southern Californians aren’t as into the virtue signaling yard signs as people in the DC area

[Anonymous]

We’ve been in the Sherman Oaks area (in the hills just north of Mulholland) for the whole week, and have been out and about every day, and in all our running around, we have seen literally one of the virtue-signal yard signs (BLM, “hate has no home here”, “all are welcome” etc) that dot about every third yard back home in Bethesda.

It’s very odd to not see these signs stuck all over the place like at home. But also very refreshing. I would’ve expected to see them everywhere here, since demographically/politically the neighborhoods are somewhat similar. But there is definitely much less of the shallow virtue signaling going on in southern CA than back home.

Everyone wears masks here, despite not being required to if you’re vaccinated. Either not many people are yet, or they’re maybe that’s how they virtue signal out here. I dunno. We aren’t wearing them, and get looks, but don’t care. We’ve all previously had covid and are vaccinated, and for us, it’s over and done with.

The locals are complaining about the heat. It’s about 95-100 in most places north of the mountains right now, but doesn’t feel nearly as hot as 90 does back home with humidity. I can see why people from CA hate our summers on the east coast. One thing I do notice is I seem to dehydrate much faster out here.

The traffic behavior on the freeways here makes DC traffic look like an etiquette class. There must be a tax break for miles-spent-tailgating and unsafe lane changes here. But off the freeways, surface street traffic is actually far more well-mannered than the DC area.


Way fewer police, too. Dramatically fewer. I didn’t realize how saturated we were with police at home until spending some time out here. No speed cameras or red light cameras, either, at least none that I’ve seen.

No deer either, which is nice, because you can go for a walk in the brush and not get covered in ticks, or drive someplace at night without constantly being ready for one to jump in front of your car.

But everything is dry, dead and some shade of yellow or brown here (unless it’s landscaped/watered). That’s a bit jarring to see if you’re used to everything in a park or trail being lush and green in the summer.


Interesting place to visit, but I don’t think I’d ever want to live here.

[Anonymous]

What's your point?

We don't care that you don't wear a mask and stop with the treads about it troll.

MYOB

You sound like an idiot bible thumper who has never read it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's your point?

We don't care that you don't wear a mask and stop with the treads about it troll.

MYOB

You sound like an idiot bible thumper who has never read it.

FOAD.

[Anonymous]

Wait, so you’re visiting one particular area of Los Angeles, the second largest city in the US (almost 4M people) for 7 whole days, and you feel confident in saying that there is significantly less “virtue signaling” in all of Southern California than Bethesda, MD.

You’re not that bright, OP. But keep on trying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's your point?

We don't care that you don't wear a mask and stop with the treads about it troll.

MYOB

You sound like an idiot bible thumper who has never read it.

DP

The pandemic is over Amy. Time to unwrap your face and crawl out of the basement. Wearing a mask now means you don’t trust Joe and deny the science. Is that what you want people to think of you?


OP- it’s cooler on the LA-side of the mountain. The ocean breezes usually keep it about 10-20 degrees cooler than in the SF valley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so you’re visiting one particular area of Los Angeles, the second largest city in the US (almost 4M people) for 7 whole days, and you feel confident in saying that there is significantly less “virtue signaling” in all of Southern California than Bethesda, MD.

You’re not that bright, OP. But keep on trying.

Awwww, did OP give you a sadz

[Anonymous]

Los Angeles is the least racist area in the world, and I’ve lived in many countries. There may be a lot of homelessness and crime and pot, but I can honestly say that in LA, nobody gives a flying f*** what color you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Los Angeles is the least racist area in the world, and I’ve lived in many countries. There may be a lot of homelessness and crime and pot, but I can honestly say that in LA, nobody gives a flying f*** what color you are.

Which tells you everything you need to know about the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Go home and make more money then come back to the west side of LA: Malibu, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Hollywood Hills. You’re in THE Valley, dude.

[Anonymous]

You poor old soul, OP.

[Anonymous]

I agree DC has a weirdly high prevalence of people trying to prove their liberal/tolerance bona fides as compared to other progressive areas. It is similar to Portland, Cambridge, Boulder, and Berkeley in that respect. I think it’s because of the combination of a very liberal area and a competitive culture. People feel pressure to make sure people know you have the “right” politics, plus some people are just one-uppers here and kind of exhausting. I’m very liberal but still find it tedious.

However, I lived in California before moving here and one thing you should know is that large swaths of LA (especially the wealthier, more suburban parts) are apolitical to even skewing conservative. While CA is left leaning in general, there are many conservative pockets due to a high percentage of military, farming communities, and just good old fashioned corporatists. I would definitely not assume that most people in Sherman Oaks are as liberal as the average DC resident.

I do sometimes think greater political diversity would be healthier in DC, even if it would mean fewer of my neighbors agree with me. Even if it were easier fir liberals/progressives in DC to more openly disagree with each other in a civil way. Lots of group think here and it’s not great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Go home and make more money then come back to the west side of LA: Malibu, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Hollywood Hills. You’re in THE Valley, dude.

Dude. A lot of people live in the valley, even including celebrities, athletes, coaches and scores of hard working people who work in entertainment. I assure you that most people on DCUM would also live in the Valley if they lived in LA.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it’s brown. Summer is the dormant month for most of our plants and shrubs, so the hills are always brown in late spring/summer/early fall. In winter and spring they turn more green, although of course it’s not verdant green like the east coast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so you’re visiting one particular area of Los Angeles, the second largest city in the US (almost 4M people) for 7 whole days, and you feel confident in saying that there is significantly less “virtue signaling” in all of Southern California than Bethesda, MD.

You’re not that bright, OP. But keep on trying.

Valley weather sucks. I grew up nearer to the coast. Even so, the valley weather is better than DC weather.

I agree with OP in that MoCo is much more of a nanny state, uber progressive liberal than most of CA. I have lived in four different counties in CA, both SoCal and NorCal.

[Anonymous]

Is there a name or a reason for people who are cranky and mean and attack posters? Are there the same people making flights even more onerous? Can we make the punishment working the front desk at their local DMV or school for one year?

OP, thanks for the California report.