Appearances Are Deceiving (Portland, Lake Oswego: fit in, neighborhoods, college)

[Supernova7]

Have you noticed that nearly every city in America is filled with false appearances? Say, you're considering moving to a new city done the research, been sold on the ammenities and arrive only to find that reality seems to contrast what you expected. Many people like to live in Artsy/Bohemian style neighborhoods with lots of entertainment, culture and resources. Unfortunately, we've been given the impression that "artists" are poor, living on minimum wage Barista job, etc.. Nothing can be further from the truth. In my experience, these "Poor Artists" are NOT so poor. Most come from families that are wealthy, while others are highly educated but convey the "APPEARANCE" that they're poor and down and out. I just wanted to share this observation for anyone considering "finding home" in a new city.

The girl with the devil tattoos, piercings, smoking a joint can be a professional with a college degree. The big question is how will the "poor" fit in to a community that "appears to be poor," but is essentially the opposite??

[oldtintype]

They don't. They get pushed out by gentrification (financial or otherwise) and move elsewhere.

[Supernova7]

You're right "they don't" fit in. Gentrification has been a big problem and it appears to have spread out and excelled in every city in America. Why do you think that most people are under the impression that "Artsy communities" can identify more with the poor? Perhaps it's because the image that such a community conveys, a sense of liberalism and acceptance, but is that really the case? If you walk in NW Portland, Lake Oswego or Nob Hill you KNOW where you are at, but I sense that the much revered "liberal" Hawthorne District is not "so poor" as people might think. Do you feel that Portland has many false appearances and that the guy at the coffee shop, proclaiming to be a liberal hippy is in fact a very wealthy, capitalist driven individual with racist and fascist views?

It's really become difficult to distinguish people as ideologies are so watered down and subdued. Additionally, I think our culture has changed drastically in the last 40 plus years.

[oldtintype]

The Hawthorne is not poor. It hasn't been for a long time. It's an expensive and somewhat yuppie place to live in at this point. I don't know why people focus on Hawthorne and Belmont all the time--they were "hip" a long time ago, now they're just expensive. Your discussion would probably make more sense if you made it about Alberta and Mississippi.

[insanityincredibly]

like seeing a dead-head sticker on a cadillac, or a ramones sticker on a beamer.

[Supernova7]

Originally Posted by oldtintype

The Hawthorne is not poor. It hasn't been for a long time. It's an expensive and somewhat yuppie place to live in at this point. I don't know why people focus on Hawthorne and Belmont all the time--they were "hip" a long time ago, now they're just expensive. Your discussion would probably make more sense if you made it about Alberta and Mississippi.

That's my impression as well. I think many people associate the artsy bohemian districts w/poor people working at coffe shops. Nowadays you can't foretell a persons social status by appearance alone. What do you thnk about Alberta st.? Where is it located?