LA myths broken..... (Long Beach, Nice: transplants, roughest, neighborhoods)

[BarcelonaFan]

Let's list all the myths that LA is known for. This thread should def. be taken over by the transplants.

I'll start it off.

1.) LA is "mean" or "rude". I have found the people of LA to be some of the nicest in the country.

2.) LA is all about glamour. This is not even close to the truth. Outside of certain areas of West LA, LA is probably the most laid back, beautiful but not glamorous city I have ever been to.

3.) Gangbangers in LA are scarier than in the films. This is may sound out of place, but I had to throw it in. The movies DO NOT portray what gang members really look like and they look much scarier in real life. My god, I saw one with a giant 18 tattoo on his neck, and he looked like someone not be messed with. Usually they're portrayed in the movies as bald headed regular Mexican guys with baggy clothes, but in real life they're tatted from head to toe, look like they just had the roughest life possible and menacing as hell look.

4.) LA is fancy Again outside of West LA, LA is really a recycled city that didn't let the economic hardship destroy it. I am always impressed with how Angelenos manage to make the most of their older neighborhoods.

[disgruntled la native]

There are mean and rude people in LA. There also are nice and polite people in LA.

There are parts of LA that are very "glamorous" and parts that are not.

Some gangbangers look like ones in some films, some don't.

There are parts of LA that are "fancy" and parts that are not.

So your list of myths are partially true, as is your debunking them.

[ccm123]

I think that the maddening traffic jams in LA turn nice people in LA into mean ones.

[BarcelonaFan]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

There are mean and rude people in LA. There also are nice and polite people in LA.

There are parts of LA that are very "glamorous" and parts that are not.

Some gangbangers look like ones in some films, some don't.

There are parts of LA that are "fancy" and parts that are not.

So your list of myths are partially true, as is your debunking them.

Essentially there is nothing unique about LA? There are mean and nice people everywhere.

There are fancy parts and dirty parts in any city.

Apparently, I did not know this. Apparently, LA is just like every other city I've visited.

[mayorhaggar]

Often I meet native Southern Californians who say the reputation is that everyone in SoCal is rude, and they believe it. But compared with somewhere like Chicago, people are generally pretty nice and outgoing without being nosy. Compared to the Bay Area they're definitely warmer but not as polite and formal as Bay Area people tend to be. In Long Beach especially people are pretty outgoing if you're just waiting in the checkout line, maybe in LA proper they are a bit more withholding because it's more of "the big city." People here really don't enunciate when they talk though, they really mumble a lot or talk quietly which I think makes them seem shy or not very outgoing.

[Elle Oh Elle]

I'm a little surprised these haven't been pointed out yet?

Not everyone in LA is a celebrity. Nor do we see celebrities at markets and restaurants. Yes, it does happen if you live in the Hollywood area, but more of the population than not are not celebrities.

Similarly, people think that all that junk on TV is real. We don't usually use such terms or go to such places.

And this one is no longer really relevant, but not everyone is white.

[BarcelonaFan]

Also, I am surprised with how relevancy Hollywood has on people's lives in LA. I meet people who barely even watch tv or know some of the big names on screen.

LA folk are some of the nicest, down to earth just living their lives day by day kind of people. West LA is another story and almost a different town all on their own.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

Also, I am surprised with how relevancy Hollywood has on people's lives in LA. I meet people who barely even watch tv or know some of the big names on screen.

LA folk are some of the nicest, down to earth just living their lives day by day kind of people. West LA is another story and almost a different town all on their own.

People are more down to earth and real when you go east. I just hope northeast L.A. stays more down to earth and real. Los Feliz and Silver Lake have become practically bastions of the West Side that happen to be located in Central L.A., and with large parts of the northeast set to meet the same fate I'd hope the down to earth unpretentious vibe remains.

BTW, for someone who's not native I think you understand L.A. very well.

[moonsparkle]

Originally Posted by BarcelonaFan

Also, I am surprised with how relevancy Hollywood has on people's lives in LA. I meet people who barely even watch tv or know some of the big names on screen.

LA folk are some of the nicest, down to earth just living their lives day by day kind of people. West LA is another story and almost a different town all on their own.

That's one of the powerful things about LA, you know how relevant it is. While other cities are literally society sustaining itself...LA reaches every corner of the world in a way everyone can relate to.

[goofcat]

Originally Posted by ccm123

I think that the maddening traffic jams in LA turn nice people in LA into mean ones.

I usually start off the day nice and friendly. Somewhere around the two hours stuck in traffic mark, I turn into the mean LA person.

Works the same way as the week goes. Usually much nicer Monday morning than Friday afternoon.

LA is a big place, there are all sort of folks. But there is a tolerance threshold that gets exceeded when one deals with all those people.

Nice or mean, it just depends on when you catch people.