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Comment by tryitnow | Hacker News Reader

I think the negatives Graham cites outweigh the positives. Ultimately, "nerdy visionaries" win out over "rapacious dealmakers."

The culture is just too different and I just don't mean the business culture. It's reflected in all walks of life.

For example, let's take dating. In NYC if you're not making money or on the very fast track to doing so then you might as well not exist. In my experience dating in the Bay Area women are much more accepting of guys who are working on something long term that may or may not payoff (not saying this is always the case, just moreso than other cities I've lived in).

In short, in the Bay Area you get points for being a creative doer, in NYC you get points for already having money in your bank account. The Bay Area culture is just more conducive and accepting of the trials and tribulations of startup life.

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As far as culture, NYC's the most entrepreneurial place in the country, period. Half of the stuff I buy comes from a small business, whereas most of the country is buying from big box stores, chain restaurants, etc. Every cab driver, coffee stand and hot dog stand is a small business.

And as far as dating, man, half of brooklyn is underemployed with a band and a startup idea. Just get some flannel shirts and jean-shorts, you're good to go with that story. If you're actually legitimate about it, all the better.

" half of brooklyn is underemployed with a band and a startup idea "

I voted this up just for that, I'm part of that crowd, people outside of NYC don't know how true this is, awesome.

On the dating front, just accept that the 'money set' are people who don't want to date you, and you probably don't want to date them either. But even after subtracting them out, there are a whole lot of other interesting people in NYC.

But I'll agree that one thing about NYC is that 'the pressure is on' : whether money or time or whatever. Maybe that's part of the attraction.

You might be right but dating isn't the example to go with.

When I met my wife-to-be, I didn't even have a bank account and my fast-track job was washing pint glasses, clearing tables, and kicking people out of the bathroom for sex/drugs/both.

I don't see much difference in NYC vs Bay Area when it comes to creativity and building.

There are differences but I have yet to figure it out.

I think the point is that some businesses make more sense in New York - some businesses really need rapacious dealmakers and not fierce coders/nerdy visionaries.

Dating has changed a lot, even in the past couple of years. Being part of a startup is cooler now, everywhere. Geek is in.

See: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20110924/ISSUE03/3092...

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