Are people in LA really phony and pretentious? (house, price)

[ouogahdo]

Greetings and Peace be upon all who visit this form,
I am a new member and the first subject that caught my eye was this one. Having recently taken a university course "Rewriting Los Angeles", I have listen to both the upside and the downside of LA in general and its citizens in particular. Engaging in extreme generalities can indeed be intoxicating!
I must say, being from Santa Barbars via Houston, Texas some 30 plus years ago, I look past many of the things some people find negative about this city. I always try to remember that this city is greatly influence by the "Entertainment" industry,therefore, one is going to encounter many who are striving to be apart of that "seductive" paradigm. Is it possible that whatever, is being projected towards us is oftentimes a reflection of the mirror we hold up? Just a thought. Mayber it would be wise when meeting someone whom we consider fit into those social boxes, that here, is a great chance to say or do something simple, yet profound and subtle, that will cause the encounter to ponder, "What just happened here?" Than again, maybe it would be best to just say: "Thank you for sharing that."
I greet you all in the name of Peace,
Ouogahdo:

[Twinkle Toes]

Huh?

[monti]

Sure

But then again people are phony and pretentious EVERYWHERE - LA is no different, except for the fact that the weather is nicer, and it's more expensive than other areas.

[fpbear]

That is true Monti. People can be pretentious anywhere but I have seen these types of people mostly concentrated around yacht clubs and golf courses. Perhaps some areas in LA are pretentious because we have a much larger population involved in luxury boating and golfing, and the boys-club, fifi-poodle culture that the participants of these hobbies like to promote.

[puffle]

Originally Posted by JackSparrow

Yeah, but you're married (or so your profile says), so to a single guy like me, you're almost invisible.



Just kidding!!!

Single guy? Wasn't the picture of the woman on the big rig on the other thread you? At least that is what you said. Maybe it was just the lighting.(BIG SMILEY FACE GOES HERE)

[JackSparrow]

Originally Posted by puffle

Single guy? Wasn't the picture of the woman on the big rig on the other thread you? At least that is what you said. Maybe it was just the lighting.(BIG SMILEY FACE GOES HERE)

Sorry, I can't really reply. My post might get deleted.

[fairweathergolfer]

I love it!! ouogahdo is right. That is the coolest thing to do. I kind of do it now sometimes. I did it a lot when I first moved here and my much more enlightened brother-in-law who does this everywhere he goes, did it to everyone he met here and just about everyone he came across went away either laughing with him (at him), or with a smile on their face. By gosh I think you have it ouogahdo!

By the way you wouldn't happen to be channeling DeepTrance would you? I miss him. In fact there is a whole thread in the U.S. Forums asking if anyone has seen him or seen a recent post, but I digress. He is also from Santa Barbara, but instead of Houston, I believe he hales from Austin. Cheers and welcome you wild and crazy person . I give you a positive hit.

Oh yeah . . . greetings and peace.

Originally Posted by ouogahdo

Greetings and Peace be upon all who visit this form,
I am a new member and the first subject that caught my eye was this one. Having recently taken a university course "Rewriting Los Angeles", I have listen to both the upside and the downside of LA in general and its citizens in particular. Engaging in extreme generalities can indeed be intoxicating!
I must say, being from Santa Barbars via Houston, Texas some 30 plus years ago, I look past many of the things some people find negative about this city. I always try to remember that this city is greatly influence by the "Entertainment" industry,therefore, one is going to encounter many who are striving to be apart of that "seductive" paradigm. Is it possible that whatever, is being projected towards us is oftentimes a reflection of the mirror we hold up? Just a thought. Mayber it would be wise when meeting someone whom we consider fit into those social boxes, that here, is a great chance to say or do something simple, yet profound and subtle, that will cause the encounter to ponder, "What just happened here?" Than again, maybe it would be best to just say: "Thank you for sharing that."
I greet you all in the name of Peace,
Ouogahdo:

[fairweathergolfer]

There are a lot more golfers and yachting down in San Diego. So I will have to disagree with your hypothesis. No one is complaining about people being phony and pretentious in San Diego.

Women are kicking some serious as- out on golf course these days too. I am unsure of the yachting, but I would like to find out .

I am not really a golfer golfer thus the name, but I do actually like the idea of fifi-poodle culture, whatever THAT is . My husband who is a serious competitive golfer hates anything to do with fifi, much less poodles, much to my more feminine dismay. Serious golfers are actually not joiners, but loners. They don't get that good hanging out with the boys. So I think the 'boys club' is more for the non serious golfer. In fact the ones I know would be quite annoyed by this lack of serious intention on the course. Some see it more as a social gathering, others as a test of great athleticism and sport. Tiger. GRRRRRRRRRR. He has quite a yacht parked out in Jupiter Florida--too big for Windemere--so he has to move. He worked hard for it too.

There is also a difference between pretention and disciplined behavior with modesty and measured discussion. Not everyone that is not a blowhard with wild undisciplined behavior is phoney or pretentious. Some folks are actually measured in their actions and discussions out of respectfulness to the world around them or to their God. Maybe some of these people are even more 'real' then the phonies that don't think before they speak or act.

I've seen homeless people be very phony trying to get a buck and pretentious when they are not given it. Pretentious and phony are found in all races and classes and genders and I might add locales.

Originally Posted by fpbear

That is true Monti. People can be pretentious anywhere but I have seen these types of people mostly concentrated around yacht clubs and golf courses. Perhaps some areas in LA are pretentious because we have a much larger population involved in luxury boating and golfing, and the boys-club, fifi-poodle culture that the participants of these hobbies like to promote.

[fairweathergolfer]

Did I miss something did someone's post get snagged on this thread? Or are you saying if you digress it will get deleted. Maybe you are avoiding, me thinks . I swear I read you were married! Now I am really confused. So are you male or female or are you single or married? Are you pleading the fifth on this one you . . . you . . . uh, man, woman . . . LOL. Crazy thread tonight. It's makin' me laugh.

Heck maybe I should play around with my gender on this forum. How fun. Heck some people come up with all the good ideas.

Originally Posted by JackSparrow

Sorry, I can't really reply. My post might get deleted.

[fashionablecowboy]

Everyday I find more and more of the following to be true:

It seems like then environment around a person deeply influences who someone is. Especially, if they are in search of themselves or just lost in life. With that said, many people move to Los Angeles for just that reason-to start over, or to begin their life. What else is there for one to cling onto in Los Angeles besides the popular culture?

Sure, L.A. has some ugly faces and some that don't care too much about their appearance. This is everywhere though-and exists in every other city. I won't comment on the overall natural beauty of LA's people, becuase that may be controversial for some. However, I will say that a lot of people here care deeply about looking rich, or stylish, or in shape, or "cool." I mean, most of our city's role models are all of the above. They are who we see in the LA Times and hear on KRoc. This is us. This is our culture.

New York City has a similar vibe but of a different note, in my opinion. It's more dark and cozy-it's a product of the environment. L.A. really isn't about coziness and nature-it's about dreams, ambition, celebrities, and the silver screen, It is 72 and sunny almost every day, what the heck did you think was going to happen?

Could you imagine seeing a Mercedes S500 rolling through Rodeo Dr. with mud and dirt all over the exterior looking disgusting and a long-haired bearded hippy man in a flanel plaid shirt? I think that's more like the environment of Denver or San Fran, not Los Angeles.