How true is seattlesucks.com (Bellingham, Olympia: condominium, headhunter, felony)

[tlg1331]

Originally Posted by mark456

Hi,

Please comment on the validity of Websites (such as the ones above) depicting Seattle as:
1. unfriendly - people friendly on the outside, but passive-agressive on the inside.
- people very polite, but hard to get close to, hard to make friends

2. depressing - grey weather makes everyone sad, and not want to socialize

3. introverted - people don't go out much, would much rather stay home

4. quiet city - not much of a nightlife, not many things to do at night, b/c everything shuts down by 1 am

5. Economically not that great - many businesses moved away from the city, hard times economically

I've lived in Seattle for the past 6 years (moved there right after college) and have the following opinion:
1. I completely agree with this. People are very nice, but my husband and I have had a hard time making friends. The majority of our friends are people from Microsoft who also relocated to the area at a similar time. We've found it difficult to make friends with "native" seattle residents
2. The grey weather has a very negative effect on my mood, but this does not happen to everyone. The majority of people who live in Seattle don't care about the gloomy weather and go biking, hiking, etc. anyway. I can't stand the gloomy weather and will likely be moving in the future because of it.
3. I don't think the city is introverted at all. People are always out and about. It is a very active city.
4. The bars close at 2am, with last call usually around 1:15, but up until that point downtown Seattle, Bellevue and Kirkland are very active.
5. Seattle has a booming economy with a ton of businesses in the area. Finding a job should not be difficult in this city. Wages are not as high as they could be considering the cost of living. The tax rate and cost of living are both high and the traffic is very bad, but overall the economy is doing very well.

[gallo]

In reality, this is pretty silly. In addition to the generalization of the claims being made, there is a lot of subjectivity involved.

For example, the fourth statement is that Seattle is a “quiet city - not much of nightlife, not many things to do at night, b/c everything shuts down by 1 am.”

If someone is coming here from NYC, LA, Chicago, Boston, Miami or someplace like that, of course the Seattle nightlife will be much tamer. On the other hand, if someone is coming from Orlando, Boise, Phoenix, or someplace like that, or even from suburbia where they never really ventured much into their old downtown city, Seattle will seem very big, busy, with excellent nightlife, and even perhaps a little rowdy.

Again, it’s kind of hard to get a definitive yea or nay or these types of things, but I say comparing Seattle to cities and metros of similar size, that there is some definite truth to all of these depictions of our city made by Seattle Sucks that we are commenting on.

I am not defending anyone, but I would like to touch briefly on the last statement: “Economically not that great - many businesses moved away from the city, hard times economically.”

I know this Seattle Sucks website and their quotes we are commenting on are fairly old. Seattle’s economy was, in fact, doing poorly for a while in the not-so-distant past. The so-called “tech wreck” wreaked all sorts of havoc out here and for a while; from about the late-1990s to the mid-200s.

Things were bad out here and bad in the entire region. Jobs, and decent jobs, were not exactly plentiful. Many companies out here were downsizing or opening offices in new, out-of-state locations. We need only to look back as far to 2005 when Washington State had the second highest unemployment rate in the country, with Oregon being first, to see that things have not been exactly peachy out here. Commercial development also stalled all through these years. I remember watching high rises in DT Bellevue being started and not finished, just sitting stagnant for a year or so.

People are correct saying the economy of Seattle is fine now. It is. It finally started to pick back up about a year or so ago. And yes, like I said, before that it was the pits for a lot of people for a while.

Also, it’s not exactly accurate to call Seattle’s economy booming right now. The economy here is solid right now, but not it’s booming.

Thanks for reading.

[sixtwobaldguy]

Originally Posted by D Kenady

I

My wife and I are leaving Washington when we retire in 10 years or so. We want to go back to the land of the sun even though I've gotten acclimated here. We're going to Houston!

Shutter, moving to Houston? Have you ever been there? It has to be one of the top 10 most boring cities in the Universe. There's nothing to do there but eat steaks and get fat. Men's Fitness rated Houston as the most overweight city in the US. Hope you've added the cost of heart surgery to the variables of consideration.

USATODAY.com - Houston again tops fattest city list

[5chevin5]

I believe Houston is also considered to have poor air quality...but heck what major city doesnt have crud in the air or water. I hear its also VERY humid...that would count me out, but different strokes as they would say.....

I always find it funny when adults (okay I mean presumed career minded adults over 30) complain that a nightlife in any city shuts down by 1:30 or 2 a.m?? Who stays out that late anymore??? Well I guess I do once and a while, but not enough to make it a factor on why I like or dislike a city? These are usually the folks that complain they cant afford anything.....duh!! You are out late everynight....

I also chuckle when people state that a city is "hard to make friends"...This may be true for yourself because of who you are, not the city...You are the reason...possible?? What does a city have to do with your ability to be liked...doesnt it seem ? Like when you are a kid and you go home and say "Mom, nobody likes me at the new school"...what do you want your mother to do...is it her fault? Thats is a 100% subjective answer to a personal question.....perhaps valid, but definately not something someone should consider as a barometer for why or why not they should relocate to Seattle....You know how you are and more then likely you have felt that way before in another city??....c'mon admit it....

Seattle ...I would say has a ...robust...economy, of course I dont live there so my opionion is only based on the propaganda I read from magazines....so perhaps a mute point. I think its strong in my line of work, but maybe not for.....the Maytag Man...I dont know. Economy has many factors besides just jobs...

Of course Im looking to move back to Seattle in about a year, so I thank everyone for their input so I can extract information that I will use for my own.

[pwright1]

Originally Posted by sixtwobaldguy

Shutter, moving to Houston? Have you ever been there? It has to be one of the top 10 most boring cities in the Universe. There's nothing to do there but eat steaks and get fat. Men's Fitness rated Houston as the most overweight city in the US. Hope you've added the cost of heart surgery to the variables of consideration.

USATODAY.com - Houston again tops fattest city list

Nothing to do there but eat steaks? Are you kidding? I live in Seattle and visit Houston quite often. I have a ball everytime I'm there. Some of the best restaurants in America imo. Great city for nightlife, entertainment, culture, shopping and all the big city stuff.

[goldengrain]

This conversation brings to mind some other conversations I have had. I have known, perhaps 4 couples who migrated from the Northeast to cities in the South (in Florida and around the Atlanta area). They, after a year or two, sold their property and moved back North, complaining that people are friendly on a superficial level, but never seem to become close on a personal level.

Those two areas are supposed to have many transplants, a comment that I hear of Seattle.

Wouldn't a person think that all these compaining transplants could get together for a good time? I don't know.

I am reserved: outwardly friendly, but only allow people to get so close until I know them well and know what I'm dealing with. I respect people who take time to know. Real relationships take time to build and most 'quick' friends turn out to be superficial.

Which leaves me thinking: If a person has many interests and is active in groups which share the interest, over time and the familiarity of seeing and interacting constantly, relationships just naturally develop. One does not go out to 'make' friends. One tries to contribute, take part. Respect just happens over time.

Did not the Socrates Cafe concept start in Seattle? Now, there's something a newbie can do, costing little, meeting regularly, only offering an opinion when you have one, and hopefully, not putting your foot in your mouth as much as I do. There are so many eco-groups, and food pantries in the area. There are also the Freedom from Religion group, Ethical Culture Society, Theosophists, Unitarians. Book clubs in libraries and book stores. Adult Ed classes. It just seems as though, if you find a group or two to your liking, and show up over time, expressing yourself and take part in activities, eventually some people will find you likable.

It is much easier to make friends when we are young. We are a cleaner slate, with fewer experiences which make for fewer prejudices. So, as youth, we have more in common. As we age, life's experiences are written on our psyches, and we tend to be more judgemental. People get turned off by little, sometimes inconsequential, things.

Also, there are a lot of IT jobs in Seattle. I worked in that field before retiring. Sometimes there just is not a lot of time for socializing. You are often on call, sometimes work long hours, and in your spare time you like to unwind with people you are secure with. New relationships take effort and thought and energy.

I suspect, also, that new people may become depressed due to Seasonal Affective Disorder. A few full spectrum lights and vitamins A and D can really help keep things in balance.

Sometimes good people just have enough good friends. I can get that. What a new person has to do is get a regular exposure in enough places so they can find those like themselves, searching. Goodness, there are enough people making these comments that you should think about starting your own thread, or a Meetup group and meet each other, no?

[SaltyDawg]

Petty, small-minded individuals write things like that. If you lack knowledge of yourself and your interests, you'll suffer here, no doubt about it. Expecting others to find your way for you is sure to be a disaster, but I'm sure that's true in all cities.

Are there cliques in Seattle? Sure. It's an outpost city - we're far from everywhere else, and those who grew up together here tend to have tight bonds and their own unique opinions about other places, right or wrong. These cliques aren't closed, however.

As for a lack of nightlife... I'm not sure what nightlife they're looking for, but these folks must be in the suburbs. The Pike/Pine corridor, Belltown, Fremont, Pioneer Square... all are TOO active for this late 30's guy. You don't have a thriving music scene without bigtime nightlife. It's vibrant to the point that the mayor is targeting 12 clubs for being TOO rowdy. And closing time is 2am, not 1 - not that I've been out that late in the past 5 years. Dancing continues well past that in many places...

Weather - the biggest bone of contention. You'll see siriocco and jenbear in here with their curiously disdainful mentions of the weather all the time. Here's the deal - if you're active and not rendered immobile at the mention of rain or the lack of sun, you won't have a problem. If you ski, you'll grow to LOVE 42 degrees and rainy in Seattle, because it will be NUKING snow at Crystal, Stevens, Baker, et al. There is nothing like driving to Crystal and watching the rain turn to snow around Greenwater - Powder Day awaits! If you're a reader, you'll cherish the odd heavy downpour in front of your fireplace. If you know what goretex is, your kids will play outside just like kids in water-free zones do... and might have more fun finding living things in the ground. You'll avoid the crowds at the great sights there are to see here. Those 'rare' crisp days in the fall and winter? You'll be walking around Greenlake with WEATHER APPROPRIATE CLOTHING. No, you won't be in shorts and a tank top in January, unless you enjoy complaining about it being cold. Come summer? The region is your oyster for just about anything.

Economically, I have no idea what that site is talking about. It has cycles here, for sure, but it is currently booming. It has the same rich/poor division problems that all metro areas do - if you're in the service industry, you'll struggle to afford it. If you're a professional, you'll do fine. Not saying that's right, that's just how it is.

[_Charles_]

In short it is not the rain and cloudiness that's the problem. Its the people.

There is no regional / cultural tradition of hospitality and by extension there is an inter generational lack of social skills.

You will notice whenever someone praises Seattle or the Puget Sound area they will speak of the stunning scenery and outdoor activities but will never mention the people. That's because when it comes to the local folks there is nothing positive to say.

Google the term "seattle freeze" you'll find out all you need to know.

[SaltyDawg]

Considering that my social circle - and I'm a native - includes a British expat, a Pittsburgh relocator, and Montanans, I'm not sure what Charles means. Common interests? Work, arts, skiing, running, reading. They made it known what they had to offer, and are interesting people - not just an empty vessel waiting to be invited along for the ride.

There seems to be a real disconnect between what 'hospitality' means in different parts of the country. The Southern version, with it's airs and charms, makes me uncomfortable. There is an air of phoniness, as it's pretty hard to be yourself when folks bend over backwards without knowing anything about you. That said, I do understand why some folks like it. Doesn't take a lot of effort to get integrated.

Here, you'd better make it known what you have to offer if you want to get into a local clique, for the reasons I stated in my earlier post.

Waiting for somebody to invite you in is a waste of time. Find people who share your interests - assuming you have any of value - and ingratiate yourself. The hospitality you'll end up with, Northwest style, will be far longer-lasting than the superficial kind you find elsewhere.

[scirocco22]

I was cringing after reading your previous posts, Salty, but you've succinctly stated a good retort in the post above. Good job!

Everybody knows from my posts what I think of this "Seattle Freeze" issue. Being older than most on this forum, I remember the Seattle area when you never heard of this phenomena. It's just been recently --relatively recently-- when I started hearing about this phenomena. Like I've said before, it seems to have started just after the big migration started in the 1970s.

--'rocco