Everybody who has argued against my points is basing their entire argument off of something false: that I don't have perspective of other major cities. I've lived in 4 and have a sister who lives in Philly that I visit regularly. In terms of race and class issues, my job has forced me to look them straight in the eye in the past couple of cities I have lived in, and LA is off the radar. Its so big and sprawled and lacking public transit that the kids in the ghetto are lost in their own little world, with the cops forcing them to stay there and doing nothing to ensure their safety. That's why LA has gang problems that are far worse than any other city in the U.S. No other city comes close in terms of gang related crimes. I'll admit, I've heard that Chicago is comparable in terms of the giant endless ghettos, but it still has the "L," which makes a difference. Again, that's why LA has race riot after race riot, and other cities really haven't since the 60's.
In terms of moving to SF? I'll be fine, I lived there before and loved it, left to go to graduate school, and am going back because I loved it so much
LA isn't my style. I'll stop trashing on a "city" that isn't walkable, has no public transportation, or real neighborhoods and just say that the things I just mentioned are musts for me to find a city even acceptable, let alone great.
In terms of the "American city" I think of East Coast cities- New York, Boston, Philly, DC, or other places that are nothing like LA like Chicago, New Orleans, or San Francisco.
Cities like phoenix and LA are those weird western sprawl zones that have come to be known as cities.
Oh, and don't worry about Harry Crews opinions of women, he's LA trash. He wants them to be under 5 pounds of make up, have bleached blond hair, fake tits and to spend at least 20 minutes picking out her outfit when she goes to the store to pick up a gallon of milk. That's what he means by "style." This is my point about LA sucking. That's what Angelinos think qualifies as "style," looking super duper plasticky.
Fuck, I said I'd stop trashing LA...well, if it makes Angelinos feel better, San Diego is even shittier.