The city we live in sometimes feels like the world’s biggest stage, a sprawling production set where we’ve all got recurring roles but we can never break character. In this daily pageant, authenticity takes a back seat to appearance, and our image becomes our equity.
But does that make us, like, fake?
A lively discussion on the topic broke out on Reddit this week, and commenters were fairly divided on their opinions. Several chose to hone in on the authenticity of WeHoans in particular.
‘We are sooo not fake.’
corpslave_1998, the original poster, defending fellow Angelenos:
“To the people that say LA is full of fake people…. Where in LA have you been exactly? I grew up there and went to school in South LA, mid-city LA, and West LA. The city is full of history, art, culture, and hard working individuals (many of which are of immigrant backgrounds trying to live a better life). Mind you, a lot of the people that call the city fake did not grow up in Los Angeles. Most of these people never interact with the community nor even contribute to it. Also, this is a very specific observation but I noticed these are the type of people that tend to only associate themselves with others who fit their ‘aesthetic’. Like what do you expect if you’re only here to gain for yourself?.. LA will match your energy. It’s a get what you give place.”
‘Uh, yeah, we’re fake AF.’
Many commenters blamed the entertainment industry for spreading around the globe the notion that we L.A. people are all two-faced and vapid. Even though we are.
‘The fakest of the fake.’
BlazePascal69 : “I lived in weho for three years and it is exactly what the critics are talking about. The greater west side in general or anywhere the rich live, eg west valley, oc…. I literally move across fuller to regular Hollywood and the people I met improved dramatically lol. And I loved living downtown”
tslutty.: “it’s the people who dont grow up here and never leave their venice/santa monica/west hollywood bubbles that think this”
‘Fakers gonna fake.’
Others say that fake people in L.A. came here that way.
CptJackAubrey: “I grew up here and most ppl I have talked to that are not from here complain how hard it is to make real friends. But then I realize they are running away from there problems in small town USA and think la will fix their internal issues.”
‘We’re faux fake.’
‘L.A. is a mirror.’
imsorrymsjackson-. “LA will give you what you seek (want a healthy sober life? You got it. Love the outdoors? Here you go. Wanna party like a degenerate? You can have that too!) so anytime someone talks about how ‘fake’ people in LA are to me it’s more a reflection of what they sought and LA simply provided,”
Maybe if those who stereotype LA actually ventured beyond the trendy spots, they’d see the real heart of the city.
LA is here people go to find themselves and find out that they are still ass holes. It’s a cesspool where the “Debrit meets the Sea”.
Not only are LA people fake but they are Jew Haters too! Have a look around! I have lived in every quadrant of this country and by and large LA people are the worst. No one here that I have met is honest. No one. On top of all that most, not all, do not have the moral compass to know wrong from right. Keep supporting the terrorists! I left a few months ago and have never felt better about leaving an area. Living in AZ is 100% better than LA. There is NO comparison.
We’re forced to act like people we’re truly NOT to gain the approval of society & those in positions of power. It’s literally necessary for our basic survival. If asked on a job interview about any ideas of running things better, and say “it’s only when we own & control the means of production that we bring about an end to capitalist exploitation & oppression.” Then asked “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” I reply “joining the masses with their pitch forks & torches to run people like you out of the country!” Being myself might NOT help… Read more »
I have lived and traveled throughout the country and found LA to be no more/less fake than any other area. Be it Weho or small town mid-America, there are real/fake good/bad people wherever you go. It’s merely a question of whom you choose to associate yourself with.
Great accompanying visuals, Mr Garcia!
Kudos…
Moving to Southern California from the East Coast many moons ago to avoid the winters, it took me about 2 years to realize that “Let’s do lunch.” was a totally meaningless comment. Whereas back East, lunch would happen. And the insincerity continues to this day. But I continue to live here because of the weather and now being wiser to the phoniness of fhe people – constantly looking for the next best thing.
I used to live on the east coast as well.
I always said if someone doesn’t like you in New York they will tell you to fuck off and die, in LA they will ask you to do lunch.
There are fake people everywhere! My sister and I used to have what we called our “three month rule.“ Don’t make any major commitments to anybody for at least three months after you met them, because IF they do have a facade, after three months, it tends to wear pretty thin and you can see who they really are. But that was not just here…that was back in Chicago too!
A lot of people in LA came here from other parts of the country with dreams that are very often unrealistic; they think they can become an actor, model, musician, or something else that won’t happen in Illinois. But I admire that they try and want to be more than the mediocrity of their home state. Although they probably won’t find the success they came here for, they will end up being more than they would have been had they not taken the risk and tried.
I’ll answer this question with a quote from rock n’ roll queen Courtney Love to describe many Angelenos: “I fake it so real I am beyond fake.” (From Hole’s “Doll Parts”)