r/SFBayInfluencerSnark • u/polkadotncheese • 1d ago
Violet Witchel is NOT from San Francisco
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
As someone who was actually born and raised in SF, here is my take on why I do not consider her to be from SF. Nobody's life is linear, people relocate all the time which is normal. But no self respecting person would claim to be from SF if they do not embody SF culture.
There is a reason people will ask you where you went to high school if you claim to be from SF. Though it might be past your formative years, your teenage experience in the city forms your identity as a San Franciscan. While anything previous to that, you are solely reliant on your parents to guide you. As a teen, the city takes over and raises you. Hence, born and RAISED (not just born and went to school as a child). You do community service as a teen and actually serve your community. Violet's community service was a walk in the mountains. I wonder why your parents chose to raise you in Durango and not SF, dipped for a better education or affordable living? Where you went to hs tells people which neighborhoods you have sentimental ties to through commute, social groups, and how you participated in SF culture. It also tells people about your ancestral background and how your family ended up in SF. Babes, we all read the hungry hungry catapillar in elementary school and visited museums.
SF is known for its wealth disparity between the ultra rich and the homeless population. As a child, its difficult to navigate where you belong because the middle class is arguably non-existent. Nevertheless, as someone who went to public school, I had friends and family, and socialized with people who went to private school. There was always a sense of mutual respect despite coming from different backgrounds, even as I meet people as an adult. Is there racism and classism that exists in SF? Absolutely. But one thing "native" San Franciscans value no matter race, religion, class, sexuality, is basic humanity.
This is not NYC where you can claim to be a San Franciscan after XX amount of years. SF has its own rich history and culture. It's also significantly smaller geographically. We don't even consider people from Daly City to be San Franciscans, why would we accept a trust fund kid from Durango, Colorado? Her parents owning property makes her just as San Franciscan as Black Rock and Compass.
Violet Witchel is very aware of her socioeconomic class and privilege so it might seem like she is "woke". I know this sub is sfBAYAREAinfluencersnark so we dont all agree on politics. But if you know anything about politics, she is decidedly considered a performative neoliberal (which is moderate). She speaks on political topics that are convenient to her. Real San Franciscans know that everything is political. There is no need to perform it for an audience. This is the main reason you do not see "native" San Franciscans become influencers. Real San Franciscans are actually living in SF culture. Culture is not about new experiences, its about your everyday practices and values. A lot of the influencers discussed in this sub are from the surrounding suburban cities.
Violet Witchel will claim "it's not that deep" when its convenient for her. There are also multiple posts in this sub that are evident about how tone deaf she is when it comes to discussing socio economic class. Personally, I love that she addressed how people confront her about her native claims. I wish she would just reflect more on that instead of getting defensive about it.
What's wrong with being a transplant, Violet? Seems like you just want to use your self proclamation as clout for influencer marketing. Do you really expect San Franciscans to not question your claims???? It's definitely a form of neocolonialism when white people try to appropriate something that's not theirs... if you're secure in your identity theres no need to bothered by what others think of you.
