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under_control
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» identity I got back from L.A. on Thursday night. I feel sorry for L.A. San Francisco is clearly where it's at now and L.A. is still seemingly stuck in the 80's (based on the music, fashion and glam attitude). I was proud to call myself a Dot-Commer when I was there, since the entertainment industry clearly sees the Net as a medium they've missed the boat on. So, many of them are casting themselves into the sea, hoping to swim to the boat. The conference I was there to attend, as Press, turned out to be mostly lame. But they did give out these nice bike-messenger-like bags, complete with cell-phone holsters. At first I was excited to get my hands on the bag, because I was so pro-Dot-Com in L.A. and this bag just screams "Dot-Com!" But as soon as I got back to San Fran I began feeling self-conscious of the bag. You see, Dot-commers are not a generally loved segment of society here in SF. In simple terms, the Dot-Commers and their big incomes are arriving in droves and competing with artists, waiters, plumbers, and other people making a standard wage, for living space. The landlords in SF love the Dot-Commers because they can now charge huge rents and people will pay them. A friend of mine moved here last month and is renting a _studio_ apartment in the Richmond (a residential part of the city far away from the downtown area) for $1,700 a month. But I personally feel for the artists and other folk who are being handed eviction notices. I don't really consider myself a Dot-Commer, even though I talk on the cell phone from time to time. I certainly don't own a car, let alone an SUV. I don't live in a nice apartment or even have a TV. I don't even get paid a ridiculous wage. But then I DO work on the Web... It's nice to belong to a group. It's good to be able to say, "I'm a Dot-Commer." But it's also in my nature to revile these groups that form in society that aren't based on any shared ideal. I'm torn. Hang on, my cell's ringing.
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diaryland |