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Why? What does Seattle offer that those four don't or can't match or beat with something else? I'm not trying to bash Seattle, I just genuinely cannot think of anything at all that would put Seattle "a notch above" its peer cities.
Why? What does Seattle offer that those four don't or can't match or beat with something else? I'm not trying to bash Seattle, I just genuinely cannot think of anything at all that would put Seattle "a notch above" its peer cities.
I've lived all over the US and I've experienced the same "bashing" talk that you are speaking of almost everywhere. When I lived in Portland, Or the citizens there seemed very arrogant about their city. The same happened when I lived in Chicago. The more I've moved around and the older I've gotten the less I care about what the cool place is or what's hip and what's not. People like what they like and everyone has a right to their own opinion. Most if not all of these outlooks are opinions and have no definitive answer that is absolute. Put them all is one room and they will agree that the sum of seven and three is ten. Then mention politics or religion and they all start fighting .
I have found, at least on CD, more people who don't live in Portland tend to be more arrogant about in their opinions about Portland than people who actually live here. It's a strange phenomenon I will never understand.
Seattle probably gets left alone because it has so few problems relative to its peers. Low crime, high employment, good schools and an educated population, beautiful surroundings and geography, perhaps the most gorgeous downtown in the nation, growing population, a number of professional sports teams, quite a few transplants, insignificant hood population, pro gay and pro pot, large Asian population, etc.
Every city has drawbacks, some more significant than others. And Seattle is certainly among those others. It really is a bit of a reach to attack it like you would other cities of similar size and economy. Perhaps you can complain the people there aren't hardened, that they don't get to experience the inner city violence and ugly behavior plauging the rest of the country's cities of various sizes, that Seattle residents live in a bubble. As though that's a bad thing.
Actually most of Seattle's peer cities (Portland, Minneapolis, and Denver) have all those things except maybe the Asian population. But I don't think the Seattle posters are arrogant. I use to think that they were, because they used natural beauty as an advantage. Then I realized they're just an overly prideful bunch who throw their advantages in your face A LOT, but not quit arrogant, just prideful. That title goes to the Californian and Northeastern posters (many of them at least) who think that no other place can compete what-so-ever.
Just for the record, I was not talking about posters. I was talking about people that I have personally come into contact with. So people that I have had actual conversations with in person. So the arrogance and attitude is something that I have experienced face to face over the years. I have not seen too much arrogance or attitude from posters here on city data about Seattle being so much better than every other place. It's just been conversations I've had and overheard in person.
Just for the record, I was not talking about posters. I was talking about people that I have personally come into contact with. So people that I have had actual conversations with in person. So the arrogance and attitude is something that I have experienced face to face over the years. I have not seen too much arrogance or attitude from posters here on city data about Seattle being so much better than every other place. It's just been conversations I've had and overheard in person.
Well that happens everywhere in the world! Right as we speak someone from London is bashing Birmingham, People in Milan are bashing rome, Madrid is bashing Barcelona, Melbourne is bashing sydney. It is all just local pride! Rivalries and trying to one up the other man.
When I lived in California I heard people bash several cities, or just "back east" in general, which basically included everything west of the Rockies. It didn't help while the time I was living there Jersey Shore was being made fun of, that became office fodder for awhile. In Chicago people bash the West Coast somewhat frequently, especially LA. Or comparing Illinois government to California saying at least it isn't California... Caveat, people in Chicago bash the local government hard as well. In Florida, people bashed anywhere that got below 50 degrees
I've had friends who have moved to Portland and won't stop yapping about the place.
When I lived in California I heard people bash several cities, or just "back east" in general, which basically included everything west of the Rockies. It didn't help while the time I was living there Jersey Shore was being made fun of, that became office fodder for awhile. In Chicago people bash the West Coast somewhat frequently, especially LA. Or comparing Illinois government to California saying at least it isn't California... Caveat, people in Chicago bash the local government hard as well. In Florida, people bashed anywhere that got below 50 degrees I've had friends who have moved to Portland and won't stop yapping about the place.
I am glad your friends feel they made the right move. Sometimes people move to Portland and are very disappointed because they fall for the hype and don't do thorough enough research to see if it really is suitable for them. They wind up moving back or to another city within a year. I have seen that happen many times.
Portlanders do like to bash Vancouver WA and Seattle. I have never heard my Vancouver or Seattle friends bash Portland. I am a not city basher. I am originally from Chicago some 35 years ago and I don't remember any bashing at that time of the West Coast or maybe I just didn't pay attention.
As for me, I had plans to relocate from Portland to Cleveland last spring but they fell through. Hopefully I will be able to do this next fall. The minute I tell people here in Portland of my plans, you would not believe the Cleveland bashing I come up against. I don't even bother to argue with the arrogance I run up against.
I have my reasons and I don't feel I owe anyone an explanation. If they would ask me politely why I want to make the move, I would be happy to explain and give my reasons. But when when they begin their questioning with "Are you NUTS, you want to move from PORTLAND to CLEVELAND?!!?" I just reply "To each his own," and walk away.
I am glad your friends feel they made the right move. Sometimes people move to Portland and are very disappointed because they fall for the hype and don't do thorough enough research to see if it really is suitable for them. They wind up moving back or to another city within a year. I have seen that happen many times.
Portlanders do like to bash Vancouver WA and Seattle. I have never heard my Vancouver or Seattle friends bash Portland. I am a not city basher. I am originally from Chicago some 35 years ago and I don't remember any bashing at that time of the West Coast or maybe I just didn't pay attention.
As for me, I had plans to relocate from Portland to Cleveland last spring but they fell through. Hopefully I will be able to do this next fall. The minute I tell people here in Portland of my plans, you would not believe the Cleveland bashing I come up against. I don't even bother to argue with the arrogance I run up against.
I have my reasons and I don't feel I owe anyone an explanation. If they would ask me politely why I want to make the move, I would be happy to explain and give my reasons. But when when they begin their questioning with "Are you NUTS, you want to move from PORTLAND to CLEVELAND?!!?" I just reply "To each his own," and walk away.
I never understood why people in Portland bash Seattle, I heard it has the same feel of Seattle 20-25 years ago before Seattle became more corporate. They even mention it in this video 9 Things Every Oregon Native Knows To Be True - YouTube , Seems really immature to me.
Actually most of Seattle's peer cities (Portland, Minneapolis, and Denver) have all those things except maybe the Asian population.
Portland has a pretty decent Asian American population, doesn't it? St. Paul has the largest Hmong population in the US. The Asian American population in St. Paul is as big as the black population, and Gran Torino was based on Northeast Minneapolis and was originally set there.
Seattle does have more, though.
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