A social phenomenon commonly found in the Seattle area. It concludes the majority of Seattle residents as snobby, cold, unfriendly people with a fake-polite exterior. Many people move here with the impression that Seattleites are friendly and laid-back but upon moving quickly realizing how superficial and forced that "friendly" exterior really is. There is alot of debate as to where this social dysfunction comes from. Some say it's the nerdy tech population, some say it's the scandinavian culture, some say it's the weather, and some even say it's the transplants fault.
Transplant: Hey have you heard of the seattle freeze?
Local: No. People here aren't unfriendly. Maybe the problem is you.
Transplant: Let's hang out sometime.
Local: Umm.... I have that thing at the place at that time.
Local: No. People here aren't unfriendly. Maybe the problem is you.
Transplant: Let's hang out sometime.
Local: Umm.... I have that thing at the place at that time.
by FormerEastCoaster86 December 18, 2013
It's not that people here are unfriendly, they will hold the door for you and wave you into traffic and stuff like that, it's that everything is maddeningly impersonal. The attitude is "have a nice day, somewhere else". It's easy to get along but making friends is almost impossible. People will say they want to hang out with you sometime and look at you like a freak when you actually suggest something. People enthusiastically say they are coming to a party then don't show up. People are flaky and hard to pin down. Girls lead you on for weeks and snub you with no explanation. People are insincere. Norms of social interaction don't apply here. Most people don't like or dislike you, they're totally indifferent. Every interaction will be maddeningly superficial.
I was a popular guy at my highschool in another state. I had plenty of friends, dated regularly, and was outgoing enough to make new friends easily at parties. I went to college in Seattle and didn't make a single friend for over six months. I would go weeks with nothing more than idle chit-chat. Friends from highschool less popular than me were off having the time of their lives in other schools. The next year (my sophmore year) I was in a dorm with a bunch of freshman athletes from other states. We hit it off instantly and became close friends. We threw our own parties, we helped eachother with schoolwork, we would hang out and just enjoy the company, I dated one of the hotter girls. It was a normal college experience, and only because there were enough people from out of town who actually wanted to make friends.
Every. Single. One. of the people I know who re-located here from another state will tell you it's hard to make friends here. They may not know the term "Seattle Freeze" but they well know the phenomenon. The only people who will deny it grew up here, and even many of them acknowledge it.
Every. Single. One. of the people I know who re-located here from another state will tell you it's hard to make friends here. They may not know the term "Seattle Freeze" but they well know the phenomenon. The only people who will deny it grew up here, and even many of them acknowledge it.
by SmellsLikeVictory November 23, 2010
When we first moved to Seattle people were so friendly. Then when we would try to get together, nada. It's that Seattle freeze.
by Rossophonic April 4, 2011
A phrase that describes a local public consensus that states the city of Seattle and/ or its outlying suburbs are generally not friendly, asexual, introverted, socially aloof, clickish or strictly divided through its social classes, thus making the city/ area difficult to make social connections on all levels.
I was transplanted here six months ago from Los Angeles, and because of this Seattle Freeze I have not had a lot of success at making new friends.
Because I'm a loser and have no social skills, I'll blame my shortcomings on the Seattle Freeze so I can have something other than me to blame.
Because I'm a loser and have no social skills, I'll blame my shortcomings on the Seattle Freeze so I can have something other than me to blame.
by Joseph Donneson May 23, 2007
The disdain Washingtonians have for invaders from other areas who show up and turn our trees into houses and clog our roads and freeways, yet want us to be friendly to them and cheerful about it.
by nyarlotep July 22, 2011
What obnoxious out-of-toweners call it when we cultured, refined, artistic Seattleites feel annoyed and bored of them.
Oh my God I was so popular in Sticksville, why is everyone trying to get away from me? Seattle Freeze must get everybody. What, they're hanging out with that person? They don't seem very fun and loud compared to me! Must be a clique.
by Seattletron February 11, 2013
The Seattle Freeze refers to how people from Seattle often seem distant and unfriendly when they realize that they are not nearly as cool as you are. I suppose most do not care, but you will find some that do, i.e they try to act cool around you but give up because their natural instincts are to be pedantic and to fill their brains with as much useless technical information as possible. If I need technical information, I'll use google. If I want to laugh, I'll go try a normal city. This is why I never stop on the way to Vancouver, BC while driving through the city on I-5. I grew up in a place where knowing how to tell a good joke was one of the most important qualities a person could have. A joke? Whats that? Oh, you mean when I laugh about how my Apple OS crashes every time I try to import photos into Preview? Ha..........oh, ha.........ha? Now where's that ramp to I-5, I need to get our of here.....if only I can find it. Anyway, the locals say its you, not us, that is the problem. Well, but to be honest, our boredom light goes on instantly whenever we try to engage you in conversation. Yawn........so get to the point, or would you prefer to fantasize that you are insightful, erudite and important?
Yesterday, I woke to a terrible Seattle freeze all over the city, and couldn't wait to get out of town.
by aldri49 July 31, 2021