every Boston bio company should be legally required to pay a tax that goes to you and in return you bring one weird art thing to their offices each week
I've often compared Boston and San Francisco as east coast/west coast cousins (a fun game to play with many cities).
As I was reading this, I kept thinking about something that struck me in my early months living in the northeast: the surprisingly strong cultural affiliation with Europe. For example, going into restaurants, you're far more likely to find a wine list full of options from France and Italy than California or Oregon. Much of this, especially a culture that punishes attempts that aren't guaranteed success, echos what I hear friends in Europe lamenting about their own context for entrepreneurship.
Given the historical role of Boston in differentiating our country from Europe, it's ironic, but also tells us the problem isn't incurable! Like San Francisco, I think Boston might lose it's way from time to time, but I'm optimistic for the long term.
totally feel that, most European city in America. I think part of it is the emphasis on tradition, heritage. People are proud of their their lineage in a way that I don't see out west. At this point Harvard has been there almost 400 years, there's old money in the North and a flavor of conservatism to preserve that. It seems like it gets harder to re-invent and have a culture of new creativity when the weight of the past has so much momentum. West of the Mississippi doesn't suffer that to the same degree, yet. And, that "newness" of the west only exists after the decimation of native peoples and their lengthy histories.
Texas has SO many problems and I will continue to rep Austin as the best place I've lived so far. The culture of genuinely encouraging each other to try things, be messy, and just...live, be alive, enjoy life is irreplaceable for me at this point.
A couple things I felt for years in Boston that I did not jive with:
- A pervasive notion that we need to change the world, which seemed like it came from a place of the world not being good as it is. I know we need to change things, and also I have so much gratitude for just being alive. More sunshine and better food help. I think we should fall in love with the world before we try to change it.
- Elitism. My credentials and achievements strongly affected who would talk to me. Achiever mentality; if I'm not making big changes to the world, I'm a nobody and not worth talking to
- Argumentation, friction. If we need to change things, then we need to agree how to change them, and agreeing how to change them means arguing about what the changes should be...I remember conversations steering into disagreements or "what's your view on this global problem" much more often than personal dreams and delights.
- Stronger sense of what is appropriate, proper. Despite the beliefs I held about southern conservatism there is more sex, drugs, and fire down here than up north by far. That doesn't have to be your cup of tea, but there's just a different sense of permissiveness that comes from a cultural willingness to explore extremes.
I think a lot of this echoes "Boston tut-tut's", just expanding on that concept from my personal experience
Such a beautifully worded and structured essay, thank you, Christina. I don’t just like Boston and Cambridge, I love Boston and Cambridge.
I have family all over the country, including Alaska, and still feel incredibly lucky to live here. We have the advantage of being in a place that isn’t addicted to attention the way San Francisco, New York, and now Austin often are. Here, we care about the idea, not the newest cultish fad. We strive for progress and respect our history, because we are one of the few places in the country that are rich in both.
We also respect other people’s opinions in ways most (progressive or not) cities do. In Cambridge, I know and love people whose political views (including about climate change, vaccines) would genuinely shock many who might believe we're monolithic, and those relationships are real and deep. On a typical day at my kids’ playground, I might find myself talking with an Israeli, a Somali, an Italian, and a Midwestern parent (who likely have nerdy jobs) - all just part of the everyday fabric of our city.
Yes, biotech in our city is getting pressure from many internal and external forces, it is tough - agree we need to be more open to weird concepts to win and have (dare I say it) fun.
Also can we please stop complaining about the weather, it happens every year at the same time (let's all get over it) :)
I like the Boston culture! And we don't have wildfires here, at least not yet.
I think the Boston culture values a diversity of opinions and viewpoints, including those that are arguing caution. When you're dealing with technology that has the potential to harm, thinking about what could go wrong is probably a good thing to do ...
I have always felt that my somewhat oddball views were thoughtfully considered here in the Boston area.
I like Boston too :) I think hating Boston is part of our love language! And I’m 100% with you on thinking about what can go wrong, that’s part of the balance and synthesis here (an unstable equilibrium?). I think my experience has been more mixed. I’ve had to work hard to cultivate a community of people who support my oddball ways, many of them people that others whispered and warned about being “too crazy.” I think there’s a balance to strike there too.
Perhaps what we're both referring to is a culture of criticism, especially self-criticism. People who are striving to be their best can sometimes be very critical of themselves, and the city they depend upon.
Hmm that’s an interesting frame! I think critique is important and part of what makes Boston great and ideas here robust, it’s that skepticism + courage. I think the negative bit that I’ve felt is something else, or at least an unhealthy form of critique? One that comes from a place of conformity and insecurity. I think you’re getting to the heart of what I mean by the dialectic and balance here though. A friend commented on LinkedIn that in Boston you should only be allowed one “why” and in SF you should be required to ask two.
every Boston bio company should be legally required to pay a tax that goes to you and in return you bring one weird art thing to their offices each week
^ if we’re throwing out ideas ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I've often compared Boston and San Francisco as east coast/west coast cousins (a fun game to play with many cities).
As I was reading this, I kept thinking about something that struck me in my early months living in the northeast: the surprisingly strong cultural affiliation with Europe. For example, going into restaurants, you're far more likely to find a wine list full of options from France and Italy than California or Oregon. Much of this, especially a culture that punishes attempts that aren't guaranteed success, echos what I hear friends in Europe lamenting about their own context for entrepreneurship.
Given the historical role of Boston in differentiating our country from Europe, it's ironic, but also tells us the problem isn't incurable! Like San Francisco, I think Boston might lose it's way from time to time, but I'm optimistic for the long term.
Re: Boston/EU
totally feel that, most European city in America. I think part of it is the emphasis on tradition, heritage. People are proud of their their lineage in a way that I don't see out west. At this point Harvard has been there almost 400 years, there's old money in the North and a flavor of conservatism to preserve that. It seems like it gets harder to re-invent and have a culture of new creativity when the weight of the past has so much momentum. West of the Mississippi doesn't suffer that to the same degree, yet. And, that "newness" of the west only exists after the decimation of native peoples and their lengthy histories.
Thanks for posting!
Texas has SO many problems and I will continue to rep Austin as the best place I've lived so far. The culture of genuinely encouraging each other to try things, be messy, and just...live, be alive, enjoy life is irreplaceable for me at this point.
A couple things I felt for years in Boston that I did not jive with:
- A pervasive notion that we need to change the world, which seemed like it came from a place of the world not being good as it is. I know we need to change things, and also I have so much gratitude for just being alive. More sunshine and better food help. I think we should fall in love with the world before we try to change it.
- Elitism. My credentials and achievements strongly affected who would talk to me. Achiever mentality; if I'm not making big changes to the world, I'm a nobody and not worth talking to
- Argumentation, friction. If we need to change things, then we need to agree how to change them, and agreeing how to change them means arguing about what the changes should be...I remember conversations steering into disagreements or "what's your view on this global problem" much more often than personal dreams and delights.
- Stronger sense of what is appropriate, proper. Despite the beliefs I held about southern conservatism there is more sex, drugs, and fire down here than up north by far. That doesn't have to be your cup of tea, but there's just a different sense of permissiveness that comes from a cultural willingness to explore extremes.
I think a lot of this echoes "Boston tut-tut's", just expanding on that concept from my personal experience
definitely resonate with a lot of this!!
Such a beautifully worded and structured essay, thank you, Christina. I don’t just like Boston and Cambridge, I love Boston and Cambridge.
I have family all over the country, including Alaska, and still feel incredibly lucky to live here. We have the advantage of being in a place that isn’t addicted to attention the way San Francisco, New York, and now Austin often are. Here, we care about the idea, not the newest cultish fad. We strive for progress and respect our history, because we are one of the few places in the country that are rich in both.
We also respect other people’s opinions in ways most (progressive or not) cities do. In Cambridge, I know and love people whose political views (including about climate change, vaccines) would genuinely shock many who might believe we're monolithic, and those relationships are real and deep. On a typical day at my kids’ playground, I might find myself talking with an Israeli, a Somali, an Italian, and a Midwestern parent (who likely have nerdy jobs) - all just part of the everyday fabric of our city.
Yes, biotech in our city is getting pressure from many internal and external forces, it is tough - agree we need to be more open to weird concepts to win and have (dare I say it) fun.
Also can we please stop complaining about the weather, it happens every year at the same time (let's all get over it) :)
I like the Boston culture! And we don't have wildfires here, at least not yet.
I think the Boston culture values a diversity of opinions and viewpoints, including those that are arguing caution. When you're dealing with technology that has the potential to harm, thinking about what could go wrong is probably a good thing to do ...
I have always felt that my somewhat oddball views were thoughtfully considered here in the Boston area.
I like Boston too :) I think hating Boston is part of our love language! And I’m 100% with you on thinking about what can go wrong, that’s part of the balance and synthesis here (an unstable equilibrium?). I think my experience has been more mixed. I’ve had to work hard to cultivate a community of people who support my oddball ways, many of them people that others whispered and warned about being “too crazy.” I think there’s a balance to strike there too.
Perhaps what we're both referring to is a culture of criticism, especially self-criticism. People who are striving to be their best can sometimes be very critical of themselves, and the city they depend upon.
Hmm that’s an interesting frame! I think critique is important and part of what makes Boston great and ideas here robust, it’s that skepticism + courage. I think the negative bit that I’ve felt is something else, or at least an unhealthy form of critique? One that comes from a place of conformity and insecurity. I think you’re getting to the heart of what I mean by the dialectic and balance here though. A friend commented on LinkedIn that in Boston you should only be allowed one “why” and in SF you should be required to ask two.
Love this challenge. Hope fun folks hop in!
Can't tell you how much I love this because of how absolutely spot on it is!