East Coast VS West Coast cultures

[evanrick]

Like many I've seen the news reports of hurricane Irene and the very minor earthquake that shook the same area a week ago, which already seems like the distant past.

Why is it only on the east coast that such things are reported as a "near miss" and "potentially devastating"?

Maybe its the news media, but what is all the sensationalism about?

This happens every time a hurricane hits the east coast, weather it be Florida or New York, the media seems to be obsessed with disasters and close calls.

If you really think about it, the east and west coast have nothing in common.

There are 3 states and Alaska that make up the west coast.

If something happens here, people say a earthquake hit LA or Seattle, not 'parts of Ohio and New York'

These events may as well happened in a different country, because they don't really affect anyone here.

Now there is all this hand wringing about being prepared, but how do you prepare for an earthquake or tsunami after its happened?

I would call this an East Coast Disaster Complex.

While this was a rarity for the East, a 5.8 quake isn't unusual for California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, where one occurs about once a year. Those states have had 103 quakes 5.8 or bigger since 1900, compared to now two in the East.

And while Im harpin on the east I found this portrayal interesting

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 dont 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.

That sounds pretty accurate. I would not be all that surprised to see Bill Gates drinking coffee somewhere...also a lot less class-ism going on where I live.

One other funny thing that struck me, reading this thread, is that from my experience, the West coast doesn't really spend all that much time thinking about the East coast. If you say you're from New York, you'll get a "Oh great! NYC is a crazy town! I love to visit there - but so crowded...."

But if you mention the West coast to NYers you often get some kind of snarky statement - its almost as if they view the West coast as some uppity younger sibling that should know its place and spend more time acknowledging the superiority of the East coast.

Its the status thing again. West coasters are the pioneers who left home, who start companies in their garages and build and invent and try new things (e.g. Hewlett-Packard and Silicon Valley, crazy Hollywood.) The East coast can sometimes act like the aloof older brother who stayed home to take care of the folks and wants to be respected for it, pursues things more of out of a sense of not wanting to be left behind (e.g. Silicon Alley)

Also, are riots a west coast phenomenon?


Seattle 1999

Vancouver 2011

LA 1992

People 'march on DC' but riot out west?

 

[navigaytion]

Your OP's kind of all over the place. I'll address something I've noticed.

The East Coast (particularly NYC and New Yorkers) has always felt competitive with L.A. because they both exist independently of one another, and neither dominates the other. They're the two biggest and arguably most important cities in the country and both compete to be the cultural and media capitals of the country.

But the aggression is mainly from New Yorkers. I guarantee you most L.A. people don't even think about New York, or the rest of the East Coast for that matter.

 

[NineOfClubs]

An over simplified view.....

Misfits left Europe for the New World, especially the US.

Once established on the Eastern Seaboard, those who STILL didn't fit in moved westward.

Hence the West Coast has the majority of the rabble rousers, rebels, nonconformists, religious fanatics, free-thinkers, hippies, anarchists, libertarians, etc. etc.

 

[nycguydowntown]

There is no comparison between NYC and LA---I've lived in both places---NYC is an international city like London or Paris---LA is an American city.

 

[T-Rexx]

 

[chance1]

had not seen this in a while ........

love it

I actually think it represents real life

born and bred NYer here

for the record I think this thread (love that it's here from a CE+P notable) is lacking in making a real point

I think the point is that NYers or East Coasters are this that or the other thing - not sure what it is but seems not very good

As for NY v California

Love to visit California

anyplace you need to go in your car to buy the newspaper

but the weather is grand

 

[T-Rexx]

 

[navigaytion]

mostly what I hear from New Yorkers is incredulousness that LA sees itself as a city

I know. And most L.A. people find it humorous, or are indifferent. New Yorkers seem to care more about these things than others.

I'd take the Pacific Northwest over the Mid-Atlantic/New England, but I'd take practically anywhere else over California.

Well, the migration trend has always been to have people from the Northeast move here. It's been going on for decades and decades. Very few people move from California to the East Coast.

 

[navigaytion]

There is no comparison between NYC and LA---I've lived in both places---NYC is an international city like London or Paris---LA is an American city.

L.A. is actually the most diverse city in the country, where no single ethnicity or race dominates. I'm not sure how you can say NYC is international and not say L.A. is. But you clearly have a bias.

 

[palbert]

But neither coast has a head so undeservedly swollen with its own place in the universe as Texas. As a matter of fact even together the opposite coasts are not so swollen.

 

[maxpowr9]

The east coast vs west coast thing is almost as silly as asking the question: Which is better; a sunrise or a sunset?

 

[vulgar_newcomer]

The east coast vs west coast thing is almost as silly as asking the question: Which is better; a sunrise or a sunset?

In the states then you can come to Florida and view both over the sea the same day to decide.

 

[chance1]

The east coast vs west coast thing is almost as silly as asking the question: Which is better; a sunrise or a sunset?

we should send you to the middle east

 

[Jack Springer]

East Coast vs. West Coast?

the people in the middle are excited about them both going under so we have beach property here in the middle of the country.

So much drama on both ends.

 

[maxpowr9]

we should send you to the middle east

I'm vacationing in Dubai in December so...close enough?

 

[JB3]

Like many I've seen the news reports of hurricane Irene and the very minor earthquake that shook the same area a week ago, which already seems like the distant past.

Why is it only on the east coast that such things are reported as a "near miss" and "potentially devastating"?

Maybe its the news media, but what is all the sensationalism about?

This happens every time a hurricane hits the east coast, weather it be Florida or New York, the media seems to be obsessed with disasters and close calls.

If you really think about it, the east and west coast have nothing in common.

There are 3 states and Alaska that make up the west coast.

If something happens here, people say a earthquake hit LA or Seattle, not 'parts of Ohio and New York'

These events may as well happened in a different country, because they don't really affect anyone here.

Now there is all this hand wringing about being prepared, but how do you prepare for an earthquake or tsunami after its happened?

I would call this an East Coast Disaster Complex.

Interesting. [Text: Removed by Moderator]

The reason why natural disasters on the east coast garner so much attention is because of the population density; Irene affected 65 MILLION people. Further, that 65 million is extremely tightly packed, to the point that the impact of any disaster is magnified significantly.

As for earthquakes; if you lived on the east coast an earthquake would be a big deal too. They are a rare occurrence, especially in Virginia and DC.

When you guys get hit with a hurricane that affects 65 million people (hint: won't happen), then we'll see how you react. I also recall more than a little hand-wringing and purse-clutching over massive earthquakes the west coast is overdue for...

 

[JayHawk]

There is no comparison between NYC and LA---I've lived in both places---NYC is an international city like London or Paris---LA is an American city.

I love this... never really thought about it in that way. It is absolutely true.

But neither coast has a head so undeservedly swollen with its own place in the universe as Texas. As a matter of fact even together the opposite coasts are not so swollen.

This is also very true but I knew that. Everything is bigger in texas... including the level of stupidity their politicians will stoop to just to get a vote....

Interesting. [Text: Removed by Moderator]

The reason why natural disasters on the east coast garner so much attention is because of the population density; Irene affected 65 MILLION people. Further, that 65 million is extremely tightly packed, to the point that the impact of any disaster is magnified significantly.

As for earthquakes; if you lived on the east coast an earthquake would be a big deal too. They are a rare occurrence, especially in Virginia and DC.

When you guys get hit with a hurricane that affects 65 million people (hint: won't happen), then we'll see how you react. I also recall more than a little hand-wringing and purse-clutching over massive earthquakes the west coast is overdue for...

I can agree with this to a point.



Let me ask you all this. Who was sick of hearing about fucking mudslides and forest fires? Seriously don't build your house on a cliff that is eroding and if it falls into the ocean then don't fucking make it national news.

Same thing to a degree for forest fires. WHy make so much drama out of the slow march of mother nature.

Of course I believe the same thing about idiots who build stick and brick houses on hurricane friendly coastlines. Guam has concrete houses that have been there for decades of Tsunamis but the house is still there. WHy do we continue to give millions to insurance so idiots can continue to build the same stupid house that will get blown down again?????

 

[IllgetyouHackman]

You forgot Lake Coast, Chicago trumps both of those blowhards!

 

[bankside]

This applies to a certain extent in Canada as well. The east is obviously centuries older in terms of reaching a certain level of establishment.

I think of the east coast as having "culture," while I think of the west coast as having "lifestyle."

 

[maxpowr9]

Same thing to a degree for forest fires. WHy make so much drama out of the slow march of mother nature.

Of course I believe the same thing about idiots who build stick and brick houses on hurricane friendly coastlines. Guam has concrete houses that have been there for decades of Tsunamis but the house is still there. WHy do we continue to give millions to insurance so idiots can continue to build the same stupid house that will get blown down again?????

Even the Spanish beforehand were smart enough to build their houses out of clay so the forest fires would not destroy their towns/buildings. Not to mention that the California forest rangers could actually learn from Australia and parttake in controlled burning of dry woods instead of letting Mother Nature takes its course.

Stupid people are stupid. What more can be said.