Does Seattle Really Suck That Much? (Tacoma, Snohomish: calculation, license plate, metro)

[iNviNciBL3]

People tell me about how Seattle has so much "Rude" or "Anti-Social" people but they have no personal experiences to back it up, they read something on the internet and assume its true. I ride the Empire Builder between Saint Paul and Chicago ALOT and i always chat around with people in the Lounge Car and there are some really funny and nice people i talk to who are from the Seattle area.

[Seacove]

Those must be the chatty ones. I don't talk to people on flights. Since we don't always see the sun, on a flight, you're above the clouds so I get by the window and enjoy the sunshine. If you see people pressed to the window on the plane, they might be from Seattle.

[jm31828]

Originally Posted by BobMarley_1LOVE

People tell me about how Seattle has so much "Rude" or "Anti-Social" people but they have no personal experiences to back it up, they read something on the internet and assume its true. I ride the Empire Builder between Saint Paul and Chicago ALOT and i always chat around with people in the Lounge Car and there are some really funny and nice people i talk to who are from the Seattle area.

I hear talk about that a lot, too, but in the two years I have lived here I just haven't seen much of it, either! Though I live in Lynnwood I work in Seattle, and everyone I work with is as nice and outgoing as can be, the people seem no less nice or open than those I was around back home in the Midwest. I am sure there is a cross section of the population that fits that anti social stereotype that we all hear about due to the big tech crowd we have, but overall I think the Seattle Freeze stuff is overblown.

[Bill Loney]

Originally Posted by jm31828

I hear talk about that a lot, too, but in the two years I have lived here I just haven't seen much of it, either! Though I live in Lynnwood I work in Seattle, and everyone I work with is as nice and outgoing as can be, the people seem no less nice or open than those I was around back home in the Midwest. I am sure there is a cross section of the population that fits that anti social stereotype that we all hear about due to the big tech crowd we have, but overall I think the Seattle Freeze stuff is overblown.

Anyone possessing fundamental social skills who engages with others will find people here as friendly as anywhere.

The Seattle Freeze a myth. Pure and simple.

[jjschroeder]

Coming from Minnesota ("Minnesota Nice"), I've had nothing but pleasant experiences with those in Seattle.

Everyone's past variables are different...no use in arguing which weather condition is "perfect" and which isn't.

All I know is that while Minnesota can be extremely pleasant and we have some years (such as this year) where winter feels like a breeze, I am not one who can envision being happy with living here the rest of my days. Hot and humid in the summer and 60+ inches of snow in the winter...even we Minnesotans don't know what we want half the time, always wishing for different weather conditions. It's just human nature.

[irrational exuberance]

Originally Posted by Bill Loney

Anyone possessing fundamental social skills who engages with others will find people here as friendly as anywhere.

The Seattle Freeze a myth. Pure and simple.

I may have it wrong but the Seattle Freeze doesnt talk about having conversations but developing meaningful friendships...I think the freeze is very real and there have been many articles talking about it (refer to Seattle Freeze forum) but its not impossible to overcome if a person wants puts forth the required effort...pretty much like almost anything in life...On the surface or on a transitory basis people here are very polite but after that...hence the term freeze....

[415_s2k]

Originally Posted by BobMarley_1LOVE

People tell me about how Seattle has so much "Rude" or "Anti-Social" people but they have no personal experiences to back it up, they read something on the internet and assume its true.

I lived there. I found it to be true; I hadn't read anything on the internet about it until towards the end of my time there (I was there for about a year and a half).

It's easy to be polite to people and receive politeness back, but it's tougher getting past that than it is with other places in my experience.

Originally Posted by Bill Loney

Anyone possessing fundamental social skills who engages with others will find people here as friendly as anywhere.

The Seattle Freeze a myth. Pure and simple.

With the degree of aggression and haughty contempt that you address people with here whom you disagree with, you're one of the last people whose word I'd take when it comes to a place's social climate

Regardless, the Seattle Freeze is real if you think it is... that was the general consensus of the now-closed Seattle Freeze thread. And if you think it's real, you should do exactly what I (and some other posters here) did: move somewhere else. California beckons!

Originally Posted by irrational exuberance

I may have it wrong but the Seattle Freeze doesnt talk about having conversations but developing meaningful friendships...I think the freeze is very real and there have been many articles talking about it (refer to Seattle Freeze forum) but its not impossible to overcome if a person wants puts forth the required effort...pretty much like almost anything in life...On the surface or on a transitory basis people here are very polite but after that...hence the term freeze....

This sums it up pretty much perfectly.

At the end of the day, it's a matter of whether or not the effort is worth it to you. If it is: cool! If not: it's hell!

[The Siobhan]

I think it is real but I also know that Seattle has a large non-native population. I have many friends who were born and reared in Seattle (to parents also born in the area) who said that the tone of the city changed once those from California began migrating to Seattle. I have found that those from the area tend to be more sociable than those I know that came from areas in California.

[Bill Loney]

Originally Posted by irrational exuberance

I may have it wrong but the Seattle Freeze doesnt talk about having conversations but developing meaningful friendships...I think the freeze is very real .

And you would be wrong. Making friends is as easy or difficult as you make it. People put their pants on one leg at a time.

[Bill Loney]

Originally Posted by 415_s2k

Regardless, the Seattle Freeze is real if you think it is... that was the general consensus of the now-closed Seattle Freeze thread. And if you think it's real, you should do exactly what I (and some other posters here) did: move somewhere else. California beckons!

We actually agree.