Regardless of your general "help me understand the Bay" stance, this a HUGE negative blaming statement that originates from you alone.
I live in the Bay. I regularly modify my diet to see how it affects my health. I found out I'm allergic to gluten by testing its effects on making my ears ring, stomach ache, etc. Riding my bike clears my mind like nothing else. Why I do this, how I do it, talk about it, terms I use to refer to it and pretty much anything else I choose to do is up to me, and shouldn't be judged by you unless it affects you directly, even if you did read it somewhere. Which it doesn't, and you didn't.
I hear you when you want other opinions about the culture here, but as others have stated, the Bay Area has a massive number of people in the technology scene. We have compassion, asshats, brilliance, idiocy, over-achievers, under-achievers, massive revenue generators, massive cash burners, and everything in between. All from direct observations, FWIW.
If you want a good experience, then let all your expectations go and don't worry about it. Seek out meaningful conversations and experiences and let what will be, be.
In other words, come live in the moment, for a moment is all that you have here.
I hope your stay is an enjoyable one. I, for one, love it here.