Official "Seattle Freeze" Discussion Thread (George: educational, registering)

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by TonyG5003

I agree completely. The problem here is that people project their own expectations onto others, and then gripe when those projections and expectations are not met - which is certainly not an issue limited to moving to a new city.

I think people need to "chill" about this "freeze." Quite frankly, as has been clearly demonstrated by the attitude of many posts, I'm thinking this "freeze" is a more of a self-fulfilling prophecy than an actual, measurable phenomenon. People are people - people are different. Stop trying to shape people to meet YOUR needs. Just be pleasant and polite, and go about your life. The rest will (eventually) fall into place.

And as far as splitting the checks on a date or not... just TALK about it, respect each other, and agree to do what feels natural at the time. Don't take it so personally.

Please post again three years after you move there as "got rain" did. He went there with an open mind so it wasn't a self-fulfilling prophesy for him.

[TonyG5003]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

Please post again three years after you move there as "got rain" did. He went there with an open mind so it wasn't a self-fulfilling prophesy for him.

I'm an introvert, and I've spent many weeks/months in the Seattle area over the past 16 years. Many people in Austin (and Texas in general) have falsely assumed I'm a maladjusted, antisocial hermit. I'm a native Texan, but feel right at home in Seattle.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by TonyG5003

I'm an introvert, and I've spent many weeks/months in the Seattle area over the past 16 years. Many people in Austin (and Texas in general) have falsely assumed I'm a maladjusted, antisocial hermit. I'm a native Texan, but feel right at home in Seattle.

What does that have to do with anything?

If you refer to Got_rain?'s posts from 3 years ago, you can actually see that he did come in with open mind. He essentially blew off the Seattle Freeze. He had the same attitude you did and did believed that Seattle would be a good fit.

[TonyG5003]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

What does that have to do with anything?

If you refer to Got_rain?'s posts from 3 years ago, you can actually see that he did come in with open mind. He essentially blew off the Seattle Freeze. He had the same attitude you did and did believed that Seattle would be a good fit.

I think my point was clear. I've spent PLENTY of time in Seattle. I completely get that some people are probably surprised and possibly annoyed by the somewhat reserved nature of many people in the Seattle area, and perhaps that some may be difficult to get to know better - but that doesn't mean they are rude, insensitive jerks.

Anyone want to see rude and insensitive? Come to Texas and spend any amount of time on the freeways. Try casually shopping for groceries in New York state and watch what happens when there's too many baskets in the aisle. Or, try ordering at a busy fast-food counter in Cleveland and see how long it takes for people behind you (or the clerk) to verbally express their "irritation" with someone's indecision.

On the contrary, I have never experienced any of this in the Seattle area. Okay... with one exception, and heavily-drugged drag queen at Pacific Place purposefully busting his way through groups of pedestrians, tourists & shoppers.

To each their own. Live and let live. I just don't see why people make such a big fuss over the action, or inaction of others. No place is Utopia - not even Seattle. If they don't like it, just move on.

[truthteller777]

Seattle gets worse and worse each year...more elitist...more yuppified perfectionists....more emotionally distraught and anti-social than ever before...more flaky by the day here.....please....people here are the most hyper-sensitive, overly serious, self-important human beings I ever encountered.......attitude has never helped in Seattle......it is in the fabric of the society here.....one must move away....and superficial politeness means nothing....

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by TonyG5003

I think my point was clear. I've spent PLENTY of time in Seattle. I completely get that some people are probably surprised and possibly annoyed by the somewhat reserved nature of many people in the Seattle area, and perhaps that some may be difficult to get to know better - but that doesn't mean they are rude, insensitive jerks.

But you haven't lived there yet. So please don't tell people who have that they are wrong. Living somewhere day to day long enough so that the honeymoon period wears off will give you the credibility to meaningfully comment. Until then, you don't know what you are talking about. That's not to say that you won't love it when you move there, you may, but it drives me nuts when someone comes on to this thread and completely discounts the experience of other people who lived in Seattle for YEARS when they've merely visited, even for long stretches.

[TonyG5003]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

But you haven't lived there yet. So please don't tell people who have that they are wrong. Living somewhere day to day long enough so that the honeymoon period wears off will give you the credibility to meaningfully comment. Until then, you don't know what you are talking about. That's not to say that you won't love it when you move there, you may, but it drives me nuts when someone comes on to this thread and completely discounts the experience of other people who lived in Seattle for YEARS when they've merely visited, even for long stretches.

Sorry... I didn't want to get too descriptive/detailed earlier. I have spent many months in Seattle and the surrounding area without breaks, and in every season - over the past 16 years. Collectively, I've spent more time there than in Austin. I feel my perspective and experience is qualified - I wouldn't have said anything otherwise.

I'm not "completely discounting" what others have said. It's a matter of perception, and one's entirely subjective opinion. I don't disagree that many people have indeed experienced what they are stating - but I do strenuously object to labeling it as some sort of "mass condition," or as some seem to imply, a conspiracy. I mean, many people who don't live in Austin (and even some who do), say Austin is full of drug-addicted hippies. Many Californians (among others) think all Texans carry a bible, a gun, and have longhorns grazing in their yards. Obviously... that's not true (for most of us) - but I'm not going to let those stereotypes/perceptions/opinions bend me all out of shape, or rule what I do or don't do.

Anyway, point being... I have not encountered the "freeze." But, perhaps (as I've previously implied) I'm one of the frozen.

Happy posting/debating...

[mieux]

Originally Posted by TonyG5003

Anyway, point being... I have not encountered the "freeze." But, perhaps (as I've previously implied) I'm one of the frozen.

Hi Tony. I pretty much relate to what you said here. I am very much looking forward to moving to Seattle in a few months. I'm a black woman, and I've already heard all of the ridiculous "don't move to Seattle, there are no black people there" types of comments. I've also heard that it's snobby and reserved and cold, etc. None of that has deterred me. I am also an introvert, and I love the thought of living in a place where always being out and about or always meeting new people isn't viewed as the norm. I guess I would be considered one of the frozen as well, and that's fine by me. Honestly, I can see why extroverts would not be too happy in a place like Seattle, but there's no need to bash the city. Everything isn't for everybody. As has been stated earlier, no place is a utopia. But if we're lucky, we all find a place that suits us the best and where we can be reasonably happy. If we find that any particular city is no longer that place for us, then we can always explore a new city!

[truthteller777]

Perception...my ass...the Seattle Freeze is real....google Seattlesucks....or google Seattles schmeng....if ten people say you got a tail...then you got a tail....

Seattle is a nice city....pretty...clean....polite....civil....low crime...mostly white and asian...with hardly any ghettos...one of the issues is simply that Seattle is mostly Scandanavian and Asian...so the collective soul of Seattle is a socially withdrawn one......a non-gregarious soul....because those cultures by nature....are that way.......they are reserved by nature.....

On the other side of the coin...there is the ultra liberal tatted up, goth, new age practicing, holistic living, atheistic, vegan, gay and lesbian, yuppified and sheltered white people.....who I will place in the same bracket...........those are the ones were all that self-importance...I am unique and special......ultra clicky......socially retarded and incapacitated.....on prozac and zoloft.......only see themselves in the mirror.....void on the inside(that is why they have to paint up their outsides I reckon.....) up there on Capital Hill, Queen Anne, Fremont and etc.....

It is just not easy to explain....the ones who love Seattle....either are women (because Seattle is a huge sausage fest....teeming with zillions of single men and very few entitled and ultra picky single women who get their cake and eat it to).....as well as gay/lesbian/techies/nerds/socially shy and withdrawn types, yuppies with advanced technology degrees, those into alternative living...like new age, Wicca, astrology, vegetarianism, and ultra liberal souls in general who support all liberal agendas......funny thing is that Seattle..... is such a sheltered, hypocritical city, and actually very CONSERVATIVE........... you can't even get a lap dance in a strip joint.....it is illegal here!!!! hahahaha Unreal..........liberal....my ass.....go to NYC....you'll see real liberal in that city....and you'll meet people that are 50 times cooler, more sincere, personable, much more flirtatious, social, communicative, gregarious, funny, charismatic, soulful, non-flaky and genuine.....while your at it...

Yet I will say...if you are the reserved, non-gregarious type....who is liberal politically....and who prefers to be left alone...and who fits into one of the sub-culture groups I mentioned above....yes...you will love Seattle...and I would be glad for you...and do wish you a happy life.....Seattle simply is a fit for some...and not a fit for others.....

[observer]

WOW! You may have struck a nerve to some, or insulted others, but you do make some interesting points. I am only visiting, but I have witnessed some of what you mentioned.

In general, people are much more civil and polite than say NY, or Miami. People in general have more of a dry sense of humor here in Seattle. As far as the "freeze" goes, yup, even many locals that I have met last summer and this summer confirms it. Just like any place it has its pros and cons.