Enjoyed the article, but I've learned to just be a little rude. Rejection is part of life, and you can't live yours just trying not to hurt peoples' feelings. In fact, if you actually care, you should find a time to talk to the person about how they can improve themselves. If you don't, the more honest you are with your interactions, the better, IMO.
People who play the game this author plays are a big reason I want to get out of Seattle. It's passive aggressive niceties like this that quickly take over the fun in life and drive me nuts.
I assume you have comprehensive personal experience of everywhere else in the USA, nay, the world, to be able to say this. I'd love to hear of your extensive travel experiences.
OK! I'll take your comment at face value! I live in South America, grew up in the southern US (deep south), spent 11 years in Seattle, worked off and on in California, spent lots of time with friends from all over the world, but particularly Korea, Japan, Norway, England... I've never met a more passive agressive group of people or place than Seattle. And I say that as someone who still really loves the city and will probably go back there.
I have pretty broad personal experience in the USA and globally. I also have the experience of talking about this with tons of other transplants to Seattle, as well as disgruntled locals, and reading a lot about it. Not much disagreement on this one - Seattle has deep issues with passive aggression and false niceties.
People who play the game this author plays are a big reason I want to get out of Seattle. It's passive aggressive niceties like this that quickly take over the fun in life and drive me nuts.