Seattle Freeze really is, in my opinion, people being too shy to actually talk to someone else. You'll see it many coffeeshops and bookstores and any place with free internet. You'll notice people reading the "hip" book or pretending to be working on their macbooks or whatever, hoping that someone will come by and say "Thats a good book!" or "Hey! Do you work for Google/Amazon?" But that never is the case, because everyone else is doing the same thing. People become embittered, and think "I don't need anyone... I'll try to be that reticent "hip" guy" while really, they want someone to connect with. So be bold! Start talking to people! As leftist minded of a city Seattle is, everyone is up for a good debate! Don't be that person at the table hoping...
Or, if you really want to be alone, don't go to a trendy bar or brewery (Pyramid/Redhook) nor a popular dive bar. Go to the blue collar bars like the Siren on 4th and Spokane in Seattle (its in the small strip mall next to the burger king and the convenience store that sells 99 cent tall boys of swill). There, people go to drink and sit in their own true misery, not wanting to bother nor be bothered. I believe some nights they still do poker (win a gift card to... The Siren!) and that makes for the occasional break in lonesomeness.
So, Seattle freeze? Yes, it is true, but not because people don't want to be bothered, but because people feel too awkward to bother.
Edited, May 5th 2009 6:41pm by SaitohTheNinja