Depending on where you go in the world, there will be different rules of etiquette for different situations. For example, in the US, it's perfectly acceptable to tell a homeless person to f**k off (unfortunately), but try to pull that in England and you'll get mugged (so I've heard from my grandfather living in England who tried to tell a homeless man to f**k off).
The point is, social etiquette varies from one place to another, and frankly, it varies in how frequently it is actually employed by the general public.
Unfortunately, social etiquette in Seattle seems to only take place in situations where it is absolutely necessary, where as in comparison, in So Cal, people in general are polite and friendly all of the time.
I'm going to provide some examples so someone can get an idea.
Person "X" walks back into a store to return something:
CA: "Good morning, "X", how can I help you.
WA: *ignore you for a few minutes while the coffee kicks in. "...Yes???"
Person "X" orders an espresso from a cafe:
CA: "Good morning, "X", what can I get for you?" (X enters order) "Would you like soy milk/ low sugar syrup instead? Can I get you anything else?"
WA: "What can I get 'cha?" (Put in order) "OK, we'll call you when it's ready" *Never hear anything...retrieve your coffee when it's already starting to cool*
Person "X" passes by someone walking their dog while jogging/walking:
CA: "Morning"
WA: *Desperately tries to avoid eye contact*
Person "Y" walks out of the washroom with toilet paper trailing from the bottom of their shoe, and person "X"...:
CA: *Quickly pulls the individual aside to a discrete place and says* "Pardon me, but you have something on your shoe."
WA:
X:"Excuse me"...*Person Y avoids eye contact*
X: ..."Excuse me"...*Person Y avoids eye contact even more so, tries to walk on other side of road if possible. By now person X chases Y down.
X: "EXCUSE ME. You have toilet paper on the bottom of your shoe..." *Person Y no longer paranoid that the person is trying to mug them.*
Y: "Oooohhh....Thank you..." *walks away quickly o save face*
I know these are stereotypes and hasty generalizations, but the fact of the matter is that during the 3 years I lived in Seattle, I noticed customer service was almost non-existent, an 'aggressive aloofness' was very popular, and people's unwillingness to recognize other people were around them were very rampant.
That isn't to say, however, that most or everyone in Seattle is like this, but a great deal of them are.
I found the only time people really employed standards of social etiquette that was popular elsewhere was during times that were pre-established social events. For example, parties, suppers, dinner parties, and so on were always a time when people were on their best behaviour.
When you go to Seattle, just remember that if ever you come upon someone who isn't right-out polite, it's not you, it is almost certainly them.
