FWIW, the parent's comment matches my dad's sentiments about the city in the 60s/70s, but I wouldn't start a bar fight to defend his honor on this point. I would be genuinely curious to hear you elaborate on the changes. I live around the corner from the Upper Haight and it has always been one of my favorite parts of the city, but it has always had a lot of loafers doing nothing but drugs as long as I can remember.