Where did everyone get this idealized image of SoCal?

<p>I've read quite a few posts about those choosing UCLA over other colleges. Of course, there's nothing wrong with that, but I find it funny that some are basing their decision on the location - even though they've never visited.</p>

<p>No doubt, we do have a lot beautiful women here and the sandy beaches are awesome. However, it rains often, and the dry summers blow. And don't forget about the horrible traffic (you honestly have to drive a lot because everything is so spaced out; you may get by on public transportation, but it's really a crap-shoot) and what accompanies it - smog.</p>

<p>Any other SoCal residents find this amusing?</p>

<p>Yes, but I don't think the allure to UCLA is based on location alone. It's everything- academics, athletics, prestige, community, etc. I live in LA and I hate it...I don't see how anyone can come here for the location. The people are fake, traffic sucks, etc. Go Bruins! lol</p>

<p>who wants real people? pffft, real people are so...old-fashioned. </p>

<p>Furthermore, taking the word real to a more literal level, if youre not half plastic youre not worth my time.</p>

<p>you can thank Hollywood and the "selling" of los angeles/southern california by hollywood movies for the idealized, perfect SoCal image.</p>

<p>eh, so cal itself aint so nice unless you got money. but teh UCLA campus is in a perfect location.</p>

<p>well i live in LA and i like it enough. :)</p>

<p>the weather is pretty good. we don't really have seasons, but yes, it does rain sometimes and it gets blisteringly hot in the summer.
the traffic sucks. no doubt about it. but it's nothing compared to new york or chicago. you get used to the smog, and it's only really bad in the city. the suburbs are nice. westwood is nice.</p>

<p>as for the fake plastic image projected by hollywood, well, it's there, certainly. but like all movie images, it's not as prevalent as you think. basically, LA (or any area) is what you make it. the only thing definite is the weather.</p>

<p>Yeah I like SoCal. Great weather with very little rain, nice beaches, nice areas (for the most part), relaxed atmosphere, etc. Traffic can suck sometimes, but you get used to it (and on my bike, I bypass it no matter how bad it gets for you suckers in cars ;)). </p>

<p>Peope see an idealized version of it in movies, shows like "the OC" and "Laguna Beach", etc. but I can guarantee you that the life portrayed in those shows does exist (minus most of the drama and such lol). So its not a particularly unfounded view.</p>

<p>UCLA is great in that it has the academics, athletics, and location all in one. There's no denying that it's a great place to study.</p>

<p>"Yes, but I don't think the allure to UCLA is based on location alone. It's everything- academics, athletics, prestige, community, etc."</p>

<p>Oh, I know; I said some of those who are choosing by location seem to have it all wrong.</p>

<p>UCLA doesnt get that hot</p>

<p>and it definately does not rain often, just that random parts of the city far from UCLA are so poorly planned any rain will result in floods</p>

<p>my parents wont let me get a bike b/c they think its too dangerous but i got np getting around</p>

<p>The first time I visited California was in an extremely wealthy and clean part of Irvine.
Sometimes first impressions can do that to you... :rolleyes:</p>

<p>Yep. It's the upper class regions of Orange County that have influenced the world's perception of Southern California. I've been to some of the nicest places I've ever seen in this world, and they're all within twenty minutes of my house.</p>

<p>Plus the whole Hollywood image. LA is like some kind of metropolitan paradise, the center of American culture and everything.</p>

<p>But yeah...a lot of us SoCal ppl think of LA as a traffic-congested smog land, filled with as many rundown buildings and ghettos as towering skyscrapers and ritzy neighborhoods. I guess we should be grateful for how good we have it here, but I do still find it pretty amusing how it's considered a paradise by everyone else.</p>

<p>What a lovely description of LA. :)</p>

<p>It's all Hollywood man. You've got the one of the two major bases for media in the US based here and of course they're going to project a positive image of this place. In reality though, the whole glitzy lifestyle is just a small portion of all of So Cal. Really though, So Cal is hood after hood after burb after burb populated by immigrants and gangstas, soccer moms and Barbie babes. As a native of that hood they call Long Beach, I've come to embrace all these aspects of living here, for as much as they call all tick me off, they've all become a part of me.</p>

<p>But really now, how much can you possibly complain now. It's not like the rest of America, let alone the rest of the world, is full of pristine countryside and urban utopias with perfect weather. Since when has LA been considered wet and the sunny dry summers a bad thing? It's not like New York doesn't have even hotter, more humid summers, an even more crowded city, let alone freezing snow in the winter. It's not like Houston doesn't actually have more smog, Seattle drowns in rain, and Florida doesn't actually suck in general. Really, there are parts about this city that tick me off too, but it really isn't that bad in general.</p>

<p>=the grass is always greener</p>

<p>I live in norcal, and yes many of these descriptions written by the people above is true about what norcal folks see in southern california. So i was wondering what the people living in socal perceived in norcal? Like southern california is to beverly hills & hollywood.</p>

<p>I blame it on shows like "The OC". :rolleyes:</p>

<p>I live in SoCal and pretty much hate it. Here in Irvine and its so suburbia it sucks. The weather might be good but it will randomly rain, and we don't even have seasons. You will randomly have a warm day during winter and a cold day during summer. The only reason people think SoCal is such a utopia is because they watch these stupid t.v. shows.</p>

<p>Norcal = where people say 'hecka' and 'hella' lol- It's hard to describe, but Norcal is like a different state.</p>

<p>Southern California has the mildest weather in the country. If you love snow, rain, cold, and changing seasons, it's not for you.</p>

<p>We get a bit of rain, a bit of heat (but not humidty, so it's much more comfortable than other parts of the country and perfect fot the beach) but all in all, you don't even have to think about the weather when planning things or going out. You just take it for granted.</p>

<p>For all of you who have lived in SoCal for all of your short lives, do go east or south, or north for college. Experience some weather. It was only after spending several years on the east coast that I realized how great SoCal is... and I wouldn't trade it for anything! It's paradise, as far as I'm concerned.</p>

<p>It's so funny to hear people say it rains a lot in SoCal. I lived there when I got married and one of the nicest things was NOT having to worry about rain on my wedding day ( because of how UNcommon it is) !
The weather may not change a lot but there is a lot to say for the predictibility. I would still live there today if it wasn't so darn expensive.</p>

<p>I agree, the weather in LA isn't perfect, but it is a lot better than having to survive the bitter cold and shovel your way through snow like the east coast! SoCal is said to have such nice weather because simply that, we don't have seasons! Either cold and rainy or normal and sunny.</p>