L.A. Discontent (crimes, school, college)

[LASam]

Nothing like rehashing why people don't like LA for the umpteenth time. Everything that will be said in this thread has been said before, and will be said again. It's all kinda pointless. Some people love LA, some people hate LA. If you need to vent though, go ahead. There's plenty of people on here who will happily chime in.

[h8nla]

L.A. symblizes everything wrong with the U.S.; selfishness, greed, and segregation. I've never seen so many selfish, me-first people in my life. Don't get me wrong, not everyone out here fits into one of those three categories, but many, many do. And its SO accepted. I give props to the people that live here and carry themselves like they aren't the most important person on da planet. Alot of people here seem to really get off on living up to the rep that l.a. has, as far as being phony, plastic, pretentious, materialistic, etc...Some people really think its cool to be that way. Amazing...

[CESpeed]

Originally Posted by ffknight918

Some of these problems are exactly the reason why I WANT to move to LA. I'm a firefighter in WI, and it's the best job that I could ask for. However, I'm someone that likes a lot going on. LA would give me the "big city" experience that I want. Yet, it also has sort of a laid back feeling as well.

I want to be someone where I actually see a lot of fire. It will give me a chance to help more people by working for one of the busiest and best fire departments in the world. LAFD is almost comparable to the Navy Seals of the fire department. Many fail at it, and those who succeed make a huge difference in the city.

Try to get on the Malibu Fire Department or San Bernardino County if you want to see a lot of fire action. Especially in late September, it's considered fire season.

[ffknight918]

Originally Posted by CESpeed

Try to get on the Malibu Fire Department or San Bernardino County if you want to see a lot of fire action. Especially in late September, it's considered fire season.

I'm more into the structure fire thing than the wildland fire. I also want to be on a large dept. They are more aggressive. However, if there are major wildfires, like this past year, LAFD would get involved anyway. They have wildland teams. LA County hires more wildfires though.

If I don't get the job this first time because of my background, I might go to school out there at Cal State-LA. Then join with LACoFD or Angeles National Forest during the summer/fall for fire season.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[fastfilm]

No sooner do I claim that

Originally Posted by fastfilm

Every poster who's disputed what I've written has added that it's our own damn fault for being lower middle class American citizens in Los Angeles and that they will be HAPPY to see English-speaking (our studied foreign languages don't mesh with theirs), friendly, pet-owning, people like ourselves out of here forever, and that's it's now only a place for young, rich renters who speak a variety of foreign languages that coincide with theirs. Since when was that the requirement for living in a city in America?

than another poster immediately validates this!

Originally Posted by BRinSM

LA is a cut throat city. To really enjoy all the benefits the city has to offer, you have to be a successful person. This goes for all major cities in the US (NYC, SF, Chicago, DC...) If you didn't cut it here, thats too bad for you, but no one is forcing you to stay. Go ahead and leave, that will be one less family on our clogged freeways.

In other words, the kneejerk reflex of the present day L.A. demographic is to despise anyone not exactly like yourself, and wish out loud that they weren't even around any more. That's the unAmericanness to which I referred. We are working every day to afford to move from this city of haters.

L.A. was navigable, affordable and fun through the 1980's, hardly nostalgia for the mists of time ( or in my case, five decades here.) Many of its problems are unique in the U.S., even for megopoli, such as the highest percentile of illegals in the nation, and the corruption that caters to them to the detriment of the citizenry. Relocators here deserve to read all observations about this place, not just those seen through rose-colored sunglasses

[BruceAdama]

Originally Posted by h8nla

L.A. symblizes everything wrong with the U.S.; selfishness, greed, and segregation. I've never seen so many selfish, me-first people in my life. Don't get me wrong, not everyone out here fits into one of those three categories, but many, many do. And its SO accepted. I give props to the people that live here and carry themselves like they aren't the most important person on da planet. Alot of people here seem to really get off on living up to the rep that l.a. has, as far as being phony, plastic, pretentious, materialistic, etc...Some people really think its cool to be that way. Amazing...

Just about the perfect way to put it... you hit the nail on the head. I worked in the supermarkets for 7 years here, and dealing with the public so much, I certainly saw all the "gimme-gimme' types, and the phonies, and the wannabe "look at me, I'm important" people, who think that they're contributing SO much to society, by driving their big-ass SUV's, while drinking their venti-grande, jumba-jumba-whatever latte's, and gabbing for hours on their cellphones, with their menial drivel. In only a couple months, I could just "tell", when someone was being genuine, and when someone was not... and 9 times out of 10, the smiles and laughs and politenesses I saw were all fake and forced.

[Cubancoffee]

LA would be a lot less crowded if all the folks who complained on this site about what a hell-hole it is would just leave already. We are "regular people" and we love it here. Don't make a lot of money. And find plenty of things to do that are free or almost so.

We don't get caught up in the fake part of LA; it's a fantasyland that we regard as an amusing backdrop to life in a vibrant, multicultural city. Those who want to try to be part of that world are willingly committing themselves to a fantasy, so it's no wonder that they are disappointed.

If you miss "the way things used to be," you'd probably be nostalgic and bitter no matter where you lived. How many cities do you think are just the way they were 30 or 50 years ago?

[LASam]

Originally Posted by Cubancoffee

We are "regular people" and we love it here. Don't make a lot of money. And find plenty of things to do that are free or almost so.

We don't get caught up in the fake part of LA; it's a fantasyland that we regard as an amusing backdrop to life in a vibrant, multicultural city. Those who want to try to be part of that world are willingly committing themselves to a fantasy, so it's no wonder that they are disappointed.

If you miss "the way things used to be," you'd probably be nostalgic and bitter no matter where you lived. How many cities do you think are just the way they were 30 or 50 years ago?

Well said! Positive reps for you, my friend.

[Nick682]

Originally Posted by RobertsGirl

I just had a revelation I had to share.

I read these forums, wondering why in the heck anyone would want to move here. I've lived here my whole life (40+ years), and I just want out of here.

I get it. I finally get it. CA is beautiful. The opportunities are seemingly endless. The lifestyle is varied and fun. I get it, finally.

But, I also understand why I am so unhappy here. I remember when rush hour only lasted an hour each way. I remember when the only "violence" at the public schools was a fist fight. I remember when the majority of homes were single family, on a large-ish lot. I remember when our communities were cohesive...people smiled at each other. Neighbors knew each other, and looked out for each other. It was never perfect, but it was slower and not so congested.

So, this is kind of an apology for negative comments I've made, but at the same time, an explanation. If you come here from another state, it seems really cool because...it's California. If you've lived here all your life, and you've seen your little town become congested and traffic afflicted, and the weather is all you enjoy, it's not worth it anymore. When you avoid driving, unless you absolutely have to, it's not worth it anymore. I've become very claustrophobic in the past few years due to the sheer number of condos and cars and people. I have a great view of the mountains, though. It's no longer worth it.

Now, to convince my husband that it's time to go.

I'm a Socal native and I feel the same as you. "It's the frog in the boiling water analogy"!

If you put a frog in room temp water and ever so gradually increase the temp, the frog doesn't notice, and it will actually die because the changes took place so slowly that it was unable to recognize how uncomfortable it was until it was dying. The frog gradually adopts a tolerance to the pain, in it's environment and learns to live with it.

One day you just wake up and "your like what the heck happened here"?

My Mom is in her fifty's and it took me a while to open her eyes to it. But now she totally gets it.

[CESpeed]

Try Arkansas. According to their forum a LOT of So Cal people are relocating there. According to the cost of living guide, there's a 44% increase of cost of living from L.A. to Ark.