Why Doesn't SF Smile? (Oakland: bars, commuting, deal)

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by tstieber

people spend more time on their iPhones than they do talking to people.

That's everywhere.

Hopefully 'Gen Z' rebels against the blandness of their predecessors. The City would be a likely location for this, except it's so damned expensive, it's hard to see this revitalization of soul happening there. Rich brats aren't very interesting.

[windycitychicago]

We tried to give SF/Marin County a try and lived there for two years. I even started a business in the FiDi and we couldn't wait to get out of there. The business environment is more or less anti-business and the people were about the same. Everyone seemed nice enough but we got the same feeling people did not smile. People were generally super hyper competitive and a "me" attitude. Your definitely not going to get the quaint good feelings of a small town living (which Marin County is one of the nicest communities from a distance and tries to stage itself as a "real community", the place is vacuous w /no real sense of happiness). It's beautiful but you feel guilty because you should be happy that you live in the most beautiful place in North America but it's an empty place. It is definitely a world class city to visit but not to raise a family and own a business we definitely wouldn't want to lay our roots there. The politics drove us crazy and the real estate was old and just not that nice - we lived in a $1.8M "shack". So, it's a great city to visit just not to live for long-term. We are happy we got out of a failing state, good luck to those that live there When they say the top money earners are leaving, it is true and there is a reason for it they just need to wake up. This post was not meant to bash anyone but I agree w/ the original poster, people just don't smile there

[matzoman]

Originally Posted by tstieber

I've noticed that the people in the City are generally much more 'flat' than they were, say, in the 90s. I think part of it is the current work culture, which is fairly intense, as well as the cost of living pushing out the quirky element of the population (which I may not belong to myself but greatly appreciate). It's like everyone's a zombie. I also think technology is so pervasive here that people spend more time on their iPhones than they do talking to people. EVeryone's in their own little private sphere, and there are so many tech companies that it attracts boring, nerdy people who think they're really cool but sadly aren't. I am starting to see a thawing out of those trend though (for example, people aren't posting photos of their burritos on Facebook, or even using Facebook as often as a few years ago), so hopefully, that'll improve again. Another factor, IMHO, is that Gen Y is much more self-absorbed, annoying, and boring, than Gen X. The new crop of young adults often seems extrarordinarily uninteresting, and who could blame them as a product of the 90s and 2000s, which were culturally stagnant decades.

Those may be harsh words towards large segments of the population, but my point is that demographics are shifting as the population ages, and I think SF is, much like NYC, replacing it's unique culture with standardized, bland culture, and this translates to less friendliness.

Spot on post. Maybe the south american city's are where all the flavor is now, RIO, Buenos Aires, Caracas.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by windycitychicago

I even started a business in the FiDi and we couldn't wait to get out of there. The business environment is more or less anti-business and the people were about the same. Everyone seemed nice enough but we got the same feeling people did not smile. People were generally super hyper competitive and a "me" attitude. Your definitely not going to get the quaint good feelings of a small town living

That's because you were in the FiDi. Not really that different from downtown Chicago, is it?

[windycitychicago]

Yes exactly, which is why we are moving to Jupiter, Fl next year

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by jupiler

I've visited SF about 5 times. Each time as I enter the city, I feel a sense of liberation from the diversity, laid back pace, and friendly people I come across (mostly strangers). I think because I have a positive attitude here, it helps me enjoy all that it has to offer.

I'm glad you have had great experiences, but I have to disagree.

I currently work in SF (in "the City" but on the outskirts) and visit the FiDi/Downtown area 1-2x weekly and experience the opposite. In no city have I been to elsewhere in the U.S. have such a collection of a-holes successfully been assembled in a tiny area such as what I've experienced in SF; the west side of L.A. might beat SF, but then again the westside is hardly the entire city. I've also experienced the 'tude in Sunset, Japantown, Mission, and elsewhere I've been throughout SF.

Sorry, but SF is anything but genuinely liberal, and I don't feel liberated from anything. When I travel out on the peninsula or the East Bay, that's when I feel liberated from that SF attitude. I like Oakland, San Jose, San Mateo, Redwood City, Orinda, Fremont, South City, etc. all better than SF. Maybe I'm just a suburbanite (although Oakland isn't exactly suburban).

[jupiler]

Originally Posted by EclecticEars

I'm glad you have had great experiences, but I have to disagree.

I currently work in SF (in "the City" but on the outskirts) and visit the FiDi/Downtown area 1-2x weekly and experience the opposite. In no city have I been to elsewhere in the U.S. have such a collection of a-holes successfully been assembled in a tiny area such as what I've experienced in SF; the west side of L.A. might beat SF, but then again the westside is hardly the entire city. I've also experienced the 'tude in Sunset, Japantown, Mission, and elsewhere I've been throughout SF.

I haven't spent much time in FiDi, so can't comment on that. I can only speak on my experience, and what I've experienced pretty consistently is a lot of down to earth people that will go out of their way to help a stranger. And while I've experienced that from all walks of life here, I've particularly enjoyed my encounters with diverse lower working class (or even homeless) folks who show incredible innocence--I'm talking about child-like innocence, compassion, and energy (and occasionally offbeat)--that is so rare in the Midwestern white collar world I live in. I don't know if anyone else has had this experience here, but this lost innocence that is found here is one of the things I love about the Bay Area.

[Teiki]

I take the bus every morning in Chinatown and every night in Nob Hill. I've never seen one person smile at another person. People cut in front of me to get on the bus every time, even when the bus is half full. I'm moving as soon as my lease expires, one reason being the people's attitude and unfriendliness.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by EclecticEars

SF is anything but genuinely liberal

It is certainly becoming less so with the continuing deluge of $$$ people into it.

[dalparadise]

We limousine liberals take great offense at this.