1. I am/was an Old School Gym Rat. Neigher I flirt with the pretty ladies in tights, nor exchange greeting unless if he/she is someone I see there all the time at the gym. For me lifting area is my sactuary, I get there get my job done, exit ASAP. It is hard as it is. I HATE PEOPLE YUPPING AT THE LIFTING AREA. RESPECT THE GYM, and PEOPLE WHO ARE HAULING A$$! Heavy lifting often requires great deal of focus! If the gym is big enough cardio area might be a different story. Still people care not to know about crabs you got from a man you met at the bath house for example.

2. It was East Coast vs. West Coast feud back then...
Now NorCal vs. SoCal Now?
15 years old but still a great movie, Steve Martin's LA Story
http://imdb.com/title/tt0102250/
Only difference now would be homosexuals who are out and open. I was out the Grove mall in LA and surprised how many gay couples were out there. At least 30 % approx.
Why can't we Get Along? Can We Get Along? ----Black Angelino who started the LA Riot.

For some reason, every single friends of mine who went to CAL from SoCal live there and stay there now. They don't seem to mind smaller homes, etc. They seem to enjoy cultural and intellectual superiority. From my personal experience of having frequent business trips in NorCal back in the days, there seemed to be more snotty people out there. After a long day of field service trip I had no choice but extending 1 day trip to an overnight stay at the LOCAL FREAKING HOLIDAY INN. I was in shabby clothes. The receptionist looked at me up and down asked me if I happened to have a credit card or you cannot stay here, even before I opened my mouth. I had few more incidents like that, but never in SoCal.

After all I guess I am a gum-chewing Cola-sipping glaky Sothern Californian now.