There's not a lot of love in the Haight

LA Times ^ | May 29, 2007 | John M. Glionna

[RichInOC]

Jonah, San Francisco is surrounded by water on three sides. It might be cold, but it’s completely free.

[Jagman]

"But my generation had something these kids do not: a standard of civilized behavior."

Boy, talk about the hippie calling the street punk uncool. Right, it's crotchrot all 'round then!

[operation clinton cleanup]

Talk about chickens coming home to roost!

[sionnsar]

"I used to be a hippie. I wore beads and grew my hair long," he said. "But my generation had something these kids do not: a standard of civilized behavior."

I am of that generation . And I say B***S***! A few of us had it, and still do, but the majority -- no way. You were uncivilized then, and (most of you) still are today.

You were also dishonest then, and (most of you) still are today.

[rlmorel]

"...But my generation had something these kids do not: a standard of civilized behavior..."

Good Lord. These old hippies sure are a bunch of blind dumb-asses.

[SuziQ]

"I used to be a hippie. I wore beads and grew my hair long," he said. "But my generation had something these kids do not: a standard of civilized behavior."

Now that's a real hoot, considering what Haight-Ashbury looked like during the 'Summer of Love'.

[P-40]

It's so bogus to tell me to get a job if I have nothing."

That is why I just stick to saying 'drop dead.' It's free to do that.

[gotribe]

they block sidewalks as they strum guitars or bang on bongos.

I think Bluto had a solution for that.

[dougd]

WOW - what a blast from the past!!

I spent a couple of months there in '66. Nothing seems to have changed

- NO - it wasn't terribly "safe" back then either. Why does anyone think the hippies and Hell's Angels got along so well? The Angels needed a place they wouldn't be hassled and the hippies needed an effective police force against the aspiring Idi Amins of the day preying on hippies in Golden Gate Park. Having an Angel to call on was almost better than a having a gun! (there were more where he came from, so no worry of running out of 'ammo')

So ... even as a hippie, I learned the conservative value of having a good strong military. (not to mention that you can sleep on a marble doorstep all night long and it does not get 1/2 of a dgree warmer from your body heat)

But the funny part was the complaint of the panhandler. It was true even then. Not even a gas station would let you use their rest room. So bathing was pretty much a matter of using the sprinkler system in the park. I doubt the supposed old "hippie" was there at the time. When I finally left and ended up at my brothers in LA - I am told by my neice that when I walked in, I smelled like liver.

I didn't realize the Haight was so unchanged.

[glorgau]

I was walking down Haight just last month (Amoeba Records). Some bum asked me if I had spare change. I said “yeah, plenty” and kept on walking.

[Thrownatbirth]

"But my generation had something these kids do not:

It was the music made Haight/Asbury famous back then. Baez, Grateful Dead, Mamas and Papas, Doors all hung out there. Just give the Animals "San Francisco Nights" or Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco" a listen. The kids now have nothing.

[dougd]

You were uncivilized then, and (most of you) still are today.

ohhh - I dunno bout that. It would be an interesting study, but I would not be very surprised if "ex-hippies" were on average consderably more conservative today than the population as a whole.

Most of us did grow up. Most of us did serve in Vietnam. And the lessons of the 'real' street tend to remove idealism pretty fast. 'Communal' living only lasts until the first negative aspects of human nature arrives or arises.

Those who "still" profess to be "hippies" today, of those I've met, invariably never were to begin with - just wannabes who didn't actually live it at the time.

[tflabo]

Walking down SF streets last year... sooo many able bodied beggars and street hustlers asking for change. I made the mistake of dropping in a quarter on one dudes cup...then he turned to my friend walking with me and said to him, “and you sir? what about you?” Some nerve ay? I never dropped another penny into these worthless bums cups again.

[keepitreal]

So sad to have to live in the world you created.

[claudiustg]

The Haight was pretty amazing in ‘67. By ‘68 most of the charm was gone. By ‘69 only the most vicious bloodsuckers were still around. The city put in these shadowless sodium street lamps in and patrolled it like a concentration camp.

Those were the days!

I lived in San Jose so staying in the city was optional. By the time I actually lived in in SF I only visited the Haight once in 3 years.

[claudiustg]

-—Most of us did grow up. Most of us did serve in Vietnam.-—

Yep! 4 years of being a “revolutionary bum” then 12 years in the Army. 3 years ago I couldn’t take leftist California anymore and moved to NW Montana.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

The new slime should fit right in with the old. I drive by the Haight-Ashbury frequently. What should be a quaint, charming neighborhood is still half a dump. The nice atmosphere is ruined by liberal idiocy, bums, litter and mess. Puke.

[tflabo]

There's not a lot of love in the Haight

Not a lot of Straight in the Haight either.... well..just a wee bit more than the Castro.