Epic Yelp Freeze Thread [Part 5]

The final chapter!

06/10/2007 Mark In The Dark S. says:

Wow what a discussion!  OK, here’s yet another angle!

When I first moved to South Florida, back around 1974.
 The vibe from the local people was often kinda
southern and slightly country.  It IS the South.   By
the time I left, around 1986, the vibe from the South
Floridians was quite different.  We often referred to
South Florida as, New York City with Palm Trees! We
also joked that South Florida was basically a suburb
of New York City! There were so many New York people
there. South Florida had become way Hispanic, over 60%
Hispanic in Dade County, which is Miami. (And in my
opinion it made the city more exciting and happening).
 And Ft. Lauderdale had changed from a sleepy tourist
stop/beach to a hard urban metropolis.  Not only had
the Hispanic population taken off, but so had the
growth in general.  It was quite a transformation
which took about 10 years.

I’ll never forget, whenever you met someone new, the
first thing you’d say was, “where are you from?”  It
was an amazing time down there.  It also changed many
other parts of the area.  The music, dance music
exploded with KC & The Sunshine Band, The Bee Gees,
Expose, Miami Sound Machine, and a famous club
scene… in the past the big music from that area was
Eric Clapton on 461 Ocean Blvd.  Coconut Grove had
been a hippy hangout, bohemian kind of place.  By the
time the mid 80s arrived it was totally slick and
gentrified.

I wonder if Seattle/Portland will become “L-A with
mountains” or “North L-A?”  How will this area and the
people change as times goes by? Or, will it stay about
the same?
 06/10/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/10/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

I miss Latino people
they’re pretty
 06/10/2007 Bounce B. says:

The mass of Seattlites lead lives of quiet
desperation. What is called “freeze” is confirmed
desperation. From desperate apartments they go into
desperate parking lots, and have to console themselves
with the bravery of Post-its and yipping rants.
 06/10/2007 Michael O. says:

I miss Latino people. I miss Italians and Greeks. I
miss African American people. I basically miss loud
assed people from warm parts of the world.

Perhaps temperature is the key and global warming can
melt the freeze. 😉
 06/10/2007 Michael O. says:

Oh and I totally agree on the activity based thing. I
had a hard time meeting people until I figured that
out. Back east I would meet people and then we would
do activities together. Here I do activities and then
I meet people.

Hint: For those having a hard time meeting people you
are on an activity based site right now. Take
advantage of that.
 06/10/2007 Zachary P. says:

The Genius Of The Crowd

there is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity
in the average
human being to supply any given army on any given day

and the best at murder are those who preach against it

and the best at hate are those who preach love
and the best at war finally are those who preach peace

those who preach god, need god
those who preach peace do not have peace
those who preach peace do not have love

beware the preachers
beware the knowers
beware those who are always reading books
beware those who either detest poverty
or are proud of it
beware those quick to praise
for they need praise in return
beware those who are quick to censor
they are afraid of what they do not know
beware those who seek constant crowds for
they are nothing alone
beware the average man the average woman
beware their love, their love is average
seeks average

but there is genius in their hatred
there is enough genius in their hatred to kill you
to kill anybody
not wanting solitude
not understanding solitude
they will attempt to destroy anything
that differs from their own
not being able to create art
they will not understand art
they will consider their failure as creators
only as a failure of the world
not being able to love fully
they will believe your love incomplete
and then they will hate you
and their hatred will be perfect

like a shining diamond
like a knife
like a mountain
like a tiger
like hemlock

their finest art

Charles Bukowski
 06/10/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

Michael O says:
“”I basically miss loud assed people from warm parts
of the world.””

amen brother – let’s MAKE SOME NOISE!!! woo hoo –
italians reprezent!!

Bounce; perhaps the best cure for desperation is to
MAKE SOME NOISE!!!!?  wouldn;t it be great if all
that’s needed to melt the freeze is a little hootin’
hollerin’ and whoopin’?!
 06/10/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/10/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

that’s AWESOME roger – then seattle can be the new san
francisco!!

(ducks and runs for cover)
 06/10/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/10/2007 Bounce B. says:

Amen Miss MAD. Show these temperate people what
extremes are all about.
 06/10/2007 Mark In The Dark S. says:

Well, I just want to suggest… ANYWHERE but Spokane,
the trailer park of the Northwest!  🙂  Lived there
for a year and it was as bad as Jacksonville.  NOT
recommended.
 06/10/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

I don;t think that’s a bad thing at all – but it’s not
possible
 06/10/2007 Alan G. says:

When I first moved here from Honolulu – I froze my ass
off.  I said many-a-time that Seattle was “freezing”
cold.  At about the same time I had a friend that
moved here from Antarctica, and he thought it was
actually quite warm.  Believe it or not, we had a
third friend who was born and raised here, who in a
very Goldilocks-and-the-three-bears esque way, thought
that Seattle was just right.
I had to explain to those stupid fools ALL THE TIME
how I was right… and I could prove it because just
look at all the sweatshirts and long-pants I had to
wear all the time.  But they wouldn’t believe me.

I wish that we had the internet back then so we could
do all of our debating about the “freeze” on it.  We’d
probably still be going to this day, because those two
guys were some seriously stubborn assholes.
 06/10/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/10/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

Honolulu – now there’s some pissed off natives!!!
 06/10/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/10/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

I think I’m done talking to myself for today
 06/10/2007 Scott F. says:

I object to that, being an arrow rather than
driftwood.  Working out of my home, I chose Seattle
over EVERYWHERE else in the U.S.  And I have no
problem with adjusting, but still not to fluid-sharing
stage.   I think I only have about 10 good years left
in me, so I’ll be on the fast-track social environment
adjustment track.

…new-Seattlite waiting for smidgeon of lutefisk.
 06/10/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/10/2007 Scott F. says:

Roger – that is so true.  The city attitude is very
positive about dogs, and the dogs are MUCH better
socialized than suburban or country dogs.

I think most of the kids I see downtown are
mini-tourists – so not much of an opinion about
Seattlian kids.  But I hear they rarely share their
toys and when they say “Can Johnny come out to play?”
they don’t really mean it and leave before the kid
comes to the door.  (joke)
 06/10/2007 natasha t. says:

i dont know, i guess i never really understood the
whole seattle freeze thing because i’ve never fallen
victim to it. i moved to seattle from the suburbs and
immediately made really good friends at my new job,
who then brought me to parties where i met their
friends and became friends with them…and soon
enough, i felt like i knew everyone in a certain scene
in seattle.
but i have since moved to sf and i feel like its way
harder to make friends here.
 06/10/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/11/2007 Michael O. says:

Dogs will melt the freeze faster than anything else.
People who otherwise would never talk to you will talk
to you if you have a dog. Someone should start a rent
a dog service.

What about you MMAD? You have a surplus of them. 😉
 06/11/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

I only pimp out my dogs for cupcakes

and that theory is incorrect
 06/11/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/11/2007 Michael O. says:

MMAD: Is there really a doggie freeze? Do tell! Who
knew?
 06/11/2007 Scott F. says:

Roger, thanks for that link.  I think that is nuts –
parents always have these twisted ideas of how
children should interact, and everything is magnified
when it is their child and the parent has “needs” for
the child.  Those kids are too innocent to be
participating in some imagined “child Seattle freeze”
subculture.  Sure, they’ll learn it from their
parents, but I don’t think they’ll be practicing it
much as kids.  Everyone knows the stories about
children who play together subversively, even though
they are from different social classes/races/etc. and
their parent disapprove.

I actually met my former wife through my dog – I was a
runner with a twisted ankle, so she called up and
volunteered to walk my then-puppy for me.  How
romantic.  She ended up being jealous of my dog and
now we are divorced.  The last thing I said to her was
“You can say whatever you want about me, but I won’t
put up with you insulting my dog.”  I got kind of a
weird look, which must have made it easier on her.  I
digress.
 06/11/2007 Michael O. says:

Ah that link was interesting. Not just for the kid
part, but the part where the author herself (someone
who believes in the freeze and does not view it as a
positive thing) admits if she deems someone “too
friendly” she thinks to herself  “Why are they so
friendly? Do they want something from me? Is there
something wrong with them?”

This is why, as has been mentioned, meeting people
through activities works better. You have to approach
people here with an agenda. If you don’t, they will
assume you have a hidden one and not trust you.

Oh and Scott F, that is my quote for the day! “You can
say whatever you want about me, but I won’t put up
with you insulting my dog.”
 06/11/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

all I’m saying is: anyone who does not like Ferghal is
dead inside
he has rehibiltated ppl who were terrorzied by dogs
and made playmates out of mean ass pit bull types –
and I am stealing Scott’s line, I am not like Ferghal
I am NO saint

I did not read the article but yes the freeeze exists
among children – they learn it from their parents
heard on a playground – “oh no!! another one from
california!”
har har
 06/11/2007 Scott F. says:

California?  I was told by a native yesterday that
Seattlites don’t like Texans (I’m a Texan).  I found
that particularly strange since I haven’t met many
Texans up here.  I know they don’t like us in
Colorado, but that’s because of the arrogant rich
Texan skiers.  But in Seattle?  Maybe because of Bush.
 Bush is from Texas, Scott is from Texas, thus Scott =
Bush. haha.

Also:  Beauty is skin deep, Seattle is beautiful, thus
Seattle is skin deep?
 06/11/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/11/2007 g g. says:

Roger N. – It’s a bit amusing to refer to logical
fallacies after peppering this thread with more than a
few of your own…along with a pep talk to the troops
to continue bitching about natives.

The inference that if I only spent 24/7/365 I’d agree
with your conclusions is false. Don’t make any
assumptions regarding the quality or quantity of my
time there. Besides, the Freeze isn’t universally and
irrefutably true. My experience with the note merely
confirms someone was angry enough to place it in my
car. It does not eliminate the fact that people across
America and the world have experienced something like
it.

Whether or not the negative attitude is acquired
versus preconceived, the point is that it is by
choice. I wasn’t attacking Robin in my post, though
that distinction is easily lost in a thread which
includes name-calling and hostility. One of the
longest threads in Seattle Talk is transplants ripping
on natives. That, coupled by denial or lack of
ownership on the part of the complainants, isn’t
likely to produce much beyond a self-fulfilling
prophecy. For all the talk about PNWers, it’s the
transplants I have no desire to meet.

Besides, your choice to recently join Yelp with few
(if any) reviews then immediately jump into this talk
thread with harsh words and name calling is more
telling. The only thing left to decide is whether
you’re a troll, a newbie lacking netiquette skills, or
an existing member without the courage to own your
words.

Robin R. – I would just go with guts. I didn’t have a
note left on my car when I lived in other cities,
either. That still doesn’t tell me much about the
person who left it on mine in Seattle, except that
they were rude and incorrect in their assumptions. For
all I know they could have been from New York. And
while I see your point that it could be considered
passive aggressive, it is also risky to write a note
and place it on a person’s car not knowing when they
might return to catch you in the act.  From that
perspective, it takes some courage.

Devin G.  – We’ve been shuttling to the area for
years, and our experiences have also been
overwhelmingly positive. Some of our friends are not
natives, but many of them are. In any case, if we come
across a person with an attitude, we see it as their
problem to resolve. It doesn’t change who we are, nor
how we approach the next person.
 06/11/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/11/2007 g g. says:

There are replies much longer than mine.

Who told you to peek? Yes, I also spend time in the
D.C. area. Love the no BS testosterone but could do
without the opportunistic backstabbing. Then again, it
puts hair on the chest.

I don’t like to see people get down about themselves,
even if it is their fault. That energy could be put to
better use.

And while passive aggressive can be a tedious bore,
nails on a chalkboard won’t win out, either.

It is indeed a matter of of subjectivity.

Haven’t you heard? I like Au Bon Pain.
 06/12/2007 Michael O. says:

I miss Au Bon Pain. They used to mark the pastries
down every day half price after 5. 😉
 06/12/2007 Michael O. says:

Whoa! Their website says there’s one in Microsoft.

http://www.aubonpain.com

I might have to pose as a tech head and crash one day.
 06/12/2007 g g. says:

I never thought to check their listings – how
brilliant. I think there’s an event scheduled for
September I can crash. I love their braided soft rolls
and shortbread cookies.

Time to ramp up the workout…
 06/12/2007 Jon L. says:

Don’t even have to pose Mike, just give a shout. : )
 06/12/2007 Scott F. says:

g.g.- this ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’ nonsense is a
cop-out and a way to blow off taking responsibility.
But that’s your problem, not mine – as a transplant
who came here with a completely positive attitude, I’m
dealing with the PacNW’s social inadequacies the best
I can.  As I mentioned earlier, the easiest way is
simply to not invest emotional energy in relationships
with anyone native to the state of Washington.  And
that’s pretty much what I am doing. No, this isn’t a
self-fulfilling prophecy – it is recognizing reality
and dealing with it.
 06/12/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/12/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

there’s a troll in fremont
 06/12/2007 Michael O. says:

But the troll is a native, so Scott can’t talk to him.
 06/12/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/12/2007 GG A. says:

I thought Lenin was a mas murderer.
 06/12/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/12/2007 Scott F. says:

You guys are hilarious!   I was actually in Fremont
last night  and ended up walking home (passing the
Lenin statue, which I spoke to and had one of the
deepest conversations of the night – he still blames
Paul for the break-up), skipped the troll for reasons
already mentioned – as I walked over the bridge I
could actually feel his icey glare….probably wanted
to correct me for jay-walking.
 06/12/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/12/2007 Scott F. says:

I used to like Lenin, but eventually decided too much
ironing required – and Marx showed, though not as much
as expected.

Toss out the Lenin, quit Stalin…
 06/13/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/13/2007 Michael O. says:

It’s too non PC. We don’t talk about it. Besides many
people stubbornly insist it does not exist.

Still if I had the money I’d open a place called that.
😉

Does that mean the people who work there have to be
superficially polite but not genuinely nice and treat
you like they want you to go away?
 06/13/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

ha ha ha
sounds like a party I went to once
 06/13/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/13/2007 Michael O. says:

So what flavors of Ice Cream would you serve at the
Seattle Freeze?

I would opt for:

The Seattle Flake: Rich Vanilla Ice Cream with pieces
of flakey pie crust mixed in. *

* Please note: We may cancel your order at the last
minute without warning.
 06/13/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/13/2007 Michael O. says:

A sign on the wall would read:

“The Monorail Mocha flavor is no longer available,
even though we’ve already partially charged you for
it.

Have a nice day.”
 06/13/2007 Scott F. says:

I’ll have mine in a Waffle cone.
 06/18/2007 Robin R. says:

Michael O.:  Actually there is a “dog rental” service
of sorts.  Seattle Animal Control seeks dog-walkers.
Most of them walk around Green Lake with dogs wearing
little blue coats indicating their availability.
 06/18/2007 Ian S. says:

This thread suddenly has become entertaining again.
 06/18/2007 Ian M. says:

(eyeing dates of most recent contributions)

“Suddenly”?
 06/18/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

last summer
 06/18/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/18/2007 Michael O. says:

I saw who you did last summer
 06/18/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

shut up Mikie – i told you that in an ice cream
induced stupor…
wait.

what did I say??

oh yeah – It’s  cold in here.

which thread is this???
 06/18/2007 Zach Cares G. says:

Die, die, die.
 06/18/2007

This post was removed because the yelper who wrote it
has closed their Yelp account and is no longer a
registered yelper.
 06/18/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

so Yelp has gone international?
 06/20/2007 g g. says:

Scott F. — Ah, another newbie who jumps straight into
Yelp’s talk thread about Seattle Freeze. The fact of
the matter is some people are jerks and some aren’t.
Some are more open than others. It doesn’t matter if
they’re from Seattle or San Francisco. Those who
continue to whine, insult, or call names – then assert
it isn’t them but that other person – aren’t fooling
anyone. The choice to categorise and characterise an
entire population on the basis of their native status
is a myopic one.  It isn’t recognising reality,
dealing with it, nor taking responsibility. Attempting
to broadstroke an entire population is the copout.

And what happened to our other little newbie?
Self-ejected, did he? *lol*
 06/20/2007 Scott F. says:

Ah, GG – another “veteran” who discredits an opinion
that differs from her own, by using the “newbie” term.
 I’m a “veteran” on several other forums, so I
understand the temptation to do that, but that is
actually the cop-out, not me offering my opinion.
When you are talking about a group of more than one,
you are generalizing by definition.  If you can’t do
that (in effect, notice “patterns” of behavior), then
you don’t have much of a chance of understanding your
environment.  Good luck to you.
 06/20/2007 Robin R. says:

GG: Who exactly is trying to shirk responsibility?
In my own case, I’m not going to let the Freeze keep
me from trying to socialize.  Some interesting
pointers I might try have been offered here, including
seeking activity-centered friends.  Someone else
mentioned dogwalking, another recommended seeking out
other non-natives.   I see a lot of people here
seeking solutions, not copping out.
 06/20/2007 g g. says:

Scott – I wasn’t discrediting your opinion via newbie
status. However, I was questioning the comparative
likelihood that one would join Yelp and jump straight
into a specific thread with a particular attitude.
Further, I countered the idea of categorising an
entire population on the basis of singular
experiences, then acting upon it. I understand my
environment rather well. More importantly, I take
ownership for my interactions and how my thoughts,
actions or beliefs might impact them. I also don’t
require luck to manifest successful results.

Robin – I refer to those who infer natives should be
slammed en masse or treated a certain way,
particularly when a hostile attitude is exhibited
alongside ‘but it’s them’ proclamations. I agree that
a positive approach is more proactive and some have
offered this, just as others have resorted to
stereotypes, insults or name-calling. I’ve had both
pleasant and unpleasant encounters in Seattle – not to
mention practically everywhere else I’ve been in the
world. Such is life.
 06/20/2007 Michael O. says:

My goodness, we can’t even get all silly without
someone having to interrupt with pesky seriousness! 😛

Okay want me to be serious? Who cares. Be happy. The
only person you control is yourself. If someone is an
ass they aren’t worth your time anyway so just write
them off and move on. And if you run into a lot of
asses, so be it. That’s life. There’s good things and
good people in the world too.

It’s a sunny day, it’s summer. The freeze is melting.
Stop worrying about who said what and who is rebutting
who and for god sakes (and this is not directed at any
one person and I am so guilty of doing this many times
too) stop playing last word people!

Okay, now back to my regularly scheduled sillyness! 😛
 06/20/2007 Maia H. says:

Michael I concur. The end.  🙂
 06/20/2007 Tiffany D. says:

You tell em’ Michael – and remember – SMILE in your
pics!
 06/20/2007 Amy W. says:

Amy was here. (I haven’t been involved on this yet,
had to jump in).
 06/20/2007 g g. says:

My goodness, we can’t even get all common sense
without someone having to interrupt with pesky
whining! 😛

Stop worrying about who is serious or silly and who is
discussing the topic with whom and for god sakes –
stop confusing it with last word people!

Okay, now back to my regularly scheduled indifference!

*seal claps*
 06/20/2007 Maia H. says:

One more time for the cheap seats in the back, The
end!
 06/20/2007 g g. says:

Try front row. You don’t hear the buzz from the people
in the balcony. Or more to the point, bypsass theatre
and just converse.

If you want the thread to end, flag it and maybe Yelp
will delete it. Otherwise, people will post as they
please.
 06/20/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

I hate wimpy ass flaggers
unless something is blatantly racist or offensive –
just leave it be

if you don;t like it, just don’t read it

it’s not like this thing is non existent – I was glad
to find it becasue I thought it was an island thing…

if it is killed, I will ressurect it
 06/20/2007 g g. says:

Bet you like wimpy ass whiners though. They’re about
the same.

If people don’t like something, they can read it, not
read it, or flag it. Land of the free over there,
right?

The freeze is existent for some and not for others.
What more is there to say about it? The point is
whether a thread should be dedicated to bashing or
insulting people. And bad, rude, or standoffish
behaviour is a people thing.

People can kill it as many times as you can resurrect
it, especially if it turns into unnecessary flame
wars. All a matter of where you choose to place your
energy.
 06/20/2007 Maia H. says:

I don’t plan to flag it. I guess I will hit the
elusive ignore button. I think the people in the
balcony or wherever in the imaginary theatre wanted it
to end. Their sentiments have been expressed many
times; on this thread and elsewhere. I’m just tired of
seeing this poor dead horse being beat over and over
and over and over and over again.
 06/20/2007 Ian S. says:

Deal out flames with one hand and gift tolerance
brownies with the other.  Yawn.
 06/20/2007 Miss Mary Ann D. says:

I don’t recall seeing a flame war on this thread – but
my heat tolerance is quite high

I do recall a lot of
“oh, thank god, it’s not just me” type of responses

I think the thread gets ressurected mostly because
there are new ppl moving here all the time –

and in real life, I speak with one or two ppl a week
who ask me “what is up with these people?”
I tell them there is thing called the seattle freeze –
I heard about it on NPR – they go running to the
podcast

Like Yelp itself, I find it an interesting phenomena
 06/20/2007 g g. says:

Indeed, Maia. Sometimes it’s train wreck material.

Let’s all go over the cliff together like lemmings.
Anyone who doesn’t, let’s put a cloth over our face
and distort their protestations against insults as
flames. Double yawn.

And though my heat tolerance is crazily high, I’m not
the only person in the world. Though I do like to
think so sometimes. And yes, in some worlds calling
people names isn’t considered a flame war. Iraq?

Not to discount the many who have attempted to hold a
civil conversation on what is, for them, an issue.
Others, especially the sorts who swoop into the thread
out of nowhere and insult, just seem to vent about
rude people whilst being rude.
 06/20/2007 GG A. says:

NPR said it, so it must be true.
 06/21/2007 Michael O. says:

Ok there are multiple GGs now. Are we going to have to
put a moratorium on GGs like we have on Ians?

I’m not whining, I’m just saying be happy people. It’s
summer, the weather’s nice. Who the fuck cares what
other people think or say? But if it floats your boat
to come here and post your opinions then so be it.

And if your sole or primary purpose for coming to
Yelp.com is to come on this thread and go ‘bla bla
bla, yadda yadda yadda, yackety smackey hey’ then in
my opinion you’re missing out.

Just sayin’

Now feel free to go right back to your bitching and
telling people how wrong they are and whining about
whiners. Carry on.
 23 hours ago Miss Mary Ann D. says:

I’m not saying that because it’s on NPR it’s true, I
am sayng that when newcomers  experience ppl here as
being leery/weary of newcomers, they often take it
personally and think they are the only ones who are
not feeling welcome.

they are interested in hearing other’s experiences, so
they are eager to know they are not alone –

so the podcast is of interest to them and while I
haven;t listened to it, I did hear the original
airing, and many of the comments form both sides
echoed those found here

but of course, GG A (formerly Michael h)  – you aren;t
interested in that, you just want to be negative and
insulting, as usual.

and yes, gg the swoopers and trolls can be annoying,
but I think that for the most part it is an
interesting dialogue
 22 hours ago Scott F. says:

In response to what you said below, now I get your
response and your reaction is fair – I did not join
Yelp, then jump into this specific thread – I joined
Yelp BECAUSE I had googled “The Seattle Freeze” and
found this thread.  I had never heard of Yelp.

I was talking with a friend who moved here from New
Mexico, discussing how difficult it was to make
friends after moving from the South where it was IMO
very easy.  He laughed and said there was a name for
that phenomenon “The Seattle Freeze”, and told me to
google it on the internet.  I did, and I found the
article (which I read) and also this Yelp thread.  I
thought it was great to be able to discuss with
others.  As a side note, I think the reason this city
is so dog-friendly is because there are so many people
trying to exist in a bubble, and it doesn’t work too
well – they need companionship and dogs take the place
of people to an extent.  Of course, obviously there
are plenty of people who disagree, but as I said, I’m
noticing patterns and reacting so that I can fit in
and enjoy it better.

And I’m not throwing my hands up in the air and giving
up – I bought a downtown condo today, so I’m committed
to living here.  If I was going to write off this
place because of disagreeable social patterns I have
noticed, then I would not give a flip about
participating in discussions like this, and I
certainly would not be buying a home.

I also think it’s positive that you react the way you
do to those who question your city – when this subject
is brought up to locals, the more common reaction is
for them to scrunch their foreheads a little, get
silent, then find an excuse to wander away.

“Scott – I wasn’t discrediting your opinion via newbie
status. However, I was questioning the comparative
likelihood that one would join Yelp and jump straight
into a specific thread with a particular attitude. “
 22 hours ago Miss Mary Ann D. says:

I said this at the beginning of this thread

“”my sense is that “Polite Seattleites” prefer people
who are like them – they aren;t big into diversity or
different points of view, and view those things as
some sort of confrontation. “”

Dear Seattle:
don’t be sceered it is okay for us not to agree, we
can still be friends.
case in point: me and Maria C, me and Jaz M, me and
Mel R
I freakin; love those women: no matter how misguided
;o)
just because  you weren;t what we were expecting or we
don;t understand you and you hurt some of our
feelings, and some of us may even say you suck – you
know you rock, so just let us work it out
the ones who love you will stay
Love,
MMAD
 22 hours ago Don L. says:

Can’t we all just get along?!

*starts pouring drinks and handing them out*
 22 hours ago Don L. says:

327 replies? *327*?!?! Wait, now 328? Dang, this has
GOT to be one of the longest threads out there.
 22 hours ago Miss Mary Ann D. says:

it isn’t
 20 hours ago Don L. says:

Seriously?! WOW…you’ve got to send me that other
thread name…what could possibly go on longer than
this?!

(329 now. Grin)
 20 hours ago Miss Mary Ann D. says:

Dan L: there are several in SF and LA – here’s one
that tops 2000
<a href="http://www.yelp.com/topi&#8230;
http://www.yelp.com/topi…<br />
if you’d like to discuss that subject – go ahead and
start a thread on it! 😉

and for the rest of you – I tried to bury this thread
for today , but it keeps popping up
sorry
 17 hours ago Ian S. says:

Yes.  Why wont people stop bumping this thread.

You know it’s all trolls, flames, trolling flames,
flaming trolls, and trolling flaming trolls.
 12 hours ago Scott F. says:

Ian, post some links to other threads you think are
interesting.  I joined Yelp purely because I googled
this thread, and I’m too lazy to look for other places
to play.  help.

Scott: settled in Seattle with dog and easy access to
beer – who needs people?
 12 hours ago Miss Mary Ann D. says:

there are other places to play???
 8 hours ago Kristina R. says:

The only person from Seattle I’ve met is Mary Ann
D…and she’s really hawt.

I’d hand feed her cupcakes all the live long
day…woo!  I LOVE SEATTLE!
 57 minutes ago Michael O. says:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/w&#8230;
http://www.youtube.com/w…<br />
Sing it with me now o/~ I’m gonna soak up the sun, I’m
gonna tell everyone to lighten up o/~

And MMAD and her bitches do indeed rock. Actually I
think she only has one bitch. The rest are boys.
 31 minutes ago Miss Mary Ann D. says:

Kristina!! you promised the cupcake love was our
little secret … now I’m ruined
 27 minutes ago Margarita V. says:

Where do I begin….We moved from New York City four
years ago for a better place for our kids and for the
affordability factor. I can stay home with them here.
We chose to move first to lower Queen Anne and in the
first year figured out that we wanted to be closer to
the school on top of the hill. So we moved up there
thinking, well we are in the neighborhood, no reason
not to make friends. So it is 4 years later and still
no solid friendships which we are beginning to accept.
I don’t know if it’s the neighborhood in particular,
or if it is just Seattle. Just to clarify, we moved to
Queen Anne because it was central and we did not have
to buy a car.  We like to live as simple as possible.
Also, did I mention we rent an apartment, which in New
York is absolutely normal. You live, work, marry,
raise your kids in your APARTMENT. Here it seems to be
some sort of Taboo. Even at my husband’s place of
work, people who do not live in affluent places, have
the need to inject him with the thought that, you NEED
a house, you NEED an SUV or some car you cannot
afford. It is really sad to say, but it seems that
only those who have been outside of Seattle (whether
native or not) are really more open minded to our
simple way of living. I say this, because I am not
sure which this all equates to the cold treatment. I
know a few families who are in similar situations and
feel the same way. My son who has been going to school
here for 4 years, lives in the neighborhood, has
forged no sold form of friendships and he is a great
kid (we get tons of praises about him and not this is
not doting mother talk, we really have good kids=that
can go to fancy restaurants and not order the chicken
fingers!). I find this disturbing that my son is outed
at such a young age. It is like people have these
ways, standards even. The families who vacation
together, have dinner parties together are friends.
Their kids become cliques.  So my kids haven’t found
good solid friends because we are not LUCKY enough to
be in one of these whacky cliques.  On the hill at
least, there is a hierachy. Those who are married, own
property, white collar all hang together. They might
let you in if you are a single parent if you own
property. However, you are out if you rent, not  work
in tech field, or non white collar job. I always
thought that when you are invited to someone’s house
at least several times, you become friends. It’s odd
how many “we should have you over for dinner” we have
been asked to, but yet come into fruition. There is
definetely a coldness on Queen Anne, but I have to
say, this is where I find myself at home because of
all the places of business I visit and then get to
YELP. It has definetely helped my husband and I become
closer. We don’t fit the mold and certainly won’t
conform to it. We know we won’t settle our roots here.
The East Coast is for us. You know who doesn’t like
you upfront. Like someone said, “you must not be from
here, because you are really NICE!”

..and then the thread was cast out by the moderators of Yelp and banhammered from the internets.

Posted via web from Seattle Freeze

Leave a comment