WHY does everyone say that people in CA are fake?

[Genghis]

Originally Posted by Khaleesi428

OR, they say something like "you won't like southern CA, everyone is fake there".

I don't understand where this commonly held (at least in New England it seems) viewpoint is coming from. CA is a melting pot like everywhere else in the U.S., especially a city as large and diverse as San Diego.

I'd love to hear from other East coast transplants - where does this stereotype come from? Do you experience any truth in this? What do people mean when they use the word "fake"? There are fake people everywhere, right?

I'd also love to hear what the native CA folks think about this? Why does this stereotype even exist?

It's because they're gradually being replaced by the lizard people. Beware.

[Electrician4you]

Originally Posted by Khaleesi428

I live in New England and I am considering a move to San Diego this fall. Everyone I have mentioned this to says either one of two things. They either gush about the weather and how awesome it would be to not live in winter/cold hell 7 months out of the year (which I agree with and appreciate),

OR, they say something like "you won't like southern CA, everyone is fake there".

I don't understand where this commonly held (at least in New England it seems) viewpoint is coming from. CA is a melting pot like everywhere else in the U.S., especially a city as large and diverse as San Diego.

I'd love to hear from other East coast transplants - where does this stereotype come from? Do you experience any truth in this? What do people mean when they use the word "fake"? There are fake people everywhere, right?

I'd also love to hear what the native CA folks think about this? Why does this stereotype even exist?

There are a lot of people out here who basically are nice to you if they can use you for their advancement. Or people who act like they are better off than they really are. Simply lots of pretenders. You know.....like everywhere else in the world.

Lots of people (who have never lived in Ca or spent a few weeks here on vacation) become experts on California and Californians. Why they care....beats the f out of me. Unless I plan on moving to xyz state I really could care less what’s happening there.

[loveautumn]

My friend once explained...we’re “deeply superficial”. Gotta love it

[stablegenius]

Originally Posted by elchevere

Physically, yes—more of that in OC and LA...SD has more of the casual and/or hipster, tatted out crowd content to show up in T-shirt’s and tank tops with less dress code enforcement than the other 2 places with less emphasis on trying to impress others.

In OC, I knew of a guy (NOT a friend) who changed the model decal number on a 12 year old Mercedes, trying to pass it off as only a 3 year old car. I knew of 3 guys in Newport Beach who shared a 2BR condo (all in their 30’s) just so they could have a Newport Beach Address to try and impress/brag to others. I lump poseurs in with flakes and fakes.

Some, perhaps many, of these “phonies” are transplants??—not all of them are natives. Perhaps because they moved far away from where they grew up these types possibly think they can get away with stuff they would not get away with back home ???

East Coast is more direct and will call you out on bull crap and to your face , is less PC and less interested in trying to please everyone (or giving the impression they are), and is more grounded. If someone starts name dropping and goes out of their way to tell you how much they have with specific dollar amounts attached to possessions or how great they are, East Coasters usually will start questioning/probing that whereas Californians will be more accepting or less “confrontational”. East Coasters will also ask more personal questions, such as what you do for a living and/or try to size you up, especially upfront whereas some Californians get offended by that and label it as nosey. East Coasters will make dates or commitments days in advance and more likely to keep them without having to reconfirm (and usually show up on time) whereas bailing out (“flaking”) at the last minute can be more common and accepted in CA. Due to the more easy going nature of CA, it is possible for more poseurs and flakey types to exist with less impunity—though this does happen elsewhere and is not exclusive to CA (Bernie Madoff and a certain Individual #1 from back East come to mind).

That being said, lots of other people from Boston and New England (and elsewhere) already in SD with whom the OP can always gravitate towards for things in common, especially sports teams, and bonding. Maybe come out for an extended visit and make your own determination from personal experience.

This seems pretty accurate, especially with the trying to impress. There is also a lot of PC "virtue signaling" from people which can be irritating. Like some have said, I think it's more Orange County where people are fake (the fake lips, asses, eyebrows, etc) and LA. San Diego people are somewhat more authentic, although I do think they have changed from how they were 10 years ago, although I can't put my finger on what. San Diego does have a sort of "bro culture" which you may find annoying, especially if you're from New England. These are either the college bros of PB or the tatted up flat-brim hat bros from the 909.

[TristramShandy]

Originally Posted by elchevere

Physically, yes—more of that in OC and LA...SD has more of the casual and/or hipster, tatted out crowd content to show up in T-shirt’s and tank tops with less dress code enforcement than the other 2 places with less emphasis on trying to impress others.

In OC, I knew of a guy (NOT a friend) who changed the model decal number on a 12 year old Mercedes, trying to pass it off as only a 3 year old car. I knew of 3 guys in Newport Beach who shared a 2BR condo (all in their 30’s) just so they could have a Newport Beach Address to try and impress/brag to others. I lump poseurs in with flakes and fakes.

Some, perhaps many, of these “phonies” are transplants??—not all of them are natives. Perhaps because they moved far away from where they grew up these types possibly think they can get away with stuff they would not get away with back home ???

East Coast is more direct and will call you out on bull crap and to your face , is less PC and less interested in trying to please everyone (or giving the impression they are), and is more grounded. If someone starts name dropping and goes out of their way to tell you how much they have with specific dollar amounts attached to possessions or how great they are, East Coasters usually will start questioning/probing that whereas Californians will be more accepting or less “confrontational”. East Coasters will also ask more personal questions, such as what you do for a living and/or try to size you up, especially upfront whereas some Californians get offended by that and label it as nosey. East Coasters will make dates or commitments days in advance and more likely to keep them without having to reconfirm (and usually show up on time) whereas bailing out (“flaking”) at the last minute can be more common and accepted in CA. Due to the more easy going nature of CA, it is possible for more poseurs and flakey types to exist with less impunity—though this does happen elsewhere and is not exclusive to CA (Bernie Madoff and a certain Individual #1 from back East come to mind).

That being said, lots of other people from Boston and New England (and elsewhere) already in SD with whom the OP can always gravitate towards for things in common, especially sports teams, and bonding. Maybe come out for an extended visit and make your own determination from personal experience.

I had friends in Boston who overpaid to have Cambridge zip codes. That sort of stuff happens everywhere.

[That_One_Girl]

I've never really heard anyone say that except about a certain crowd of wannabe famous types within Los Angeles and the Hollywood area. Mostly within the Youtube and Instagram scene.

Never heard anyone say that about California as a whole. But I'm a Californian so maybe people just don't say it to my face.

[Woody01]

Originally Posted by Khaleesi428

OR, they say something like "you won't like southern CA, everyone is fake there".
I'd also love to hear what the native CA folks think about this? Why does this stereotype even exist?

Definitely! Lived in downtown or beach areas for many years, lot of 'shallow' types, I guess you could say superficial....all caught up in what is 'cool and groovy'....... finally moved out to the East County and found it much better, very few attitudes and less pretentious behavior, but still some PC crap and CA values. Now we're moving even further east, as in out of state.....

[msgsing]

There's a lot of stereotypes about California. Most of them are not true even in LA or Southern California at large. Real California vs Hollywood.

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by Khaleesi428

I live in New England and I am considering a move to San Diego this fall. Everyone I have mentioned this to says either one of two things. They either gush about the weather and how awesome it would be to not live in winter/cold hell 7 months out of the year (which I agree with and appreciate),

OR, they say something like "you won't like southern CA, everyone is fake there".

I don't understand where this commonly held (at least in New England it seems) viewpoint is coming from. CA is a melting pot like everywhere else in the U.S., especially a city as large and diverse as San Diego.

I'd love to hear from other East coast transplants - where does this stereotype come from? Do you experience any truth in this? What do people mean when they use the word "fake"? There are fake people everywhere, right?

I'd also love to hear what the native CA folks think about this? Why does this stereotype even exist?

Southern California NATIVE here.


Trust me, there are hundreds of thousands if not millions of people here that will prove this supposition wrong.


I live in Orange County (part of LAs metro) and while San Diego is a little different compared with 'up here', it's mostly "normal" folks still. Some of the newer AREAS may seem plastic, but the people there still bleed and expectorate like everywhere else.


Also, while winter here is very mild compared to New England's, you will still want a jacket from time to time in the winter. You may even come to find that at about below 75 you'll want a sweatshirt as it will feel chilly (even in summer, due to ocean breezes). I witnessed my sister donning one at a night football game last week. However, she's a native. This may never happen with you.