The Truth about California from a former west coast Girl... (Los Angeles: homes, transfer)

[that1guy]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Holy Cow, look who posted the report: MSNBC, not the most reliable and it was a report from Associated Press, another pretty biased organization and only based on the top 10 cities using 1 in 37 people: this hardly is a study that means much to anyone that understands surveys, studies and stats.

Nita

Did you even read the article? MSNBC posted this study from the FBI...the 1 in 37 number you are stating is the fact that there is 1 crime per 37 people in the city of New York.

[that1guy]

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

Which is why I think personal experience is the best and I would rather base a move on someone who actually lives/lived in the "Jungle" than a statistical report. Everything can look great on paper but it doesn't always look or work like that in the real world. I am happy, I have had several people who have read this thread, sent me a personal message to inform me that they are NOT going to move to OC. So I feel like I spared a few lives the agony of all that goes on in lovely OC. There was one poor guy from another country that wanted no part of the struggle that he would have had to deal with making only $10.00 and hour. He had NO idea what it was like or how expensive it really was. He has decided to move somewhere where he can afford to live. Smart choice for him. And also good news for all the OC residents... NO MORE PEOPLE!!! My truth and that of a few other people who really care about what this forum is all about....people, has paid off!! Great job well done.... Thanks to all of you for your support.. Hopefully our threads won't get lost in the cracks as time goes on.

Personal experiences do need to be tempered with factual, stats.

[Raelyn28]

True, but who knows if the stats are actually correct or corrupt? You know what I mean? I have found many conflicting statistics on the internet lately. One site says one thing another something else. I wonder who is doing the research and giving the statistics. There is nothing like the experience and I tend to rely more on people than statistics. So I think your comment should be the other way around. Factual stats need to be tempered with personal experiences...

[thepinksquid]

Kind of funny to me... when the OP mentioned how OC/Southern California lost sports teams and such... one thing I like about here (I'm in San Diego) is how people AREN'T focused on pro sports.

Honestly I don't even know when football season starts/ends or whatever. I'd hate to live somewhere where people are obsessive about whatever team they like, and the whole city/town seems to stop when there's a game. Doesn't help that my husband probably detests sports more than I do...

I don't mean this as disrespect at all to people that enjoy sports... I just wanted to chime in to say that each their own. One person's annoyance (lack of interest in sports) is another person's preference.

[that1guy]

Originally Posted by Raelyn28

True, but who knows if the stats are actually correct or corrupt? You know what I mean? I have found many conflicting statistics on the internet lately. One site says one thing another something else. I wonder who is doing the research and giving the statistics. There is nothing like the experience and I tend to rely more on people than statistics. So I think your comment should be the other way around. Factual stats need to be tempered with personal experiences...

The source is really important. If it's a respected institution (FBI, the census, Morgan Quitno, anything found on Jstor...) Then the stats typically will be accurate. Anything that has no stake in the bias of the stat is typically accurate and fair.

Personal experiences are liable to be tainted with bias. If I don't like vegetables and you never had cotton candy...I will most likely spin it to seem that vegetables are bad. Once you taste one, studies have shown that this will taint your own personal perception. The person will more likely (not every time) have a negative experience. So if somebody hates SoCal and presents their personal views without any stats...this will most likely taint the experience of the newcomer.

A truely fair approach is do have stats (from a reliable source) to back up statements.

[oslocos]

Far more than merely poignant, clearly more than heart-felt, you have attempted to reveal honest fact of broad diversities, inescapable conclusion in many western cities, definate fact of California esp. southern California.

I grew-up in N. Orange county (class of '74), traveled coastline at times, worked in O.C. and L.A. at any given time. Post early 1970's, e.g. 1971-1972 inflation was beginning to skyrocket, predominantly real estate. Food, clothing, transportation, even rental properties was typ. more affordable than anywhere else because the economy was robust, amiable and more than common opportunity typ. existed.

My last moments at home, before my own tragedies confronted, c. 1982-1985 (depending how one discerns applicable year dates at such time), I lived in a typ. considered average appearing (ext. architecture) apartment of otherwise regarded near refined living (compared to common properties inundated with noisy youth, drugs, wild parties etc.). I made enough money to eat steak every night of the week if desired, to throw away perhaps $100-$400/evening for leisure (what rare occasion I truly confronted extra spare time), take a few days leave and run-off with an exquisite California doll for romantic interludes (else meet a professional elsewhere). My original wardrobe, prior to tampering, equal to appearances of near affluence, though I wasn't at all wealthy.

My orig. automobile purchases long gone, I drove a then moderately priced semi-sporty compact, the same then cost perhaps $5-10/week max. to operate (fuel, oil, etc., excellent gas mileage). My actual monthly rent, believe it or not @ $200-$225.00, when electric was paid approx. $15.00 more, telephone expense @ $10-15.00/month. My meager salary, at such time (mid 1970's-1980's) @ $500/week gross ($350/take home, I was single they taxed me to death). Only, I didn't work for a single employer, sometimes self-employed/proprietor (tiny occ. enterprise) other times employed by an agency which afforded me choice of perhaps six or more distinct offices to choose from and unlimited potential elsewise at any given time. My income supplemented at times with contracts for private art instruction @ $50.00+/hour (couple hours/week). Basically, less formal education (though I embraced much endeavor at self-improvement, awareness and education), few limitations existed, until a true corporate ladder was approached.

At such time, the only supposed gang nonsense, strong crime-laden areas, perhaps tattered Compton, Watts of course, and varying East Los Angeles districts. Fact is, which many wish not to hear, other than nominal Mexican emmigrants, a few Asians, at such time O.C. and much of L.A. was predominantly "White America" of truly nominal crime at most in most regions. Presumably, about time hell inundated my then very young life, vast rapid migration to California was amidst, not merely nationally, but of illegal aliens and more...

Basically, I could do nearly anything I desired (within reason), except own real estate. Sadly, the pretty little dolls I worshipped, the same if permitted that I would have stayed united to for eternity, typ. sought the more robust jock type, else religious type, else even cocky ruthless arrogant crass type (I lost out completely).

The downside, clearly, unforgiving smog (air pollution at times, not always orig., subsequent reports of historical smog is evident manufacture of indiscernible clandestine device), common status quo (established families that would never be prevented from real estate control, ownership, else meager investment), crass arrogance of a few inconceivable at times, pretty little adorable women mislabeled as if concealed hoodlums and thieves (they was a bit too perfectly endowed, a bit too remarkably beautiful, jealousy as envy exists nearly everywhere), disrespectful citizens that would trash the lower beaches (that is, clearly not Laguna, Newport, etc.) as Huntington, and anywhere predominantly regarded common.

Case in point, I once met, courted, and fell head over heels for a genuine Anaheim Hills doll of substantial concealed affluence which appeared as in fact a perfect woman (physically, emotionally, intellectually). Discrimination wasn't all that common at first (yes, I'm white), O.C. residents was typ. amiable, amicable, very courteous most often. Overall I met a number of renowned celebrities at times (though I did not seek the same out), ran into one in Newport Beach upon the beach one evening. Another, I met when we was young teens, she was not fully established yet (today her name a nearly common household name, she was born in O.C. "Santa Ana").

So much for the good times, nouveau paradigm presents futuristic-like decay (as that of some odd Hollywood production), societal dysfunction at times, abandoned principles, heightened crime rates, odd behaviors at times... wish those other little dolls from Avalon, Disneyland would have never left me. California was once more than mere paradise.

[Morphous01]

Originally Posted by thepinksquid

Kind of funny to me... when the OP mentioned how OC/Southern California lost sports teams and such... one thing I like about here (I'm in San Diego) is how people AREN'T focused on pro sports.

Honestly I don't even know when football season starts/ends or whatever. I'd hate to live somewhere where people are obsessive about whatever team they like, and the whole city/town seems to stop when there's a game. Doesn't help that my husband probably detests sports more than I do...

I don't mean this as disrespect at all to people that enjoy sports... I just wanted to chime in to say that each their own. One person's annoyance (lack of interest in sports) is another person's preference.

I totally agree with you. When I was living in W Covina, Ca during the time when the Lakers were the hot stuff, as I would walk to the store, if I could see a TV in somebody's apartment "The Game" would be on, when I would look at the cars I would see lots of silly Laker flags because "The Game" was on, when I went to work (worked at a gym) grown men would come up to me like children asking "whats the score!" because "The Game" was on.


This mindset is contagious as I'm from Pennsylvania and during my leave from Philly the Eagles became the hot stuff so now the whole city including my mom is all rapped up into these players as if they actually own the team! Excuse me, but does anybody other then the players, the owners, and the sponsors get checks cut when a sports team wins a championship? If anything it will cost the fans MORE money to see a championship team to play and it will cost the fans MORE money to buy a T shirt or a hot dog.


I just don't understand, many guys spend so much time rapped up in sports that they neglect family and the planning of there own lives. I know a few guys who are experts in sports teams however are unhappy with there lives in some way shape or form. Well, I would argue if you could see over there lifetime how many hours they spent watching "The Game" and laboring over fantasy football and transfer that time to building a life that they want I'm sure they would be much more satisfied with there life.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Morphous01

I totally agree with you. When I was living in W Covina, Ca during the time when the Lakers were the hot stuff, as I would walk to the store, if I could see a TV in somebody's apartment "The Game" would be on, when I would look at the cars I would see lots of silly Laker flags because "The Game" was on, when I went to work (worked at a gym) grown men would come up to me like children asking "whats the score!" because "The Game" was on.


This mindset is contagious as I'm from Pennsylvania and during my leave from Philly the Eagles became the hot stuff so now the whole city including my mom is all rapped up into these players as if they actually own the team! Excuse me, but does anybody other then the players, the owners, and the sponsors get checks cut when a sports team wins a championship? If anything it will cost the fans MORE money to see a championship team to play and it will cost the fans MORE money to buy a T shirt or a hot dog.


I just don't understand, many guys spend so much time rapped up in sports that they neglect family and the planning of there own lives. I know a few guys who are experts in sports teams however are unhappy with there lives in some way shape or form. Well, I would argue if you could see over there lifetime how many hours they spent watching "The Game" and laboring over fantasy football and transfer that time to building a life that they want I'm sure they would be much more satisfied with there life.

I know many guys and believe it or not gals who are almost addicted to sports but that does not mean they neglect their families. Sure, ther are a few, those are the ones that would find a way to neglect the kids and wife in other ways. You mentioned some you know are basically "unhappy" you are right, these are not the majority of sports fans. i think your statement is really generalizing a bit too much.

Nita

[thepinksquid]

I will say that at my previous work, many of my colleagues were very much into sports, in particular football. They played the fantasy football thing, and bet on games, etc. They were all great people, and I don't think that they were "absorbed" by it in an unhealthy way. It was weird though to hear that basically they spent all Saturday (or Sunday? It was one day of the weekend...not sure) watching sports. Granted, this was central Florida too (not California) so the weather wasn't as pleasant / the outdoor activities not as plentiful.

Originally Posted by nmnita

I know many guys and believe it or not gals who are almost addicted to sports but that does not mean they neglect their families. Sure, ther are a few, those are the ones that would find a way to neglect the kids and wife in other ways. You mentioned some you know are basically "unhappy" you are right, these are not the majority of sports fans. i think your statement is really generalizing a bit too much.

Nita

[loveautumn]

I think that Southern California's best days are behind them...I agree that people who are thinking about moving here should really think about it long and hard. I try to convey that message on the SD thread, but usually I'm met with deaf ears.