Austin was great when it was the only liberal and cultural oasis in TX, back when that meant something. When it was a Texas-sized college town. SXSW created a reality distortion field for tourists looking for the Good Life and since then they’ve been trying to graft a tech hub on top of a place that was never suited.

Alternative take - what he’s saying is true but lacks the context that it’s not ruined it’s just in its awkward in between phase. Like a teenager going through puberty, Austin has growing pains and an identity crisis

The old culture definitely exists in places but is being pushed out. Times change!

Strongly agree. Nothing is static. 

There are virtues in all stages of growth for a city. The particular ones change over time.