What Are People In the Seattle Area Like? (Bellevue, Starbuck: sales, living)

[kreebby]

I cannot believe I just read all ten pages of this thread. The entire time I could have sworn I was just reading the same page over and over again: nothing changed. Northern NJ transplant here. People in Seattle and the suburbs are friendlier than where I am from, though far less "colorful". To this day I am still shocked every time I leave the house because of how polite and kind people are. A few people in this thread talked about getting invited to BBQs and the like. What those people are neglecting to mention is that there are two kinds of "fakeness" in social situations.

There's the kind where people will be polite to you even if they dislike you, but will block any attempts of yours to hang out.
Then there is the kind where people will be friendly, invite you to parties after just meeting you, etc but will actually hate your guts.

I prefer the former. At least the former doesn't waste my time. At least the former doesn't view me as "another number at a party to make me look popular". I have a few friends who are natives to Seattle (as in, they grew up here) and they are friendlier than many transplants I know. However, I'm not ignorant to the cultural differences and social walls that do exist here. For example, when getting my nails done in NJ even the slimy, run-down in a bad area, Vietnamese nail salon would be friendly and start up conversations with me as if they're a close relative. I've been to two cheap nail salons here and both experiences were extremely cold. We mostly sat in silence after I got one worded answers. So I have seen some of the coldness, but it doesn't permeate the way people say it does. People in Seattle are not rude or cut throat. They're not overly liberal or self involved. They're just reserved and quiet. If you want rude, try being friendly in NYC. Try going to most of northern NJ and making friends (just try not to get stabbed while doing it). Give it a shot. Because you won't find people as polite as the ones in Seattle. Maybe this is just an assumption on my part, but it seems that most of the people who complain about the "Seattle freeze" have never tried altering their social circle and expanding beyond their comfort zone. People in Seattle are friendly, helpful, good citizens, responsible, and highly unlikely to rob you. I lost my smart phone at a park a couple of months ago and not only did someone find it, but they waited two hours with my phone to make sure nobody else took it so I could get it. I can leave my purse in places and not have to worry about it being stolen.

The dark side of Seattle is not the "homeless problem" or the "Seattle freeze". The dark side of Seattle, to me, is the over-emphasis on monetary value. There is this misconception that the east side is full of rich yuppies, but that misconception is shattered once you realize what's really going on. The truth is that in Seattle and the east side people who count as lower-middle class will stretch their purse strings very far to fit in with their more wealthy counter-parts. I thought everyone on east side was rich until I started meeting the slew of people who live in homes twice the value of ours, while only making a little over half as much money. People with combined incomes of $70,000 were living in $600,000 homes and buying BMWs just to fit in. Heck, I even met someone who made a mere $40,000 a year who dressed exclusively in designer clothing. That is the norm around here. There's of course the people who try to pretend they are casual outdoorsy folk--you know, the ones with multiple $150 North Face fleece jackets to match their over-priced cargo pants from Nordstrom. Outside of specific neighborhoods in Seattle consumerism can be pretty rampant. Which of course forms a counter-culture of hipsters who are proud of their thrift store finds and unique sense of style. There's not a great middle ground.

My post has gone on for long enough, so I'll just list the rest of "bad" traits I have seen from Seattlites and east-side people.

Bad:
- Rampant consumerism and over-glorification of things these people can't even afford in the first place, but spend money on anyway.
- An overly hipster counter-culture that hates the "yuppies" but is in reality just as annoying.
- People are stupid and talk about crime without any perspective about what crime actually is. I had a friend warning me about the "dangers" of Renton. Are you kidding me? I used to work in a suburb of Newark, one of the most dangerous cities in the US. I've been to Camden dozens of times. Renton is high-class compared to those places.
- I don't know what the drivers ed program is like but people cannot drive around here and I have noticed it's the Seattle natives that are the worst. I love my native friends to death, but I'd rather jump off a bridge than get into a car with them. If they spent a day driving in NJ/NY they'd be run off the road and possibly traumatized into never setting foot into a car again. The kind of irresponsible, dangerous and quite frankly stupid driving habits that exist around here would not fly in other states.
- For such a liberal city, we sure do have a lot of conservatives with really bad ideas on how to manage things. We'll fight tooth and nail for environmental protection but god forbid we help another human being.
- Seattle is supposed to be diverse, but unlike San Francisco it's extremely cliquish. One of my friends is Japanese and whenever we hang out the Koreans will be ultra friendly to her but almost cold and untrusting towards me--this is despite the fact that my friend is born in America and can't even speak Japanese, let alone Korean. I wish the race barriers weren't as strong here because it would be cool to make some friends that aren't rich white yuppies or hipsters. I dislike that every time I try to talk to asians in general around here you'd think I threw a grenade at them. I'm just being friendly. Sheesh.
- People in Seattle (mostly natives) can be extremely sheltered, and hold beliefs that no person who has actually been out in the world and lived in other places could possibly hold. There are a lot of prejudices that have been proven false but still dominate the belief system of many Seattle natives. This rings especially true with parent beliefs about the school system and misconceptions about technology in general.
- People are very likely to make assumptions about you before getting to know you, and sometimes this leads to you not even getting a chance, which can really **** me off.

Good:
- Extremely friendly and polite.
- Unlike the east coast people, Seattlites won't pretend to be your friends. They either are or they aren't. If they trust you enough to invite you over at least you know they like you--the same cannot be said for other areas.
- Seattlites tend to be highly intelligent and well educated.
- It is very unlikely that someone will mug/rob you. Crime happens but Seattle is still extremely safe for a city.
- Complete strangers will help you if they notice something is wrong.
- Children around here seem to be well behaved (I work with kids every day right now and I have worked with kids in the past, Seattle kids are definitely way better behaved).
- There is an appreciation for art and culture that does not exist in other places.
- People actually like nature.
- Community means a lot more here than I've seen it mean elsewhere.
- Reaching out and earning people's trust does not go unrewarded if done correctly.
- Most people here are computer literate and can converse via email.
- The homeless people here aren't trying to mug you and kill you.
- There is such a huge organic/animal friendly culture around here and it is fantastic. I love being around people who actually care about animals and the environment. I love having access to humanely slaughtered meat. To some people this is a standard: in my hometown you couldn't find "organic" if you tried. This is a west coast thing and Seattle definitely has it.


Yup. That about sums it up.

Can the people who are butthurt about Seattlites not liking them stop complaining and go out to make friends or something? That'd be cool.

[Freebird2007]

Originally Posted by Ancalagon

Driven?

I took the train there, and the bus (Number 7, woot, woot!) home after drinking at Fuel (number 27 mug, D-Dirty Johnson).

What of it?

You ever been outside the lily white Pacific Northwest Bubble? Been to a real city? You'd laugh at the 'low income' (code for dark) neighborhoods and people here.

Freaked by Beggars

[Ancalagon]

Originally Posted by kreebby

- I don't know what the drivers ed program is like but people cannot drive around here and I have noticed it's the Seattle natives that are the worst. I love my native friends to death, but I'd rather jump off a bridge than get into a car with them. If they spent a day driving in NJ/NY they'd be run off the road and possibly traumatized into never setting foot into a car again. The kind of irresponsible, dangerous and quite frankly stupid driving habits that exist around here would not fly in other states.

Ballard Driving Academy - Almost Live - YouTube

[CSD610]

Originally Posted by artriotnow

I'm in SC now for the most part people are conservative. Some people can be mean and stuck in their ways. Others are friendly as far as saying good morning or hello if your walking down the street. Charity is a little sparse at times. Sometimes people here don't realize the need to help others, if it doesn't effect them personally it doesn't really cross their mind. At times people will say yes or let me think about it or get back to me about that, when they really mean no. Personally I have tried to start community projects and I've tried to work for myself here and when I contact people about my ideas people do not callback or they seem content with business as usual and will rarely pull together to do things. They tend shoot down ideas or don't give any input at all and want you to do it all first and if it looks successful then they will join you. Oh and people here tend to be very very CHEAP!!!!!! They will always try to bargain you down and get things a lot less. They always want a good deal, but the flipside is they are not always willing to give a good deal. So it's a mixed bag here.

I am looking for a place that is both friendly, helpful and proactive. A place where people are a little more willing to help out others and try something new even if it might fail. So what are Seattle people like?

They are like people anywhere else, individuals with some similiar qualities and habits.

[kreebby]

Originally Posted by Ancalagon

Ballard Driving Academy - Almost Live - YouTube

Ahaha this is true.

One of the really common things I see people doing is stopping in the on ramp before merging. There is no stop sign or red light. You go the speed of traffic and merge. On a daily basis I see people slam on the breaks and wait for an opening like they're leaving a parking lot or something. Who on earth taught these people how to drive?

[Ira500]

Awesome post, Kreeby, and being a native of NJ I can relate. My sister used to live right next to Camden. and I got lost dozens of times driving through Camden to find her house. Not exactly what you'd call a welcoming, nurturing place. I suppose there might be a few blocks in Camden that aren't blighted. I live in Renton, where there might be a few blocks that are blighted, so when people talk about Renton being " the hood", they really don't know what they're talking about and are only referring to a small part of the city, which would seem like a very solid middle class neighborhood compared to Camden.
And yes, folks around here do drive as if they they were stoned a lot.
Besides slamming on the brakes at the entrance ramp, there's also the just sitting there when the light turns green

[Adrian71]

Originally Posted by branh0913

Those who complain about cold people in Seattle, you need to come to DC or Atlanta to find out what truly rude people are like. People in Seattle aren't just oozing bubbly personalities, but they're pleasant and friendly. I was quite shocked at how helpful people were, and how courteous people are in general. I ask for directions one time, and I saw people get into arguments amongst each other about the right way to go. Good luck getting 1 person in Atlanta to help you with directions, especially in downtown Atlanta.

Again, maybe Seattle is less laid back than other places on the West Coast. But it's freakin a breath of fresh air for someone coming from the East Coast. I talked to a guy this weekend from Boston, and we laughed about how friendly people are in Seattle. Seriously, you people don't know how great you have it.

YES, YES, YES. This.

We lived for nearly seven years in the D.C. area, and people were absolutely miserable there. Self-absorbed Type A ladder climbers who'd just as soon run you over as take a moment out of their precious time to talk to you.

Coming out here was like night and day for us. No, people aren't generally ebullient and outgoing, but they're also not rude and overbearing. If you have a question, people are generally very polite, courteous, and helpful. If you want to chat someone up, you're likely to get a friendly conversation, and then you both head your separate ways and go about your day. It's not "fake nice" -- it's more "I'm being genuinely nice to you because I like being nice to people, but now I'm done and I'm going home." Not everyone will want to be your friend, but that is fine! People give each other space here. They leave each other alone. They're not overbearing. And I can't speak for anyone else, but I LOVE that about people here. I'll let you know if I want to be your friend, but I'll be perfectly nice to you in the meantime. Just because I'd rather go home and relax than go out for coffee doesn't mean I don't like you -- I just value my space and my quiet time.

There's probably a reason Seattle appealed to me so much. I fit right in with the introverted vibe that seems to prevail in this part of the country. If you're an extrovert who needs lots of friends and feels the need to go out and do social things all the time, I admit that this area might drive you nuts. It is certainly not for everybody.

[GHA188]

This "freeze" doesn't seem unique to Seattle.

I was in Boston this past summer visiting a friend. Almost ALL of the people I met wouldn't even say hello to me when I would. I'd smile and no smile back, I'd say hello and they'd look uncomfortable. Strangers on the street would help me (without looking too friendly like smiling) and I'd smile at them and they'd look away like they were uncomfortable.

It took FOREVER for me to keep being friendly and not react for them to even give me the time of day. It's like they were not trusting.

As for rudeness come to Miami! People here feel they have the right to do anything they want to you. They have the right to yell in your face and tell you you're a communist if you're a Democrat. They have the right to run you over if you try to walk in front of their car. They have the right to honk at you even when you're doing something correctly. They have the right to cut in front of you in line because you didn't defend yourself and allowed it. They view being polite as "weakness."

I think people can twist anything into a negative but when you look at the greater picture I'll take polite people who take awhile to open up to you over rude people who tell it like it is any day. And I'll take the peace of mind of being able to be in public without fear of someone attacking you over being paranoid when in public because of how many times you've had crazy people attack you verbally or physically.

Those people that complain about the "Seattle freeze" should come to Miami to see what socially ****ty people really are like

[justwishin]

Are you single? my sion lives in Capitol Hill neighborhood and loves it, walks everywhere, and can get down town, opera house, shops in a few moments, yet has a very private place. Worth a try. People are not phoney, and I th ik a tad more friendly than in the east, (have lived there too)

[b3charlie]

Seattle and the big Gla gla gla syndrome, Its a potpourri of the Boeing-Microsoft hype that has driven the big housing bubble and with all the snobbery and arrogance to boot. Add the blatant stuck up ness of the blinky eyed Ballardian Hootsy snobbery and you now have a terrible city wide virus called ''arrogance". The woman are beyond stuck up. There minds are in the next time zone looking for albiet hot yoga, the perfect latte, suv, or running away with big Bud Puhudza in his assault vehicle driving 80mph just to get to there 'moment'..oh ya,never ever interrupt, get in the way of a "seatteblight", because they will flip you off, stare you down and get the verbal drop on you. If they pretend to do something nice for you, its a "you owe me something" whiney me tactic just to make you feel bad. Take your friend out to breakfast lunch or dinner, beware of the icy stares as you enter the restaurant. I purchased a condo here and cry my self to sleep from all the bs I have to put up with here. There seems to be this "mental pall" here in Seattle, were inter office competitiveness is brought down the the surface streets were Joe scooze can't tailgate you any less closer than 5 feet off your bumper, psychotic men and woman having there textaportation frenzied road assault at 70mph as you navigate the next mindless vegan **** and her chronic lane change every 100 feet. Now theres a new pandemic that pervades me. its iphone in the face time as they meander across the street causing a traffic glitch as they put on that **** eating gleeky face bs or cause a train wreck in the supermarket isle's because they can't put down there itoy addiction, and stop cold in front of 12 shoppers who have to navigate around sleezy cocky dirty, baggy tattered rattso
manchild whos just a pissy puppy pawn in another stuck up seattle womans controlling life.
I would love to go back to Honolulu my birthplace and forget this rathole. keep up the act seattle..