Why does Spokane get such a bad reputation? (Seattle: sex offender, low crime)
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Why does Spokane get such a bad reputation? I went to Spokane for a few days last summer and I personally thought it was a really nice city with plenty to do yet it still has a small town feel to it and the people seemed friendly and laid back as well.
Because it's inland, and on the eastern side of a coastal state, and because it's not Seattle.
Any bad reputation Spokane gets is undeserved IMO.
I totally agree, I personally prefer Spokane over Seattle and Portland anyday cause the traffic isn't nearly as bad and it's easier to get around, plus the people are nicer and friendlier too, Spokane is a perfect city for me from having lots to do along with the low crime rate and the light traffic
I totally agree, I personally prefer Spokane over Seattle and Portland anyday cause the traffic isn't nearly as bad and it's easier to get around, plus the people are nicer and friendlier too, Spokane is a perfect city for me from having lots to do along with the low crime rate and the light traffic
Yep, same here.
I used to hold Seattle up on a pedestal until I lived in Spokane. Seattle ain't got nothin' on Spokane.
What's not to like? Beautiful place, nice people, low traffic. I would have never left if I could have kept my job, or found one that paid me the same. Yet, my return to Spokane will come.
Mopac1980, you just need to expand your circle of acquaintances if you think Spokane has a bad rep!
I've found that most people think of Spokane positively, especially those from somewhere other than western Washington....
The majority of people I know who have actually been there or lived there liked it.
But, it gets knocked because;
It's not big like Seattle. (How many coffeeshops does anyone NEED?)
It's not "progressive" like Seattle.
It's conservative, or at least moderate. That's anathema to some.
It's economy is not as vibrant as it could be.
And, for whatever reason, some people associate it with issues that plague most places, many in much worse fashion (drug problems, homelessness, etc.)
There may be some validity to the above, but again, often not to the degree many assign it. Plus, what many perceive as negatives many others perceive as positives.
Of course, there is no "one place fits all"--thank goodness!
Mopac1980, you just need to expand your circle of acquaintances if you think Spokane has a bad rep!
I've found that most people think of Spokane positively, especially those from somewhere other than western Washington....
The majority of people I know who have actually been there or lived there liked it.
But, it gets knocked because;
It's not big like Seattle. (How many coffeeshops does anyone NEED?)
It's not "progressive" like Seattle.
It's conservative, or at least moderate. That's anathema to some.
It's economy is not as vibrant as it could be.
And, for whatever reason, some people associate it with issues that plague most places, many in much worse fashion (drug problems, homelessness, etc.)
There may be some validity to the above, but again, often not to the degree many assign it. Plus, what many perceive as negatives many others perceive as positives.
Of course, there is no "one place fits all"--thank goodness!
This is all so true.
Before we moved to Spokane, a friend of ours here in Denver (that is originally from Missoula) went on and on about how beautiful and great Spokane is, to the point where I almost didn't believe her. At the time, an eventual possibility of moving to Seattle was also in the cards, and when we mentioned Seattle to her, lets just say we didn't get the same reaction.
Re: your list above, if Spokane were any of those things, I probably wouldn't like it. If the economy was good, it would attract a bunch of out-of-towners that would eventually Seattleize it, and ruin what Spokane is. No thanks, I'll take small, sleepy, conservative, depressed, drugged and poor Spokane any day!
The question is a good one. I do think that Spokane gets an unfair rap by people living on the west side of the state (in general). I've found that many westsiders who express a less than flattering opinion of Spokane have 1) never been there (or never got off I-90) or 2) haven't been for at least 10 years. Sure, there are people who have truly spent time there and dislike it for various reasons, which is fine by me since no place is the right place for all people.
I had a friend visit last year who was a lifelong Seattle resident who did nothing but take (mostly good natured) shots at Spokane before coming to visit. After hanging out for a few days they admitted, reluctantly, that Spokane was 'actually pretty nice.'
Last winter I had a conversation with a Seattle acquaintance about the crazy amount of snow and told them that it caused the roof to cave in at a supermarket. She genuinely inquired whether there was anywhere else in town to buy groceries! Sure, this is an extreme example but Spokane is often perceived by Seattle folks as a small, sleepy, conservative little town that is too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer.
I think many of the 'drawbacks' stated here are correct: it is not as big as Seattle. It is not as liberal as many of the large western coastal cities. It is more blue collar than many of the large western coastal cities.
I'm also unsure why various urban legends about Spokane seem to get traction on these boards. If you look through all the Spokane threads there is no shortage of posts about Spokane's sex offender/homeless/meth/gang/insert other problem. As I've tried to point out on many of those same threads, the reality is that Spokane often fairs well when those rumors are examined and compared to the facts. I'm not saying Spokane doesn't have any of those issues (all cities of similar size do) but the facts do not justify the rumors.
As an aside, does anyone else find it interesting that Spokane features in both the AT&T Luke Wilson cell phone add (first city mentioned) and in the US Postal Service add, both of which are now running. It would be interesting to poll people from different parts of the country on what association they had (if any) when hearing Spokane mentioned in those commercials.
As an aside, does anyone else find it interesting that Spokane features in both the AT&T Luke Wilson cell phone add (first city mentioned) and in the US Postal Service add, both of which are now running. It would be interesting to poll people from different parts of the country on what association they had (if any) when hearing Spokane mentioned in those commercials.
What's even funnier to me about the Luke Wilson commercial, is that right at the beginning he says "Spokane, Washington", then "Denver, Colorado". It's especially special to me, because I just moved back to Denver from Spokane.
...if they polled the rest of the country on what they associate Spokane with they'd have to pronounce it Spo-cane. (Living back east, there was a hotels.com commercial that ran repeatedly that called it that.)
Kena is right...many people critical have never been and are just repeating what they've heard.
So, how did Spokane weather the grocery collapse? Mass panic and starvation? Have to go to Couer d'Alene for groceries? Glad everyone struggled through that...
(During the winter of '67-'68, similar to last year snowfall-wise, a car dealership's roof collapsed. There were a few decent deals then!)
There are many, many people in Seattle that have never been east of the Cascade crest. Totally clueless and happy in their grey world.
My daughter now lives in Seattle and kept her 509 phone number.
She cannot believe how many people ask her after she gives them her phone number. "Oh, what state are you from??"
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