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Leaving Google

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Re: Leaving Google

#141

Post by overgryphon »

benched wrote: post #112
eevilspock wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Vancouver is a real city. Seattle is provincial, passive-aggressive, unfriendly to outsiders, and segregated. A hick town with skyscrapers as I've often called it. Californians who've moved there almost unanimously agree with my first sentence, and crack up at the latter. (Sadly, I lived in Seattle for 17 years. The Bay Area before that, and New York now.)

Seattle 8 years. Sadly I have to agree wholeheartedly with this, because I've been unable to find much contrary evidence. The 'Freeze', which is deservedly famous, is very, very real, no matter how many people try to minimize its reality. Go ahead, come here - it's on display every second of every day in every cubic meter of the city. The only people who will make eye contact or speak a word to you are the homeless -…

Perhaps if all of your friendships are shallow and aloof, a change of city wouldn't solve your problem?

I love Seattle, and do not find people here passive or unfriendly.

Re: Leaving Google

#142

Post by taude »

eevilspock wrote: post #68
haberman wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a little sad he didn't say anything about Seattle, only a couple hours from Vancouver and with sizable and thriving Google offices. It is also has "greens and greys and unfussily variegated people" -- clearly it's not Canada, but in general it would be a much less drastic transition!

Vancouver is a real city. Seattle is provincial, passive-aggressive, unfriendly to outsiders, and segregated. A hick town with skyscrapers as I've often called it. Californians who've moved there almost unanimously agree with my first sentence, and crack up at the latter. (Sadly, I lived in Seattle for 17 years. The Bay Area before that, and New York now.)

Totally agree with you 110% on the passive-aggressive thing. I've been on east coast now (Boston) for about 16 years. I've grown to appreciate knowing where I stand with people.

Re: Leaving Google

#143

Post by togasystems »

Patrick_Devine wrote: post #119

As someone who moved to the Bay Area from Vancouver, it definitely was a bit of a shock. In Vancouver you're very used to seeing white people work in low income jobs, and that just doesn't happen a lot here. Calling the Bay Area congested, incestuous and overpriced compared to Vancouver is a little like the pot calling the kettle black, however. Yes, transit is a million times better in Vancouver. Yes, the cycling in…

I commute daily from Squamish to Vancouver. I am originally from Toronto and found commuting around that city a lot more challenging than Vancouver.

Re: Leaving Google

#144

Post by Haywain »

sharkweek wrote: post #88
eevilspock wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Vancouver is a real city. Seattle is provincial, passive-aggressive, unfriendly to outsiders, and segregated. A hick town with skyscrapers as I've often called it. Californians who've moved there almost unanimously agree with my first sentence, and crack up at the latter. (Sadly, I lived in Seattle for 17 years. The Bay Area before that, and New York now.)

Seattle is my favorite place in the entire world. People always complain about the "freeze" but I call bullshit. Seattle is the perfect place for people who enjoy a small social circle (Larry David style - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG_M73MoxJE ) The one thing I always tell outsiders when they ask about finding friends when they move here is to pick an interest and go from there. For example, I love hiking/climbi…

> People always complain about the "freeze" but I call bullshit.

I have been living in Seattle just over a year now. Maybe I've yet to get the full experience, but I have to say that after being warned about "the freeze" I've found nearly every person I've met here to be incredibly calm, warm, friendly and inviting.

To compare, I previously lived in NYC and DC-Metro area... both of which I found to be riddled with many more rude and unwelcoming people. In NYC about the nicest thing you'll ever see someone do is give up their spot on the train. Other than that, you'll be snarled at for nearly anything else.

Re: Leaving Google

#145

Post by bmj »

voidlogic wrote: post #137
rackoons44 wrote: post #122

It's interesting to see how he states that his remote work arrangement would not have been as productive as him moving.

I found this interesting too, maybe it is due to his role as a developer advocate? I find when I am not working remote, I have to put in 4 more hrs/day to get the same amount of work done...

I think it may have much to do with his role. See the job posting: https://developers.google.com/jobs/

If your job is to be an advocate for employees at your employer, it is likely better to be around those people, rather than just at the other end of a Hangout. I'm guessing that interacting with people around the office is a critical part of that role.

Re: Leaving Google

#146

Post by igorgue »

Weird, I thought the Bay Area was the perfect place to live! . I also agree with this "Plus I find the Bay Area congested, racist, incestuous, and overpriced."

Re: Leaving Google

#147

Post by yeukhon »

tomkin wrote: post #117
ChuckFrank wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Whereas Vancouver is not? Vancouver is the most congested, racists, incestuous and overpriced market in Canada. Toronto might be more congested in parts, but it's much less racist and incestuous, and perhaps equally overpriced. Halifax might be more incestuous. Calgary might be more racists. Montreal might be more elitists, but he didn't mention that. Whereas, in defense of San Francisco, San Francisco has Oakland. I…

Downvoted for your blanket statements about an entire populace. Calgary might be more racist? Based on? Most major Canadian cities are close to the US border, for three very important reasons: geography, temperature & economy. Geography: because a good part of the country is covered in Canadian Shield, making it very expensive to excavate land. Temperature: because the nicest temperatures are near the border. Economy…

> Calgary might be more racist? Based on?

And CA is more racist: based on what?

Re: Leaving Google

#148

Post by astalwick »

mahyarm wrote: post #121
bduerst wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To a Canadian, the vast majority of the U.S. probably appears racist, considering that some would argue classism is the new racism, but I digress.

I concur as another Canadian. There is a subtle racist world view that runs through American society, probably rooted from the higher amount of social economic inequality and history of slavery. Canadians for the most part just don't think like that and it can be a bit surprising to encounter at first.

As yet another Canadian, I've gotta say: Canada's great and all, but not perfect. Everything that you've said about American society and its treatment of minorities can equally be applied to natives in Canada.

And I think the problem is that, just as many Americans don't necessarily recognize the racism that still exists in their society because they live it and it's normal (or because they choose not to see it), I think there are an awful lot of Canadians that don't quite realize: in 50-100 years, we will all be ashamed of the way natives continue to be treated in Canada.

Re: Leaving Google

#149

Post by seanmcdirmid »

eevilspock wrote: post #68
haberman wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a little sad he didn't say anything about Seattle, only a couple hours from Vancouver and with sizable and thriving Google offices. It is also has "greens and greys and unfussily variegated people" -- clearly it's not Canada, but in general it would be a much less drastic transition!

Vancouver is a real city. Seattle is provincial, passive-aggressive, unfriendly to outsiders, and segregated. A hick town with skyscrapers as I've often called it. Californians who've moved there almost unanimously agree with my first sentence, and crack up at the latter. (Sadly, I lived in Seattle for 17 years. The Bay Area before that, and New York now.)

It's really because we (seattlites) just don't like Californians very much; they are turned on all the time, shifty, and drive super aggressively. Makes sense that he feeling would be mutual (e.g. Too passive, naive, and drive super cautiously). This was a real thing in the 90s at least.

Re: Leaving Google

#150

Post by robbyking »

Patrick_Devine wrote: post #119

As someone who moved to the Bay Area from Vancouver, it definitely was a bit of a shock. In Vancouver you're very used to seeing white people work in low income jobs, and that just doesn't happen a lot here. Calling the Bay Area congested, incestuous and overpriced compared to Vancouver is a little like the pot calling the kettle black, however. Yes, transit is a million times better in Vancouver. Yes, the cycling in…

If you don't see white people working low-income jobs in SF, you need to get out and explore. Nearly everyone working retails jobs in the Castro, Noe Valley, Hayes Valley, and a half dozen other neighborhoods is white.
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