Los Angeles materialistic?

Question

Ok, so I have talked to a lot of people about my desire to move out to LA, but everyone tells me the people out on southern California (especially LA) are really materialistic. Now, I have heard of the stereotype about people from SoCal, but I never really thought it was true, but everyone seems to think so. Is this true? LA, for all its glamour and wealth, seems like its also a city full of all types of people, rich and poor, black and white, etc...which has made me always sort of dismiss the stereotype as applying to maybe like 10 percent of the population out there. Anybody have any general ideas about people in LA and southern California? I know that not all people fit one description, but is materialism really that obvious?

Answer 1

I lived in the LA area for a number of years, and yes, the pressure can be very high to look a certain way and have certain things. Especially if you are surrounded by it and susceptible to it. When I visit LA now, I find myself getting very competitive and agressive and I just dont like that. Each person is different, but many many people are like this.

As far as being diverse, it is and isn't. While there is some blending, the races are still quite segregated. Poor blacks don't hang out with middle class whites. Black neighborhoods don't typically overlap mexican neighborhoods. People of different races may or may not be friendly towards each other.

But, there are so many different niches depending on where you are and what you relate to, that you don't ahve to get caught up in the Paris Hilton scene. You can choose to be a laid back surfer. You can choose to be part of the Rock N Roll scene. You can choose to be a casual college student. It's up to you what path you follow, but don't be fooled, even within those scenes, there is fairly heavy competition and ego.

Good luck to you.

Answer 2

Don't everything your friends tell you. Everything you hear about L.A. is just nothing more than a stereotypical exaggeration from somebody who has spent too much time watching reruns of Baywatch, 90210 or shows that mislead the viewers into thinking that the lifestyle of one particular area (which is Beverly Hills) is synonymous the lifestyle of the entire city. Not everyone is LA is materialistic. Not everyone can afford to drive a Rolls Royce, get plastic surgery or buy a miniature poodle. That's why you see alot of freeway chases on tv, much of which are shot in LA and helicopters buzzing around the city at night. Those are desparate people trying to make money (by stealing cars and robbing banks) and of course, homeless people. Yes, this city is has all types of people: rich or poor, black and white, homo or straight and that's what makes LA a great city. The governor may claim that the state of California is the 7th largest economy in the world (which, in my own opinion, is nothing more than pure B.S.), but we're no different from other cities like New York, Chicago or even Albuquerque. Whatever you friends tell you about LA don't believe them.

Answer 3

See a superstar; glass a cocktail on a beach bar at sunset; wear a set of designer shoes within an ultra-luxurious shop in Beverly Hills; play at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, explore world-class museums, or party the night time out in a starlet-filled club…..this are only someof the items you will dsicover in Los Angeles, learn this town with hotelbye . Los Angeles is the California's liveliest city; is the activity capital of America, with megastar electricity and unlimited activities. Hollywood is the most-see attractions in Los Angeles. That place draws an incredible number of guests every year who vacation there to pay respect to their favorite stars and maybe even get a view of a few popular personalities. And often they're fortunate!

Answer 4

I have lived in So. Cal for 21 years now, and it seems it has gotten a lot more materialistic than it used to. Not EVERYONE is into it including myself but I have friends and even family members who are VERY into having the right car, purse, house, etc. Lots of people here drive really nice cars that they cannot afford, but they go into debt just so they can look cool! I am sure it is like this in other big cities as well, but maybe a tad more in LA with the whole show business thing happening here.

Answer 5

Ok, here is my two cents worth. I've lived here my whole life, and sure there are materialistic people in Los Angeles, in fact there's proplably more per capita then alot of other major cities in America. But I base that on nothing more than the population density. Take NYC for example, what would the percentage be there? Have you been here yet to visit and judge for yourself?

The vast majority of the people here are just ordinary folks working for a living. And remember this, thousands of people migrate to Los Angeles from all over the country and the world, so are they bringing there materialism with them or are they finding it once they've lived here for awhile? Good luck, and welcome.

Answer 6

There are areas where materialism is king, mainly the west side (Santa Monica, beach communities, Malibu), some part of the San Fernando Valley and south Orange County. There are also many areas where they are less concerned with materialism than where they will be getting their next month's rent.

The majority of the L.A. area is somewhere in between. Not all of us drive hot cars and get weekly face lifts. Most of us drive average cars, live in average houses and wear average clothes.

Answer 7

Isn't it everywhere? It may 'seem' moreso in LA due to the way it's sprawled out with emphisis on 'Hollywood', 'Disneyland' & the 'beautiful people' set. I'm just of the opinion that it should be embraced with gusto & recognise the 'phoneyness' & 'cellphones' go hand in hand everywhere. Materialism, in my view, is only a problem when it's at someone elses expense. The 'filthy' rich aren't filthy. The 'filthy' poor are filthy! If the rich get richer & the poor get poorer, will I sacrafice materialism for work with the needy? I like my materials & have worked to attain some materialism. Obviously!

Answer 8

As a California life long resident I don't see L.A. as any more materialistic than any other city. It's so large and spread out that it's like a world in itself, and it's more of what micro-community you might choose to live in, rather than the metropolitan area itself.

You may hear opinions from people who were there as tourists who observed it to be materialistic, but as a tourist you tend to visit places that are different than 'residential' for the masses. A tourist may go to Beverly Hills or other affluent locations to sightsee. But this isn't representative of L.A. as a whole.

Answer 9

My experience with the L.A. area is that materialism is a bigger thing there than most other places I have visited. I have visited there a number of times, have ex-relatives from there, and have had friends that moved from there. All are or say the same.

Answer 10

Stay home we are mostly laid back and dont care for alot of usless babble, ie people who speak every thought they have...
btw is that a question? or a dissertation on sociology?
It seems your trying to locate a low/ no acheiveing no drive no goal or ambition scenario , if so cal is most assuredly not for you try florida or perhaps a south easterly state where its more umm
relaxed.. good luck...