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Everything John Carmack says he likes about Dallas is what I like about Dallas, and absolutely hated about Austin. I purposefuly fled Austin to return to Dallas

Everything John Carmack says he likes about Dallas is what I like about Dallas, and absolutely hated about Austin. I purposefuly fled Austin to return to Dallas years ago. There's something unique in the independent spirit in this area, and it persists year after year. I'm exceptionally pleased at his reasoning, and may quote some of his verbiage when appropriate.

kzhahou 11y ago
What didn't you like about Austin?
- 6stringmerc 11y ago
  I'll just go with a running list not in any real particular order, because each of the factors can overlap: Overly saturated music scene making it difficult to get paid, overly saturated labor market (students) making it difficult to get modest employment, terrible traffic congestion, quickly rising cost of living, and, this is the hardest to describe, an atmosphere permeating the place of superiority mixed with some of the worst customer service I have witnessed. Basically, instead of complaining about those things which I noticed over the course of a couple/few years of being there for an obligation, I left, and I'm happy I did.
  - elevenfist 11y ago
    So basically like San Francisco, except with a lower cost of living and possibly with better food
    - 6stringmerc 11y ago
      Having visited San Francisco for a good stretch, I can affirm there are some parallels. The weather in Austin is a bit more to my liking though. San Fran does have the plus of being within driving distance of ocean beaches though, and I can't claim Texas or Austin has anything equivalent.
Ocerge 11y ago
After spending a couple of years in Austin, I always felt it had a veneer of "cool" that was mostly fake. It's cool because people say it is; it's really not a liberal oasis in a sea of conservatism, it just seems like it is. Having lived there, if you're not into going downtown or sweating your ass off doing something outdoors, there's not much in Austin that you can't find for cheaper elsewhere.
- 6stringmerc 11y ago
  Absolutely; in my experience there's nothing particularly unique or progressive or "weird" about the city. It talked a big game, but didn't deliver most of the time. Personal perspective and all, but I came up with an attitude of hustling to make stuff happen, putting in work, and that city just didn't share that kind of perspective.
  - prewett 11y ago
    I think the "weird" in the "Keep Austin Weird" is immediately south of the river (but not so far south that you get to the cheap, big houses). I think the food trucks started there, for instance, and it seems to have a lot more older places with a little more "feel". Most of the software development happens in north Austin, which is definitely not "weird." I almost never went south of the river, but it always felt a little different when I did. Between the University, the anecdotes about life on KUT, the food trucks, the transvestite running for mayor every year, places like the Alamo Drafthouse, Rudy's, and Chuy's (all places with a very distinct atmosphere), the city has a very different feel from what you see in many cities.
    - Ocerge 11y ago
      But all three of those restaurants are chains all throughout Texas now. They all may have started there, but Austin is just flat out not weird anymore IMO.
    - 6stringmerc 11y ago
      Yeah I know SoCo pretty well, and I did spent quite a bit of time bopping around into small shops or meeting up for food and stuff. It's definitely a different vibe than North of the river, I agree. I think a lot has to do with the dated architecture, as in, there's not much new around there and people are happy to keep it that way. One thing that I didn't mention but thought important (at the time) was Austin was one of the first places in Texas to institute a smoking ban. In restaurants, I thought that made sense - both as a former waiter and cig smoker - but when the ban started applying to bars and live music venues, I thought it was stupid. Oh, so I can kill myself with this poison water, but off to hell with the stinky, heavily sin taxed tobacco? Pffffft. That right there clued me in that Austin couldn't be the live music capitol anymore, because musicians like to drink and smoke, and the ones that don't can play coffee shops or church camps, of which there are plenty of in Texas. And while I do have fondness for Alamo Drafthouse, it was kind of a one-off thing. Rudy's isn't remotely close to the best BBQ in the area (Franklin's) and Chuy's is, well, tongue-in-cheek referred to as 'white-people TexMex with extra grease' because it's just kind of middle-of-the road. This is kind of the overall issue with Austin, in that it's got this image and reputation of being unique and clever, but really, the things it's known for aren't actually top flight. Austinites pretend they are, but long time Texas residents know better.
nubianwarrior 11y ago
Been in Austin since the late '90s. Still the best place in Texas. I find that I can't produce or succeed when I am surrounded by bible-belt teapublicans who say I am violating their religions freedom by just existing. That's just me tho... As far as where the "weird" is in this city it's in the paths less traveled. For instance last weekend several folks let me ride their horse a few blocks on the East Side while we were drinking (horse included). If you spend all your time downtown or in the more 'affluent' parts of town it's just like any other city.
- copperx 11y ago
  Why haven't you left Austin, if it's so bad?
  - nubianwarrior 11y ago
    I love Austin. I was referring to folks outside of Austin.
vogt 11y ago
I lived in Dallas for the last three years, but you couldn't get me out of there fast enough. Couldn't stand that town.

kzhahou 11y ago

What didn't you like about Austin?

6stringmerc 11y ago
I'll just go with a running list not in any real particular order, because each of the factors can overlap: Overly saturated music scene making it difficult to get paid, overly saturated labor market (students) making it difficult to get modest employment, terrible traffic congestion, quickly rising cost of living, and, this is the hardest to describe, an atmosphere permeating the place of superiority mixed with some of the worst customer service I have witnessed. Basically, instead of complaining about those things which I noticed over the course of a couple/few years of being there for an obligation, I left, and I'm happy I did.
- elevenfist 11y ago
  So basically like San Francisco, except with a lower cost of living and possibly with better food
  - 6stringmerc 11y ago
    Having visited San Francisco for a good stretch, I can affirm there are some parallels. The weather in Austin is a bit more to my liking though. San Fran does have the plus of being within driving distance of ocean beaches though, and I can't claim Texas or Austin has anything equivalent.

Ocerge 11y ago

After spending a couple of years in Austin, I always felt it had a veneer of "cool" that was mostly fake. It's cool because people say it is; it's really not a liberal oasis in a sea of conservatism, it just seems like it is. Having lived there, if you're not into going downtown or sweating your ass off doing something outdoors, there's not much in Austin that you can't find for cheaper elsewhere.

6stringmerc 11y ago
Absolutely; in my experience there's nothing particularly unique or progressive or "weird" about the city. It talked a big game, but didn't deliver most of the time. Personal perspective and all, but I came up with an attitude of hustling to make stuff happen, putting in work, and that city just didn't share that kind of perspective.
- prewett 11y ago
  I think the "weird" in the "Keep Austin Weird" is immediately south of the river (but not so far south that you get to the cheap, big houses). I think the food trucks started there, for instance, and it seems to have a lot more older places with a little more "feel". Most of the software development happens in north Austin, which is definitely not "weird." I almost never went south of the river, but it always felt a little different when I did. Between the University, the anecdotes about life on KUT, the food trucks, the transvestite running for mayor every year, places like the Alamo Drafthouse, Rudy's, and Chuy's (all places with a very distinct atmosphere), the city has a very different feel from what you see in many cities.
  - Ocerge 11y ago
    But all three of those restaurants are chains all throughout Texas now. They all may have started there, but Austin is just flat out not weird anymore IMO.
  - 6stringmerc 11y ago
    Yeah I know SoCo pretty well, and I did spent quite a bit of time bopping around into small shops or meeting up for food and stuff. It's definitely a different vibe than North of the river, I agree. I think a lot has to do with the dated architecture, as in, there's not much new around there and people are happy to keep it that way. One thing that I didn't mention but thought important (at the time) was Austin was one of the first places in Texas to institute a smoking ban. In restaurants, I thought that made sense - both as a former waiter and cig smoker - but when the ban started applying to bars and live music venues, I thought it was stupid. Oh, so I can kill myself with this poison water, but off to hell with the stinky, heavily sin taxed tobacco? Pffffft. That right there clued me in that Austin couldn't be the live music capitol anymore, because musicians like to drink and smoke, and the ones that don't can play coffee shops or church camps, of which there are plenty of in Texas. And while I do have fondness for Alamo Drafthouse, it was kind of a one-off thing. Rudy's isn't remotely close to the best BBQ in the area (Franklin's) and Chuy's is, well, tongue-in-cheek referred to as 'white-people TexMex with extra grease' because it's just kind of middle-of-the road. This is kind of the overall issue with Austin, in that it's got this image and reputation of being unique and clever, but really, the things it's known for aren't actually top flight. Austinites pretend they are, but long time Texas residents know better.

nubianwarrior 11y ago

Been in Austin since the late '90s. Still the best place in Texas. I find that I can't produce or succeed when I am surrounded by bible-belt teapublicans who say I am violating their religions freedom by just existing. That's just me tho... As far as where the "weird" is in this city it's in the paths less traveled. For instance last weekend several folks let me ride their horse a few blocks on the East Side while we were drinking (horse included). If you spend all your time downtown or in the more 'affluent' parts of town it's just like any other city.

copperx 11y ago
Why haven't you left Austin, if it's so bad?
- nubianwarrior 11y ago
  I love Austin. I was referring to folks outside of Austin.

vogt 11y ago

I lived in Dallas for the last three years, but you couldn't get me out of there fast enough. Couldn't stand that town.