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Old 09-08-2010, 02:17 AM
 
Location: NYC
1,213 posts, read 3,608,126 times
Reputation: 1254

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Everyone loves to complain about San Franciscans and their "snobby, provincialism", but I've seen quite a bit of this from East Bay folks as well. Let me explain. The people I've met from Oakland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, etc. all tend to be extremely proud of the places they live (which is a great thing). However, I've noticed many of them are dead set on showing "those ignorant San Franciscans" that the East Bay has just as much to offer as the city. They are so concerned with proving that there's nothing in SF that can't be found in the EB, that they become snobby themselves.

It's somewhat of an unexpected role-reversal where all things in or related to SF are looked down upon, while anything in Oakland or Berkeley is gold. When I reveal that I enjoy going into the city, I've been told on more than one occasion that I'll "get over it eventually". I don't understand what's so wrong with being a city person who simply enjoys crowded, busy, densely-packed, walkable urban environments. SF does that better than any other place in the Bay Area, so of course I'm going to enjoy it there. I don't see myself "getting over" my love of intense urban life any time soon. At the same time, that doesn't mean that I turn my nose up at anything not related to SF. I enjoy so much about living in Oakland: the Art Murmur, the Paramount Theater, the bars of Old Oakland and Uptown, great food in Temescal, taco trucks in Fruitvale. My preference is just happens to be SF because it offers more of what I enjoy (urban life). That doesn't mean I go around to folks in Berkeley and tell them that they'll eventually "get over it" and move to the Mission.

Now I'm grossly over exaggerating and of course this does not apply to everyone. However, it is a general trend that I've noticed among quite a few of the East Bay dwellers I've met so far. One person described life in SF to me as, "Something that have to get out of your system, until one day you finally see the light and move to the East Bay." Maybe I've just run into a bunch of insecure East Bayers. Wanted to see what other, more long-term residents thought on this.
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Old 09-08-2010, 07:23 AM
 
Location: roaming gnome
12,384 posts, read 28,508,014 times
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There are provincial socal and norcal people I have noticed... the ones that have nor cal and stuff on their car and don't know anything else going on out of the region. I haven't really noticed this in SF though or Oakland... I'm sure it exists, but no more really than any other place.
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Old 09-08-2010, 09:22 AM
 
Location: San Diego, California Republic
16,588 posts, read 27,384,877 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grapico View Post
There are provincial socal and norcal people I have noticed... the ones that have nor cal and stuff on their car and don't know anything else going on out of the region. I haven't really noticed this in SF though or Oakland... I'm sure it exists, but no more really than any other place.
It exist and has for almost the entire history of the Bay Area. The rivalry between SF and the east bay runs rather deep at times. It really manifest itself with the sports teams. HBO did a special some time back about the sports teams and east bay SF rivalry that exist. Personally I don't think it's all that bad of a thing, no one is really harmed much other than getting their pride hurt I guess.

As far as SoCal being this way, I can't speak much for LA. However there is this attitude to some degree in San Diego. I just moved to Chula Vista and everyone I know in the city of SD has given me the same remarks I got from others the last tow times I moved here. In SD however the remarks are somewhat less but in SD, disparaging nicknames are sometimes given to certain cities.

Anyway, perhaps because I've live in two areas that are like this my whole life I don't really get bothered by it. Aren't the boroughs of New York like this too to some degree?
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Old 09-08-2010, 09:40 AM
 
Location: Bay Area
3,980 posts, read 8,987,173 times
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As an ex- native San Franciscan that now lives in the East Bay I haven't noticed nor do I care where anyone is from. SoCal, San Francisco, England, Oakland- I don't care- I personally have no biases on the matter. Most everyone is from somewhere else anyway- probably even you.

Perhaps you're just noticing a bit of "team rivalry" and/or ribbing when it comes to sports teams etc (like High School or even Cal vs Stanford). "My town is better than your town" seems so juvenile in the grand scheme of things.

There's really no need to defend your choice to live in an urban environment or otherwise.
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Old 09-08-2010, 09:54 AM
 
Location: Mission Viejo, CA / San Rafael, CA
2,352 posts, read 5,252,556 times
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I own homes in NorCal and SoCal, and it seems everyone is proud of where they live to varying degrees. For instance, I love the fact that I live in low crime areas, with great schools, and a focus towards families. Some people say it's boring, and cookie cutter (which is funny since 90% of the homes in my neighborhood were customs), but I like it just fine.

I see people here cheering about Oakland for its "culture" and access to arts and entertainment, even though the city public schooling system has a 52% dropout rate, and the city has the highest violent crime rate in the state.

That's the beauty of this country, people can be enamored and happy with different things.

Last edited by Mr. Fantastic; 09-08-2010 at 10:03 AM..
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Old 09-08-2010, 10:26 AM
 
Location: Bay Area
3,980 posts, read 8,987,173 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Fantastic View Post
I own homes in NorCal and SoCal, and it seems everyone is proud of where they live to varying degrees. For instance, I love the fact that I live in low crime areas, with great schools, and a focus towards families. Some people say it's boring, and cookie cutter (which is funny since 90% of the homes in my neighborhood were customs), but I like it just fine.

I see people here cheering about Oakland for its "culture" and access to arts and entertainment, even though the city public schooling system has a 52% dropout rate, and the city has the highest violent crime rate in the state.

That's the beauty of this country, people can be enamored and happy with different things.
Oakland has a high dropout rate and violent crime!?

I don't think you've ever mentioned that before. Please, go on. We all want to know what's on your mind about Oakland day after day after day after day. Such fascinating stuff, really. Please tell us more about all your homes and your education level, too while your at it. I don't think enough people know yet.
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Old 09-08-2010, 10:48 AM
 
Location: South Korea
5,242 posts, read 13,076,984 times
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A lot of people in SF think that the East Bay is all like either scary West Oakland or "boring" Pleasanton. If you live in SF there's not much of a reason to leave the city unless you want to go to big box stores like Target or to big malls. If you live in the East Bay you don't really need to go to SF except to work and maybe to party. They are really similar in terms of amenities except that the East Bay is more spread out, has warmer weather depending on where you are, and shops and restaurants are a lot less crowded.
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Old 09-08-2010, 11:12 AM
 
Location: Oakland, CA
527 posts, read 1,576,870 times
Reputation: 320
If your friends are telling you you'll "get over" liking the place you like and calling people from SF ignorant, it kinda sounds like you need new friends. I don't encounter issues in either directions, and my friends in the city visit me in the East Bay as often as I visit them.
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Old 09-08-2010, 11:14 AM
 
Location: Mission Viejo, CA / San Rafael, CA
2,352 posts, read 5,252,556 times
Reputation: 539
Quote:
Originally Posted by clongirl View Post
Oakland has a high dropout rate and violent crime!?

I don't think you've ever mentioned that before. Please, go on. We all want to know what's on your mind about Oakland day after day after day after day. Such fascinating stuff, really. Please tell us more about all your homes and your education level, too while your at it. I don't think enough people know yet.
Yes. K-12, 52% of all children who enter the Oakland Public school system don't graduate, or advance to the next grade.

Oakland has remained in the top 10 nationally for violent crime for 17 years in a row.

As for my homes, I own several across the country, but my primary residences are in OC and Marin. I have a PhD from UC Berkeley, so I'm a NorCal guy at heart.
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Old 09-08-2010, 11:17 AM
 
52 posts, read 193,628 times
Reputation: 25
Born and raised in Berkeley, and never encountered that type of comment. I think everyone I know doesn't really care enough about comparing the two cities to make that type of comparison.
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