Are you glad you moved to the Portland area(or glad that you always lived there)? (Hillsboro: hotel, house)

[suncat]

Originally Posted by One Thousand

I attribute it to immense arrogance. I frequently apologize. I, like everyone else, do things wrong all the time. I bump into people accidentally, I speak loud on my cell phone and realize someone is nearby. I cut someone off while driving. Portlanders don't apologize for those things.

Bingo! Smug, self-satisfied, arrogant... it all describes the Portland attitude. I also apologize if I realize I've accidentally done something rude or thoughtless. Portlanders -- if you call them on their bad behavior, ie., asking a parent if their child could please not run around your table in a restaurant, or honk at someone who blatantly cuts you off, you don't get an apology. You get a snotty passive aggressive reply basically telling you it's YOUR problem, or you get flipped off.

Or god forbid you should make a negative remark about the weather. Some people absolutely come unglued at that, which I find funny, because the weather isn't inherently a loaded issue. It is what it is.

[One Thousand]

Originally Posted by suncat

Bingo! Smug, self-satisfied, arrogant... it all describes the Portland attitude. I also apologize if I realize I've accidentally done something rude or thoughtless. Portlanders -- if you call them on their bad behavior, ie., asking a parent if their child could please not run around your table in a restaurant, or honk at someone who blatantly cuts you off, you don't get an apology. You get a snotty passive aggressive reply basically telling you it's YOUR problem, or you get flipped off.

Or god forbid you should make a negative remark about the weather. Some people absolutely come unglued at that, which I find funny, because the weather isn't inherently a loaded issue. It is what it is.

OH MY GOD!!! My best example was at Tigard Library. I was backing into a space and two small kids ran behind my car into the parking lot. The parents were about 20 yards away. I stepped out, just livid and tore into them. "What in God's name is wrong with you?" Their excuse was "They're just kids." I said,"Yeah, they're just kids, that's why you're supposed to be watching them. What if I would of run over one? Would it of been their fault?"

They didn't give an inch! Thank God I left. Thank God.


Regarding weather, you're not supposed to say anything negative about anything. Criticism is awful... that might explain why you can't get competent service in any field. My God, I didn't know one person who didn't have dentist nightmares. Not one good dentist? What's up with that? Mechanics? Good luck.

I think "self-satisfied" is the key. They think they're good just because they exist. Thank God I left...

[Venusian_Artist]

Originally Posted by One Thousand

You're perfect.

Thank you.

Calling it "excuse me stuff" is representative of the culture... and is part of the sneakiness that is pervasive. The difference between "excuse me" and "I'm sorry" is the former is a request for someone else to do something whereas the latter is a form of submission.

You're over-thinking it. Whether it's "sorry about that" or "excuse me," it's still light social politeness, which is not what I was referring to.

"Excuse me" in the Portlanders application is an effort to get around trouble without asking forgiveness. (Coming from a culture where you use "excuse me" to get through a crowd, I never became accustomed to people saying "Oh, you're OK" whenever I was trying to get through.)

That's sneaky without the retreating... it's an ego preservation thing.

No, I'm pretty sure that saying, "Excuse me" is polite everywhere, Jethro.

Finally, you finish up in typicaly Portland style with passive-aggressive attack ("gay baiting" stuff) which is an exquisite example of how Portlanders treat people who don't agree with them.

There was nothing passive about it. Also, I'm from California, not Portland. People here are just fine the way they are.

Nicely done.

Takes a bow.

[One Thousand]

Originally Posted by Venusian_Artist

Thank you.
Also, I'm from California, not Portland.

Yeah, Portlanders tried to say there was difference too. However, I never saw it.

[Venusian_Artist]

Originally Posted by One Thousand

Yeah, Portlanders tried to say there was difference too. However, I never saw it.

Seriously, if you thought Portland was bad, you need to live somewhere where people are actually mean. There's no comparison.

[One Thousand]

Originally Posted by Venusian_Artist

Seriously, if you thought Portland was bad, you need to live somewhere where people are actually mean. There's no comparison.

That's another good example. My adolescence was spent in Detroit, MI. Mean was mean.

Portland isn't mean. It's passive-aggressive and self-centered.

[nmorrison6]

Thank you. It is not just me. I think every thing you have said is on point. we are leaving in may and I cant wait. We raised out kids here and they all moved away because of the lack of opportunity. Thank you, Thank you

[Venusian_Artist]

Originally Posted by One Thousand

That's another good example. My adolescence was spent in Detroit, MI. Mean was mean.

Portland isn't mean. It's passive-aggressive and self-centered.

Good thing you left, huh? No wait, in your own way, you're still here, aren't you?

[One Thousand]

Originally Posted by nmorrison6

Thank you. It is not just me. I think every thing you have said is on point. we are leaving in may and I cant wait. We raised our kids here and they all moved away because of the lack of opportunity. Thank you, Thank you

I'm happy it helps! Thank you.

I sat hour on hour trying to figure it out. Then one day, I watched a guy make demands to someone who had the upper hand on him. I stood there thinking,"Man, if I was in his position, I'd be kissing that guys... Hoping he doesn't call my bluff." Then I realized, the first guy thought the second guy owed him something. Then, I became aware of all the arrogance.

Combine that with all the other awful stuff. Reckless driving and awful, awful table manners, it's bad news. (I couldn't go to the coffee shop anymore because of people doing things like blowing their nose and then reaching over my coffee to throw out the tissue. What kind of animals are they?)

Good luck in the new place! and Congratulations on getting out!!!

Originally Posted by Venusian_Artist

Good thing you left, huh? No wait, in your own way, you're still here, aren't you?

Yeah. To be honest, I checked in here to see what Portlanders said about Portland. Then, I saw people asking about the area and thought I'd help out with my experience... Consideration for others... go figure...

[Venusian_Artist]

Originally Posted by One Thousand

Yeah. To be honest, I checked in here to see what Portlanders said about Portland. Then, I saw people asking about the area and thought I'd help out with my experience... Consideration for others... go figure...

Alright, that's fair. It just makes me wonder when someone puts so much energy into bad-mouthing a place they're glad they left. It's like old wounds aren't healing or something.

I feel the same way about California (nasty septic tank of a region,) only I rarely go into those forums. I guess I'm just not that curious what people there say about a place I used to live. Can't speak for you, but I'm pretty confident in my evaluation of my past, so I could care less if people glow about the places I've lived or damn them to eternal Hellfire. It changes nothing for me.