Do people hate "techies"? (school, live, prices)

[RimbaudRambo]

Long rant, issue close to my heart:

It depends on who you ask and what their perspective is. I was born in San Francisco... "a native". Not gonna lie - most natives hate techies (I mean, REALLY hate techies), myself included (not to say each individual is horrible - general statements here).

Silicon Valley has long been noted for technology. No debate there. Someone in the thread mentioned anyone complaining about techies is surely using a computer/phone to say so. True. However, there's an important distinction to make... No one really hates techies because of the technology they develop/offer (well, I'm sure some do, but they shouldn't be living in a city, anyway). Rather, it's the culture that's come along with the past couple waves (and the current one driving it in harder than the last).

I also highly doubt most people care how much anyone gets paid (before the recent tech booms, SF has long been a prospector, then a banking, etc... city). I don't, anyway. I suppose there's one related issue, and I'll get to that later. mod cut
Anyway, point being... yes, most natives, and people who came before the dotcom/tech booms, do hate "you people" (not you as an individual, but what the general "you" represents for the culture of the city). Fortunately for you, not many of us are left... because of "you people" (and no, we won't have any sympathy for the lot of you who lose everything when this crashes, no matter how much you've "learned [your] lesson" - a big "boo hoo" after the last crash). Make of that what you wish.

[zitsky]

Yes. I think people hate techies in San Francisco because they are increasing the rents and forcing out the poor, mentally ill, and homeless populations.

[mysticaltyger]

I think any resentment toward techies is mostly misplaced. The problem in San Francisco, and really the whole Bay Area, is that we do not build enough housing, which results in sky high rents and home pricees. Who is to blame for that? NIIMBYs and political red tape.

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by zitsky

Yes. I think people hate techies in San Francisco because they are increasing the rents and forcing out the poor, mentally ill, and homeless populations.

I live in San Francisco and am always going out to eat, drink and various events.

The majority of people in San Francisco DO NOT hate techies in reality. My tech friends do not feel like outcasts here either lol.

Most of the people I meet either work for financial companies, tech companies or are local artists/photographers. I mostly dine at cheap ethnic restaurants. Most of the events I go to are hiking related or drinking related. They aren't going to $100 per person bars or restaurants. I'll go to the occasional free "concert" featuring local artists or local comedians.

This idea that half the population hates techies is simply not reality, at least not in San Francisco. I don't know anyone at my work that hates techies, I don't have any friends here that hate techies. It's a small part of the population that is making all the noise and the media has been covering it. Unless you are a lazy ____ and refuse to work unless you start out with $100k/salary, the only place I think you can meet these people are at whatever protest is going on in the city or the welfare line.

[04kL4nD]

I think you're over simplifying things. I work in higher education in SF and it seems that most of my coworkers HATE techies. Granted, I'm a lot younger than most of them and I don't actually live in the City, and it's probably a public sector vs. private sector thing, but I don't think it's just a few people that dislike techies and the media is just picking on them because it's a slow news day...

[bmw335xi]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

I think you're over simplifying things. I work in higher education and it seems that most of my coworkers HATE techies. Granted, I'm a lot younger than most of them and I don't actually live in the City, and it's probably a public sector vs. private sector thing, but I don't think it's just a few people that dislike techies and the media is just picking on them because it's a slow news day...

My experience is based on living and hanging out in San Francisco. I just never encounter anyone that openly dislikes techies and like I mentioned, I usually eat and hang out in cheap/free venues. I don't have many friends that work in the public sector though. I know a few social workers and one teacher, but that's it. If there were to be a "war" between techies and "haters" techies would win. I know quite a few non-techies that think this whole thing is complete garbage, yet I don't know a single person that hates techies.

[wooliemonster]

Originally Posted by zitsky

Are you a techie?

It's a complicated question. Short answer: maybe, depends on criteria.

[Sam I Am]

Folks, this one went 'round the world - please hold it to the topic at hand - this is not about race, slavery, millionaires, political views, poor/homeless/mentally ill, current demographics, and housing prices....those would all be topics for other threads. Thanks for your participation, but please stay with the topic at hand.

[LexusNexus]

I find that most "techies" lack pizzazz. Simply confining themselves to discussions of garbage collection, memory management, algorithm optimization, data streams, etc..., is boring in a place that invites interactions about anything else but. I spent a great deal of time in SV and listening to geeks talk about technology all the time, gets incredibly boring. If they're not talking about tech, their faces are buried in the smart phone, iPad, or laptop. They impersonalize the communities they reside in and practice severe separatist behavior. it's like living around faceless figures, who don't talk, interact, or add to the dynamics of an area or neighborhood.

Not meaning to generalize here, but this is my observation with the many that I have interacted with, both as a "techie", and as someone from the outside looking in.

[Huckleberry3911948]

its racial. the hispanic underclass is not fairing well in the area. the sharp white wisconsin and salt lake city whiz kids are hated with a purple passion. hatred and envy are the cancer of the bay area.