So bring on the offensive and defensive, shall we...
"I was born and raised in California. Started a business there in 1991. I moved east in 2010 and yes the differences are startling. Rugged individualism and laidback attitudes are not the norm by a long shot. Color inside the lines and everybody stay in uniform. The uniform is black by the way nobody wears color. But its all good. I may stand out at times but isn't that the point." -- C.L.
" I'm in NYC, and when I think of West Coasters (specifically California folk), I think of: blondes, "health food" diet trends, avocados and other "weird" food, fake boobs, fake tans, plastic surgery. Basically that "West Coasters" are all about the superficial, as opposed to "us New Yorkers" who are not. --thepinksuperhero
What's weird about avocados? --faintofbutt
I don't think it's the avocado that's perceived as weird, it's the quantity and frequency in which they appear in Californian cuisine. It seems true to me, but that's probably because I always ordered food with avocados when I was in California. Because they are awesome. --mullacc
A friend from CA actually described how some of his friends describe West Coasters as "avocado"- and then, when NYC friends move to CA, they'll rag on them for "going avocado"." --thepinksuperhero Message Boarders on ask.metafilter.com
"I have a West Coast friend who is constantly annoyed by us uptight, snobby, anal, fun-hating East Coasters. Stereotypes of West Coasters are the same as ThePinkSuperhero said, with the addition that West Coasters are more liberal, more environmentally friendly, more hippie-crunchy-granola types, and more gay. So much more gay."
"East coast - pushy, rude, grumpy, but hard working and always on the go
West coast - laid back, kind, but sleep until noon"
"My favorite stereotype is that West Coasters walk more slowly than people from the northeast. Put someone from the northeast in a sitaution where he has to walk behind Californians and he'll tear his hair out."*
"I grew up in Southern California but went to school in Boston and lived in Manhattan for a few years..so..
The main difference, culturally, is that East coasters are much more class-conscious. This is reflected in the way they dress and their ambitions. There are a lot more "private clubs" and other social stratifications than on the West coast. You "know" when someone is wealther than you. Here on the West coast, the billionaire could be the guy in sandals eating across from you at the funky Thai food place.
East coasters walk fast (as mentioned above) They are always in a hurry. They are also straight with you - that is, if they don't like you, they'll tell you. Some might interpret this as rude, but personally I adore this frankness. West coasters are "nicer" on the surface but this can lead to a sort of passive-agressiveness and even hypocrisy in their dealings with others.
East coasters are much more neurotic in general. Almost any Woody Allen movie is soooo East coast to watch. His movies were incomprehensible to me as a young southern californian. When I moved to the East coast, I finally understood..
The West generally leads the nation in what's termed "informal culture." Movies are made here. Surfer-speak and Valley-girl speak started here and moved East.
The East leads the nation in "formal culture." Upscale designers live over there. The best literature, newspapers etc. all seem to be from the East coast."
"I've lived on the west coast my whole life. Living on the east coast scares me because the people seem so blunt and rude (rather than fake and backstabbing like in LA)."
"There's too much sun already here in Philadelphia. I can only imagine how badly California's sun would rip at my soul." -- late, great Sunshine
...hmm
All in all it seems like a lot of things I've already assumed and/or experienced while out in sunny California. Nothing I can't take on. I like to think I spend a lot of time in my own little world anyhow, so Cali shouldn't be too distracting. I'm such a blend of personalities already, what with the best pro-components of my Philadelphian blood, the sarcasm I've adopted over my years and the care-free living & compassion that Californians will agree with. Maybe I'll land on the scene and create a beautiful ripple effect, righting all the wrong stereotypes that East Coasters have misrepresented. Then again--a lot of what I've read wasn't too far off. I suppose I just never warmed up to rudeness, though, being frank and direct can be mistaken for that. Hmm.. interesting.
I guess this one will just have to play out. Much like everything in life, we won't know the good or the bad until we get there. Though, I must say, I am VERY aware of the good**.. ;)
Whatever-the-case, here's to heading out West and not being stabbed by the Cholos*** or sinking with California!
*That would be me. I can't stand walking behind a slow Philadelphian, let alone the "walking dead" that will take place in Cali. I will break away. I will.
**
***A cholo is a term implying a Hispanic male that typically dresses in chinos (khahki pants), a wifebeater sleeveless tshirt or a flannel shirt with only the top buttoned, a hairnet, or with a bandana around the forehead, usually halfway down over the eyes. Cholos often have black ink tattoos, commonly involving Catholic imagery, or calligraphy messages or family names. Cholos often drive low riders.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment