Slog
News & ArtsFriday, June 12, 2009
City Six Things You Can't Say in Seattle
Posted by Eli Sanders on Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 3:14 PM
There were all kinds of things on the agenda for this morning's Weekday—health care reform, Amanda Knox, Swine Flu—but we got quite distracted by this.
So did the listeners, who called in with their own lists of things you can't say in Seattle: "I love Seattle," "I'm on dial-up," "Baseball is boring," "Get your dog out of this bar."
Host Steve Scher also read aloud a competing list of Six Things You Can't Say in Seattle that was offered by Slog commenter Objective observer. That list included:
6. "I hate you"; "I'm happy"; any expression of pure emotion rather than attempts to follow moral rules and codes.5. "You know, you're too uninformed and mistaken to make a valid contribution to this discussion, so we won't include your views in the final report. Please sit down and shut up, you're just blocking progress." ...
1. "Actually, the rain does suck!"
Clearly, however, we have not arrived at the final and definitive list. I trust the commenters of Slog can provide additional help.
3
Granted it's not something you say, but nobody honks horns around here. Instead everyone lets the jackass who's not paying attention sit for a light cycle.
4
"Get your baseball loving dog out of the gawdamned bar!" flies out of my mouth on a weekly basis...
7
"IF YOU MENTION THE WEATHER ONE MORE TIME I'M GOING TO SHOVE A CUMULONIMBUS STRAIGHT UP YOUR ASS!"
9
"What happened to our summmmmmmmer" in a whiny-ass tone, usually starts after the first nice weekend in April, then continues until September, every single time you get one cloudy day.
10
Seattle is so passive, really you can say whatever you want and no one will question you ... to your face that is ... they will just talk shit behind your back.
The insults are more like backhanded compliments. It's ridiculous really. Just say what you really mean or shut the fuck up already. I will intentionally ignore your little "hints" at disapproval just because it is such a weak tactic.
The insults are more like backhanded compliments. It's ridiculous really. Just say what you really mean or shut the fuck up already. I will intentionally ignore your little "hints" at disapproval just because it is such a weak tactic.
11
"Vancouver is way better than Seattle."
or
"Why don't they have any all-night places like they do in NYC?"
or
"Why don't they have any all-night places like they do in NYC?"
21
People have such misconceptions about Seattleites, even ol' Mossback himself.
We are NOT 'nice.' We're POLITE. POLITE is not the same as NICE.
If you come up to me at the bus stop and ask me how to get to [local place], I will try to help you find it. Even if I'm walking along a street in Ballard and I have no fucking clue myself.
However, if you try to strike up a conversation and I don't know you, I will listen for as long as I have to, smiling tensely, and then leave as soon as possible.
We are NOT 'nice.' We're POLITE. POLITE is not the same as NICE.
If you come up to me at the bus stop and ask me how to get to [local place], I will try to help you find it. Even if I'm walking along a street in Ballard and I have no fucking clue myself.
However, if you try to strike up a conversation and I don't know you, I will listen for as long as I have to, smiling tensely, and then leave as soon as possible.
22
"Seattle's never really produced all that much good music; grunge was just terrible for the most part -- too much testosterone poisoning, and the really interesting stuff is actually from elsewhere, or got the hell out as soon as they could".
24
"warshington"
"Actually, I kind of like Metro"
"Dick's burgers are inferior to [insert burger place here]'s"
and
"I read the stranger for the articles"
"Actually, I kind of like Metro"
"Dick's burgers are inferior to [insert burger place here]'s"
and
"I read the stranger for the articles"
27
I've gotten myself in trouble with any judgments that are overly analytical, even if they're positive -- i.e. "These margaritas are really delicious, I think they must have made their own sour mix" seems to get me into just as much hot water as "That custard wasn't as creamy as I expected it to be and the chocolate lacked flavor." The response is inevitably "Why can't you just enjoy it? Why do you have to analyze everything."
The second is ANY COMPARISON AT ALL of Seattle to another city, again even a favorable one. Saying "I wish Seattle had all-night diners like NYC" will get you in more trouble than saying "Seattle is kind of like a big Ithaca" or "Portland has better food but Seattle is much more beautiful." Natives and neo-natives seem to think Seattle is novel and so unique that it's impossible to compare, rank or judge.
Also: The honking. Seriously -- I have been stuck behind lines of people sitting for whole light cycles and NO ONE honks. Christ Jesus, people.
The second is ANY COMPARISON AT ALL of Seattle to another city, again even a favorable one. Saying "I wish Seattle had all-night diners like NYC" will get you in more trouble than saying "Seattle is kind of like a big Ithaca" or "Portland has better food but Seattle is much more beautiful." Natives and neo-natives seem to think Seattle is novel and so unique that it's impossible to compare, rank or judge.
Also: The honking. Seriously -- I have been stuck behind lines of people sitting for whole light cycles and NO ONE honks. Christ Jesus, people.
28
@24, it was interesting to hear Gary Snyder say "Warshington" (and "droughth") at his recent talk at Benaroya! I've been wondering if anyone else noticed that.
29
Oh g-d. I didn't even read Objective observers post before making my comment about novelty... 2 out of 25 anonymous internet commenters can't be wrong!
32
How about "I got rid of my bike and bought a car"? Or "Throw another steak on the fire". " My pit bull is so sweet, he wouldn't hurt a fly" "You can't tear that down and build condos" "I just love Carrie Prejean"
34
"you know, in NY you can actually buy apartments. You don't have to call it a 'condo' just to justify the expense"
38
-People who are into their outdoor gear are easily as materialistic as anyone into real fashion, and act more superior. At least fashion people admit their materialism.
-Waiting for the f*cking 'walk' light to change before crossing the street is a sign of laziness. Act like you have somewhere to be. Also, walk faster.
-The vast majority of liberals in Seattle have almost no interest in art or what is going on in the rest of the world culturally, unless it's covered on NPR and they can pick it up passively. Being progressive here requires only that you recycle, sustain, etc., in a technical fleece vest from REI. Those things are important, don't get me wrong, but they're not what makes a city interesting.
-No one cares about your garden. Everyone only cares about their own garden. Stop talking about your garden.
-Bellevue actually does suck. All suburbs suck. Stop trying to act like your suburb is as interesting as a city – just admit you like to live in the suburbs and argue on the merits (there are some).
Now some positives:
-Northwestern Girls. It must be in the air here.
-Seattle is a great place to drink, a lot, pretty cheaply, in really good bars.
-The music scene is really good here.
-If you get off your ass and look around a little, both in and out of the city, this is a great place to live – it just takes some effort.
-Waiting for the f*cking 'walk' light to change before crossing the street is a sign of laziness. Act like you have somewhere to be. Also, walk faster.
-The vast majority of liberals in Seattle have almost no interest in art or what is going on in the rest of the world culturally, unless it's covered on NPR and they can pick it up passively. Being progressive here requires only that you recycle, sustain, etc., in a technical fleece vest from REI. Those things are important, don't get me wrong, but they're not what makes a city interesting.
-No one cares about your garden. Everyone only cares about their own garden. Stop talking about your garden.
-Bellevue actually does suck. All suburbs suck. Stop trying to act like your suburb is as interesting as a city – just admit you like to live in the suburbs and argue on the merits (there are some).
Now some positives:
-Northwestern Girls. It must be in the air here.
-Seattle is a great place to drink, a lot, pretty cheaply, in really good bars.
-The music scene is really good here.
-If you get off your ass and look around a little, both in and out of the city, this is a great place to live – it just takes some effort.
39
From the home office in Covington, Washington...
5. You're driving too slow.
4. Hey man, you're really quiet. Why don't you just let loose and scream?
3. TOS is better than Next Gen.
2. I double bag when buying meat so the juice doesn't leak into my SUV's carpet.
And the number one thing you can't say in Seattle:
1. Stop by the Republican booth at Bumbershoot, and I'll give you those brochures I was telling you about.
42
Will -- man to express the ultimate Seattleish style, you're perfect! You hit the nail on the head. So very passive; the faux concern; the immediate characterization of an honest expression of something negative, as a verboten "emotion" (the Scandies are famous for that -- any emotion is just a sign of an unhygenic mental state, -- if you have an emotion, you repress it for years (until one day you go crazy like J. Lange in 1000 acres or that chick in Cries and Whispers when she took that broken glass and tried to slice her own self!); and most of all, the ultimate zinger, the geographical disqualification.
Because as we know, if you're not from here, well, enough said.
Bravo. A perfect expression of the Seattleite shtick! ROTFL at your brilliant parody!
Because as we know, if you're not from here, well, enough said.
Bravo. A perfect expression of the Seattleite shtick! ROTFL at your brilliant parody!
43
Btw, you gotta wonder **exactly who** is that Objective Observer.
Sure sounds kinda sarcastic and ultra snarky......
Sure sounds kinda sarcastic and ultra snarky......
44
Knute is a douchebag, and you're not allowed to say that Bellevue is kinda cool because it's really, truly, not even remotely cool. Bellevue is Lake Washington's unkempt armpit.
45
@39, #3
Um. You can't say that anywhere, because it's obviously false. You can file that memo under, "the mutherfuckin' truth, amen".
Um. You can't say that anywhere, because it's obviously false. You can file that memo under, "the mutherfuckin' truth, amen".
50
@3: In Shoreline--my new revier--there's honking all the time. Constant honking. Worse just after school gets out. Is there an anthro major who can help me understand this, or will understanding it make me feel less happy?
@27: Go, go gadget jigae!
@27: Go, go gadget jigae!
51
-I don't like Nirvana.
-I like watching tv.
-Plastic please
-I'd rather go to Starbuck's
-Let's eat at Mcdonald's tonight
-I like watching tv.
-Plastic please
-I'd rather go to Starbuck's
-Let's eat at Mcdonald's tonight
52
One thing you CAN say here:
"If you hate Seattle so much, why don't you move your pathetic, whiny ass to Colorado Springs or Charlotte or Detroit, you stupid fucking douchebag."
"If you hate Seattle so much, why don't you move your pathetic, whiny ass to Colorado Springs or Charlotte or Detroit, you stupid fucking douchebag."
55
Dude, you can totally talk about how the rain sucks. No one ever shuts up about it! I, personally, love the rain and it's part of why I moved here, but every time it rains I hear nothing but people whining about it. Of course then it gets hot and sunny and they whine that it's too hot. Frankly, people in Seattle need to stop whining about the weather. But it's certainly not a verboten topic.
57
6 Things One Dare Not Utter in Seattle
1. The race of a suspected criminal. To do so would of course be racist. Never mind that it could be of great help catching a murderer or rapist.
2. That it's usually optimal for a child to be raised by a mother and father.
3. That Seattle is racially segregated.
4. That food allergies, lactose intolerance, SAD, assorted anxiety disorders and the like are often nacissistic fabrications.
5. That soccer is mind-numbingly boring as are soccer posers who had no interest whatsoever in the sport until the Sounders arrived.
6. That Seattle police put more effort into policing jaywalking than they do legit criminal activity. For a visual aid, take a stroll trough Belltown.
It's too bad this is relegated to six as so many more utterances are prohibited in "liberal" Seattle.
1. The race of a suspected criminal. To do so would of course be racist. Never mind that it could be of great help catching a murderer or rapist.
2. That it's usually optimal for a child to be raised by a mother and father.
3. That Seattle is racially segregated.
4. That food allergies, lactose intolerance, SAD, assorted anxiety disorders and the like are often nacissistic fabrications.
5. That soccer is mind-numbingly boring as are soccer posers who had no interest whatsoever in the sport until the Sounders arrived.
6. That Seattle police put more effort into policing jaywalking than they do legit criminal activity. For a visual aid, take a stroll trough Belltown.
It's too bad this is relegated to six as so many more utterances are prohibited in "liberal" Seattle.
59
I think we need to hear from people who have actually gotten in trouble for saying any of these things. The voices in your head telling you not to say those things don't count. We need convincingly written stories describing an incident where saying something actually got you in trouble.
60
#59, I have one:
I was at Six Arms sitting at the bar. We'd just stopped in for a quick drink before we had to meet our ride home. The bartender looked at our IDs but didn't actually take our drink order. The place was pretty empty because it was a weekday afternoon.
He turned around and started wiping the bar. Another couple walked in and he checked their ID and served them right away.
We sat there for a few more minutes and decided to leave because we had to meet our friend. We got up and started to walk out when the bartender yelled after us angrily and sarcastically, "Sorry, I'm all by myself here!!!" In this case, we didn't even have to say anything and we'd personally offended the guy.
I was at Six Arms sitting at the bar. We'd just stopped in for a quick drink before we had to meet our ride home. The bartender looked at our IDs but didn't actually take our drink order. The place was pretty empty because it was a weekday afternoon.
He turned around and started wiping the bar. Another couple walked in and he checked their ID and served them right away.
We sat there for a few more minutes and decided to leave because we had to meet our friend. We got up and started to walk out when the bartender yelled after us angrily and sarcastically, "Sorry, I'm all by myself here!!!" In this case, we didn't even have to say anything and we'd personally offended the guy.
61
@59: I provided examples. I'm assuming a lot of your examples will involve dirty looks, cold shoulders, and other relatively passive displays of disapproval. It doesn't mean they aren't real.
62
Seattle sucks period. Everyone who lives there and thinks it is cool should kill themselves today.
64
I had a BFF from college move "out here" a couple decades ago... I, however, was a comparatively recently transplant to Portland. Once here, I asked to come by. At one point, he said, "Why would I want to come to Portland?"
My reply,"Because I live here."
I couldn't understand WTF was wrong with the boy, until I read this! Now, I "get" what his major malfunction is.
Thanks, Stranger and commenters, for arming me with the tools to create lacerating comebacks to a Seattleite (the correct spelling of your *citi-zen ship* is the worst piece of wordsmithing I have ever seen, BTW).
My reply,"Because I live here."
I couldn't understand WTF was wrong with the boy, until I read this! Now, I "get" what his major malfunction is.
Thanks, Stranger and commenters, for arming me with the tools to create lacerating comebacks to a Seattleite (the correct spelling of your *citi-zen ship* is the worst piece of wordsmithing I have ever seen, BTW).
65
@64
Im late to the post, I know but I had to reply to this.
It is cardinal sin for a Seattlite to travel or know whats going on in any other city unless it's tied to a political cause.
Im late to the post, I know but I had to reply to this.
It is cardinal sin for a Seattlite to travel or know whats going on in any other city unless it's tied to a political cause.
66
Seattle is actually a suburb of Bellevue.
...I said that my first year after I moved here. *Needle-off-the-record.*
...I said that my first year after I moved here. *Needle-off-the-record.*
68
"Seattle would be a really nice place to live...if it weren't for the socially inept, passive-aggressive, hypocritically self-centered, self-righteous, unbelievably conformist, drive-like-old-people-fuck, stare-at-you-so-much-they-would-be-shot-in-LA-or-NY, fuckhead locals who live here."
Get it into your thick skulls. This is a white-trash meth-riddled hick town masquerading as a global city.
News flash: Your Subaru leaves a carbon footprint too. Fuck you. Jesus, have you ever seen such conformity? Individualism my ass.
Btw, nobody mentioned the Pemco ads. That shit is dead on. Fucking losers. Not one comedian comes from Seattle. Ever think about that?
Once again, if it weren't for the losers here, it would be a nice place to live. But as my old man used to say, "into each life, a little rain must fall."
Btw, yes, I'm from California. Lived there for my first 34 years and I still like living in Seattle better.
Get it into your thick skulls. This is a white-trash meth-riddled hick town masquerading as a global city.
News flash: Your Subaru leaves a carbon footprint too. Fuck you. Jesus, have you ever seen such conformity? Individualism my ass.
Btw, nobody mentioned the Pemco ads. That shit is dead on. Fucking losers. Not one comedian comes from Seattle. Ever think about that?
Once again, if it weren't for the losers here, it would be a nice place to live. But as my old man used to say, "into each life, a little rain must fall."
Btw, yes, I'm from California. Lived there for my first 34 years and I still like living in Seattle better.
70
You cannot move to Seattle and then complain it. Well, I guess you can, but you look like an idiot doing so. There are other cities. (Yes, I am a native Seattleite and no, I probably would never say that to your face).
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