On the OC thing, what bothers me is the generalization, characterizing an entire county is a particular way. If someone were to write, “I find most Mexicans/Koreans/African-Americans to be _________,” you could expect to hear from people who object to such generalization. Is this so different?

When it comes to people, to generalize is to dehumanize. That bothers me. I don’t have anything against Twinmama personally, and I think she’s entitled to not want to live in OC, but I feel I have to speak up when I see what seems to me to be negative generalization. Also, the idea of measuring out compassion according to whether or not someone “deserves” it is puzzling to me.

If Twinmama doesn’t want comments that disagree with what she’s posted, she can say so, or not respond, or close comments. I hope that doesn’t happen, though, because I think stuff like this is worth talking about.

You know, I’m always amazed at how people feel the need to berade other people about what is written in their personal online journal. But whatever.

Living there as a liberal is pure masochism. I get the feeling you are maybe not as politically oriented as myself, so maybe it doesn’t bother you. Consider yourself lucky.

My husband is the most patient, optomistic person in the world. I wish you could meet him; you’d see it in an instant. He really is. He’s lived everywhere and likes everyone. But even he couldn’t take Orange County anymore–and believe me, that’s an accomplishment, given his personality. And I run into a lot of OC expatriates up north here who were just as happy to leave. A mom I know who told me she’s going to have to move back practically cried over the news. It’s not just me.

Why do you think I take so many pictures of the beautiful landscapes in SLO County? I love it here. I am happy here. I found what I was looking for several counties north :)

Any questions?

You’re right, I DO have a bad attitude about Orange County. I lived there my entire life until four years ago, so as a native that lived and breathed there for decades—a little longer than a few years—I think I can say I don’t think it’s a good place to live. It can be pretty, it can be amusing, but it’s not where I want to die. And yes, I have my reasons; I already posted last month why I don’t like it: http://www.slolane.org/misc/affluenza.pdf
But that’s me. If you like it, hey, good for you.

There’s hundreds of sad and scary natural disasters every day to cry about; to imagine ourselves in. Are you still donating to tsunami relief funds? Why are the people in Orange County any more deserving of our sympathy than any other victims of similar events? The tsunami victims died from bad luck, the Laguna Beach people got their houses smashed because they ignored clear and repeated warnings for over 30 years. SM’s right, the situation could not be more American—actually, it could not be more Orange County.

To be fair, I feel some sympathy for the Laguna old-timers that were there from the beginning. Maybe the ones that moved there in the 50s didn’t know. But sympathy for the builders and investors of that (unoccupied) stupid 5,000 square-foot temple of greed that got wrecked? Hell no. Karma-justice was totally served on that one, and even the other residents aren’t sorry to see that thing in pieces.

(Incidentally, if you think I have a bad attitude, you haven’t read the OC Weekly much. I predict they are probably going to be even more hardcore about this than I am).

As for your remark about dodging bullets: if I built a mansion high on a cliff prone to landslides, liquefaction, etc., against all recommendations of geologists, with full knowledge of this fact, and then the house slid away, YES, I would say I deserved it. Stupidity is only rewarded in the office of the president.

As for the fact that “they’ve had slides in that area before,” as I understand it, the last landslide there was 27 years ago; undoubtedly plenty of geological tests were conducted as a result and no one thought another landslide would happen, at least not without plenty of warning.

Personally, I am a little saddened by your negativity about Orange County in general. You seem to judge the area very broadly, without regard for the fact that the people there are just folks like you, trying to raise families and do right by them. Do you have negative feelings about the the victims of the La Conchita landslide, too? What about the folks in Oceanside whose homes are slipping and are now uninhabitable? Should they have known they were “living there on borrowed time”? What about the people who lost their homes — or their lives — in the 2003 fires?

When you get right down to it, we’re all living on borrowed time — you, me, everyone. Nobody is entitled to the time they have here, and everyone’s just doing their best with the time they’ve got, including the people who live on the cliffs in Laguna Beach. Perhaps it is a mistake to build on the cliffs. I’m not totally convinced that it is a mistake in all coastal areas. But going with that assumption that it is for a minute, I suggest you consider ill-advised moves you have made in your life, and bullets you may have dodged. As for the consequences you *have* suffered as a result of mistakes you’ve made — did you deserve what you suffered?

I’m sure you have some reason for your disdainful and judgmental attitude toward Orange County, but a little compassion, at least in word if not in deed, would be welcome.

i say, more establishments (as in the one by gus’s). more cooperative housing!

Frightening as it is, nobody was hurt and nobody even needed to stay at the shelter the Red Cross set up. If it’s gonna happen, these are probably some of the people who can best survive it.

It does seem so American to me, to live there because one wants what it offers, and thumb one’s nose at the inherent danger. Hello, 1978 ring any bells?

Attention California homeowners, prepare for your insurance rates to rise. That’s a lot of coverage to make up for.