is much more phoney in the friendliness area than Eastern Washington. Very much on the surface, a smile here a nod there, but no core warmth. In Eastern Washington there seems to be a geniune friendliness, or so it seems based on my interaction. One of the many ways Eastern Washington is much different than over here.

As for the crosswalk incident you mention, perhaps she didn't have to stop, but chose to to be kind. Many pedestrians here in Oly don't know the law in regards to when a car has to yield to them. They will stand next to the crosswalk on the sidewalk, expecting people to stop for them. The courteous thing to do would be to stop for them if it appears they want to cross. But vehicles don't have to yield to you until you step into the crosswalk (and on their portion of the roadway). This applies to uncontrolled (no pedestrian lights) crosswalks.

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so." President Ronald Reagan

As someone who grew up in the South and went to College in the Deep South and has lived all across the country (I've moved 32 times), Washington State is not particularly over-friendly. Most people keep to themselves. More than 75% of the time I say hello to someone on the sidewalk in Oly, I get no response.

I wouldn't call Olympia super friendly or even friendly, but maybe cordial and "keep to myself" kind of attitude. But that's my view as I've lived just about everywhere, West Coast, East Coast, Midwest, Deep South, New South, blah blah blah.

I don't trust the police either. But I was relating my experiance from off-duty encounters. I have to agree, people are more friendly here than in Seattle.

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn't so." President Ronald Reagan

I thought the black hoody thing was hilarious until I actually started counting the number of black hoodies on the way back from lunch today. Too funny

Hell, it could be Oly's version of "Slugbug" POW!  

I've always thought Olympia was pretty nice. Probably my only exception was down at the protests, everyone seemed to think I was something that I'm not.

I smiled and said, "Good evening" to an older woman walking down the street a year or so ago, and she stopped and commented how nobody ever says things like that to her anymore (she then adjusted my shirt and tugged at my jacket, I'm assuming she was fixing my clothing) so maybe it's a certain age-group or clique also?

I try and be thoughtful toward pedestrians, but have caught myself completely missing them at times also (If it's dark or really bright out, watch where you cross at folks) I think everyone, driver and pedestrian both, need to keep a good awareness of their surroundings. I've never forced a car to stop for me, I've either had ample time to cross, or they stopped while I stood on the sidewalk. 

But I just got back from my first ever (!) visit to the South, and it seems to be a whole different world down there. I started to feel like an inconsiderate jerk, everyone was so gracious and really took time to acknowlege one another in a way that I have not experienced in the Northwest, which I think of as a pretty friendly region. I guess that is what people mean when they talk about "Southern hospitality". I thought it was just a legend.;-)

Jade

Jade,

Good to see you got a taste of it. Fortunately it's still alive and well in many areas of the South.