I hate LA.

I hate LA.

There are a lot of great things about Los Angeles, and a lot of reasons I like to go there. It just seems that every time I do, I always come home with a refreshed and renewed sense of how much I despise San Diego’s much bigger neighbor to the north. The city holds some great power to cause me stress should I dare to venture too close to it. I genuinely feel the ambivalence towards LA that’s been described in the reading we have done in this class, and it manifests its self in an number of ways.

I love the sparkling lights of downtown, but I hate looking at them while sitting in traffic for hours.
I love the fact that the big city is up all night just like me, but I hate the fact that I have to worry about walking alone on the darkened streets.
I love the multitude of places you can go for entertainment, but I hate the fact that a parking space is such a prized rarity.

This ambivalence really bothers me, as I really want to like LA. I would love to make peace with the city, and have it be a place I can go without having to dread driving, parking, walking, and spending far too much money. Sadly, I don’t really think my feelings about Los Angeles will ever completely change. It seems to me like ambivalence is a way of life in California, a state where we have to deal with many problems to balance all of the advantages we get. The way I feel about it is that our ambivalence is the good life coming at a price. When we cash in on the great things about our state, we must always pay in stress, time, safety, or simply money. So, while I will continue to be attracted to all of the great things Los Angeles has to offer, I still hate LA.

Comments

[Michael P. DuPuis]

Wow, how LA used to be such a great place to come to. There was definitely a time where coming to Los Angeles was something to look forward to and knowing that there would be things to, places to see, and plenty of neat things to look at. It's ironic that you say that because I think that there's many people that would agree with you as far as all the great things of Los Angeles as well as all the bad things too. I have learned that over time; gang violence, polution, and over-population can destroy what was once a great place to visit. It is only a matter of time before other major cities like San Diego are going to start evolving into a city of nothing.

[Chelsea]

I hate SMELL-A too. Although the city has great things to offer but it is lacking so much. I know many people that are adventuring out to LA to "make it." I really am inspired to do the same but why would I go to a city that as a majority does not stand for the values I stand for. Unless I am a beauty queen with huge boobs and I barely could act, I would make it in LA for a quick moment. But this isn't the case. LA is a place where sex appeal is way more important than talent. It is a sad realization but that is just how it is. I will just accept that...New York City here I come!!

[Chelsea]

I hate SMELL-A too. Although the city has great things to offer but it is lacking so much. I know many people that are adventuring out to LA to "make it." I really am inspired to do the same but why would I go to a city that as a majority does not stand for the values I stand for. Unless I am a beauty queen with huge boobs and I barely could act, I would make it in LA for a quick moment. But this isn't the case. LA is a place where sex appeal is way more important than talent. It is a sad realization but that is just how it is. I will just accept that...New York City here I come!!

[Jake Gillick]

It does suck i agree. There is no better place than San Diego. I have had my fare share of complaints about other parts of California and i think LA is the same as bakersfield. LA is just not the greatest place in the world. But that is what makes California so great is the diversity some people love LA whlile others hate it there is a little bit of everything and sure we dont live in La so we do not see all aspects of it. There is somehting good for somebody everywhere and that may be just waht LA is for some