What is San Francisco like?

manlymatt83

Lifer
Oct 14, 2005
10,051
44
91
I've been there once, but I was very young. Trying comparing to places like Boston, or Austin.

What is San Francisco like? Culture, etc.

People who live there: like it? hate it?
 

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
0
People carry around empty bottles of windex to fart into and spray into their mouths throughout the day.
 

Cdubneeddeal

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
7,473
3
81
Used to live in the Bay Area years ago but went back for a visit a couple of years ago. To me, much really hasn't changed as far as culture and the city in general. Very laid back type of environment with quite a bit to see and do. I would almost consider SF as a bigger Portland OR.
 

LS21

Banned
Nov 27, 2007
3,745
1
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very very cost prohibitive to live. tons of food. tons and tons and tons. i hate driving/parking in the city. accessible to lots of other things within a day's drive

austin = isolated. very easy to live in the actual city. plenty of cultural stuff - art shows, tons of music, lots of food. access to big lake and a lake/colorado river for water activities. a big park for exercise.

the only downside to austin vs sf is weather in the summer. between the 2 i would choose austin due to cost
 

ed21x

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2001
5,411
8
81
from my experience, people in SF, and the bay area aren't very friendly. They also aren't very tolerant of any non-liberal views. No southern hospitality, no community feel, and the races don't mix that much- Asians in San Jose/Fremont, Caucasians in Marin County, Blacks in Oakland/Richmond, etc.... Of course, this is just my observation. I'd rather live in Austin- people are much nicer and down to earth.
 

ChaoZ

Diamond Member
Apr 5, 2000
8,906
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Too many bums. And good luck trying to get on a crowded bus, people will kill you just so they can get on first.
 

ColdFusion718

Diamond Member
Mar 4, 2000
3,496
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Originally posted by: ed21x
from my experience, people in SF, and the bay area aren't very friendly. They also aren't very tolerant of any non-liberal views. No southern hospitality, no community feel, and the races don't mix that much- Asians in San Jose/Fremont, Caucasians in Marin County, Blacks in Oakland/Richmond, etc.... Of course, this is just my observation. I'd rather live in Austin- people are much nicer and down to earth.

I grew up in Oakland and now I currently live in the east valley. I totally agree with you. People in SF are known to be snobby, yet they say people from Southern California are stuck up. Of the random people I've met, I think as superficial as Southern California people are known to be, they are still way down to earth compared to the SFers.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
filled with nutters that spend their time doing stupid sh*t like banning plastic grocery bags and making life comfortable for the countless homeless that haunt sf streets.

ok to visit, but not to live there and be ruled by mad men.

its ok if you are a young yuppie or homosexual. there are probably more dogs than children left in that city.
 

wwswimming

Banned
Jan 21, 2006
3,695
1
0
it has a reputation for being liberal, but, beyond sex rights and marijuana rights,
i'd say it's not very (liberal).

it's got nice architecture and some great natural air conditioning in the summer.

also becoming a center for high-tech. Frogdesign just moved their world
HQ there. Frog & Ideo are 2 of the biggest product design firms. though
Ideo has been sold to Steel case.
 

NanoStuff

Banned
Mar 23, 2006
2,981
1
0
I explored it once in midtown madness, so from that limited experience it's very unexceptional. The only interesting thing is that people have incredibly fast reflexes. You can drive 100mph on the sidewalk and never hit a person.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
Originally posted by: wwswimming
it has a reputation for being liberal, but, beyond sex rights and marijuana rights,
i'd say it's not very (liberal).

it's got nice architecture and some great natural air conditioning in the summer.

also becoming a center for high-tech. Frogdesign just moved their world
HQ there. Frog & Ideo are 2 of the biggest product design firms. though
Ideo has been sold to Steel case.

eh, center of high tech....
lets just say nvidia intel google ebay yahoo cisco apple campus's are in the bay area cities about an hour away, not in san fran;)
 

Descartes

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
13,968
2
0
I just got back from San Fran last night. It was my first visit to the area.

I don't have much of an opinion really, other than to say it seems like a great city that I'd like to spend more time visiting. The bay area is beautiful, and there are a lot of great areas for different cultures and their food.

Overall though, of all the Californian cities I've visited, I still prefer San Diego.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
52,780
46,595
136
Originally posted by: Descartes
I just got back from San Fran last night. It was my first visit to the area.

I don't have much of an opinion really, other than to say it seems like a great city that I'd like to spend more time visiting. The bay area is beautiful, and there are a lot of great areas for different cultures and their food.

Overall though, of all the Californian cities I've visited, I still prefer San Diego.

San Diego is a great city, if I had to move to California that would be it. We stayed for a week on Coronado over Christmas.

I'd rather pass a rusty crowbar sideways than move to LA.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
1,780
126
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: Descartes
I just got back from San Fran last night. It was my first visit to the area.

I don't have much of an opinion really, other than to say it seems like a great city that I'd like to spend more time visiting. The bay area is beautiful, and there are a lot of great areas for different cultures and their food.

Overall though, of all the Californian cities I've visited, I still prefer San Diego.

San Diego is a great city, if I had to move to California that would be it. We stayed for a week on Coronado over Christmas.

I'd rather pass a rusty crowbar sideways than move to LA.
Indeed.

Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale's vagina.
 

Dirigible

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2006
5,961
32
91
SF is nice because it's connected to the fabulous wonderland that is Oakland by a bridge. So if you go to SF, everything good in life (plus drug-related violence, if that's your thing) can be yours for the price of bridge toll.
 

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
50,231
118
116
I love San Francisco, but I've never lived there. One of the very few places I would actually consider living outside of Vancouver.

KT
 

judasmachine

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2002
8,515
3
81
Originally posted by: LS21
very very cost prohibitive to live. tons of food. tons and tons and tons. i hate driving/parking in the city. accessible to lots of other things within a day's drive

austin = isolated. very easy to live in the actual city. plenty of cultural stuff - art shows, tons of music, lots of food. access to big lake and a lake/colorado river for water activities. a big park for exercise.

the only downside to austin vs sf is weather in the summer. between the 2 i would choose austin due to cost

agreed.
 

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
I live near SF. I have to admit that the city has a weird culture and people tend to be very liberal. There is lots to do within the city itself and there are lots of museums, classy restaurants, clubs etc. I myself like the beautiful surroundings and easy accessibility to recreation spots.
 

zoiks

Lifer
Jan 13, 2000
11,787
3
81
Originally posted by: judasmachine
Originally posted by: LS21
very very cost prohibitive to live. tons of food. tons and tons and tons. i hate driving/parking in the city. accessible to lots of other things within a day's drive

austin = isolated. very easy to live in the actual city. plenty of cultural stuff - art shows, tons of music, lots of food. access to big lake and a lake/colorado river for water activities. a big park for exercise.

the only downside to austin vs sf is weather in the summer. between the 2 i would choose austin due to cost

agreed.

I've been to TX for business. Plano and Dallas mostly. I haven't been to Austin though I've heard its quite nice. But I wouldn't move there.
 

judasmachine

Diamond Member
Sep 15, 2002
8,515
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Originally posted by: zoiks
Originally posted by: judasmachine
Originally posted by: LS21
very very cost prohibitive to live. tons of food. tons and tons and tons. i hate driving/parking in the city. accessible to lots of other things within a day's drive

austin = isolated. very easy to live in the actual city. plenty of cultural stuff - art shows, tons of music, lots of food. access to big lake and a lake/colorado river for water activities. a big park for exercise.

the only downside to austin vs sf is weather in the summer. between the 2 i would choose austin due to cost

agreed.

I've been to TX for business. Plano and Dallas mostly. I haven't been to Austin though I've heard its quite nice. But I wouldn't move there.

They would have to pay me hundreds of thousands to make me even consider Dallas. Austin is a world different.