down the tubes. I've lived here 20 years, and love it. I think it really depends on where you were living. If you lived in an area swarmed by gangs and run down homes from the 1950's, and had a long commute I can understand your reasoning. I hope the best for you in Arkansas. Don't forget your mosquito repellent!!
I've been fortunate enough to never live in a gang infested neighborhood. I've lived in L.A. for 35 years. I grew up here, left for a couple of years and came back. L.A. has become a horrible place to live. There are a couple of bright spots but now those are for the well-to-do. Once upon a time L.A. was for everyone, now only the tourists and rich get to enjoy L.A.
I'm sorry your experience with Los Angeles went down the tubes. I've lived here 20 years, and love it. I think it really depends on where you were living. If you lived in an area swarmed by gangs and run down homes from the 1950's, and had a long commute I can understand your reasoning. I hope the best for you in Arkansas. Don't forget your mosquito repellent!!
I would rather deal with a mosquito and some bugs than what you have to deal with in a place like Los Angeles. Don't forget your gang repellent.
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It's no longer worth it. 
