Doob…
I also find it especially amusing when it turns out they’re not even from LA/CA anyway. Especially people in LA. Quite a lot of the people I met there weren’t from there, just hanging 'round like I did.
In my experience, the snobbery emnates from certain people in the state in all directions. An experience that has unfortunately stuck with me:
My former company flew me into San Fransisco to the Moscone Center to help set up for a trade show exhibit I had designed. I was working in concert with our San Jose office.
In the process, one of our vendors who was also there helping asked if I had the chance to “come up here” often (naturally assuming I was from our San Jose office).
I kindly replied “Well not quite, actually, I’m from our Minneapolis office.”
To which he replied “Oh, I’m sorry.”
Now, it wasn’t an “I’m sorry” in a “Whoops. Sorry for the assumption” kind of way, or even a good-natured ribbing. There was genuine condenscation in his tone that I could only attribute to the fact that I didn’t live in the “Golden State.”
I cannot tell you how irritated this made me. San Fransicans go to great lengths to talk about how accepting they are of all races, creeds, colors, etc. Apparently this does not extend to the subclass who choose to live outside their state.
Most people identify as a member of an ethnicity, or religion. Neither of these is a big deal to me; instead I take pride in hailing from a region that I characterize as straightforward and hard-working.
Am I making too big a deal about this? Maybe. But do this experiment: In the exchange above where I said I was Minnesotan, try substituting an ethnicity or religion like “I’m black,” or “I’m Buddhist,” or something else YOU identify as and tell me how that “I’m sorry” sounds to you.
Before get off my soapbox, I need to temper this tirade with the fact that I have met many Californians who are absolutely wonderful people and I belive the geography of the state is abundant with beauty.
:eek: Aye chihuahua!
OK, Philadelphia native born and raised. Been to NYC many times, been all up and down the eastern seaboard. Moved to San Diego 10 months ago. Been to L.A. several times since I got here, have not been north of there (yet).
I’ve heard a bit about this NoCal/SoCal thing, but I think it’s something that happens everywhere - Philadelphians hated D.C. folk, New Yorkers ragged on Philly, etc. I do find, though, that most people see San Diego as a relatively nice, if quiet place (i.e., no hoppin’ nightlife like L.A.). And, in a way, I see the relationship between Philadelphia and New York much like San Diego and L.A. - the more southern city is just a tad envious of its “big sibling” up north, but still proud of its less hectic lifestyle, and the northernmost city is kind of thinking, “Yeah, when I want to get away from all this madness, I head down there.” But don’t let this similarity fool you - L.A. is vastly different from New York, as San Diego is from Philadelphia, but the equation “L.A. is to San Diego as New York is to Philadelphia” I think holds true.
So when I finally go to visit San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, am I not going to want to come back? 
Doubt it! I love, love, LOVE it here.
Esprix
Boi Toi: you have a point, it is quite hilarious. Like in my town, my mom found it funny the only real people supporting a measure to stop any expansion at the north edge of the city for 20 years were people who arent even FROM my town. Unfortunately most of the people i know who complain are natives of the southland. It really does boggle me why they leave and then complain (and still say “but i like it up here”) sigh.
One thing’s for sure, the people from the central valley who come to school here absolutely love it because the weather is so mild throughout the year (my friend Mike dreaded having to move back to Stockton).