More known to look down on/be dismissive of the rest of the country, east coast or west coast? (America, people)
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I've found mutually dismissive/hostile attitudes toward other regions and perspectives to be pretty universal. East/West, North/South, urban/rural, etc: people are (to a really unfortunate degree), largely working with caricatures of what they think people in other regions (or simply people who are different than them) are like. People in the cities often believe people in rural areas are ignorant racists, people in rural areas often think people in the cities want to take their guns and force them to convert to Islam. And so on.
These are very broad examples, of course; just to illustrate the point of how polarized and reactionary so many people's mindsets have become.
But that fact is (obviously), it's all much more complicated than that. People like stereotypes, though.
I remember when the internet was supposedly going to break down those barriers, and correct those misperceptions. Instead, too often it seems have simply reinforced people's prejudices and biases, and made them worse.
And liberal/conservative is very much part of this dynamic, as well.
I don't think any region or group has a monopoly on closed mindedness, or open mindedness. Way too many people are in their own bubbles, and echo chambers.
Last edited by LiveFrom215; 05-22-2021 at 03:27 PM..
Urban West Coasters tend to be proud of being enlightened, doing things for the greater good, balancing work and play, etc. This is the self-image at least.
We're not aristocratic...wealth isn't something to flaunt, and nor is family lineage. If someone brings stuff like that up it's considered off-putting.
We don't necessarily "look down" on other places. But I certainly get questions when I tell people I'm flying to a middle-America city purely as a tourist. It's not disgust, just confusion.
We're proud of our region in a lot of ways. We've kicked ass on Covid, particularly Washington and Oregon, with a fraction of the national death rates. We tend to lead on environmental issues, along with the Northeast. We cut sprawl through legislation and pass big transit measures. We don't let religion control public policy. And we (the urban folks) think places that don't do these things are backwards (ok, maybe we look down a little). Of course many of us wish we'd be a little more like other places on some things, like homeless blocking sidewalks with tents.
This whole image of the west coast is like utter crap though. Like the Work culture in the Bay Area for example might be the most toxic in America. And people Los Angeles is perhaps the most flashy gaudy city in America.
While Boston is one of the most conservative. Even in the turn of century the guided age aristocratic NYers and Bostonians called their Newport summer mansions “cottages” to talk down their wealth.
Not to mention the political culture in those states is not actually very egalitarian. Very fake woke Democrat’s not Labor Democrats. Weather it be UI insurance, healthcare programs, housing programs, Mandated PTO, the west coast is not particularly generous.
West Coast looks down on East Coast more. Especially Californians. They dont really look at the East Coast is existing.
They would obviously have to be fooling themselves or intentionally trying to fool someone else. The East Coast has the most history, the nation's largest, most important city, the nation's capital...and Miami. Only a pretentious clown would act as if none of that existed.
This whole image of the west coast is like utter crap though. Like the Work culture in the Bay Area for example might be the most toxic in America. And people Los Angeles is perhaps the most flashy gaudy city in America.
While Boston is one of the most conservative. Even in the turn of century the guided age aristocratic NYers and Bostonians called their Newport summer mansions “cottages” to talk down their wealth.
Not to mention the political culture in those states is not actually very egalitarian. Very fake woke Democrat’s not Labor Democrats. Weather it be UI insurance, healthcare programs, housing programs, Mandated PTO, the west coast is not particularly generous.
Miami is actually flashier and gaudier than LA. And aside from LA, the West Coast isn’t actually that flashy or gaudy. Pretentious, yes, but that’s different. But you are totally correct about the work culture not being laid back at all. Don’t let the gourmet chefs and hammocks fool you, the tech industry is brutal. Not just in SF, but Seattle too. People at Amazon or Google may get paid well but they are often expected to work 12-14 hours at minimum. The work culture is absolutely cut throat in The Bay Area and Seattle, and in LA too, albeit in a different way.
They would obviously have to be fooling themselves or intentionally trying to fool someone else. The East Coast has the most history, the nation's largest, most important city, the nation's capital...and Miami. Only a pretentious clown would act as if none of that existed.
Miami is not on anyone’s radar on the West Coast. It may as well be Siberia.
NYC is the only city outside of the West Coast that people on the West Coast pay any attention to or care about.
Yes, much of America looks down on the coastal cities. Often this is based on fox news BS, not the real world. But some is reality-based disagreement on things like assault rifles. Lots of people all over consider themselves more "real people" than others, whether it's people in the rich neighborhoods, the poor neighborhoods, the rich cities, the poorer cities, farms, etc. Some think people buying organic quinoa with bean sprouts are less real, while others think people who eat at Applebees are slaves to the system. In some ways they're often doing the same thing: keeping to the local or sublocal ways.
And yes, woke culture has its overreaches.
And LA certainly has its flashy wealth component. I was thinking more the San Francisco / Portland / Seattle ethos.
Edit: I'd say Miami has a large profile even in the opposite corner. We don't necessarily go there much but it's probably #3 in profile on the East Coast behind DC. Boston also has a big profile. Philly not as much as it deserves. Beyond that, not much.
Location: Miami (prev. NY, Atlanta, SF, OC and San Diego)
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..and though not on the coast geographically (it might as well be culturally), a decent amount of West Coasters—especially Californians—descend upon Las Vegas which is THE flashiest and gaudiest city in the country. Heck, their tourism bureau goes to great lengths developing commercials encouraging people to pretend to be someone or something they are not. No other city goes to such lengths.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mhays25
Some good points here.
Yes, much of America looks down on the coastal cities. Often this is based on fox news BS, not the real world. But some is reality-based disagreement on things like assault rifles. Lots of people all over consider themselves more "real people" than others, whether it's people in the rich neighborhoods, the poor neighborhoods, the rich cities, the poorer cities, farms, etc. Some think people buying organic quinoa with bean sprouts are less real, while others think people who eat at Applebees are slaves to the system. In some ways they're often doing the same thing: keeping to the local or sublocal ways.
And yes, woke culture has its overreaches.
And LA certainly has its flashy wealth component. I was thinking more the San Francisco / Portland / Seattle ethos.
Edit: I'd say Miami has a large profile even in the opposite corner. We don't necessarily go there much but it's probably #3 in profile on the East Coast behind DC. Boston also has a big profile. Philly not as much as it deserves. Beyond that, not much.
Last edited by elchevere; 05-22-2021 at 05:00 PM..
Disagree - the West Coast is snootier and more dismissive.
But I think 18montclair is right that it tends to be smugs from the east coast and Midwest who moved there and are like that. At least that’s been my experience on the West Coast. Natives don’t really “look down” on other regions.
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