"How Come Seattleites are such Isolators?" in Pacific Magazine

[claudiajean]

The conversation continues in the local MSM:


Seattle's long been described in contradictory terms. The weather: Is it mild or dreary or mildly dreary? The politics: Progressive yet torpid. Progressing toward torpor? The attitude: Tolerant — of all like-minded people.

But the dichotomy most fundamental to our collective civic character is this: Polite but distant. Have a nice day. Somewhere else.

We're the ideal seatmate on an airplane. We slide in, exchange a smile and a succinct pleasantry, then leave you be for the rest of the flight. Alaska Airlines should capitalize on this with ads that promise: "Uninterrupted service from Seattle — and we mean it."

Seattle is like that popular girl in high school. The one who gets your vote for homecoming queen because she always smiles and says hello. But she doesn't know your name and doesn't care to. She doesn't want to be your friend. She's just being nice.


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2005/0213/cover.html

[understandinglife]

1. I've lived in Seattle for almost 10 years and this assessment is bull-shit

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4173.htm


WE THE PEOPLE .... WILL NEVER FORGET

"... we sent our young people into harm's way without leveling with the American people." - Congresswoman Pelosi before Congress, 16 June 2005

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us - Impeachment of Bush and Cheney; indictment and prosecution of all members of the Bush regime who participated in the deception, should be campaign promises of any candidate worthy of our vote in the 2006 Congressional elections.

[claudiajean]

4. Hmmm..I've lived in Seattle for 39 years, and I think there is some truth

...in the concept.

Otherwise, why would so many people who move here from elsewhere have similar experiences?

And is a reserved social character necessarily a bad thing?

The first thread on this topic was pretty lively (for a thread in this forum), and I found it fascinating to read.

As an almost-native (my family moved here when I was three weeks old, so I cannot ever consider myself a native under the strict societal rules here), I think it's really interesting to see how people who didn't grow up here experienced their first year or so...

I do know this - my closest friends, with the one exception of my partner, are all people that I met before I turned eight years old. We grew up together, attended the same elementary, junior high and high schools, same university, bought houses in roughly the same neighborhoods, and those who have kids are repeating the cycle with their kids, who have all grown up together.

And it's not necessarily that we want to only have enduring social connections in the same group of people we have known forever, but that even people who have lived here a long time can have problems connecting and making new friends outside of their established group.

[understandinglife]

6. Thanks for sharing that. But, in almost 10 years, I've met...

... many, many folk - native and transplant - and have not had any experience remotely as the article described.

I'll just consider myself extremely fortunate for the opportunity to live in such a lively, diverse, aware and beautiful place.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4173.htm


WE THE PEOPLE .... WILL NEVER FORGET

"... we sent our young people into harm's way without leveling with the American people." - Congresswoman Pelosi before Congress, 16 June 2005

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us - Impeachment of Bush and Cheney; indictment and prosecution of all members of the Bush regime who participated in the deception, should be campaign promises of any candidate worthy of our vote in the 2006 Congressional elections.

[mondo joe]

9. I've lived here for almost 20 years. I think it's pretty true - polite

but distant.

But I like that now.

[Mythsaje]

2. I heard

something on this topic on the radio last year sometime. I can't speak for everyone, but I've got a touch of social anxiety, and usually don't speak to someone unless they speak to me first. I simply don't want to intrude.

I'm nearly always civil--it's embarassing not to be--and, by nature, am tolerant of nearly every type of person out there. Those I cannot tolerate, I do my best to avoid.

Of course, I'm not a Seattlite. I'm from Tacoma. We have our own issues with some Seattle folks. According to a comic acquaintance of mine, the Seattle comedy scene is rife with folks who look down on Tacoma comics. According to some Tacoma pagans, the Seattle Pagan scene is rife with folks who look down on Tacoma pagans.

Not sure where it comes from, or even if it's true. <shrug>

[democracyindanger]

3. Seattle is like the popular girl in high school's obnoxious friend

The one you put up with only because you're trying to get in with the popular girl.

Former Portlander here. :evilgrin:

[Wetzelbill]

5. Lived there for two years

All I know is I liked it and wouldn't mind going back.

[togiak]

7. I live in Seattle

though I moved here only 3 years ago. I've found that Seattlites are somewhat shy but if you initiate a conversation they are very happy to talk....that's been my experience.

[unionwelder]

8. Well,

As a 4th generation Olympia native, You all talk way too much!! :rofl: :hide:

[Acumensch]

10. Very true

Also, Seattle-natives talk about participatory politics but they rarely participate in any actions, I mean given the size of their city. That's hypocrisy. Olympia and Tacoma are much more active. Is that just part of the Seattle politeness complex too?

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

11. Is it possible

that the distance you experience is the distance you yourself keep ,what you send is also what you receive.

Getting to know your locality is getting to know the people,you know them or you don,t. So the real question is, do you want to know them? And if you do,get to it. Because that,s just where it,s not so dismal,in fact it,s aways warm and sunny! It ,s all in how you say hi!