ktvu.com
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA —
A map of the Bay Area that was making the rounds on Facebook Friday was garnering serious criticism from local residents even though it appeared to be meant as a joke.
The map, described as being a "parody," shows cities and sections of the Bay Area labeled by negative generalizations. For example, east Contra Costa was labeled as “Child Molesters," "White Trash," and "Meth Labs.” Oakland was called a "State Park." San Francisco was divided into “Tourists," "Asia," "Hippies," and "Gay Town U.S.A.” Richmond was labeled with "More Oakland," and Berkeley gets its usual left-leaning credits with “Tree Huggers," "Vegans," "Recycled Nuts," and "Asian Students.”
Some of the parents watching youth soccer Friday night in Pittsburg said they weren't amused. One San Ramon resident noted that the area was called "Hell" on the map.
"It's a parody, offensive parody," said Bay Area resident Peter deLowe, who added that he deleted the e-mailed map after seeing it.
A Castro Valley man chuckled at how his East Bay city takes its knocks, as it was referred to on the map as “Biker Gangs" and "Meth Labs.”
Bay Area bridges were emblazoned with "Parking," and the water surrounding the Golden Gate Bridge labeled, morbidly, as "Dead Bodies". The Delta was characterized as "Sewer'.
For one father, the map offered a teachable moment. Alfonso Rojas said in the ten years he's lived in Pittsburg he's seen the city improve, so he didn't appreciate the stereotypical slam.
"My kids growing up here, I'm happy to be in Pittsburg, and I don't think the map is the thing. The map is just wrong," said Rojas.
The creator of the map was unknown Friday. There was also a similar map on the Internet of the entire United States with similar characterizations, which was titled the “Redneck Simplified Map.”
The map, described as being a "parody," shows cities and sections of the Bay Area labeled by negative generalizations. For example, east Contra Costa was labeled as “Child Molesters," "White Trash," and "Meth Labs.” Oakland was called a "State Park." San Francisco was divided into “Tourists," "Asia," "Hippies," and "Gay Town U.S.A.” Richmond was labeled with "More Oakland," and Berkeley gets its usual left-leaning credits with “Tree Huggers," "Vegans," "Recycled Nuts," and "Asian Students.”
Some of the parents watching youth soccer Friday night in Pittsburg said they weren't amused. One San Ramon resident noted that the area was called "Hell" on the map.
"It's a parody, offensive parody," said Bay Area resident Peter deLowe, who added that he deleted the e-mailed map after seeing it.
A Castro Valley man chuckled at how his East Bay city takes its knocks, as it was referred to on the map as “Biker Gangs" and "Meth Labs.”
Bay Area bridges were emblazoned with "Parking," and the water surrounding the Golden Gate Bridge labeled, morbidly, as "Dead Bodies". The Delta was characterized as "Sewer'.
For one father, the map offered a teachable moment. Alfonso Rojas said in the ten years he's lived in Pittsburg he's seen the city improve, so he didn't appreciate the stereotypical slam.
"My kids growing up here, I'm happy to be in Pittsburg, and I don't think the map is the thing. The map is just wrong," said Rojas.
The creator of the map was unknown Friday. There was also a similar map on the Internet of the entire United States with similar characterizations, which was titled the “Redneck Simplified Map.”