I'm sorry. Do you live there? If you do I suggest that you leave as soon as you can. I know exactly what you mean. My entire family was raised in LA. My stupid shallow "Hollywood" Grandma worked at the post office for 20 years and now shes retired. I see her all the time hanging out at the trendy supermarket getting food and stuff. What a shallow bitch. Oh well, that's a hollywood phony for you. Don't even get me started on my other relatives. There's a dentist, a couple teachers, a housewife that used to be a stockbroker (of course), and even me! I fix x-ray machines all throughout this fake city so that self absorbed beverly hills assholes can get their broken arms fixed. As far as LA honoring people for supposed "accomplishments", check this out. One time my neighbor was walking around echo park lake early in the morning and saw some drunk guy had fallen in and was drowning. He pulled him out and used cpr on him before the ambulance showed up. Stupid LA gave him a "certificate" honoring him for being "heroic". Whatever. As far as traffic is concerend you're right on. I mean come on! I've been to big cities all over the country. NY, Chicago, SF, DC, and traffic there is a total breeze. Folks in Philly were so helpful during mid day traffic that they even offered me directions to where my head was at the time. The Dodgers and Lakers, sheesh. Other than the 19 championships between the two teams since coming here, Magic Johnson, Sandy Koufax, Kareem, Vin Scully, Chick Hearn, Dodger Dogs, Jerry West, Fernandomania, Nancy B., Nomomania, Game Over, Kirk Gibson's 88 homer, Robert Horry's 3 pointer, The Laker Girls, The USC jazz band, Big Game James, Showtime, Derek Fisher's miracle shot, and a crapload of other meaningless things, there is absolutly NOTHING to like about those teams. I'll tell you what though. The one thing I hate about this awful city, more than anything else, is that it's completely filled with folks from other parts of the country (NY, midwest, south, etc) that just love to spend thier time bitching about how everyone in the this city that they moved to is sooooo fake, the city sucks, traffic is too much, etc. Why cry about it instead of just moving? I guess it's just fashionable. How shallow and fake.

Typical over-sensative Los Angelan taking things way too personally. It's not you, its the piece of sh*t, joke of a city that you were brought up in that sucks. I do live in LA and you know what? It has some good moments but it certainly has alot more moments that totally suck, which makes me glad to have been raised in the Northeast. Did it ever occur to you that some people would love to move out of this overrated, oversized suburb but can't because thats where they have to work? LA traffic....are you seriously even going to try to defend that? It is MUCH worse then the cities you mentioned, getting through Philly or NYC is cake compared to Los Angeles and people actually use the public transportation there unlike LA where everyone needs to clog the freeways. To even call Los Angeles a city is a stretch....its an overcrowded, neverending suburb, no comparison to Chicago, NYC, Philly, etc.

Actually I'm a typical over-sensative Los Angeleno. OK? Not Los Angelean. Jeez. MOVE! Go! Move away from this horrible place. Are you really so underskilled that you're unable to find employment in a city that you actually enjoy? My god! Did you even read what I was responding to? LA Hollywood phonies, and every other tired ass reason to hate this place? That fact of the matter is, if you hate it so much GET OUT! There are jobs everywhere. To say that people are trapped in this hellhole because they can't find a job anywhere else is totally pathetic. You sit around and bitch about this place because it makes you feel better about yourself and where you're from. It's incredibly transparent. Yes LA traffic blows. I don't defend it. Traffic sucks in every major city, and I'm not just talking out of my ass; http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/19/national/main601094.shtml
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-02-19-traffic-bottlenecks_x.htm
There, that took two minutes. Yes LA may have the worst traffic bottleneck in the country, but if you want to argue about spending 1 hour in traffic in LA spending 55 minutes in traffic in Boston, be my guest. I myself have actually lived in Chicago and Northern VA (DC). And to be honest, I can't tell the difference. Thankfully LA is doing something to improve the sorry public transportation issue in this city. But I doubt it will be done overnight. Why put yourself throuh this torture? Why force yourself to live in a piece of shit joke of a city? Get out while you still have your sanity. Or, stay here for whatever reason you give yourself and slowly grow more and more bitter. Maybe over time you can find some original things to hate about it. Also check out the LA learning annex, perhaps you can aquire some better job skills and rescue yourself from this overrated, overcrowded, phony, neverending suburb, that YOU have chosen to make your career in.

LA sucks. I have lived here for 8 years, and yes, I will soon be leaving. (Thank God) Aside from the obvious shit that sucks about LA, traffic, smog,fake people etc.., what I hate about LA is the fact that it is totally segregated. Mexicans, blacks, whites, all live in different areas and rarely interact unless they are forced to. And within each group there are subdivisions; just try walking through a Korean, Armenian or Orthodox Jew neighborhood and see how they treat you if you are not one of them. And the immigrant Mexicans don't speak English, but if you try speaking to them in Spanish they get all offended.

Oh yea, and the night life is terrible. Every club closes at 2 and you can't even get drunk because you have to drive home. I think that LA is a cool place if you are in your late 40's and just want a decent house and good weather. But if you are young and want to have a fun and exciting night life and meet interesting people, then LA is not the place for you.

Yeah man there you go. This is what I'm talking about. Do you honestly believe that LA is the only city with "ethnic" neighborhoods? Can you really tell me that Chicago doesn't have the South Side, San Francisco doesn't have Chinatown, Miami doesn't Little Haiti, etc, etc, etc? Have you ever even lived in a big city before or is LA your first time? You really need to move to Cour d'Alene Montana or Boise, Idaho or something. Don't worry they're both pretty lilly white and you don't have to worry about grumpy Mexicans. By the way, funny you should mention Korean, Armenian, and Mexican/Central American neighborhoods. I myself grew up in Echo Park (Mexican/C. American, at least it was back then), and my first apt was in East Hollywood(Armenian), and my last apt before joining the Navy was in Koreatown. Oh yeah, I'm also Jewish. I don't have enough time to explain to you why you feel the way you do when you walk around these neighborhoods, but the fact that you probably look scared shitless most of the time sure don't help. People are scared of different people most of the time, at least the ignorant ones are. This is not exclusive to LA. Try making an Armenian friend and going over to his or her parents house, bring your appetite because they are going to force delicious coffee and chocolates down your throat. Your views on speaking spanish to spanish speakers is absolutely tip top fucking ridiculous. Once again, try not to look scared to death when you do it. Don't worry, no matter what you think, they are not going to steal your car radio or stab you if you mess up. Forget it, screw this, good I'm glad you're moving hurry the fuck up and get out of here.

"But if you are young and want to have a fun and exciting night life and meet interesting people, then LA is not the place for you."

Yeah, just make sure they're white english speakers. Why can't life be just one big fun rave right?

What are you on? I have lived in LA all of my life and sure it has its ups but there are a lot of downs. Los Angeles is segregated, and although that is slowly changing, it really exists in the state of mind and the lack of community that you often encounter. The fact that you fallaciously move to the 'O you must be white' argument shows how unaware and relatively unexposed you are to it.

Here is a fun fact, Los Angeles has a race war going on, and do you know between whom? The gangs in Latino and African American Communities.

I'm not white and even I can tell you there is something up with LA. That said, LA is also one of the most diverse cities in the United States. Only in Los Angeles will you find a predominantly Vietnamese population living in 'Chinatown,' only a few blocks away from the historic Alvera Street. But that doesn't change the fact that Los Angeles has a lot of deep seeded prejudice.

The thing about LA is that it is not the classical white versus the world prejudice- prejudice here is a lot like micro economics. The stupidity gets exchanged within and between households, between blocks on housing tracks, on the east, west, and central; north, south, above the hill and below the hill, south bay to whittier. It exists in cultural assumptions and in the side comments you hear when you get to know business owners. Its stupid but it exists.

Most of the time people get along, make friends, and sometimes make beautiful babies together, but too often I have encountered the symptomatic fever of stupidity- a kind of stupidity unique to Los Angeles, where you can buy a house in 'your community' and view life from your backyard swimming pool.

Actually guy, it's Olvera st, not Alvera, and don't call it a typo. "A" is way far from "O" on the keyboard. The "race war" you refer to is not a fun fact, it's a shitty one. Before you call it a race war, why not call it what it really is, a GANG war. The fact that they use racial slurs to dehumanize each other is no different to what I heard in the military when our enemies were refered to as "hajjis" and much worse. Of course there is somthing up in LA. I will never tell you that LA is a perfect place. What I can't stand is when folks dump on LA for reasons that are not in any way unique to the city at all. You want a race war? Check out what happened in Crown Heights in Brooklyn. My point is that these things happen anywhere where there are different people living together in the same neighborhood. Every major city has ethnic strife. Every major city has street violence. Every major city has good and bad things going on. Some more than others, but when I hear "Gosh, y'know LA sucks because it is so like, segregated and stuff" I drives me nuts, because there's another problem that you can find just about anywhere else, not just in the US either. You mention cultural assumptions. Do cultural assumptions and the like leave your body as soon as you leave LA city limits? Do you not have rascist assholes in Chicago or Miami. Of course you do. Get out of LA more and visit some places. You want to see immigrants being mistreated, check out Dubai. You want to see segragation, check out Paris. You want to see "cultural assumptions", check out Split, Croatia. All of those cities have it much worse when it comes to these problems, and all of those cities are great places to visit. Just keep realistic about it. Well anyway, I guess I'll just get back to being unexposed and numb to the ethic inferno surrounding me. You're still leaving right?

I just want to say that that song sucks and the video is even worse. Anti-Kudos

I live in LA and like everyone else I meet (it seems), I didn't grow up here. I would LOVE to leave... but my producer (a fucking asshole of a 'Los Angeleno') is deciding to take his sweet ass time with my record. He's lazy, self-absorbed, and cheating on his wife... like everyone else here. Along with my entire savings, LA has taken my heart, soul, and sanity. I now hate people and life more than I ever did. Guess I've become one of 'them'.

So it's LA's fault that you're a crappy musician? Sorry your lousy record isn't taking off quite like you had dreamed it would. Just because people don't call your music "genius" out here like they did at the coffeeshops back home doesn't mean that everyone out here is fat, lazy, self absorbed, and cheating on their spouses. It just means you suck at making music and making business decisions. I got news for you. It's people like you that make LA suck. You bitter transplants who came out here with more dreams than talent. Go back home to playing open mike night at the Koffee Klatch in Huntsville, AL. Quitter.

I think we should split LA into a separate state. Southern Ca and Northern Ca. Then cut off the water from Northern CA and make those ignorant A-holes desalinate their water. peace i'm out

I moved from Madison, WI, to LA to work in the tv industry. Talk about a culture shock. I went from a city of overeducated, but friendly, earthy people to a city of bimbos and rude fuckers. The rudeness and superficiality were reasons I hated it most and eventually left. Drivers were assholes, cashiers at the grocery store wouldn't even acknowledge customers with "hi," and most people wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire unless you had connections. In LA, it's all about how you look, who you know, and how much you earn.

I'm originally from another country, and I had lived in LA for a decade before I finally got out. Thank God I got out! I was always unhappy while in LA, but I didn't understand exactly why until I moved to another great city and experienced something totally different. I agree there is a culture of prejudice that is unique to LA. It's not the typical White vs the rest of the world prejudice but one that flows in all directions, between all ethnic communities. On top of that, people are indeed a lot more shallow and rude in LA and it's difficult to forge meaningful relationships. And yes, compared to NY or London, the nightlife in LA is basically nonexistent. I guess for me the most frustrating thing about people in LA is that, unlike in NY or London where difference can often mean cool, in LA if you seem different and don't have the "LA vibes", then people automatically look down on and condescend to you without knowing ANYTHING else about you. This is especially severe in the middle class eastern suburbs of LA. The diversity in LA is a sham, as there is virtually no interaction between communities. In short, LA is simply not a good place to live, and it's by far not as great of a world city as NY, London or even San Francisco. If you can, then get the hell out, as I did.

I agree 100% with this. I'm also from another country living here for the experience but after three years... I've had enough. I'm out of here. hahaha

Sorry people but the only ones that like it here are the fat and ugly ones who LOVE being inside their cars or the people lucky enough to get paid well enough to live in a nice area.

yeah, Los Angeles SUCKS ASS !! I lived there 2 years and was glad to fucking leave its smelly ass. I hate LA, its people and its over-sensitivity. Bunch of whiney crybabies, WORSE than some of the whiners who visit or move there. It sucks. Go to hell Los Fucking Angeles, city of fags and princesses.

i have been in LA for less than two months as a traveler and i already started to have suicidal thoughts! this city indeed a small model of the idea of globalization. people from lots of ethnicities but without any interaction. all they do is to consume consume consume. LA is huge cinema , everybody is palying a role. its schizophrenic, neurotic and superficial as Hollywood itslef. sickest place in the world. I sure can use a vacation from this bullshit three ring circus side show of freaks in this fucking shithole we call it LA the only way to fix it is to flush it aaaallll aaaaaawwwwaaaaay. that was by tool BTW

Getting paid well has nothing to do with luck, loser.

I think LA sucks SOOOO bad that I searched out this blog to warn people about it.

Living proof that all the bullshit on TV is actually being absorbed!

To live in LA and enjoy it, You literally have to be out of your fuckin' mind!

It is the most disgusting place I've ever seen.

Garbage lined streets that smell all day of piss!

On rainy days every residential street wreaks of the endless stream of dog shit!

A culture full of people who are so adapt to living in trash the word "litter" is not in their vocabulary.

Pure hell where whores and greed are championed and rewarded.

The Filthy rich, and the filthy poor!

LA-The dirtiest drug infected Fag mecca in America.
(big fuckin' hooray)

and of course....every fag needs a "Hag" and her little dog too!

Stupidest women on the planet.


FUCK LA FOREVER!!!

Should be next on list for major world disaster.

certainly got my vote.


Glad to be back home on the east coast!
Never going back again.

BLECH!!!
Fuckin' Weirdos!
Lost Angeles for sure.

Guys,

I was thinking of applying for a job in LA but I thought I'd look this up. A tour guide in the US once said to me 'LA sucks' so I googled that and sure enough, it is all there, including the racism from the first link you get. I'm from London. We don't really have smog like you do. I went to see a mate a few years ago in LA and my eyes stung something rotten. You have no city center, just some hand imprints in a wall. Everyone needed to have the biggest truck, because they think that relates to their nob size. Sorry, no it doesn't. No, I shalln't be applying for that job.

I moved to L.A. in 2005 and the only thing I liked about the city was the weather; always dry and warm during the day and cool at night. I'm from Miami where it's always hot and extremely humid even at night. I didn't find the people too friendly, they didn't seem overly rude either. The traffic sucked, but thats to be expected in a big city. Also, for some reason I was getting these bad colds, it seems every other month. Maybe it was from the poor air quality. Another thing I liked about L.A. was the outdoor activities available. You can go surfing, hiking, Mountain climbing, Mountain biking, and skiing(couple hours east in the winter). It's location on the map also gives it a close proximity to some pretty nice places; Las Vegas (5 hours to the east), San Diego (couple hours to the south), San Fransisco (8 hours to the north).
I moved back to Miami in 2007(ran out of money) and am eventually planning on moving somewhere else, nothing wrong with Miami, just want to explore other places.
To anyone that wants to move to L.A., I wouldn't make any decisions on what city to move to by reading some blog. You need to experience the city for yourself. There are always some people in every city who are bitter about life and hate the city they live in. It's probably wise to visit a city first before you go all in and move.

LA is the absolute dirtiest piece of shit I have ever seen. The nice spots are inside vacant looking buildings... ALL the buildings are so old and all have an old rotten wood smell inside. The streets are fucking so so so disgusting. I'm originally from Las Vegas and I am used to clean communities and a generally clean city. I can't agree more with the person who said the streets are always lined with a piss smell. People are generally self absorbed. So even when you meet someone with a descent personality, they will always root for themselves over you any day. This is probably because everyone takes themselves so seriously --because they are actors. I mean NO ONE can laugh at themselves.. the people here genuinly suck. I'm an actor, and I can't stand the actors out here.. because they all will hate you if you are an actor as well. No one supports you and genuinly wants you to do well... The streets are dangerous as well.. The traffic is a fucking disaster.. a FUCKINg disaster. Never before in my life have I been in so many traffic stops, not jams, stops for over 30 min.. where hundreds of cars just parked, and sat,, and waited some more.. oh, looks like were moving..turn our car back on.. oh, only 3 feet.. okay lets wait some more.. it is literally that bad.. and there are no real back streets of la.. because everyone is fucking on those as well. Good luck with who ever moves out here. I can't wait to leave.

THE epitome of america is Lost Angeles. And believe me, that's no compliment. The problem of globalizalization, colonization, ethnic segregation, and technological over stimulation. Let's throw in the natural problem of sitting in a metal shield with wheels for 2 hours a day and getting to know your neighbor through the windshield.

All i'm gonna say about the people is that i have never lived in a place where soooo many people are superficial, and the culture is so absorbed with tv/movie media vs (i know it's shocking .... READING a BOOK!!!) woa there it is..

without going too far, i have lived in various cities , san francisco, washington dc, phoenix , maui, and i'm gonna go on a limb and put the overall rating of la at a 5 out of 10. All the other cities get 6.5 or better. The only reason la doesn't get a 3.5 is cause of the sunny weather.

The disappointing thing about reading the blog is that i get the feeling that people that really defend this place are from here, and are too invested in it too think this place doesnt suck. And yea , I'm leaving , and wow, it feels like this place is as soulless a place as i've ever been too , and that's no shit.
peace