Are people from Seattle really this snobby?? (longgg)

[RadioNate]

I also do agree with the 'fake nice'

It is not that people aren't 'nice' it is just hard to get to know people. The tend to be pretty cliquish. And the women here tend to demand better treatment than in other areas.

It is like with racism here. It is not overt....no one would ever say anything mean to your face, they just don't invite you over, make sense?

The will be nice, friendly, agreeable....but are difficult to get to know or to open up. I'm guilty of this too.

I do think it is a regional thing.

It does not sound like the OP's friend though...she just sounds obnoxious.

BTW-trader joes and nordstrom ARE great places, lol.

You also summed up my feelings quite well and I agree. I totally admit that I was miserable living in that area and that definately has colored by opinion.

No one is very open. And I have found that to be regional. My inlaws are that way. When I lived there no one was interested in getting to know me. And I was frequently labeled as being 'nosey' when I'd ask people common questions like "how was your weekend, do anything fun?"

No one offered anything more than the very basic of information. No additional details. If you asked where they went to eat or cool places to hang out people acted like you were asking about every deeply personal detail of their life. It was like everything was a big secret and they weren't giving it up to someone who relocated there.

Whereas when we moved to SC or Memphis or San Antonio people would fall over themselves to tell you what restaurants were good, where to have your kids birthday party, the best bars and would invite you into their social scene. That never happened in Portland or Seattle.

And people are uptight about the weather. Can't say anything negative about it without them getting totally defensive. My DH grew up in Oregon, he's the same way. I don't 'bring out the teeth' when people say something negative about Chicago, where I grew up, or about disliking snow or whatever. I just think to each their own. I don't get defensive. I doesn't bother me, I really just don't care.

 

[FreshTressa]

I have been accused of being 'nosey' by someone before. It cracks me up. I did not even care what the answers were. At the time, I was just making conversation and pretending to be interested.

I thought most books told you to be better at listening and asking questions than talking, lol.

 

[RadioNate]

I have been accused of being 'nosey' by someone before. It cracks me up. I did not even care what the answers were. At the time, I was just making conversation and pretending to be interested.

I thought most books told you to be better at listening and asking questions than talking, lol.

See what I found living in the pacific northwest is that people just don't "make conversation." They would rather sit quitely and in their own little world. I know my inlaws like it that way but it wasn't for me at all.

I look at my coworkers there. I couldn't tell you what area of town they lived in, what their husbands or kids names were, where they liked to go for lunch or drinks after work. Nothing. No one shared any of that. But even though I don't work here. I know DH's co-workers, their spouses, kids, their lunch and after work hangouts, where they live.

Again, to each their own.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Wow three days and three pages... I think this is the longest thread I've ever started!

I also do agree with the 'fake nice'

It is not that people aren't 'nice' it is just hard to get to know people. The tend to be pretty cliquish. And the women here tend to demand better treatment than in other areas.

It is like with racism here. It is not overt....no one would ever say anything mean to your face, they just don't invite you over, make sense?

The will be nice, friendly, agreeable....but are difficult to get to know or to open up. I'm guilty of this too.

I do think it is a regional thing.

It does not sound like the OP's friend though...she just sounds obnoxious.

BTW-trader joes and nordstrom ARE great places, lol.

I think you hit the nail on the head with your definition of "fake nice". She said "I don't care to meet anyone new- my friends at home are FABULOUS, why would I want to make any new ones?"

Of course I didn't say "because maybe you wouldn't hate this place so much if you'd shut up about Seattle and start TRYING to open up and meet people here, because everyone already doesn't want to be your friend because you're an snobby PIA!"

I think she is "fake nice" to an extent, but definitely very obnoxious on top of it.

I did however, just find out that she got a job as a TEACHER! YES! TEACHER! This means that for at least 2 and a half months out of the year, she'll be gone Although I pity the little minds she's going to be molding

 

[delilah]

She sounds like a coworker of mine. Especially the "fake nice" part. Except she's from Evansville, IN. So I guess there a fake nice snobs all over.

 

[ducklite]

. Here is one of my all time favorite quotes - and I am not making this up:

Other than the fact that it rains every day 9 months out of the year Seattle has the best weather of any city.

I've been to Seattle half a dozen times. It's OK, nothing special in my book, certainly nothing to brag about. And Nordtroms is a nice store, but it's not Neiman Marcus.

Sounds like he should give her a ticket back home as a gift. One way.

Anne

 

[tuckerkeys]

hey op, sorry to say but i hate your city too! (really, i do..) i am from NJ and went to ODU in 1992...for 1 yr...b/c i just didn't like it that much....and i haven't been back. although i have heard that the place is a bit different from when i went to school there ( lots nicer!!) ......i'd love to see how different it is now! my friends parents live in VA beach, and i hear how nice it has gotten-- the northern part...i wasn't too impressed w/ the downtown va beach...the thing that weirded me out was the "slowness" of things.... being from jersey we want it when we want it, and that means now!!! and the whole taking your grocerys out to the car for you ma'am, well, it was different from what i grew up with, and i didn't like it, therefore i LEFT!!! ( although i'm sure i'll visit again someday...) seems as if this girl is having a hard time dealing with her move, and neds to pis* on something to make her feel better.... she should shut up & be happy she's living with her boyfriend- hey is that outdoor concert thing ( the shell?) still there? i remember seeing the ocean blue there sept 1992 for free it was nice

 

[binny]

She sounds like a coworker of mine. Especially the "fake nice" part. Except she's from Evansville, IN. So I guess there a fake nice snobs all over.

exactly.

A I said people will snobs no matter where they are from. I never found that in Seattle or really any other area but then maybe I just go out and make my own friends and my own way when I get somewhere.

Tressa, Im sorry youve found that there. That makes my heart sad.
Unfortuantely ignorance (and snobbiness) can be found in any area. I dont go looking for it so maybe I just dont see it as much as others do in any given area.

 

[Cindyluwho]

Im sure there are some snobs and Bellevue seems to have a few more than other areas, but that does not mean we are all that way or that we have more than any other part of the country.

I'm so glad you posted the statement about Bellevue. After reading the OP I couldn't help but wonder if this chick doesn't have blonde hair (with lots of hairspray), foobies, and perfect makeup. Her whole attitude reeks of the "Eastside". To be fair, not all folks from Bellevue and the Eastside have that kind of attitude but if you were to go out to a nightclub there and they didn't know you - you'd be shunned. Unless, of course, you had the Eastside hairdo, makeup and foobies. And if you dared to go to Bellevue Square Mall without the proper clothing there's no way a salesperson will pay attention to you! Seriously!!!
On the other hand, Seattle is totally laid back. I've been here for 20 years and everyone has always been bery cordial, wonderful neighbors, etc.

Edited to add: please don't send that witchiepoo back here!!!

 

[Nicolepa]

I'm so glad you posted the statement about Bellevue. After reading the OP I couldn't help but wonder if this chick doesn't have blonde hair (with lots of hairspray), foobies, and perfect makeup. Her whole attitude reeks of the "Eastside". To be fair, not all folks from Bellevue and the Eastside have that kind of attitude but if you were to go out to a nightclub there and they didn't know you - you'd be shunned. Unless, of course, you had the Eastside hairdo, makeup and foobies. And if you dared to go to Bellevue Square Mall without the proper clothing there's no way a salesperson will pay attention to you! Seriously!!!
On the other hand, Seattle is totally laid back. I've been here for 20 years and everyone has always been bery cordial, wonderful neighbors, etc.

I just don't understand this. I have been in this area for 25 years. I went to school in Bellevue, I grew up in Bellevue, now live in Sammamish. I can go to Bellevue square in my workout clothes and still get waited on in the Ralph Lauren, Facionable, Liz Claiborne departments. Not that I shop there a lot now that I am a SAHM. I've grown up glad that I didn't have to dress up to go to the mall like we did in Texas, or I have to do when I visit Florida.

There is a LOT of hidden money here. What I mean by that is someone who works at Microsoft (to name one) can be a multi millionare but they are wearing jeans and a T shirt that was probably given to them at some confrence they attended. You cannot judge someone here by how they are dressed etc because you would probably be wrong. They could be wearing rags but go into the high end car dealership and pay cash. A salesperson would have to be pretty dumb around here not to wait on someone because of how they are dressed.

 

[Nicolepa]

Cindyluwho I never noticed you were from Seattle. I would love to see those copper counters in person some day! Dh has always wanted to do stainless countertops but I love your copper!

 

[Cindyluwho]

Cindyluwho I never noticed you were from Seattle. I would love to see those copper counters in person some day! Dh has always wanted to do stainless countertops but I love your copper!

Send me a pm and I'll email you my phone number. I'd love to show off my kitchen! I originally got the idea from eating at the Pyramid Alehouse across from the Mariner's Stadium.

 

[FreshTressa]

I'm so glad you posted the statement about Bellevue. After reading the OP I couldn't help but wonder if this chick doesn't have blonde hair (with lots of hairspray), foobies, and perfect makeup. Her whole attitude reeks of the "Eastside". To be fair, not all folks from Bellevue and the Eastside have that kind of attitude but if you were to go out to a nightclub there and they didn't know you - you'd be shunned. Unless, of course, you had the Eastside hairdo, makeup and foobies. And if you dared to go to Bellevue Square Mall without the proper clothing there's no way a salesperson will pay attention to you! Seriously!!!
On the other hand, Seattle is totally laid back. I've been here for 20 years and everyone has always been bery cordial, wonderful neighbors, etc.

Edited to add: please don't send that witchiepoo back here!!!

Hey, I'm from the 'eastside'
I grew up here...so I'm used to it. I had no idea it was different in other places. I do hear lots of complaints from newcomers, though.

And you are right about neighbors...all those 'fake nice' people make great neighbors...and no one beeps at you and they let you in when you turn your blinker on (most of the time!). I think people here are very cordial (in general).

I lived in Aberdeen for a bit...those were the unfriendliest people I have ever met...to be fair, it was during the whole spotted owl, giant layoff faze, but I never made one female friend while living there, only male.

Disclaimer:these are generalizations...i'm sure there are nice and rude people everywhere!

 

[FreshTressa]

Cindyluwho I never noticed you were from Seattle. I would love to see those copper counters in person some day! Dh has always wanted to do stainless countertops but I love your copper!

Doesn't she have the greatest kitchen??

I might LIKE cooking if I had a great place like that to do it!!

 

[hentob]

Doesn't she have the greatest kitchen??

I might LIKE cooking if I had a great place like that to do it!!

Are you kidding? I'd never want to mess it up

Just kidding Great kitchen, Cindy!

 

[KarenAylwood]

hey op, sorry to say but i hate your city too! (really, i do..) i am from NJ and went to ODU in 1992...for 1 yr...b/c i just didn't like it that much....and i haven't been back. although i have heard that the place is a bit different from when i went to school there ( lots nicer!!) ......i'd love to see how different it is now! my friends parents live in VA beach, and i hear how nice it has gotten-- the northern part...i wasn't too impressed w/ the downtown va beach...the thing that weirded me out was the "slowness" of things.... being from jersey we want it when we want it, and that means now!!! and the whole taking your grocerys out to the car for you ma'am, well, it was different from what i grew up with, and i didn't like it, therefore i LEFT!!! ( although i'm sure i'll visit again someday...) seems as if this girl is having a hard time dealing with her move, and neds to pis* on something to make her feel better.... she should shut up & be happy she's living with her boyfriend- hey is that outdoor concert thing ( the shell?) still there? i remember seeing the ocean blue there sept 1992 for free it was nice

Yes, it's changed A LOT since then- that was 15 years ago! I was just talking to someone recently about how I live in Ghent and he said that it used to be a really horrible area (it's by Norfolk General) and now it's pretty much only for rich people and students renting apartments in expensive converted houses. It's gorgeous and they've done a lot to this area (but like every city- walk about 10 blocks down and it's the ghetto again ).

I agree about the taking the groceries to your car thing- I HATE IT (unheard of in NY as it is in NJ). I won't shop at stores that do that. There's only one in the area that does that now though. There's one in Williamsburg (Ukrops) that does it too. I don't think the outdoor concert thing is still here... there's a new downtown area called Waterside with tons of shopping, restaurants, bars and a huge park where they have festivals and concerts.

And I don't blame you for transferring- I wouldn't get within 10 BLOCKS of where ODU is. I went there once my sophomore year at W&M and thought I was going to get shot! They do have a new convocation center where they have concerts and sporting events- it's gorgeous.

Either way, I agree the city isn't the best (it's not really a "city" in my book) but it's WAAYYY more than I grew up with. Being able to walk to really nice restaurants, museums and a theater, having stuff to actually DO! Either way, this chick is going to be here for 3+ more years- she better either shut up or ship out in my opinion. I don't even take it that personally that she doesn't like the city - it's the feeling that I'm not good enough or rich enough that gets me.

I took care of their kittens this weekend while they were out of town... saw a receipt for a $1,000 espresso maker from Starbucks on their fridge... I don't know about most people, but I wouldn't be shelling out that kind of cash when I'm UNEMPLOYED! (possibility that it was bought on med school loans, but that's almost worse!)

I get it now- it may have something to do with her growing up in Seattle (from seeing many of your posts) but it probably has more to do with growing up rich, spoiled and too cool for most people.

 

[Alice28]

Wow, I'm sorry so many here feel that NWers are 'fake nice' or snobby or exclusive or whatever you want to call it.

When I moved to Portland from San Jose, I thought I moved to the friendliest place on earth! (San Jose was getting pretty darn cut-throat and snobby in general with the housing prices going thru the ROOF- a lot of people there just seem entitled to everything...it shocks me when I go back to visit how different it is). I find Portland to be VERY open, inviting, friendly, etc. I'm sure there is regional snobbiness- it's why I can never see myself moving to the east coast, midwest or south- I identify with being a West coast person. It's not that I feel superior to any other region, it's just a part of me. But I would definitely try and open up and be outgoing should I someday move to a different part of the country- I certainly would want to make friends with people, not alienate myself by talking trash about my new city. Obviously the person the OP is referring to has some real insecurity problems.

 

[momof2inPA]

hey op, sorry to say but i hate your city too! (really, i do..) i am from NJ and went to ODU in 1992...for 1 yr...b/c i just didn't like it that much....and i haven't been back. although i have heard that the place is a bit different from when i went to school there ( lots nicer!!) ......i'd love to see how different it is now! my friends parents live in VA beach, and i hear how nice it has gotten-- the northern part...i wasn't too impressed w/ the downtown va beach...the thing that weirded me out was the "slowness" of things.... being from jersey we want it when we want it, and that means now!!! and the whole taking your grocerys out to the car for you ma'am, well, it was different from what i grew up with, and i didn't like it, therefore i LEFT!!! ( although i'm sure i'll visit again someday...) seems as if this girl is having a hard time dealing with her move, and neds to pis* on something to make her feel better.... she should shut up & be happy she's living with her boyfriend- hey is that outdoor concert thing ( the shell?) still there? i remember seeing the ocean blue there sept 1992 for free it was nice

To be fair, there are tons of people who would NEVER want to live in New Jersey.