I hate when people say "SF is a small city" (Los Angeles: theater, living)

[clongirl]

I hate it when people that aren't from here "get offended" over every little things...like calling the City, "Frisco", or "ess-eff"...or having the nerve to call San Francisco, "small". From my experiences I've not had had anyone from her take issue with any of it.

This is exactly what contributes to the dooshbaggery...snarky, anti-child, pro-a-hole, my dog is my life, I'm into anything/everything (but only 'cause it's the thing to do) culture... I know I sound a bit snooty---but people from the general Bay Area and San Francisco don't really tend to care as much about this sort of thing as blow-ins that take issue with anything/everything...trying to define the City by what stereotypes they've conjured in their head or the vibe/opinion from some other blow- ins happen to have.

I guess that I personally see the City as "small". But I am thinking in terms of size/population/running into people I know all the time, rather than its impact on culture, business, fashion (or not!) etc. For a "small" city is has a huge footprint on the rest of the world! It attracts, smart,educated people that are generally up for risk taking and good ideas from other parts of the country/world.

The problem from my perspective is that it doesn't KEEP people for very long anymore....this is where things have gone wrong, imo.

There was a recent article on the"lowrider" culture in the city/pro 49er culture in the sfgate (most likely native, middle class locals of Mexican heritage down in the Mission) that were big into their cars...lowriders. I think it's fantastic (I grew up with it and thought it was pretty cool even back then). Never had any bad feelings or bad experiences.

The majority of people posting were completely ragging on the culture...talking about them like they were all criminals...very racist sounding...disrespectful of the way things used to actually be! I couldn't believe that there was this entire population of newbies that looked down on a culture that was such a part of San Francisco/Bay Area. history. Maybe it's just the way it is now? A generational thing?? I dunno...it's a little strange to me thinking the history of the City is absolutely rich and wonderful and people move here and don't care? Don't appreciate? Don't know how the City actually used to be?

[Radio Flyer]

In New Orleans, black people have little stands where they sell souvenirs and memorabilia depicting black people from days gone by. Days gone by that weren't always kind to black people.

I was kind of puzzled at first, but then pleased. I liked that they didn't feel the need to erase history. History gives cities character and makes them unique.

San Francisco has such great history. I agree with Clongirl. It's sad that people don't want to celebrate it.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Radio Flyer

In New Orleans, black people have little stands where they sell souvenirs and memorabilia depicting black people from days gone by. Days gone by that weren't always kind to black people.

I was kind of puzzled at first, but then pleased. I liked that they didn't feel the need to erase history. History gives cities character and makes them unique.

San Francisco has such great history. I agree with Clongirl. It's sad that people don't want to celebrate it.

Celebrate from whence it came and grew. What it's mtated to and become, not so much.

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by checkup

This is a bit rich. Having lived in Chicago for years and now SF, Chicago is much more "provincial." It's a very insular town where most of the professional crowd is from the midwest or a Big 10 school--and white. SF has a much higher % of ppl from other places and aren't native to the Bay Area, and who are minorities.

NYC has a high % of outsiders and minorities too, but if any city sees itself as the center of the world and is oblivious to the rest of America...it's NYC

I agree, despite Chicago's size, both it's central city and metro feels insular and provincial. SF can be provincial too - I like San Franciscans who think the weather in San Jose is hot, and haven't been across either bridge in like 2 years. Hell, parts of Manhattan can be "provincial" too.

I like "provincial" in some ways it's makes a big city even more interesting. Big cities and their neighborhoods can be just like anywhere else.

San Francisco only feels small to me after returning from a long stay in Manhattan, London or Paris. No other American city makes me think of San Francisco as "small".

[Senno]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Celebrate from whence it came and grew. What it's mtated to and become, not so much.

Curmy are you quoting Tom Brokaw reporting from Haight and Ashbury in 1968 bychance?

Brokaw's Summer of Love

[CFL_City]

Originally Posted by happycrow

SF is a surprisingly provincial city. I lived there and was routinely amazed at the idea that SF is the beating heart of the whole MSA is simply silly -- SF would have nothing but tourism and subsidiary finance if San Jose dried up.

I'd recommend reading up on some urban theory. San Jose and Silicon Valley would never have happened if it weren't for San Francisco. Period.

Anyway, I grew up in a small Midwestern city, so I think everyone who lives in a coastal city is provincial. Not necessarily in a bad way...if I'd found the Bay Area earlier in life I might have stopped paying attention to anything else in the world, too...

clongirl, why do you assume that the people commenting on sfgate were recent arrivals? Many of the new folk are, if anything, reverent about the city's culture. So many new arrivals dive right into Dia de los muertos, for example. I sometimes think it's the old-timers who post jaded comments on sfgate...

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by destroycreate

When will people get it through their head that SF is a huge metropolis of 7,000,0000 in the greater area? Our city limits are tiny, yes, 7 x 7 square miles, but other cities have giant boundaries making them appear more populated. SF is like a NY part 2. Kind of annoying, anyone else feel the same way? The Bay Area = SF.

So, we take it you're relatively new there?

[happycrow]

Chimerique,

Don't get me wrong. I like SF, and have family who are native to the city going way back. Like my brother, I'd probably still live in the Bay if it were economically rational for me to do so. But the goalposts have gotten a bit moved here. I routinely see SF folks who compare The City to Chicago and NYC as if they're on an equal cultural foooting. That's simply not the case.

There's nothing insulting to the city with saying that SF is a small city that tends to punch far above its weight class in some areas, and isn't really relevant in a number of others.

[04kL4nD]

Originally Posted by clongirl

I hate it when people that aren't from here "get offended" over every little things...like calling the City, "Frisco", or "ess-eff"...or having the nerve to call San Francisco, "small". From my experiences I've not had had anyone from her take issue with any of it.

This is exactly what contributes to the dooshbaggery...snarky, anti-child, pro-a-hole, my dog is my life, I'm into anything/everything (but only 'cause it's the thing to do) culture... I know I sound a bit snooty---but people from the general Bay Area and San Francisco don't really tend to care as much about this sort of thing as blow-ins that take issue with anything/everything...trying to define the City by what stereotypes they've conjured in their head or the vibe/opinion from some other blow- ins happen to have.

I guess that I personally see the City as "small". But I am thinking in terms of size/population/running into people I know all the time, rather than its impact on culture, business, fashion (or not!) etc. For a "small" city is has a huge footprint on the rest of the world! It attracts, smart,educated people that are generally up for risk taking and good ideas from other parts of the country/world.

The problem from my perspective is that it doesn't KEEP people for very long anymore....this is where things have gone wrong, imo.

There was a recent article on the"lowrider" culture in the city/pro 49er culture in the sfgate (most likely native, middle class locals of Mexican heritage down in the Mission) that were big into their cars...lowriders. I think it's fantastic (I grew up with it and thought it was pretty cool even back then). Never had any bad feelings or bad experiences.

The majority of people posting were completely ragging on the culture...talking about them like they were all criminals...very racist sounding...disrespectful of the way things used to actually be! I couldn't believe that there was this entire population of newbies that looked down on a culture that was such a part of San Francisco/Bay Area. history. Maybe it's just the way it is now? A generational thing?? I dunno...it's a little strange to me thinking the history of the City is absolutely rich and wonderful and people move here and don't care? Don't appreciate? Don't know how the City actually used to be?

I usually agree with 95% of what you post, but this whole natives vs. transplants false dichotomy you're creating rubs me the wrong way. SF has pretty much ALWAYS been a transient town filled with "blow ins" as you like to call them. Native SFers aren't inherently better than anyone else just because they were fortunate enough to grow up there. They are LUCKY to possess some history and life experiences that newcomers will never have because their parents raised them there, but SF is a place that's constantly changing. I'm pretty sure your relatives were "blow ins" that decided to stay because they liked it. Are they 'better' than the recent newcomers simply because they did it first?

[Radio Flyer]

The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind.

The answer is blowin' in the wind.