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Perception vs. Reality: Seattle for the wrong reasons
Posted by: Submit_News |
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Topic City
Thought I'd try to post something for the benefit of those who're thinking about moving to Seattle, are visiting this site, and may not believe all of the
basic Seattle sucks posts.
Here are some things to consider if you fall into that category -- or maybe you're already here and have buyers' remorse over the move.
I see two basic groups of transplants:
Involuntary transplants: Corporate moves, military, born here, etc
Voluntary transplants: self explanatory: for whatever reason, you actively sought to move out here.
Factor that people who were born here and don't like it are a whole other topic, so leaving them out of this.
Let's get involuntary out of the way:
If you're a political conservative or even moderate, chances are you will absolutely hate this place.
Generally, people who don't move here by choice, unless they're fanatical about outdoor hobbies, will most likely hate it here.
Voluntary:
There are probably many more reasons, but here's a list I've come up with:
Political
Quality of Life
Intellectual and Cultural Reputation
You hate (or hated) the place you're from and believed all the good press about Seattle
Political:
Maybe you're a restless teenager or college student and you yearn to experience the Haight Ashbury granola days of the 1960's, right? You cannot stand our post 9/11 paranoia and reactionary politics. Deep in your soul, you feel the war in Iraq is wrong, right? So, pack up the microbus, hide your stash, and come to Seattle where you'll be accepted with open arms at the 24 hour hemp and hippy jamfest. Actually, load up the microbus, spend $900 on gas, and come up to the same stuff you see everywhere else in the country. You hear a lot about the "granola" up here, but those people are now senior citizens. Go hang out with your hip aunt in Nebraska if that's what you're looking for.
Or: you're a brainy college student who thinks Ohio is so bourgeoise or can't believe that Terra Haute's only indy music station was converted to classic rock. You like those slim, brainy university women -- you know the ones, take off the glasses and she looks just like Jessica Alba but can still debate the geopolitical affects of outsourced labor to developing nations with the best of them, right? She's going to dig you for your disseration on the how the existentialist metaphors in Marlowe's "Dr. Faustus" were precognitions of the atomic age, right? Yeah, those girls live here -- not.
Escaping the Red States: You know what, most of the country now is critical of the war and Bush administration (even Republicans are divided). If you think where you live in America somehow separates you from our foreign policy, energy policy, immigration policy, etc, and feel like a political minority in a "Red State" moving to Seattle will not magically solve this for you. The real solution is to vote -- not cluster in one area that's already polarized.
So, you thought you were a liberal: So, you grew up in North Carolina, or Arkansas, or Idaho and want to move somewhere that you think better reflects your political viewpoint. Spend a few months here and you'll start to realize how moderate you really are. "Liberalism" in Seattle means sickening Political Correctness, hypocrisy, closed mindedness, and timidity. The local government panders to any screaming ninny special interest groups that speak up. It's gotten so nothing really gets done, but that's cool with them, because laziness also prevails here.
Also, Seattle (whose locals overuse the word "diversity" as if they experience any) is very insular and xenophobic. Xenophobia that extends even to people from other parts of our own country. Maybe you saw a Neil Young video once and think you've got a liberal stance on homelessness? Hahah, walk 3 blocks in Seattle and you may rethink that. Guess what: Washington State has a very "liberal" firearm permit law that apparently doesn't require that someone have a permanent residence (or it's not checked). Arm the homeless (and, last year, a homeless guy with a concealed weapons permit shot another homeless guy).
Wanted to live in a "green place" -- Seattle's reputation as a "green city" is probably best relected in its hatred for the automobile, yet inability to provide transportation alternatives. DC has the Metro, NY has its subways. Seattle has buses that the homeless ride around on all day. Despite all of the hype, this is a car/bus town and traffic congestion reflects that.
You wanted to live somewhere "less uptight" -- Seattle is uptight in its own way. You don't have Christian fundamentalists trying to regulate vice; instead you get nanny state liberals doing the exact same
thing for secular reasons. There's also the often mentioned conformity factor here that needs to be seen to be believed.
Quality of Life:
You're sick of pollution, traffic, crime, failing school systems and concrete and metal. You yearn to get back to nature without sacrificing your urban salary and livelihood. You hate the rat race and want to go someplace where you can relax and go at your own pace. Ah, Seattle, that's the place, right?
Good Schools: As someone noted recently, WA State ranks somewhere like #33 in the Country for education -- Seattle's mayor acknowledges that their public school system is a mess.
Low Crime: Ditto the Crime stats aren't anything to brag about. Safer than South Central Los Angeles or New Orleans? You bet. If you're not worried about high rates of ID theft, sex offenders running loose, the occasional nutcase going on a rampage, and car theft, then at least you're not as likely to be mugged or murdered here.
The Great Outdoors: It rains a fair bit, not monsoon season rain, but this overcast spattering. Rain, though (calm down blueberry) isn't the problem. Sure, there's lots to do outdoors here, if you're into that. Consider your daily routine + what you do on weekends, then look at the hours you'll be working and the traffic congestion here. The outdoor lifestyle thing is really more of a fashion statement in Seattle -- because who really has the time to actually do anything? Consider how often you'll be able to actually go out and do the boating, skiing, hiking, that you're expecting to get your fill of here.
Laid back image: If your definition of "laid back" is lazy, self-serving, and noncommittal, then this is your place. If you're from the East Coast, and thought it was "way too uptight over there" -- surprise, you're now the uptight asshole. Get used to it. Customer service, quality of work, etc, unless you're from Urban New Jersey, will disappoint you.
Which statistics do you really care about? Do your really want to live in the most "Dog Friendly" place? Are you that into your canine, really? I call most of these self-promoting Seattle stats human interest stats. They might seem quaint or something, but they mean jack shit when it comes to the city's quality.
Dating: sucks, it sucks, it sucks, it sucks. If you're a guy, then the women are either androgynous, unapproachable, fat, or bossy psuedo-feminists. If you're a woman, so I hear, the men are timid, inconsiderate, cheap, and afraid of committment. The only people who might find the dating scene up here good are maybe gays and lesbians who want the PC tolerance they'd get in San Francisco without the high cost of living.
Social culture: passive-aggressive, solipsistic, awkward, inconsiderate, snooty. If that's your bag, then this is your place.
High cost of living: If you're a professional and are coming from another developed city, you're going to think the "high cost of living index" is overhyped. In fact, you and your six figure income just pulled a big one over on society because you got out of NY or DC or LA and are the new rich kid on the block here in the NW (maybe thinking "they thought they had a little housing boom here -- that's cute"). Seattle's cheaper than most big California or East Coast cities, I'd even venture places like Atlanta or Dallas might give Seattle a run for its money on cost of living. So why is it considered overpriced? Because you get less for what you pay for. On all levels. It's overpriced in the same way that Hamburg Pennsylvania would be overpriced if the cost of living were 15% more than it is (whatever it is, I made that name up, but it probably exists).
Intellectual and Cultural Reputation
Literate: If that appeals to you, consider why you read. And don't they have a freaking Barnes and Noble where you live anyway? If you read and then actually want to discuss literature, forget it. These people are so non-confrontational and PC that they're not going to get into any serious literary debates with you. Also, I suspect that the ubiquitous books you see here are less actual intellectual gratification and more a social excuse to avoid talking to anyone for these people (laptops and iPods used to the same effect).
Arts: This is a joke, right? You have cities like NY, Washington D.C., Denver, even Dallas, TX that have more developed art and science museums than Seattle. Their zoo is mediocre, and you'll find better aquariums in a Las Vegas casino. As far as theatre goes -- what theatre? Seriously, look and see what's playing here. If you're from any sort of big city at all, welcome to small town culture. You'll get to hear about things like "Eastside Living" and "Bellevue cannot possibly offer what Seattle does" and bullshit like that you most likely do not, nor will ever, give a shit about.
Culinary: Scandanavian and Asian. Despite the foodie culture, what you'll really get is "Isn't Sonic sooo much better than McDonalds?" Oh yeah, they serve the same shit at the Starbucks up here that they serve at the Starbucks in Dubuque, IA.
Music: Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam sure kicked ass 17 years ago, didn't they? Enough said. Oh, Beatbox Blake -- he's a local so they think he's Mozart here.
Hate (or hated) where you're from:
Worst reason to move anyway. If you already hate where you live, then guess what -- you're probably going to hate Seattle, too.
Conclusion:
If you are from a major metropolitan area anywhere else in the country, you're going to be underwhelmed by Seattle. Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest -- look at a map, that's a lot of open, empty space, isn't it? You'll have Vancouver, Canada, and Portland Oregon nearby -- Vancouver is nice; Portland is Seattle Jr with less nanny state laws. Just like the "Great outdoors" theory, these places are still 2 hours away or so. You'll see the Space Needle and shrug, wondering why the locals make such a big deal about it. Likewise, everything else they talk up like it's a tremendous cultural achievement will probably seem bland, almost laughable, to you.
If you're from the sticks out in the West and are looking for a dose of urban life -- you might not be that disappointed with Seattle. I'd venture that you'd be the group to find the place truly expensive and you'd probably deal with the same frustrations that other people do with the insular, passive aggressive culture.
If you have no choice, then all you can really do is make the best of it, hope this info and other shmengers' comments help brace you for this place. If you're one of those who think they might want to live here voluntarily, consider your reasons, look past the propaganda, and try to make an informed decision. Bear in mind that the locals will talk this place up -- you may agree with them, you may not, but regardless they will not shut up about it once you get here; even if you make observations to the contrary.
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| Perception vs. Reality: Seattle for the wrong reasons | Log-in or register a new user account | 3 Comments |
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Re: Perception vs. Reality: Seattle for the wrong reasons
by m_h_978 on Jul 16, 2007 - 01:41 AM
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Let's not forget if you're not from Seattle the locals wont like you and you will be alienated. Big loss.
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Re: Perception vs. Reality: Seattle for the wrong reasons
by slick on Jul 17, 2007 - 03:55 AM
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I think you forgot that Seattle is the poster child for Communism and/or Socialism in the making. Also if you have read Bill O'Reilly's most recent book - Culture Warrior, Seattle is VERY MUCH A secular-progressive city. I am very much a conservative and take to heart your comment about that political affiliation because I truly hated Seattle.
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Re: Perception vs. Reality: Seattle for the wrong reasons
by evil_jackass on Jul 23, 2007 - 09:31 PM
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Forgot to add that Washington state is a haven for deadbeats and crybabies who leach off of society at the expense of people who follow the rules and pay taxes.
I won't say that socialism is a totally lost cause -- just that few countries have been able to make it work out for them (and those are mostly small countries) -- Washington state sure as hell would never be successful at it, just like they're unsuccessful in anything else that doesn't require private sector wealth to step in.
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