Why I can no longer live in or near the Haight in SF (or event visit for long) June 16, 2011

I lived in the lower height for a couple of years, and regardless of whether or not I enjoyed living there, it was certainly something that I needed exposing to at that time in my life – and I’m not talking about the bacchanalia-like parties and ultimate bachelor living either. Being a kid with a privileged white upbringing, I needed my eyes opened to some of the gritty realities of life. And playing at a Bohemian lifestyle while homeless people suffered and, on one memorable and sad occasion, died around me was one of those examples in life that I would have been foolish not to learn from.

 

I think it was Emo Phillips who said “I’d rather be ignored by assholes than helped by incompetents” when he was speaking to the difference between right- and left-wing politicians. And while I don’t agree with that, there are times when I am presented with things that make me understand why he took this view:

 

 

A Saturday Afternoon in the Upper Haight:

 

The living room basically speaks for itself.  A strange and frightening old man with clothes I've never seen any human being wear on any day that wasn't Halloween bobbed back in forth in the middle of the room while two bros chilled out smoking weed.  A tie-die painted ukulele rests against a bongo, begging for protection.

 

And for the record – In my book, that sort of navel-gazing hipsterier-than-thou attitude applies to the author of that article as well.

 

Thanks to Heather Capelli for the link