Seattle: You're Not Cool If You Don't Love It Here (George: hotel, cinema)

[dubfan]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

While some surely fit that profile, and certainly are noticeable, and might be outspoken, they hardly compose a large, let alone majority, portion of any neighborhood I know of. That more might be on one side of the Lake than on the other is simply a matter of demographics. I just think you're over-generalizing in order to label something worse than it really is.

By the way, "scruffy beards" would exclude half the population (surely, there are "hipster chicks", although the latter word might be less than "hip" these days), unless you substitute "unshaven", to which, quite frankly, I have no objection (razors are a pain), although I have to admit I'm not a big fan of tattoos. Oh, and you forgot piercings. Still, if someone chooses to shave or not shave, do whatever they want with their hair, wear black-rimmed glasses, pierce, or have tattoos, that simply is part of their right of free expression.

Perhaps the uniting characteristic here is simple self-righteousness, which however could equally apply both to people called, and people calling them, "hipsters".

When I was in my 20s, I didn't trust anyone over 30, but now that I'm in my 60s, I'm more prone to not trust anyone under 30, but more from bemusement than scorn. That the young are groupish in seeking to be different is as old as the generations.

Yeah, I was being somewhat facetious in my characterization. All good points. I think a large part of it is just that these are the trends among that set right now, and like you say, groupish trend seeking has always been around. I'm in that young age group still, and I've never felt motivated to follow the trends myself, which has led to feeling out of place at times, but even then Seattle is big enough for me to find people I can get along with.

[treuphax]

Originally Posted by DP79

...Practically everyone that lives there, in one form or another, takes every chance possible to rave about what an AMAZING place it is. It's like they're trying to sell themselves, and one another, on their choice of a living destination. ...

This may be one of the things I find most puzzling and unsatisfying about Seattle-fans - especially the opinionated ones that haunt online fora like City-Data. It really is as if they are trying desperately to convince themselves. I'm a big fan of humility. If I like something I'll try to enjoy it quietly and perhaps share my humble praise. What I sometimes observe is an enthusiasm that is no relation to the objective merits. This "AMAZING" sandwich, cocktail, cupcake or microbrew for example. Indeed, even if it's not everybody's cup of tea, Seattle is an impressive city in a remarkable setting. What is it about some kind of "evangelizing" instinct that inspires so many to go forth and proclaim the honest to goodness good news gospel of how awesome the Emerald City is? Heaven on earth? If we get too pleased, might we not risk ceasing to strive to make it even better?

Indeed I might like it better if the people who find themselves at home here would enjoy it a bit more quietly and humbly.

I enjoy it when these classic threads get resurrected. Please bump more of the oldies and goodies for us newbies.

[mrman78]

Mmm, interesting. So, I feel people do this everywhere they live. It's just that we are not all paying attention to every city, just the ones we live in. How do you know this isn't happening all over? Believe me, people would do this in Houston and I would just slap my hand on my forehead. Really? Houston? Really?!

Personally, I DO find Seattle 'Amazing' in terms of the fact it is nothing like Houston. I love it here. I've also lived in quite a few places stretching from the UK to Hawaii and Seattle is my favourite. I think it just depends on what you love and what's important to you. It does boggle my mind when people WANT to live somewhere like the south or the midwest, etc., but they have their reasons and everyone has their choice. I do feel that when people talk about those places being 'amazing' that they really ARE trying to convince themselves of that fact though ha. Ok I jest. But anyway, even if you hate Seattle, you have to admit it's still a pretty great setting for a city. Personally, I want to live somewhere ridiculously scenic (both mountains and water) with mild year-round temperatures and abundant outdoor activities. Seattle is the closest fit I have found to that in the US.

[elkotronics]

Seattle is by far the most rocking, coolest city on earth. Period.

[Black_Sheep3]

Originally Posted by mrman78

Mmm, interesting. So, I feel people do this everywhere they live. It's just that we are not all paying attention to every city, just the ones we live in.

We dont do that here in Georgia, if you hate it here, its completely fine.

[WANative]

Originally Posted by elkotronics

Seattle is by far the most rocking, coolest city on earth. Period.

LMAO!!!!! Good one!!

[mrman78]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep3

We dont do that here in Georgia, if you hate it here, its completely fine.

Cool. I just don't get why people waste their time living somewhere they hate lol.

[PrincessoftheCape]

The place as a whole stirs very mixed feelings in me. I (generally speaking) love the weather, though I miss serious snows. The mountains are great, and the pine trees are lovely... but the people drive me up a friggin' wall.

[elkotronics]

Why do the people drive you up a wall, Princess? Where do you live?

[portlanderinOC]

I like Seattle, there's some things about it I don't like, but the good definitely outweighs the bad.