Is Los Angeles the most Fakest most shallow city in America? (homes, job market)

[Exitus Acta Probat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDdZHIuAzVQ

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by 8to32characters

^This guy nailed it.

Yes he freaking did. Excellent post trancedout!

Coming from texas the situation is the same if not worse. Your job is what defines you there and people look at you like you're strange if you don't have a high paying job to land you the typical middle class life. They wonder where your kids are, your McMansion, your truck, or your dog.

That's one thing I'm thankful for here in LA. No one cares if you're 30 and living in an apartment. People know the COL is harder here so they tend not to judge about your situation.

Everything growing up in suburban texas to me seemed like pressure to hurry up and start living like a typical middle class complete with stressing job, two kids and a mortgage.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by marilyn220

Co-sign this 100%!

Can't tell you how many times I met people who claimed to be or do one thing, but was something else.

For example, I met this girl who told me she was a photographer. I saw her in Downtown LA and asked her what she was doing there. She said "working". I said "oh, what are you taking pictures of?", she said "I work at the bank, but I call myself a photographer, because this is what I like to do".

She was just one of MANY and I just went along with it. I didn't care actually. They were cool people. In LA, you can tell me you're a descendant of one royalty and I'll be like "Wow! Really??" and keep it movin'. Lol

Good! People should define themselves by their passion! There is nothing wrong with defining yourself as an idealized version of who yourself and the way in which you wish to earn a living. Not the way they are paying their rent and bills. IMO, this is actually a thing I LIKE about people in LA. I DON'T think this is fake at all. And no offense, I don't really click well with people who find this wrong.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by guyatwork37

I wouldn't go so far as to say LA is the fakest, most shallow city in America as that seems a bit harsh. But I can say that in LA when you meet new people, you typically meet that as they want to be represented as opposed to who they really are.

In my travels around the country, people elsewhere just seem to be more open and honest about who they are, where as in LA a lot of people tend to put on an exterior to appear a certain way. If I had to take a guess, I would say it's a bit of a keeping up with the Jones' thing.

As a background, I was born in raised in LA and still live here, but I travel for work quite a bit and am looking to move in the next year or so, not for this reason, but for others.

Well, I don't think its keeping up with the Jones'.

Many people have delicate self esteem/confidence/ego that can be shattered easily by judgmental comments. Whats wrong with identifying with your ideal self rather than the here and now?

I show my true self to others on my OWN terms, the more they prove they won't judge me for it.

[radiolibre99]

Well you could say that I work at such and such but I'm a photographer too, or on the side or just say, "but my real passion is..."

[joeynaples]

Originally Posted by 8to32characters

^This guy nailed it.

Yes he did. Very good post. LA to me, is its own planet. A planet that doesnt pass judgement, nor care about who you are or where you came from because everyone here has already seen it all come & go countless times. YOUR particular story is nothing new & guess what? Its ok. "Dude, welcome to LA & do your own thing, man!" Thats the common sentiment here & I love it.

LA is an escape for me. I hated growing up on the East Coast & couldnt stand living there anymore, about 10 years ago so, I finally took the plunge & came out here. Best thing I ever did. LA to me, wipes away your past & it lets you start brand new. It has no memory & its lets YOU be YOU. You can be whatever you want to be & nobody gives a &^%$. I feel like I belong out here....something I never felt where I came from.

I wont say that everyday has been easy out here, Ive had some hard times but, every single day that I wake up out here, its a damn good day & Im very happy, content & thankful to be here. I love Los Angeles. Plus, the weather aint too shabby either. Haha.

Truth be told, 98% of the people out here in LA that Ive encountered/befriended over the past decade, are the coolest, friendliest & unique folks that Ive ever met. IMHO I feel that most people out here are on the same "just be cool - wavelength".

[radiolibre99]

There is no comparison. Every other city feels like a status driven, keeping up with the joneses, kinda mess. LA is the only city where I've felt as though none of that truly matters, just live your life. I don't know if its because the near depression level economy or the rather "slacker" lifestyle one can have or both but it's really changed my perspective and humbled me. LA should be described as humbling. Of course the Westside still has its stereotypes.

Another theory is the relatively lack of racial hierarchy in the city. I guess I'm used to the south, where what defines white people there is how different they are to non whites. I've seen white people here who have less advantage due to the lack of a good ol boy network, they dress, talk and act in ways that would be seen as ethnic in other states.

[Tex?Il?]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

There is no comparison. Every other city feels like a status driven, keeping up with the joneses, kinda mess. LA is the only city where I've felt as though none of that truly matters, just live your life. I don't know if its because the near depression level economy or the rather "slacker" lifestyle one can have or both but it's really changed my perspective and humbled me. LA should be described as humbling. Of course the Westside still has its stereotypes.

Another theory is the relatively lack of racial hierarchy in the city. I guess I'm used to the south, where what defines white people there is how different they are to non whites. I've seen white people here who have less advantage due to the lack of a good ol boy network, they dress, talk and act in ways that would be seen as ethnic in other states.

I agree with a lot of your posts, but I thought I would address this bolded: California, (and by that extension: LA) may have been hit harder than many other states and regions during the great recession, but California has recovered in the last year or two much more so than people realize. (although there are still a lot of people struggling.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

I agree with a lot of your posts, but I thought I would address this bolded: California, (and by that extension: LA) may have been hit harder than many other states and regions during the great recession, but California has recovered in the last year or two much more so than people realize. (although there are still a lot of people struggling.

It's recovered and the only reason why the State didn't descend into post apocalyptic status like Detroit is because of the strong social services and active public sector. All that socialism the right wingers say ruined CA actually helped it from going under

[sydlee]

Originally Posted by Tex?Il?

Good! People should define themselves by their passion! There is nothing wrong with defining yourself as an idealized version of who yourself and the way in which you wish to earn a living. Not the way they are paying their rent and bills. IMO, this is actually a thing I LIKE about people in LA. I DON'T think this is fake at all. And no offense, I don't really click well with people who find this wrong.

+1 can't rep you again.