Vancouver Social Scene (schools, quality of life, organic)

[Swan Dive]

Originally Posted by Robynator

I should also mention, for comparison sake, that Toronto has more random gang-related violence happening in public, moreso than Vancouver. If you still felt safe in Toronto, you're no doubt going to feel safe in Vancouver.

, Macleans did a cover story on vancouver as a world crime superpower, check out this link

How B.C. became a world crime superpower : Canada : News : Sympatico / MSN

[redturtle]

Swan Dive,

You're putting all of this out of context.

I personally have travelled the world, and likely lived in far more places than you have. Frankly, you're the one who comes across as EXTREMELY sheltered -- if you think Vancouver is as bad as your sentiment of it, then you really have no perspective or idea what it's like elsewhere. Or simply delusional and hoping it be more unsafe than it really is to validate your own bitterness at living in Vancouver.

There are knuckleheads on Granville at night, but 99% of the time it doesn't amount to anything. You've strung together some isolated incidents and make it seem like the whole city is at war.

Vancouver is safer than just about any major American city. But you make it seem like it's Baghdad. Yes, there is a gang and drug problem in Vancouver, but your chances of being caught in the crossfire are slim to none.

If you want unsafe, try:

West Philly or North Philly
South LA
West Oakland
East Palo Alto
Detroit
Certain parts of St Louis

You know you sound like one of those bitter Vancouverites who ***** and moan about every little thing and complain about how horrible it is.

Or the fact that it's a retirement place. You obviously don't get out a whole lot.

Yes, the nightclubs aren't as happening as Paris or NYC, but you probably don't get invited to the house parties and private events that happen all the time in the city.

The city may not be Times Square, but it's hardly a sleepy town.

Get a grip, and get out of your little condo for a bit. You may see a different Vancouver.

To all those coming to Vancouver: the biggest downside of Vancouver are whiners like Swan Dive -- they make up a significant minority of provincially-minded people who don't realize how amazing of a city Vancouver really is, and instead nitpick at every flaw to validate to themselves how utterly miserable they are.

[Cornerguy1]

Moderator's Note:

Let's keep the discussion on a civil, non-personal level, please.

[kattwoman2]

Whoops, didn't mean to start a fight. I mean, I guess one place can look different between different views. I live in a small American town, and while I think this place is completely boring I have friends who love the safety and quietness of this town. I have a few friends that live around the area, so I won't be going in there by myself. I was sort of hoping that Vancouver would be more social and more young adult oriented than Seattle (which is starting to sound like a very anti-social city, not rude just not social oriented). Oh well, I still like to travel and I'll definitely give Vancouver a chance, and if that falls through there's always other places.

[Robynator]

For a different perspective, I posted your question onto a Vancouver blog community to see what they'd say:

vancouver: Vancouver's broken social scene?

Again, you get a good mix of answers.

[smp2010]

I am going to agree with Swan Dive, the town is over rated at best. If you are looking for junkies or to depress yourself go to Vancouver. I lived there for a couple of years and hated every minute of it. The highlights were going to Seattle...

[pie11my]

Hi Swan Dive,
So based on your own knowledge what place would you prefer to live in canada(with your preference i mean to some kind of a refinement of the major variables including: quality of life, crime and so on, also best appropriate for 30+ years old bachelor). Thanx

[pie11my]

I lived there for a couple of years and hated every minute of it

Also, the same question to smp2010, Thanx again

[kattwoman2]

Originally Posted by Robynator

For a different perspective, I posted your question onto a Vancouver blog community to see what they'd say:

vancouver: Vancouver's broken social scene?

Again, you get a good mix of answers.

Thanks for the link. I'm actually pretty social, b/c it's hard to be an anti-social Communication major IMO, and I don't mind getting into situations that might seem a little awkward (like someone mentioned in that journal) like going up to a random person and start talking to them. I just like to get information beforehand from people who live there and/or visit there so I know what to expect and not go in there expecting one thing but getting something else entirely. I'm not anti-social, I just know that some groups of people are used to strangers talking to them and other groups of people feel awkward about it.

I'm from the South, so down here some of us are pretty friendly and open. There are some rude and anti-social Southerners, but where I was raised we are pretty friendly with one another and can have conversations with random strangers and not find it odd. Whereas in England, for example, I tried to give my friend a hug and he freaked out b/c people in his area don't hug one another as a greeting (though it might be different in other parts). He didn't get mad, but he just wasn't used to it. I'm not talking about hugging or kissing random Canadians or Seattle people , but I just wanted to make sure if I start talking to them they won't get offended or give me the cold shoulder, or if they do I wanted to make sure it was more of a cultural thing and not a "I hate you even though I just met you" thing.

For the most part, this is me trying to get information about social life in Vancouver so I don't commit some sort of horrible faux pas. Like how a friend of mine in China is used to linking arms with female friends when crossing the street, whereas in some areas of the South that's seen as being a gay act and not looked upon favorably (which I think close-minded people should get over it). I didn't want to go in assuming that Vancouver was like Toronto or Montreal and end up being shocked at how different they were.

Thanks for the information . I'm glad that I have a couple of friends already in BC (one lives close to Vancouver but not in Vancouver and she's a little older) so I can at least hang out with them during the day. I'll think about what everyone said about the nightlife and also about Seattle not being as anti-social as I thought it would be.

P.S. I apologize for any weird language, typos, etc. It's almost 2 a.m. here.

[f1000]

[quote=kattwoman2;4399039]

I'm from the South, so down here some of us are pretty friendly and open. There are some rude and anti-social Southerners, but where I was raised we are pretty friendly with one another and can have conversations with random strangers and not find it odd. Whereas in England, for example, I tried to give my friend a hug and he freaked out b/c people in his area don't hug one another as a greeting (though it might be different in other parts). He didn't get mad, but he just wasn't used to it. I'm not talking about hugging or kissing random Canadians or Seattle people , but I just wanted to make sure if I start talking to them they won't get offended or give me the cold shoulder, or if they do I wanted to make sure it was more of a cultural thing and not a "I hate you even though I just met you" thing.

\quote]

okay I've spent considerable time in both U.S South (where you're from) as well as Vancouver, Canada (relationship). There are friendly, rude & indifferent people everywhere- however- generally, Vancouver is a shockingly diverse city where people from all over co-exist and it is therefore not necessarily the most friendly place either as people seem to be uncertain of each other, but people are not at all rude. It is very similar to Seattle in terms on the scale of friendliness- which is certainly less than Atlanta or New Orleans or Dallas. Yet there are plenty of friendly people and you won't stand out if you start small talk with random strangers. I remember I was more likely to encounter both friendlier or more hostile characters in the US South- it just depends. Furthermore, indeed the US South is much more conservative and Vancouver is more accepting of differences so that would be one of the main differences. Moreover, I can tell you that as a non-Southerner, I am always taken aback with how outgoing & exuberant many Southerners are- to the verge of obnoxiousness sometimes: certainly occasional but not pervasive in Vancouver if I recall