moving from SanFran to Pittsburgh-culture shock? (York, Denver: renting, tech jobs, buying)

[creepsinc]

Originally Posted by Hopes

As for the West, Californians aren't friendly people. When my girlfriend moved from California, she felt uncomfortable with her neighbors saying hello to her and strangers starting up conversations at the bus stop, etc. Maybe the unfriendliness is more of a southern California mentality. The San Fran area might be more friendly, don't know.

Another cultural difference is political correctness. Many Californians are shocked that people speak their minds here. But people I've known well from California harbored deeper resentment for minorities. They'll outwardly portray shock at normal comments and observations as racist. I suspect political correctness for many is used as a cover to appear to belong to the liberalism of California.

Californians are either going to love it or hate it here. That's all that's to it.

Some of the most ignorant and unfriendly people I've ever met were in Pittsburgh. Wait, I've been reading these boards too long. I meant California. The questions you get when they find out you're from the South are ridiculous. Like (and I quote): "Do people even wear shoes there?"

You get the picture.

[Drover]

I suppose the question depends on how deeply you've been steeped in west coast culture and whether or not you're ready for a change. My ex was in a grad program at CMU. Her west coast classmates hated Pittsburgh and couldn't wait to get the hell out. That said, most of them were still in their 20s and hadn't begun to have their "cosmopolitan" itches scratched yet, had lived in cities that were doing that for hem, and Pittsburgh wasn't doing it. If you're older and more settled down, that kind of thing may not matter to you as much.

Mike Madison is a law prof at Pitt. He moved to Pittsburgh from SF and sometimes comments on the comparisons/contrasts at his blog, pittsblog.blogspot.com

[Drover]

Originally Posted by greg42

People think of San Francisco having hills, steps, etc, but Pittsburgh has even more public steps than San Francisco! Just a fun stat I like. :-) They're signed as streets here too.

Yeah, I never really understood giving official "street names" to staircases. It creates an interesting situation when your GPS tries to tell you to drive your car up a set of stairs.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Joshbarblahblah

Oooh okay. Good for Duquesne! I knew that its law school is pretty good, but I didn't realize that the rest of it is so respected. I never really looked into Duquesne much, though, so perhaps that's why I was not aware.

You weren't aware because it's not. Duquesne is practically unknown outside of the region. It's law school is nothing special either. Even Pitt Law is considered an "also-ran" law school and it's still miles ahead of Duquesne.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

In my experience as a transplant, people in Pittsburgh don't necessarily come across as extremely friendly at first (meaning they might seem a bit reserved and even cold), but they quickly respond in kind to people who are themselves friendly. There aren't a lot of formal rules of behavior and such--again, just avoid treating people like backwoods hicks and you should be perfectly fine.

Here's one social rule to consider: Pittsburgh is an anti-status-conscious city. Pittsburghers aren't exactly class-warriors, but they are not impressed by conspicuous displays of wealth unless they have some "Americana" theme attached to it: a big outdoor grill, a new wood deck out back, a Corvette or top-of-the-line Harley, etc. They are not impressed with Gucci, Vendi, or expensive but impractical trinkets, so don't try.

[ryanswindle]

Originally Posted by Drover

Here's one social rule to consider: Pittsburgh is an anti-status-conscious city. Pittsburghers aren't exactly class-warriors, but they are not impressed by conspicuous displays of wealth unless they have some "Americana" theme attached to it: a big outdoor grill, a new wood deck out back, a Corvette or top-of-the-line Harley, etc. They are not impressed with Gucci, Vendi, or expensive but impractical trinkets, so don't try.

I never even knew what coach (coche? I don't know) bags were before I got here and my wife pointed out everyone is carrying these things around which cost hundreds of dollars.

Not status conscious? Bulls balls. Keep telling yourself that... I just got back from slumming it on a Saturday morning doing some shopping, and was completely ignored and more than once shown to the discount section of stores just because I didn't feel like getting all niced up..

Whenever I go places after work in my dress shirt and slacks, it's an entirely different story.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by ryanswindle

I never even knew what coach (coche? I don't know) bags were before I got here and my wife pointed out everyone is carrying these things around which cost hundreds of dollars.

Not status conscious? Bulls balls. Keep telling yourself that... I just got back from slumming it on a Saturday morning doing some shopping, and was completely ignored and more than once shown to the discount section of stores just because I didn't feel like getting all niced up..

Whenever I go places after work in my dress shirt and slacks, it's an entirely different story.

I don't have to tell myself that, I've lived it on both sides of the status-conscious environment. Compared to truly status-conscious cities or neighborhoods, Pittsburgh is T-shirt-and-jeans town. The sheer volume of primped little Trixies who flood the streets of my city on any given Saturday night is something you just don't see there. Or at least I never did, maybe I wasn't looking in the right places.

[ryanswindle]

Originally Posted by Drover

I don't have to tell myself that. Compared to truly status-conscious cities or neighborhoods, Pittsburgh is T-shirt-and-jeans town. The sheer volume of primped little Trixies who flood the streets of my city on any given Saturday night is something you just don't see there. Or at least I never did, maybe I wasn't looking in the right places.

You just described precisely why I am leaving, I have a kid on the way and the idea of raising my kid surrounded by that scares the hell out of me.

I don't know where in Pittsburgh you were, maybe there's a down-to-earth area I haven't found, but I am amazed at how much I see 12 year olds trying to dress like they're going clubbing in stores just because they're taking after what all the women do around here.

I'm not saying anything about San Fran in comparison though, as I don't know where SF stands on that, I'm tempering Pittsburgh in comparison to Denver as I'm used to. So maybe compared to other places in the country Pittsburgh isn't as bad at all and I just don't know it..

[Drover]

Originally Posted by ryanswindle

You just described precisely why I am leaving, I have a kid on the way and the idea of raising my kid surrounded by that scares the hell out of me.

I don't know where in Pittsburgh you were, maybe there's a down-to-earth area I haven't found, but I am amazed at how much I see 12 year olds trying to dress like they're going clubbing in stores just because they're taking after what all the women do around here.

I'm not saying anything about San Fran in comparison though, as I don't know where SF stands on that, I'm tempering Pittsburgh in comparison to Denver as I'm used to. So maybe compared to other places in the country Pittsburgh isn't as bad at all and I just don't know it..

I am not making this up: so far this weekend (counting yesterday), I've seen 3 Bentleys, 2 Ferraris and a Lamborghini. And it's only early Saturday afternoon. I never saw that in Pittsburgh unless I drove past a high-end dealership.

[Chichappens]

Nice ride