Why are Seattleites such self-important snobs?

Answer 1

I think part of the reason is that Seattle is a mecca for small town kids from as far away as North Dakota. They get here and they think are big shots in the big city, when really they just miss life in Ritzville. Another reason is that this city doesn't have that many serious problems compared with other large cities, so people have time to worry about how their black All-Stars look with their $200 jeans.

Answer 2

"True" Seattleites are no worse than any other long-time/native-born denizen of any other city. We weren't always this way, really. It all started about twenty or twenty-five years ago when Los Angeles finally got too expensive for mortals and the northward emigration began. In retaliation, a couple of crusty old buggers--Emmett Watson and Ivar Haglund, specifically--began the movement to protect Seattle and its natives. Haglund preferred a gentle humorous approach, choosing to enlighten the transplants about our culture in a rather folksy way--a true native remembers the tune to "The Old Settler" but probably thinks the name of the song is "Acres of Clams"--but Watson, a columnist at varying times for both the Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer, took a rather more vitriolic approach, retaliating against southern Californians who wished him to "have a nice day" by saying "have a nice day... somewhere else." And, gradually, we came to feel that we were somehow superior to the sunglass-sporting, BMW-driving, precancerously-tanned imports from Southern California who simultaneously raised our property values and made it impossible for us to afford to move to another house within the city. Gradually, the disdain spread to folks from other places as well, since the Californians began lying about their origins to avoid the vitriol. Nowadays, we're snooty to pretty much anyone who doesn't remember when our vehicle license plates had some shade of green on them besides moss.

Ivar Haglund died in the early-mid 1980s, and Watson, long thought to be too curmudgeonly to die, finally passed away a few years ago. The place hasn't been the same since.

Answer 3

I moved to Seattle from Michigan 4 years ago, and I don't think it's those that have moved from other states who are self-righteous. In fact, those that I've met who seem to have feelings of self-importance and superiority are those that were born here and have lived here all their lives. They brag about their house on Queen Anne Hill and how they ride their bike to work downtown. They have their graduate degree from UW, but still prefer to work a low-stress job and can somehow afford to. They wish people would stop moving here and ruining thier great city. They like to tell everyone about how much it rains here to drive them away. They think they are "rare gems" in a city full of transplants...etc etc etc.

I have to say though that I think there are people with issues of misguided self-importance everywhere you go. Even in the small town where I grew up, there were people who thought their sh*t smelled like roses and that they could do no wrong. They were usually doctors, lawyers, sheriff deputies, and their trophy wives.

I think too that perhaps being guarded is sometimes misconstrued as being self-important. I've found that many people in this city are guarded and introverted. At first glance, you might think they are just another self-righteous Seattlelite, but if you'd take time to know them, they are just quiet and introspective, but kind and not self-important at all.

Answer 4

Seattleites only hate ignorant people.
Get use to it.

Answer 5

Because they live in a semi-big city where if they need something like a shirt or cake its five minutes away. People in western washington sometimes have a problem seeing the big picture, as in seeing that there is a eastern washington, and that we really don't like them cause they forget we have our own opinions.

Answer 6

yup...so are Chicagoites, San Fransiscoites, Salemites, Topekites, Tallahasseites, Minneapolites and those freakin selfish Canadians!

Answer 7

You mean unlike people who take time out of their day to come on Yahoo! Answers, hide behind a screen name, and insult a whole group of people?

Answer 8

It is all in the eyes of the Beholder - you see a reflection of yourself.

Answer 9

i must totally agree with you. they think that they are all that.