<p>A continuation from another thread, basically-- is LA inherently more materialistic than other cities? Yes? No? Maybe?</p>
<p>I say no. I think that all urban centers of LA's size attract similar amounts of materialism. </p>
<p>Anyway...continue the conversation here and leave the Trojans in peace.</p>
<p>Maybe. Certainly the celebrity culture and widespread urbanity could make LA more materialistic, but perception is reality. If Average American thinks LA is overly materialistic, they might go there on vacation and garishly overspend.</p>
<p>I just think that it's too hard to really say that all of LA is some monolithic beast. Santa Monica is a different place from Sunset, which is different from Inglewood.</p>
<p>And that's what I'm saying. One can talk themselves blue on the materialistic nature of LA, but it depends where you are and who you're near.</p>
<p>Like you said it's not just LA, it's America that is materialistic. LA is a little bit more so though, and every white girl at UCLA is obsessed with shopping, so there is a vibe here that is stronger than other urban centers. Also, where is Sunset?</p>
<p>
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every white girl at UCLA is obsessed with shopping
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<p>I can name a few white girls at UCLA who will run counter to this assessment.</p>
<p>Stereotypes are bad, mmmkay?</p>
<p>How about Dubai?</p>
<p>Rotflmfao.</p>
<p>I agree, Dubai has definetly gotten modern and materialistic over the years. Their economic expanision is booming at a rapid rate. Celebrities like Trump and the Beckhams are even buying property there.</p>
<p>Greenwich, CT. Not everyone, but the VAST majority are the most materialistic and shopping obsessed people I have ever met.</p>
<p>Dubai is a Las Vegas of sorts.</p>
<p>from the USC thread, UCLAri asked:
"Is it that the Parisians aren't as materialistic, or that they just don't have the money? France is a rich country, but not quite as rich.</p>
<p>I mean, people were damning Paris for being materialistic and shallow in the 18th century."</p>
<p>On a per capita basis Ari, Paris isn't really poorer than LA. If you look at real estate for example, a typical small 2-bdr Parisian apt is worth about $600,000-$750,000. The cheapest 2bdr apt in the worst neighborhood would go for about $400k, and the top of the range (depending on location) for about $2Mill and up.</p>
<p>The upper class in France frowns upon unbridled displays of wealth. In the wealthier neighborhoods, you would find families with a half million dollars' worth of antique furniture in their apartment driving a 10-yr old midsize car. People in France and other western European countries are definitely more class-conscious than in the US or SoCal, but they are less materialistic, in that wealth is much less of a basis for social status.</p>
<p>You're also overlooking the fact that Parisians drive a lot less than Angelenos. </p>
<p>Again, I know a lot of people who own BMWs and MBs who drive them because they enjoy the driving experience, not because it's their way of looking rich.</p>
<p>I see having half a million dollars in antique furniture as equally ostentatious.</p>
<p>people in europe just have different values. regardless of the money (unless they're like a peasant) they just have the natural desire to appear clean and neat. they wear designer clothes because designer clothes are better quality and more unique. plus, people don't buy things to show off how rich they are. (the antique furniture would also fall into this category -- a lot of modern ideas are simplistic and not as aesthetically pleasing)</p>
<p>european culture is amazing. do not bash. </p>
<p>and Silver<em>and</em>Jade, i agree. my best friend is from greenwich and she is possibly the craziest shopper ever. but people there are brought up in a different, more aristocratic, slightly pseudo-european manner. they are generally not as snobby, as opposed to people with money on the west coast, probably because they have 'old money,' or money from their ancestors which has been in their family for years. quite contrary to people out here in california who just got rich off of google stock and now have a big house, big cars, and big designer sunglasses. its funny to see people waste all their money on buying 5 cars. ahh i miss the east, where people spend more money on education (private/ prep schools before college) and are brought up looking good.</p>
<p>eugenia -- I happen to go to school in Greenwich (I live just outside of it) and I would say that there are quite a lot of snobs here. The source of the money is different, but the attitudes brought about by the fact that they have money are similar. Though you are right that they spend an insane amount of money on education, they also spend an insane amount of money on shoes. And they seem to be obsessed with money in other ways -- to answer the question of "where do you see yourself in ten years?" an alarming number of people responded "Married to a rich man with lots of money." Funny you should say you miss it, I'm dying to get out of here. BTW, what school does your friend go to?</p>
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Like you said it's not just LA, it's America that is materialistic.
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Agreed. America's rallying cry has always been "freedom" with one of the more popular subtexts being the freedom of upward social mobility. But the dream has become an obsession for some. Many want to be wealthy or at least look wealthy and then buy into their perceived notion of whatever that may be - whatever clothes, cars and accessories they feel will do that for them. </p>
<p>Cities, by nature, are centers of commerce and massive amounts wealth so it only makes sense that those who live there are those born with wealth or those who are in the process of creating some. I am from New York (but Queens, not Manhattan) but I do venture to Manhattan quite often and gentrification is a major occurrence these days. Everyone likes to talk about New York's diversity, but I feel that most of what shows up in demographical stats is influenced by the other boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens...Manhattan really isn't that diverse. Many people who now reside in Manhattan are wealthy, White yuppies with extremely high-paying jobs, far-reaching monetary ambitions and many are not even from the city. I have come into contact with a lot of folk from all over the Bos-Wash area like Connecticut or Northern VA. The only bastions of racial and economic diversity in Manhattan are in Harlem and Chinatown, and those places are rapidly being gentrified as well.</p>
<p>Wow...I think I went totally off-topic on this one.</p>