RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I think people in the West are happier on average than people in the East.
The weather is better in the West. There is less density. There is less humidity. There is less snow. There is more sunshine. The landscape is more dramatic in the West (e.g., the mountains).
The West is also cleaner.
The people in the East seem more fearful and angry. They don't seem as open to differences in people in the East, and at the same time they seem more oblivious to others in common spaces. Group thing seems to hold more sway in the East. The people seem stressed out. They also seem more neurotic and uptight.
People in the West generally seem more health conscious, stylish, open minded, positive, and laid back.
People seem to have better hair and skin in the West. Perhaps this is due to diet and weather.
Seattle and San Francisco seem like the best educated cities.
I think the arrogance in the East is compensatory.
Posted on 07/11/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
Oh yeah, and the cars on the west coast are a LOT nicer. (i.e., no rust).
Posted on 05/01/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I was born in Los Angeles and here are a few differences: We have "freeways" not 'expressways', we have purses not 'pocketbooks', and we don't know what 'winter whites' are. HAAAA. We're also up earlier.
Posted on 05/01/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I must say that there some differences in the way that people think on the east coast vs. the west coast. In general people like to think that where you were born is the greatest place on earth. To start I was not born in NYC but raised here from the age of 4. Living in NYC you are constantly remained that you live in the greatest city in the world. Day by day we are told that NYC is the center of the world, that almost all decisions, music, fashion, and new ideas originate from here, that every place outside of NY/NJ is the sticks, country or farm land. We are taught to work hard and be the best, be on top, own as much as you can. Just listen to the lyrics of Frank Sinatra New York New York. With this said it is a wonder why so many people think that New Yorkers are so arrogant, rude and snobby.
I been to the west coast, I did find that people are not so pressured to be number one, laid back. I went to LA on a business trip which the meeting was scheduled to start at 9am. Being from NY this is normal, and the meeting would start at 9am as stated. However in LA the 9am meeting would not really get started until 9:30 or even 10am. There were lots of places that says NY style Plaza, NY bagels, Phily chesse steaks, Buffalo wings, these are all east coast things. Going out to the clubs at night, it seems that on the west coast people would start the party earlier then the east coast. They would start to go out around 8pm. I later found out why. My coworker and I went to a club in Mountainview CA, around 11:30pm. This is normal in NY. We got inside and it was a hot and jumping place lot of people dancing, drinking, and having a good time. Around 1:45am, the DJ announced this is the last dance, last call for alcohol. We didn't think much of it, at 2am the music stopped, lights came on and everyone started to leave. In Cal by law alcohol stops flowing at 2am. By that time people tend to go home or some house party. In NY Alcohol flows until 4am, and in some places until almost 6am. In NJ Alcohol stops flowing at 2am, but the clubs don't close. I was surprised that in a state like Cal that the clubs closes at 2am. We did enjoy ourselfs while out there, but I don't think yet that it can compare to NY/NJ with it night life.
Posted on 01/25/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
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By Michelle P. (Guest Post)
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Well I'm from Baltimore, MD. Basically every post I've seen on here you guys pinpointed the upper east coast not below New Jersey. Yes, I will not lie about having the snobby or arrogant attitude, because sometimes I do realize my own self with it. Even my mother accused me of it loads of times, but as for friendliness, people in the southern region have nice hospitality and stuff. When I went on a trip to NY I couldn't even get people to move out my way to cross a street, or even got trampled crossing a street.
As for Californians or any west coast. They seem pretty laid back and with the true California style with the flip flop and roll outta bed and put clothes on style. I'm pretty sure if the east coast wasn't so cold sometimes we'd dress the same way because you still see the California style over here too, especially in Maryland. Like it gets cold here but if you lived here for a while you get used to the weather, and you're fine!
Mustanggurl2020 @ aim . Com (remove the spaces in the email address)
Posted on 12/29/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
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By Naveen S. (Guest Post)
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I was born in Minnesota and live in N. Califorina and I have to say that people from the East Coast are very arrogant and snobby. They think they're better than the rest of the country and love to hate on California and Texas because they have no "culture". Most of them think that all people in California are slackers and all people in Texas are rednecks.
Posted on 12/24/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I was raised in NY and Boston (where I still live), but have also spent time in both the Southeast (lived in Orlando, FL for a couple of years) and the Pacific Northwest (my ex' family was from there, and I spent significant time in WA, OR and CA).
Both coasts have their pros and cons, and they really are very different from each other.
On the East Coast, there's much more of a daily grind, so to speak, in that we're overly focused on our careers and making it to the top; there's also a HUGE amount of emphasis on higher education here, because so many of the country's top schools are located on the East Coast.
We have a much more deeply-rooted sense of history, tradition and culture, and our cities are older and have much more character than our West Coast brethren. And we LOVE our seasons, as much as we bitch about the cold, snowy winters and too-short summers.
It's true that, as a whole, we're less likely to meet a stranger's eye as he passes us on the street, and we tend to be more cliquish and insular. We're less trusting than West Coasters, and definitely more snobby. East Coasters (particularly the Northeast) think the rest of the country is less educated, less cultured, less hip and less relevent -- which isn't to say that's true, but it's what we like to tell ourselves. ;)
In my time on the West Coast, I noticed that strangers were really friendly everywhere I went, and the pace of daily life seemed so much slower, and more relaxed. Of course, there was a big emphasis on appearance; even my ex' mom had had a nose job in her teens!
Posted on 12/11/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
IUve lived all over the northwestern part of the united states and when someone from the east coast moves over to the west they seem to be harder working and fit in very well. I have lived in Portland for many years and traveled to California I've realized that the north west has a bunch of not only hippies, so to say, but just strange looking people, compared to California where the beach bum look is popular among every age group.
Another difference is that people from California are more outspoken and the northwest is more reserved. I'm not sure how the east coast is in comparison because I've never been there but I plan on moving there soon to get away from the drama of the west coast. West coast is overrated unless you like very strange people. Another things is the drugs everywhere, in Portland people would smoke pot even out in open. it was very much a fashion statement. the hippy lifestyle is very in especially since the green movement.
Posted on 12/11/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I live in Santa Barbara and used to live in LA... I'm originally from North Carolina.... West Coast in general is not in a hurry except for the exception of LA... LA moves -- but outside of LA is slow and too laid back and everyone here is very pretentious and insecure! it's all about "who knows who". Even if you don't live in LA... East Coast gets to the point and who the hell cares who you know... I'm having fun while you are too worried about name dropping. BUT LOVE THE WEATHER!
Posted on 10/28/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I lived in Baltimore, Maryland for most of my life, up until I went into the Army at 19. Now that I am 22, I am living in Arizona with my fiancee and my daughter. I can honestly say...and I mean this in the nicest way possible. People from the west coast are insane. Not all of them of course, I just haven't met anyone to prove me wrong. I miss the east coast so much it hurts. I would give anything to move back there, but jobs are few and far between. My unadultered honesty doesn't seem to be appreciated here as much as it was back in MD. I can't stand how so many people here smile and act nice to your face, then turn around and talk about you behind your back. If I don't like you, I'll make sure I let you know personally. And if I have any kind of problem with you, I'll take it up with you, not everyone else that I come in contact with. After I had my daughter, my fiancee's family was pretty much disgusted with the way I looked because I was overweight. In their eyes, it didn't matter that I had just given birth. I was just fat. Imagine that?! The VERY FIRST DAY you meet your significant other's family, and they talk about how fat you are. I think it's just dispicable that so many people on the west coast feel like their entitled to stab people in the back, and take advantage of other people's kindness. I'm actually a really nice person. And yea, just like almost everyone else I know from back east, we're cold and distant at first, but then we treat you like family. Not act like you're one of us and then laugh at you behind closed doors. West coast males look and act more and more like girls everyday. Thank god my fiancee grew up in Michigan. I am just essentially fed up with the piss poor attitudes, and fake bake, and plastic surgery, and starvation diets, and I'M SICK OF AVOCADO'S!!!! I'm a vegetarian, and I'm from the east coast. So the health food thing doesn't really apply because there are health concious people all over the world. If a bomb fell on Arizona, and my family could survive, I wouldn't be upset. Not at all. And THAT is what I think about the west coast.
Posted on 10/28/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I grew up in California, but ended up in Philadelphia for college. Boy, am I happy to have graduated and left the dark dirty east coast. Sure the east has some interesting people, who ARE less fake than west coasters, but it still mostly sucks. I love wilderness adventure, what they consider wilderness back east is a joke to us west coasters. If you wanna be around the most beautiful places in our country you gotta live out west!
I do miss the east's tell it like it is mentality though. I chose to bring this personality trait back out west with me, it helps keep all the fake people from using you.
Posted on 10/03/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
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By philly girl (Guest Post)
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I'm from philly, and I have traveled a lot throughout the different sections of the country, and personally, I love philly people. Then again, I am one of them. I feel we are very down to earth people. BUT once u get into NY and NYC, it's a completely different story. The people there are so rude, (i.e new york mets fans, lol... rude!) and just the people in general for the most part.
Then when you go down to the Virginia area, people "act" slower. They just seem shady like they are not really slow but they put on a act. Then the midwest seems kinda cool, and the west coasters are cool. They just seem kinda done up; like fashion = California and such. It's kinda neat to see the differences, but all places have good and bad :)
Posted on 08/26/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
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By This is great! (Guest Post)
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Ok, here is my take:
West Coast: HUGE multitaskers...can not understand others mistakes. Eat way too healthy to the point that they seem to think one could live forever.
Biking to work...counting the #s of aluminum cans the company goes through a month....would never be something an East Coast company would do.
West coast tends to be overly PC to the point of being a real downer and damper on good old fashion ribbing and fun! Oddly, they dont seem to easily open up about their lives either - you would think East Coast people would be that way. Odd. They really make you work on a personal conversation!
East Coast - Crazy....funnny....out of control - REAL-
fakeness is almost not allowed. They have their "own way" of being nice. Like if you are online at the grocery store - they have 12 items , you have one ...they give you this 'head nod' thing and will say ' ga head'.
The office is a place to also make friends on the East Coast - their lives are so busy, most social interaction is done with those 40 hours - rest is in commuting and taking care of their over taxed homes.
NJBRNZD
Posted on 08/10/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I live on the east coast but I'm in the SE region. Nobody has really mentioned the SE. Everybody talking east coast is talking Boston and NYC. South Florida is a very different place...
Idk you gotta take that into consideration...
Posted on 07/22/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I'm from Iowa. I talk to East coasters on the phone everyday. They are snooty and think that they are smarter than everybody else and think that they should be put in line in front of everybody else because since they are in the future, then their problems are more important than everybody elses. Everybody I talk to from the Midwest and the West are very nice and patient and appreciative. I don't know why this is, but it would be neat to have some behavioral studies done about this. ;o) Thanks, Nikki
Posted on 07/01/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I'm from Los Angeles and have lived in Philadelphia for 4 years. Personally I think people in Pennsylvania tend to be nicer that most parts of the Northeast, but once you get out into NY, Jersey, mass, people's attitudes change. I grew up my whole life in Los Angeles, and life is not so laid back, everyone is always in a rush to get somewhere, unless you are filthy rich and live in nice areas, but other than that everyone is always in a rush to work. West Coast tends to be more socially liberal. I've noticed, people are very lovey dovey, and In the east coast its more of a get to the point type of attitude.
Posted on 06/22/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
this covers behavior and other things in the east coast vs. west coast conflict
west coast=laid back, warm, friendly, somewhat fake, pressure to be beautiful, big stereotypes are that they are rich and spoiled
east coast=on the go, high fashion, intellectual, accepting, pressure to be rich and "have it all", big stereotypes are that they are rude and sarcastic
the real deal.....
on the west coast you'll definitely find laid back people that all dress pretty much the same no matter what their social status is. however there is much more pressure to be tan, beautiful, and blonde that people turn fake almost. they have a shield protecting them but once you break through it they accept you for who you are and can be GREAT people. and it doesn't take much to break through that shield. they aren't spoiled and not all of them are drowning in money. they are more new age and are often referred to as "hippies" but they are VERY modern at the same time.
on the east coast people are constantly on the go. they do relax but they can't stand just doing nothing. its not that they don't "hang out" they do just like the west coast ppl do but just in their individual lives they are on the go. they care a lot about brands and labels of clothes and are trying to get high fashion for not so high prices because everyone cares about style and fashion. they don't die their hair as much maybe a few highlights but it always looks natural. they love having four seasons in general and can't stand not having snow in the winter. the schools are highly rated and there is much more competition to come out on top and get into a good college. they aren't all rude AT ALL rude ppl are EVERYWHERE east, west, and in between! they are sarcastic and they have a sense of humor that you have to get used to and once you do , they are actually very entertaining ppl! they are EXTREMELY accepting, even though they care about their reputation.
im not saying east coast is better than west coast or west is better than east. they both have their pros and cons but they relate to each other in a lot of ways, while having SO MANY differences at the same time. i was born on the east coast, moved to SoCal, and then to New Jersey, so I have a good clear view of both coasts and their stereotypes.
Posted on 01/03/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
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By cubangirl (Guest Post)
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That's an interesting post from Jess. It is true we drink more beer and wine on the west coast. I don't know that many people with hard liquor at home, but I know a lot of them with beer refrigerators and wine cellars. It's definitely beer and wine country out here in the west. I think people are friendlier and more open minded on the west coast. I always felt more at home here. I think you KNOW IT when you are living in the region that resonates well with you. It's hard to put your finger on it, but you just feel it. Another plus for the west coast -- the fruits, vegetables and the meats! I am comparing to the midwest though. I've never lived on the east coast.
Posted on 08/10/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I grew up in Seattle, WA and moved to Boston, MA for about two years. I'm outside of Portland, OR now. Here is my take on this interesting debate.
When I first got to Boston (actually Hyannis, on Cape Cod), I thought everyone was incredibly rude. No one would answer my smile or even make eye contact. Everyone was always in a hurry, even talking fast. As I got to know people, they would open up. I got lots of comments about how nice and patient I was. It still felt foreign.
We moved off the Cape (too expensive and WAY too crowded during the season) and settled about an hour south of Boston (almost in Rhode Island). My husband commuted to Boston and it would often take him 90 minutes or more due to the crazy traffic. Eventually, he just started taking the train which felt safer. The people in the town that I lived in (North Attleboro) seems very insular and almost never went to the city. I had no real friends the two years I was there, except for work acquaintances. I also got pregnant almost immediately after moving to "romantic" Cape Cod, so that changed my life quite a bit. We moved to Portland when my son was about 15 months old (flying out of Boston about two weeks before 9/11). Portland was home from the minute we got here. People smiled again!
I think that the city people have to put up a shell from the crowds and the panhandlers. In Seattle, the panhandlers seem to be mostly young and sort of happy. The Boston panhandlers, in contrast, are very aggressive older men. When you get of the T in Harvard Square (the subway), you are inundated with people asking you for money. You have to hold your bag tightly because of the crowd and you quickly learn a technique of no eye contact and moving quickly to avoid them.
Nonetheless, I did meet some wonderful, kind and caring people in the Boston area. My boss, Chet was born in Cambridge and had the best accent. He was so nice and funny. He used to tease me about my accent because I was so laid back. I found that the main difference between East Coast and West coast was how they say things. East Coast folks seem to be very upfront - they tell it like it is. West Coast people always try to put a good face on things, even to strangers. An exaggeration of this would be the stereotype of the "phoney L.A." attitude. Maybe a way to sum it up is that West coast people are nice to everyone but real only to friends and family whereas East Coast people are real to everyone but only nice to their friends and family.
Let me share two specific experiences: I was in a training class in Boston about a week before I was going to start maternity leave, so I was heavily and obviously pregnant. We had to go on the T (subway) to get to the meeting location and it was very crowded so there was no place to sit. I was standing on the train for 20 minutes or so and no one ever noticed that I was there and could have used a seat. When I was pregnant with my second child, I was on the Max (Portland's light rail) going into the city for something. I had someone offer me a seat both ways.
I saw one comment about West Coast people drinking more and East Coast people going to church more. I don't quite agree. I know that in Massachusetts, the liquor stores (where you have to get beer and wine too) are closed on Sundays but I knew lots of people who would just stock up because of that. I certainly saw more acceptance of drinking at home on the East Coast, everyone seemed to have a liquor cabinet with hard alcohol. People mostly drink beer and wine on the West Coast and seem to be more aware of alcoholism and such. As for the church going, I find that West Coast people are more evangelistic about whatever their beliefs are, be it church, social activism, or whatever. I think the number of churches and churchgoers is probably equal.
I haven't lived in the South or the middle so I don't have insight there. I had a friend from Georgia who was very sweet, but different than West Coast sweet. People that I have met from the midwest are different too, but nice. I think that every region has it's own influences through population, diversity and other factors.
Jess
Posted on 08/07/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I live in South Georgia, and I have that famous southern drawl! Southerners are really friendly - we never see a stranger. Our dress is pretty casual because of the extremely hot weather.
Posted on 08/07/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
Climate affects what people do, but I think people are more alike than they are different. Biggest difference - People on the east coast are 3 hours ahead of those on the west coast.
Posted on 08/06/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
Hi
I'm from Ma. The greatest difference is "we talk funny" Other than that, folks is folks no matter where they are from!
Posted on 08/06/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
i am from the east--baltimore, md actually. i am and my friends are very friendly. i say hi to people i see on the street. i dont drink but many of my friends do. the group i hang with all go to church including where i work at a drs office. i have lived in middleburg, fl, valley forge, pa and garden valley, tx. i really like the people here in catonsville more than anywhere. i dont consider us uptight as some have said. we like to have fun playing games, talking, playing with the dogs, having dinner together, going to the beach or pool. we live and die just like every person on the earth.
Posted on 08/06/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
Just an observation--the culture from the northern stretches of the west coast is very different from the cultures in LA ... just like New York City is VERY different from, say, rural Georgia.
Traveling from north to south, east to west, urban to rural, wealthy neighborhood to tenement, one ethnic neighborhood to another, all reveal changes in local cultures. Perhaps more surprisingly, though, it also reveals how very much we're actually all alike.
And, while we can certainly generalize about groups of people, individuals won't necessarily match the stereotype. There are laid-back people living in NYC, etc., despite the stereotypes.
Posted on 08/06/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
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By Carol in PA (Guest Post)
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The Eastern part of the US is more densely populated and have more cities close together than the Western part. Ivy league universities are in the NE portion of the country. NY City and Washington DC are both on the Eastern side of the country. NYC is the financial center of the country and Washington DC is the legislative center of the country.
Some people think those living in the West are more "green" than those of us in the East. This is not true. We in the East are consientious of our responsiblities to Mother Earth and the consequences of not being responsible.
I live on the East Coast and have noticed that because our country is so very young the states that were original 13 colonies still bear some of the identity of those colonies. I am of the opinion that there is some influence in the West of past as well. I think of the California Gold Rush and other historical happenings.
Posted on 08/06/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
The West coast (I live in S. California & compare with NYC/NJ) is more conservative. California is much more casual. They don't wear Hawaiian shirts as much on the E. coast! They think Californians are nuts and believe all the stuff on TV about L.A. - They get get more real estate for their money. In California, you can dress like a kid in jeans & t-shirts forever - in the E. older people wear more traditional clothing. People dress up more. In the E .they can't wear the same clothes the year round, due to the weather! You need umbrellas all year round! Some people are much more bookish.
Posted on 08/06/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
People from the east coast are more wary of strangers. People from the west coast are more open to strangers. People from the east coast usually go to church. If you're from the west coast, you are considered odd if you go to church. People from the west coast are more "green" oriented. People from the west coast drink more alcohol. People from the east coast are more family oriented but their families are much more uptight and tend to shun drinking alcohol. Just a guess.
Posted on 08/06/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: East Coast Vs West Coast Behavior Differences
I guess that depends on where you are from and whether you've been to both coasts, hard for me to compare because I've only lived on the west coast my whole life. I do know that we seem to have a lot more cars out here! And flip flops and bleach blonde hair!
Posted on 08/03/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse
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