been one of the most open minded places in the country
Not at all. I've lived in several states and I think you're conflating the "liberalness" with open mindedness. If anything, the Bay Area is one of the most closed-minded places in the country. There's absolutely no room for conservative ideas
I'd question that, with a caveat: if you want to live your life by conservative principles, nobody's going to care in the Bay Area. If you want other people to live their lives by your conservative principles, that's when people start to get pissed at you.
I know plenty of Christians in the Bay Area - my wife grew up in a conservative, evangelical household (and her parents are still very devout), so basically everyone she hung out with up through college runs in those circles. We don't personally drink or smoke out, though we have no problem with people who do. I have friends that go shooting regularly. I've been to a gun range with them, and enjoyed myself. My politics run mostly moderate libertarian - I'm for lower taxes and smaller government, but also believe that government has a role in righting externalities and ensuring a level playing field for everyone.
I've never met anyone in the Bay who has a problem with how I live my life - but then, I don't believe that other people need to live their lives the way I live mine.
Peter Thiel or the Oculus guy might disagree, but you might not hear them over the thousands of people demanding they be fired/divested from/run out of town.
FWIW, I agree with you. I've lived in several states (and a half-dozen countries) and I find the culture of the bay area more monolithically stifling than anywhere else I've lived. No hyperbole. And I am someone who would be considered well left-of-center just about anywhere else in the country.
Comments
Not at all. I've lived in several states and I think you're conflating the "liberalness" with open mindedness. If anything, the Bay Area is one of the most closed-minded places in the country. There's absolutely no room for conservative ideas
I'd question that, with a caveat: if you want to live your life by conservative principles, nobody's going to care in the Bay Area. If you want other people to live their lives by your conservative principles, that's when people start to get pissed at you.
I know plenty of Christians in the Bay Area - my wife grew up in a conservative, evangelical household (and her parents are still very devout), so basically everyone she hung out with up through college runs in those circles. We don't personally drink or smoke out, though we have no problem with people who do. I have friends that go shooting regularly. I've been to a gun range with them, and enjoyed myself. My politics run mostly moderate libertarian - I'm for lower taxes and smaller government, but also believe that government has a role in righting externalities and ensuring a level playing field for everyone.
I've never met anyone in the Bay who has a problem with how I live my life - but then, I don't believe that other people need to live their lives the way I live mine.
Peter Thiel or the Oculus guy might disagree, but you might not hear them over the thousands of people demanding they be fired/divested from/run out of town.
FWIW, I agree with you. I've lived in several states (and a half-dozen countries) and I find the culture of the bay area more monolithically stifling than anywhere else I've lived. No hyperbole. And I am someone who would be considered well left-of-center just about anywhere else in the country.