The Truth about California from a former west coast Girl... (San Diego: wedding, new construction)

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by thepinksquid

I will say that when you look at Orange County, there is a *huge* difference with areas. For example, look at Santa Ana vs. Newport Beach vs. Modjeska. It's difficult to lump every place within the county into one stereotype.

I absolutely agree with this.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by skyway31

I absolutely agree with this.

isn't this true in most ares, be it the bay area (particularly the east bay) DAllas, Phoenix and even here in NWA, our county is split, economically, cultural divercity, rural versus more urban (not truely urban as in some of Calif) and dmographics.

Nita

[Morphous01]

Originally Posted by sunnysideoflife

This post seems to have so much controversy, and I think that it is because some people are stating their opinions as facts.

In my opinion, it's perfectly fine to say "I don't like the crowds" or "I think the prices are too expensive" or "the weather is too hot for me" or "This area is not scenic" or "it's the most beautiful area in the country." All of those statements are opinions. It's also fine to say that the area you lived in had crime, or your quality of life (based upon your personal criteria) was good or bad in a certain area / city.

It's quite another thing to make broad (and sometimes inaccurate) statements about Orange County crime, weather, pollution, population density etc. based only on your personal experience or anecdotal evidence. If everyone on this forum who has such strong opinions about Orange County would recognize (as some have) what is their own opinion or experience vs. what is a statement supportable by reliable data, I think there would be a lot less angry people on this thread.

Also in my opinion, if your individual opinion isn't corroborated by supporting facts, that's ok. I don't think it's a stretch to believe your experience would be different than what the data might indicate (for a number of reasons.) However, if your opinion doesn't match up with the data, there is probably a reason and you should *probably* avoid implying that it's reasonable for most others to expect to have the same experience you had. That would *probably* go a long way towards avoiding an argument.

This is a general comment, not aimed at anyone in particular.

I see what you saying, however when you have a lot of people complaining about the same issues then I think you have a problem on your hands that needs to be looked at.




So in summery, the issues that people complain about are:

High cost of living, crime, immigration, traffic, poor school systems, and the development of too many strip malls and shopping centers.

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by sunnysideoflife

This post seems to have so much controversy, and I think that it is because some people are stating their opinions as facts.

In my opinion, it's perfectly fine to say "I don't like the crowds" or "I think the prices are too expensive" or "the weather is too hot for me" or "This area is not scenic" or "it's the most beautiful area in the country." All of those statements are opinions. It's also fine to say that the area you lived in had crime, or your quality of life (based upon your personal criteria) was good or bad in a certain area / city.

It's quite another thing to make broad (and sometimes inaccurate) statements about Orange County crime, weather, pollution, population density etc. based only on your personal experience or anecdotal evidence. If everyone on this forum who has such strong opinions about Orange County would recognize (as some have) what is their own opinion or experience vs. what is a statement supportable by reliable data, I think there would be a lot less angry people on this thread.

Also in my opinion, if your individual opinion isn't corroborated by supporting facts, that's ok. I don't think it's a stretch to believe your experience would be different than what the data might indicate (for a number of reasons.) However, if your opinion doesn't match up with the data, there is probably a reason and you should *probably* avoid implying that it's reasonable for most others to expect to have the same experience you had. That would *probably* go a long way towards avoiding an argument.

This is a general comment, not aimed at anyone in particular.

I agree with this post totally. I do think perhaps if the thread title was "A Different Opinion About Orange County....." rather than "The Truth" we wouldn't have this explosion of controversy on this thread. I respect the interesting and different viewpoints we have had, but that is what they are: viewpoints. Everybody has a unique one.

[nickdahammer]

Raelyn28: I appreciate your detailed information about life here is SoCal. I feel compelled to (briefly) provide some info of my own.

I live in Los Angeles, which, let's be honest, started this whole Southern California thing. Without L.A., none of this would exist, for better or for worse. I was born in Garden Grove in 1958, moved to Los Angeles about 15 years ago from Long Beach. I live in the Mt Washington district, near Highland Park, South Pasadena, Glassell Park. I also lived for a couple of years in Montecito Heights, which is off Avenue 43, also in Northeast LA, and part of the City.

Aside from having a bike stolen from my (open) garage, and a neighbor's car broken into, I have had zero issues living here. I work downtown, live 5 houses from the Gold Line train, and am within striking distance of Pasadena, Hollywood, Downtown, etc. And I don't have to drive to any of those places, I can just hop on the train. My life has been and continues to be very good. And I live about as far inland as you can get.

Here in Mt Washington, we have one of the best elementary schools in the County. The high schools, not so much. And yes, money is an issue, but there are lots of things to do for free or cheap if you look for them (museums, free concerts downtown and elsewhere, lots of cheap stores and indoor swap meets from Chinatown to Highland Park). I've been pretty broke, but my wife and i were always able to get by when we shopped locally.

There are Hispanics here, but its not an issue for me. We all seem to get along fine. I was never much of a football fan to begin with, but most of the people I know who clamor for football are out-of-towners. We DO have the best basketball team in the world, so my sports needs are met. Been to a couple of Lakers parades downtown. Expect to attend another this year as well.

The place I find most depressing is my childhood home of Costa Mesa. I have spent alot of time there recently because my mother just passed away and my parents have a home there. There is nearly nothing left from my childhood, and the new businesses are boarded-up or soon to be. I have lots of childhood memories playing in the park (nearly covered in concrete), or browsing the used bookstore (since demolished), shopping for music (ditto), watching a movie at the local Mesa Theatre (long gone). Well, you get the picture. It's almost as though that part of my life has been erased. It's a very unpleasant feeling.

I guess what I am trying to say is: if you really want to investigate an area, ANY area, do the research but spend some time checking everything out. When my wife and I decided to buy a home in Los Angeles so I wouldn't have to commute so far, we checked out lots of areas we didn't even know existed. We found great neighborhoods way beyond our reach (Larchmont Village, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Hancock Park), as well as unknowns (Mt Washington) that we could afford. We went through some really crappy places, and some jaw-dropping neighborhoods that knocked us out. After all that, we never regretted buying here, not for one minute. I can't imagine ever leaving. But unless you see it firsthand, OC, LA, whatever, you won't really get the full picture.

My two cents.

[Raelyn28]

Originally Posted by nickdahammer

Raelyn28: I appreciate your detailed information about life here is SoCal. I feel compelled to (briefly) provide some info of my own.

I live in Los Angeles, which, let's be honest, started this whole Southern California thing. Without L.A., none of this would exist, for better or for worse. I was born in Garden Grove in 1958, moved to Los Angeles about 15 years ago from Long Beach. I live in the Mt Washington district, near Highland Park, South Pasadena, Glassell Park. I also lived for a couple of years in Montecito Heights, which is off Avenue 43, also in Northeast LA, and part of the City.

Aside from having a bike stolen from my (open) garage, and a neighbor's car broken into, I have had zero issues living here. I work downtown, live 5 houses from the Gold Line train, and am within striking distance of Pasadena, Hollywood, Downtown, etc. And I don't have to drive to any of those places, I can just hop on the train. My life has been and continues to be very good. And I live about as far inland as you can get.

Here in Mt Washington, we have one of the best elementary schools in the County. The high schools, not so much. And yes, money is an issue, but there are lots of things to do for free or cheap if you look for them (museums, free concerts downtown and elsewhere, lots of cheap stores and indoor swap meets from Chinatown to Highland Park). I've been pretty broke, but my wife and i were always able to get by when we shopped locally.

There are Hispanics here, but its not an issue for me. We all seem to get along fine. I was never much of a football fan to begin with, but most of the people I know who clamor for football are out-of-towners. We DO have the best basketball team in the world, so my sports needs are met. Been to a couple of Lakers parades downtown. Expect to attend another this year as well.

The place I find most depressing is my childhood home of Costa Mesa. I have spent alot of time there recently because my mother just passed away and my parents have a home there. There is nearly nothing left from my childhood, and the new businesses are boarded-up or soon to be. I have lots of childhood memories playing in the park (nearly covered in concrete), or browsing the used bookstore (since demolished), shopping for music (ditto), watching a movie at the local Mesa Theatre (long gone). Well, you get the picture. It's almost as though that part of my life has been erased. It's a very unpleasant feeling.

I guess what I am trying to say is: if you really want to investigate an area, ANY area, do the research but spend some time checking everything out. When my wife and I decided to buy a home in Los Angeles so I wouldn't have to commute so far, we checked out lots of areas we didn't even know existed. We found great neighborhoods way beyond our reach (Larchmont Village, Los Feliz, Silverlake, Hancock Park), as well as unknowns (Mt Washington) that we could afford. We went through some really crappy places, and some jaw-dropping neighborhoods that knocked us out. After all that, we never regretted buying here, not for one minute. I can't imagine ever leaving. But unless you see it firsthand, OC, LA, whatever, you won't really get the full picture.

My two cents.

A very good post and I appreciate your honestly and experience. I am very glad that you and your wife enjoy where you live. I have never heard of Mt. Washington... It is so true, people do need to investigate and gather a lot of information regarding a move because it is life changing and expensive and then sometimes hard to leave. I just felt compelled to share my experience and believe that I visited and spent a lot of time in many places in OC when I lived there for over two decades. We never could move too far away from my husbands employment because he hated the commute so we never really found a place that we liked. It just wasn't what I thought it was going to be and now that I am away from it... well it seems worse than when I was there.

As soon as I get off the plane in LA or Orange I can smell the air and feel the tension. It is definately a different life, a different place.. and for me just not a good fit. For others.. it might be great and that is a good thing.

As far as you are concerned... good for you that you found peace where you live...

Have a great day!!

[Ludachris]

Originally Posted by missionhome

I do think perhaps if the thread title was "A Different Opinion About Orange County....." rather than "The Truth" we wouldn't have this explosion of controversy on this thread. I respect the interesting and different viewpoints we have had, but that is what they are: viewpoints. Everybody has a unique one.

And if everyone would stop trying to insist their viewpoint is that of the majority, or that their experience is most likely what everyone would experience when moving to SoCal this thread would likely be quite a bit different. When you read the posts, you have a lot of people who truly believe they represent the majority by the way they say things. When you speak up and challenge them by informing everyone that you know a number of people that disagree with them, you're quickly criticized, along with those people you know. Hopefully the readers can see this too. You have to cut through a lot of bitterness to get some of the good opinions.

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by missionhome

I agree with this post totally. I do think perhaps if the thread title was "A Different Opinion About Orange County....." rather than "The Truth" we wouldn't have this explosion of controversy on this thread. I respect the interesting and different viewpoints we have had, but that is what they are: viewpoints. Everybody has a unique one.

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by Ludachris

And if everyone would stop trying to insist their viewpoint is that of the majority, or that their experience is most likely what everyone would experience when moving to SoCal this thread would likely be quite a bit different. When you read the posts, you have a lot of people who truly believe they represent the majority by the way they say things. When you speak up and challenge them by informing everyone that you know a number of people that disagree with them, you're quickly criticized, along with those people you know. Hopefully the readers can see this too. You have to cut through a lot of bitterness to get some of the good opinions.

Very true.

[Raelyn28]

Just out of curiosity? Where is the post/posts that claim their viewpoint is the majority?? This thread was never meant to be about other people but about what I witnessed and experienced in OC. I was sort of like an eye witness to something that was happening/happened.

For example, it is much different hearing about or seeing an event (accident, earthquake, war, etc.) on the news than actually being there or participating in it.

I posted because many people are coming to this forum and trying to see OC from an outsiders position or they are viewing it in an uninvolved way. I wanted to let them know that I was actually on site as far as my involvement in OC. That doesn't make my post a viewpoint it makes it an experience, a reality or once again "The Truth". I was there, I walked and drove the streets, I smelled the air, I lived the OC life. And I lived it for a long time. Not just a few years but many. The Truth... good points and bad points, just like any other place. And I believe I have always been balanced in my posts.

Therefore, I chose to post my thread and I don't regret the name I gave it. It is me and I am free and able to do as I please. Once again it is a free country so stop trying to change my thread or it's title... If those of you do not like the title than don't read it, skip it and read something else.

Thank you