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Cities and Ambition
Oct. 16th, 2011 09:45 pmOn the recommendation of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
auros I read another Paul Graham essay that I'd like to share. It's called Cities and Ambition.
The gist of this piece is that all cities have a premise, something the majority of the people in that city are striving towards, envy in others, and try to emulate.
Silicon Valley loves power, particularly in the form of influence.
Boston values intelligence and intellectual curiosity
Berkeley values quality of life
New York values money
His way of measuring the M.O. of a city is living there and soaking it in. Also, eavesdropping on conversations. And to also imagine one particular role, say it's a professor, and envision whether that person would be a first or second class citizen in that city.
His premise is that a cities' meme will shape its citizens, and in that sense, it will either help or harm a person in their life goals, depending on how closely they resonate with the meme.
I've spend a good deal of time thinking about how environments shape me. That's one of the reasons I got out to see the world this year. I'd always felt a longing to live in Barcelona (just as I had a longing before that to live in California). I wanted to see what it was about. What is about fun and enjoying life? Yes.
As I explored myself this summer, I thought about what kind of place I could live in U.S. where I'd be happy. I settled on Berkeley or Austin as good spots - places that were surrounded by more creative, quirky, and community-oriented people and less driven & individualistic types.
I believe I'd be happier living in Silicon Valley if I was more ambitious or wanted to change the world, or wanted to create a new technology that I thought could make millions. I admit, I do like influencing people, but I like influencing them to lead happier lives. But I don't believe I need to start a company to do that. I can do that snuggling on the couch with a friend and helping them with a relationship problem.
Once when I visited a favorite neighborhood in Seattle (Fremont), I wished how my city of Mountain View was more like the neighborhood I was visiting. I wanted it to be more quirky and artsy, have more walking paths in nature, and be a little more relaxed. I even thought, perhaps if I got on a local commission, I could try to make Mountain View more like I wanted it to be - more weird.
That path never materialized. And now I think it would be very hard to change a local culture. Much harder than living somewhere where you already align.
Luckily I live in a household that supports my values of community and quirkiness. And I'm slowy adding in more elements that meet these needs. My roller derby team is also an especially great gain in that department.
auros I read another Paul Graham essay that I'd like to share. It's called Cities and Ambition.The gist of this piece is that all cities have a premise, something the majority of the people in that city are striving towards, envy in others, and try to emulate.
Silicon Valley loves power, particularly in the form of influence.
Boston values intelligence and intellectual curiosity
Berkeley values quality of life
New York values money
His way of measuring the M.O. of a city is living there and soaking it in. Also, eavesdropping on conversations. And to also imagine one particular role, say it's a professor, and envision whether that person would be a first or second class citizen in that city.
His premise is that a cities' meme will shape its citizens, and in that sense, it will either help or harm a person in their life goals, depending on how closely they resonate with the meme.
I've spend a good deal of time thinking about how environments shape me. That's one of the reasons I got out to see the world this year. I'd always felt a longing to live in Barcelona (just as I had a longing before that to live in California). I wanted to see what it was about. What is about fun and enjoying life? Yes.
As I explored myself this summer, I thought about what kind of place I could live in U.S. where I'd be happy. I settled on Berkeley or Austin as good spots - places that were surrounded by more creative, quirky, and community-oriented people and less driven & individualistic types.
I believe I'd be happier living in Silicon Valley if I was more ambitious or wanted to change the world, or wanted to create a new technology that I thought could make millions. I admit, I do like influencing people, but I like influencing them to lead happier lives. But I don't believe I need to start a company to do that. I can do that snuggling on the couch with a friend and helping them with a relationship problem.
Once when I visited a favorite neighborhood in Seattle (Fremont), I wished how my city of Mountain View was more like the neighborhood I was visiting. I wanted it to be more quirky and artsy, have more walking paths in nature, and be a little more relaxed. I even thought, perhaps if I got on a local commission, I could try to make Mountain View more like I wanted it to be - more weird.
That path never materialized. And now I think it would be very hard to change a local culture. Much harder than living somewhere where you already align.
Luckily I live in a household that supports my values of community and quirkiness. And I'm slowy adding in more elements that meet these needs. My roller derby team is also an especially great gain in that department.
