Official "Seattle Freeze" Discussion Thread (Bellevue: slums, hospitable)

[michaeldorian]

Originally Posted by jojo7

AMEN TO THAT!!! I don't think people understand or even know the concept of "left lane is for passing".

Another AMEN to this. Drives me insane.

[hajpoj]

Originally Posted by barb18

The reason the Seattle Freeze keeps getting brought back up and caused 5 different conversation threads to start is because it is still very real. The Seattle culture is cliquish, aloof, introverted and not very friendly. It is NOT the same at all in other big cities. It's a bit of a shock to the 40,000 (according to the census) new people who moved here in the last 10 years, because they KNOW this is not normal in other big cities in America. It is sad, really. If cities had a "friendliness quotient," I think Seattle would be one of the lowest in the world.

Yeah I think this is true. Over and over people say this about seattle.

I am sorry if this seems like a shameless plug, but I thought this might be the most relevant place to bring this up, also might be relevant to those people that are feeling the seattle freeze.

Anyways here we go: I am a local seattlelite and I'm working on a site to help people who encounter the seattle freeze to meet other people who like the same things that they do. Our main goal is to get people off the computer and meeting in real life.

You can check the site out at Urbandipity
It will be launching on April 6 but you can create a post now

Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback, or if this is the wrong place to put this -_-.

[green_mariner]

I went through this thread to look at some of the posts. I found a post mentioned someone talking out of the blue, and then responding in short answers out of a politeness/making the other person take a hint and leave. It is post #920. Sometimes I do that. I have done that alot.

[415_s2k]

Originally Posted by hajpoj

Yeah I think this is true. Over and over people say this about seattle.

I am sorry if this seems like a shameless plug, but I thought this might be the most relevant place to bring this up, also might be relevant to those people that are feeling the seattle freeze.

Anyways here we go: I am a local seattlelite and I'm working on a site to help people who encounter the seattle freeze to meet other people who like the same things that they do. Our main goal is to get people off the computer and meeting in real life.

You can check the site out at Urbandipity
It will be launching on April 6 but you can create a post now

Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback, or if this is the wrong place to put this -_-.

Great idea, and more power to you

I definitely believe in the Seattle Freeze and certainly experienced it; I always knew there were plenty of people in Seattle who I most likely would have gotten along swimmingly with, it's just that I didn't know where they were, and beyond that, after a certain point, I think both parties concerned somewhat expect the situation to fall into the norms of politeness that ends quickly.

Good luck with your project and hope that you can get some people integrated into the social scene.

[Dweeby]

Originally Posted by CarawayDJ

1. Since so many transplants end up moving away after a short while, perhaps the residents don't make much of an effort to become friends with people who may only move away?

I'll be honest here. I like to believe that I am not "frozen", but I do admit a certain amount of reluctance to befriending people who are brand new to the area. I question whether the time invested in this new friendship will pay off in a long-term friendship, or if this lonely newcomer isn't that fond of me and is hanging out with me just long enough to find people he really likes here. Might sound unkind, but I've seen it happen. Maybe some others feel this way?

[hajpoj]

Originally Posted by 415_s2k

Great idea, and more power to you

I definitely believe in the Seattle Freeze and certainly experienced it; I always knew there were plenty of people in Seattle who I most likely would have gotten along swimmingly with, it's just that I didn't know where they were, and beyond that, after a certain point, I think both parties concerned somewhat expect the situation to fall into the norms of politeness that ends quickly.

Good luck with your project and hope that you can get some people integrated into the social scene.

Hey, Thanks for the support! There are a lot of people out there that have said the same thing that you have and we hope to help the situation!

[Vinylly]

OK, suppose you tell us what you mean by 'Seattle Freeze'. I've lived in Seattle well over 50 years and the problem with 'Seattle Freeze' has never been a serious problem. It's the RAIN that's the really serious problem. Are you saying there has been flame wars over Seattle freezing which is mute since we don't get much of it ?

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by Vinylly

OK, suppose you tell us what you mean by 'Seattle Freeze'. I've lived in Seattle well over 50 years and the problem with 'Seattle Freeze' has never been a serious problem. It's the RAIN that's the really serious problem. Are you saying there has been flame wars over Seattle freezing which is mute since we don't get much of it ?

Vinylly,
The Seattle freeze isn't referring to the weather. The freeze refers to the lack of friendliness that some people say Seattle puts out. If you believe that the Seattle freeze exists, you believe that Seattle folks, for the most part, are quiet, kind of reserved, and don't go out of their way to make newcomers feel welcome.
Folks from the south are famous for being friendly. Folks from New York City are famous for being " in your face". Seattle people have the reputation for being introverts, not reaching out to the new neighbors, keep to themselves, etc. I don't know if it's true or not. I've been here almost 35 years and I don't have a ton of friends, but I'm kind of introverted and quiet. Maybe Seattle attracts those types.

[ijoe13]

I've been living in Seattle for nearly a year now and have experienced the "Seattle freeze" quite often. It is difficult to make friends in this city. People are generally polite, but tend to exist in their own little bubbles. Status ($$) seem to be a big factor as well. Many people tend to stick their noses up at others in an "I'm better than you" way. The few friends and acquaintances I've made have been transplants like myself. It defenitly isn't one of the friendliest cities around. My 2 cents.

Joe

[Snowbound244]

Originally Posted by ijoe13

I've been living in Seattle for nearly a year now and have experienced the "Seattle freeze" quite often. It is difficult to make friends in this city. People are generally polite, but tend to exist in their own little bubbles. Status ($$) seem to be a big factor as well. Many people tend to stick their noses up at others in an "I'm better than you" way. The few friends and acquaintances I've made have been transplants like myself. It defenitly isn't one of the friendliest cities around. My 2 cents.

Joe

I lived in Seattle in 2007 and had the same impression that Joe is having now. I was a transplant from the midwest (Wisconsin) and I had lived in Texas and abroad in East Asia before arriving in Seattle.

I was really surprised to see how many Seattloids (transplants themselves) were not down to earth at all. The East Side (Bellevue) seemed to be mostly upper-class snotty types who valued status, as Joe states, while much of Seattle proper seemed to be the hipster types that were equally as snotty because they were so proud of themselves for living in the city and dressing sloppily, and they looked down upon anyone who did not do likewise.

Both sides, East and West, had their own kind of 'freeze'.