Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I agree on a lot of levels. Even DC and SF have tremendous differences. SF is nowhere near as black as DC and never has been. SF was blackest in the 70's at around 16% of the population. DC was around 70%+ black at its blackest in the 70's and 80's. SF also has a massive Asian population. Chinatown in DC is like two blocks and you barely see any Asian people there. Just like how the Fillmore in SF used to the "Harlem of the West", yet you see fewer and fewer black people in that area with every passing year. Also, SF natives, and Bay Area natives in general, tend to be people of all backgrounds who generally get along with all different types of people no matter what their background may be. DC is not like this as black and white natives generally do not associate with one another.
SF is also much more laid-back than DC. DC is all about work, work, work. SF is becoming a city for rich people who are rich enough not to work. When DC people are in SF, they are usually grossed out by the massive amounts of crazy rowdy homeless people smoking weed all day everyday in Golden Gate Park and even more sketched out by massive amounts of addicts, drug pushers, gang bangers and messed up people congregated downtown in the Tenderloin. DC is all about ambition. But the 60's never died in the Haight and Golden Gate Park. There are weathered old hippies my parents' age who still stick it out in the park smoking and selling weed all day and never became yuppies. I mean, really, if you can make $300-500 a day selling weed in the park in the most weed friendly big city in America, you don't really need a white collar job and a suit. But DC people don't understand this mentality.
SF is also much less materialistic and status-conscious than DC. SF is granola, all about the great outdoors. DC is about that yuppie Patrick Bateman life. People in SF, as a whole, care much less about clothes than cities like NYC and DC. But in DC, even black kids in the ghetto are wearing authentic Prada and Gucci whereas many of their counterparts in SF prefer to wear no-name brand black hoodies and beanies all year round.
From a topographical standpoint, there is no city in America, and maybe even in the world, like SF with the amazing backdrop of the towering steep hills which are scary as all hell to drive on if you are from elsewhere. The feeling of a slowed down roller coaster in your own car driving in SF is not cool if you are used to the flat landscape of the East Coast. There is also no city like DC which has the mass amounts of cherry blossoms in the Spring and the monuments. DC is also unique in being one of the only major cities without a big commercial skyline. It gets weird seeing all these tall buildings in Northern Virginia and towns like Bethesda in Maryland after spending all day in the District.
I agree between the aspect of DC and the Bay Area but the whole "Work, work, work" thing is very NYC. DC seems more laid back compared to NYC, but not as calm as SF or LA.
SF is far more diverse in the actual city though, no? I know a lot do, but I generally don't care for whatever is in the burbs of a place. SF feels far more diverse being there than DC, but I understand if DC is close metrowide on paper.
No, San Francisco really isn't as diverse as its neighbor Oakland. SF and DC are both more or less dominated by two racial groups. SF is mostly white (41%) and Asian (30%). SF is 15% Latino which is a lower proportion than California as a whole. SF is only around 5% black which is less than half of the proportion of blacks in the U.S. as a whole at about 12% of the American population. You will you see large concentrations of black folks in the worst areas of SF in and around extremely neglected public housing project apartment complexes places like Sunnydale and Hunter's Point.
SF's white population are mostly non-ethnic American whites although there are ethnic whites (i.e. Russians) in areas like the Richmond district. SF also has a sizable Irish population of people actually hailing from the country, itself. However, San Francisco does have a much more diverse population of Asians, Pacific Islanders and Polynesians than anywhere on the East Coast. Filipinos are well-represented throughout SF although there always have been large Filipino concentrations in the southern half of the city in areas like Excelsior, Visitacion Valley and Lakeview. Bordering Daly City has the highest Filipino population of any city in America. San Francisco has one of the largest populations of Samoans, mostly in Bayview and Hunter's Point. San Francisco has Japantown. There are small Cambodian populations in SF, but mostly in and around better maintained public housing projects in the center of the city in places like the Tenderloin and Bernal Heights. Most Asians on the East Coast are Korean, many of whom own liquor stores, laundromats, corner stores, restaurants and deli's. There are much less Koreans in SF compared to back East. Most Asians in SF are middle class Chinese folks living in mostly quiet areas like the Sunset. Although most of SF's black population are native born American blacks, there are small concentrations of Ethiopians in black areas of SF like the Western Addition where there are Ethiopian owned corner stores proudly displaying the national flag. Most Latinos in SF tend to be Mexican although there are other Central American nationalities such as Salvadorans. There are very numbers of Puerto Ricans in the Mission district.
DC's white population is decidedly very WASP. There are no significant populations of ethnic whites in DC. On the other hand, DC has a diverse black population. DC is home to large Ethiopian populations. Uptown along Georgia Ave is home to many Ethiopians and some Nigerians. Other notable African immigrant populations in DC and the surrounding area include Ghanians, Ugandans, Liberians and Eritreans. There are also many families from countries like Sierra Leone. Many of the children of first generation African immigrants embrace black American culture and you would never know that their entire family were recent African immigrants unless they told you. There are also a smaller percentage of Caribbean blacks in DC with roots in Jamaica, Trinidad, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Most Latinos in DC are Salvadorans. The tiny Asian population in DC are mostly Koreans and various gentrifying yuppie Asians from a myriad of Asian nationalities.
I agree between the aspect of DC and the Bay Area but the whole "Work, work, work" thing is very NYC. DC seems more laid back compared to NYC, but not as calm as SF or LA.
Ah, DC also seems laidback in comparison to NYC because not everyone is sitting on their horns in traffic, cussing everybody out or trying to fight people as a result of impatience. But underneath the surface, you will find out that DC is actually a very condescending place. People think they are more important than they really are in the District. The first thing people in DC will ask you is "what do you do?" It's a size up question. People from all over the country move to DC for the sole purpose of work. NYC is not like that. The prettiest girls from high schools across America come to NYC to pursue modeling careers. Also, NYC has a lot of cool industries like fashion where the work environment is not as uptight and overly formal as DC.
Also, there are a lot of regular people in NYC. DC lacks this. In DC, you either are an upper middle class workaholic yuppie or an unemployed/underemployed black person living in the hood. People in DC lack social skills and are known to talk about nothing but work even long after they've clocked out of work when they are at bars. Unlike NYC where many, many professionals put away their suits and business casual on Friday and Saturday nights in exchange for fitted caps, leather jackets, raw denim and Air Jordans/Nikes/Adidas, people in DC always look like they just came from the office. There is a particular soullessness that accompanies these self-important condescending DC men who are always wearing at least a button down shirt, slacks and dress shoes with lot of grease in their hair and never stop talking about how important their job is and what they want to do career-wise in the near future. The only time they are not wearing at least business casual is literally when they are lounging at home, jogging or at the gym. It gets the point where these people start seeming non-human.
People in DC are obsessed with being "professionals", it's highly annoying if you live in the area. Like seriously, what type of music do you like? Where did you grow up? What was it like there? Who's your squad in Basketball or Football? But no. It's all "what do you do?" in DC.
Last edited by LunaticVillage; 03-05-2014 at 10:41 AM..
Ah, DC also seems laidback in comparison to NYC because not everyone is sitting on their horns in traffic, cussing everybody out or trying to fight people as a result of impatience. But underneath the surface, you will find out that DC is actually a very condescending place. People think they are more important than they really are in the District. The first thing people in DC will ask you is "what do you do?" It's a size up question. People from all over the country move to DC for the sole purpose of work. NYC is not like that. The prettiest girls from high schools across America come to NYC to pursue modeling careers. Also, NYC has a lot of cool industries like fashion where the work environment is not as uptight and overly formal as DC.
Also, there are a lot of regular people in NYC. DC lacks this. In DC, you either are an upper middle class workaholic yuppie or an unemployed/underemployed black person living in the hood. People in DC lack social skills and are known to talk about nothing but work even long after they've clocked out of work when they are at bars. Unlike NYC where many, many professionals put away their suits and business casual on Friday and Saturday nights in exchange for fitted caps, leather jackets, raw denim and Air Jordans/Nikes/Adidas, people in DC always look like they just came from the office. There is a particular soullessness that accompanies these self-important condescending DC men who are always wearing at least a button down shirt, slacks and dress shoes with lot of grease in their hair and never stop talking about how important their job is and what they want to do career-wise in the near future. The only time they are not wearing at least business casual is literally when they are lounging at home, jogging or at the gym. It gets the point where these people start seeming non-human.
People in DC are obsessed with being "professionals", it's highly annoying if you live in the area. Like seriously, what type of music do you like? Where did you grow up? What was it like there? Who's your squad in Basketball or Football? But no. It's all "what do you do?" in DC.
Apparently you need to broaden your social group... I have no idea what you're talking about but REAL DC is nothing like you just described. Your post is ignorant and shortsighted.
Ah, DC also seems laidback in comparison to NYC because not everyone is sitting on their horns in traffic, cussing everybody out or trying to fight people as a result of impatience. But underneath the surface, you will find out that DC is actually a very condescending place. People think they are more important than they really are in the District. The first thing people in DC will ask you is "what do you do?" It's a size up question. People from all over the country move to DC for the sole purpose of work. NYC is not like that. The prettiest girls from high schools across America come to NYC to pursue modeling careers. Also, NYC has a lot of cool industries like fashion where the work environment is not as uptight and overly formal as DC.
Also, there are a lot of regular people in NYC. DC lacks this. In DC, you either are an upper middle class workaholic yuppie or an unemployed/underemployed black person living in the hood. People in DC lack social skills and are known to talk about nothing but work even long after they've clocked out of work when they are at bars. Unlike NYC where many, many professionals put away their suits and business casual on Friday and Saturday nights in exchange for fitted caps, leather jackets, raw denim and Air Jordans/Nikes/Adidas, people in DC always look like they just came from the office. There is a particular soullessness that accompanies these self-important condescending DC men who are always wearing at least a button down shirt, slacks and dress shoes with lot of grease in their hair and never stop talking about how important their job is and what they want to do career-wise in the near future. The only time they are not wearing at least business casual is literally when they are lounging at home, jogging or at the gym. It gets the point where these people start seeming non-human.
People in DC are obsessed with being "professionals", it's highly annoying if you live in the area. Like seriously, what type of music do you like? Where did you grow up? What was it like there? Who's your squad in Basketball or Football? But no. It's all "what do you do?" in DC.
Only a transplant would say this about D.C. so that is very understandable.
Most Asians on the East Coast are Korean, many of whom own liquor stores, laundromats, corner stores, restaurants and deli's. There are much less Koreans in SF compared to back East.
Most Asians on the East Coast are not Korean. In the District, Koreans are fewer in number than the Chinese, Indians and Filipinos. In the metro area, Koreans are outnumbered by Indians and Chinese. In Philly, there are about five times as many Chinese as Koreans with Indian, Filipino, Cambodian and Vietnamese also being larger in number. Vietnamese also outnumber Koreans in the Philadelphia metro area. Chinese also vastly outnumber Koreans in Boston (city and metro) as do Indians and Vietnamese. In the Tri-State, Chinese are the largest Asian group and are more than three times larger than the Korean population.
You appear to be correct as far as San Francisco not having many Koreans though. Chinese make up 62.5% of Asians in SF and 41.3% of Asians in the SF-Oakland MSA. Chinese make up 25% of Asians in the San Jose metro and constitute a plurality of the Asian population. Vietnamese are second and Filipinos are third.
Agreed. This is such an odd topic because if I had to pick the one big city in American that is the "odd man out", it would definitely be DC. No other city in the US is quite like it. The height limit, the french style radial street grid, the fact that its almost completely built out, not to metion the fact that its politics and boundaries are so weird (not a state but really should be, and if it were it would be the most completely urbanized state by a LONG shot; operates autonomously except for budget matters which have to be approved by the Federal government, etc.) DC isn't comparable to any other city. Its its own thing.
Ah, DC also seems laidback in comparison to NYC because not everyone is sitting on their horns in traffic, cussing everybody out or trying to fight people as a result of impatience. But underneath the surface, you will find out that DC is actually a very condescending place. People think they are more important than they really are in the District. The first thing people in DC will ask you is "what do you do?" It's a size up question. People from all over the country move to DC for the sole purpose of work. NYC is not like that. The prettiest girls from high schools across America come to NYC to pursue modeling careers. Also, NYC has a lot of cool industries like fashion where the work environment is not as uptight and overly formal as DC.
Also, there are a lot of regular people in NYC. DC lacks this. In DC, you either are an upper middle class workaholic yuppie or an unemployed/underemployed black person living in the hood. People in DC lack social skills and are known to talk about nothing but work even long after they've clocked out of work when they are at bars. Unlike NYC where many, many professionals put away their suits and business casual on Friday and Saturday nights in exchange for fitted caps, leather jackets, raw denim and Air Jordans/Nikes/Adidas, people in DC always look like they just came from the office. There is a particular soullessness that accompanies these self-important condescending DC men who are always wearing at least a button down shirt, slacks and dress shoes with lot of grease in their hair and never stop talking about how important their job is and what they want to do career-wise in the near future. The only time they are not wearing at least business casual is literally when they are lounging at home, jogging or at the gym. It gets the point where these people start seeming non-human.
People in DC are obsessed with being "professionals", it's highly annoying if you live in the area. Like seriously, what type of music do you like? Where did you grow up? What was it like there? Who's your squad in Basketball or Football? But no. It's all "what do you do?" in DC.
I lived in Hoboken, NJ for a few years. That place seems to be similar to the yuppie demographic you are describing. Super preppy and/or greasy Italian Workahaulics wearing ties to sports bars after work making cheap pick ups towards women and sticking within their own social groups. Hoboken and Arlington, VA probably go hand-in-hand with the types of east coast yuppie we are both discussing. The "What do you do?" thing is not just a DC or NY thing, it happens out here in LA all the time. It's bragging rights for people in the entertainment industry to plug whatever they are working on.
I don't miss 'wearing a tie' to work. Give me a polo shirt and jeans to work in LA instead.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
But DC people don't understand this mentality.
