As a born/raised/living Californian I can attest to the fact that its not California that is the problem. But as my ancestors would say it’s “El Pinche Gringo’s” that tend to be the problem.
I mean, for the most part, yes, you’re totally right. However, one drive through Bakersfield and you might think you slept through a nuclear apocalypse…
I know this is a shitpost but I was oddly proud while playing GTA5 as a Californian. The satire was so fucking spot on but I adore Franklin and live more or less in the area he lived (so much so the VA for Lamar signed a Lamar headshot for a deli I go to). It sucks for a ton of reasons but the people are genuine.
I work in Brentwood too, which is more or less where Michael lives. I hate those pricks and it might as well be a documentary. I have family up in Fresno, and that’s more or less where Trevor lives. We don’t visit certain cousins cause of meth, and it also sucks. Hell, I even know a yoga instructor who might as well say we must breathe through our anoose.
But the thing is? They satirized my home, and did it with so much love and care that I know their writers have lived here enough. And it is just satire. There’s a lot more to these places than what you see in the game, haha (except Brentwood, fuck those guys).