11 things that the people of Washington Love to fight about

As the years have passed, it seems more and more that we as a population in Washington state have become more polarized, and not just about politics, but a whole bunch of different stuff. Wheninyourstate.com says that there are at least 11 things in Washington state that we love to argue about. 

According to wheninyourstate.com,
‘People from Washington are a chill, raincoat-wearing bunch—until you say something dumb like “Seattle gets a lot of rain” or mispronounce “Puyallup.” Then? Oh buddy, the gloves are off (but still waterproof). Here are 11 things guaranteed to spark eternal debates among Washingtonians, fueled by caffeine and passive-aggressive glares.’ 

Here is the list; see if you agree. 

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The Eternal Superiority of Washington Apples
I would go so far as to say Western Washingtonians believe in the superiority of the Washington apple. But we here in Eastern Washington live it daily. We can debate the merits of varieties like Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp, Fuji, Granny Smith and more. (Is anyone defending the honor of the Red Delicious?) 

Is it better to live in Seattle, or get out?
Is it all about living in the big city (Seattle) with everything that the city provides? Along with the downside like traffic, crime, and a high cost of living. Or leave Seattle and live in a smaller town. (Or a big town that feels smaller, like Spokane.) A more tranquil pastoral existence, but still with coffee. 

Do you call it “The Sound”? Or do you call it “Puget Sound”? 

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The idea is that true Washingtonians drop the Puget and just call it The Sound. I'm not sure if that's the case. (This may be where the argument comes in.) I think calling Puget Sound, The Sound is more of a generational thing. 

Pike Place Market. Is it the best thing ever? Or is it a gigantic tourist trap?
My answer is yes to both questions. Every time I have visited Pike Place Market it just seemed to be this magic place. Full of bustling organized chaos, great food, weird little boutique storefronts, and occasionally the opportunity to throw a fish. You can call it a tourist trap if you want to. I call it a tourist haven. 

Who has the best mountain?
Is it Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, or Mount Hood? Do people actually argue about this? We're talking about Washington state here, so leave Mount Hood out of this. For my money, it's Mount Rainier but that's just because I was raised in Burien. If I were a resident of Bellingham, Mount Baker would be where it's at. 

Where are the worst drivers, Oregon or California? 

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Well, the answer to that really depends on where you're from. It seems to me the question really only arises when somebody cuts you off in traffic and they have an out-of-state license plate. 

What is your definition of good weather?
In Western Washington, it's any time that it's not raining sideways. In Eastern Washington, it's any time the wind is not blowing at 55 miles an hour. 

Are you a die-hard Seahawks fan?  Or are you just along for the ride? 

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I have met both types of Seahawks fans. Over the last 15 years I've become a die-hard Seahawks fan. But if you're talking about baseball, well I'm always excited about the Mariners when they're winning, but when they're losing, I pretty much forget that they exist. 

What is the right way to pronounce Puyallup? 
I've never learned any other way to pronounce Puyallup but the way I pronounce it. (The correct way.) You want a hard one? How do you pronounce Pend Oreille?  

The best coffee, Starbucks, or any other Local coffee shop. 

There might not be anything more polarizing in Washington State than where to get the best cup of coffee. I don't have an opinion because I'm not a coffee drinker, but every other coffee drinker in my office has a different opinion, and they are adamant that their opinion is the correct one. 

The better place to live, East side or West side?
We're talking about the cascades as the dividing line here, and I do have an opinion on this one that I'm going to keep to myself. The stereotype is that people on the West side of the mountains are bleeding heart liberals that want to give away everything, and people on the east side of the mountains are right wing Hicks that wear their baseball caps backwards. A subset of this argument is which is the better college? University of Washington, or Washington State University. 

My oldest son attended the University of Washington. My next oldest son attended Washington State University and then moved to Eastern Washington University. 

I went to Central Washington University. (Back then, it was Central Washington State College.) 

Lately I am of the view that I'm getting too old to argue about any of this stuff.  

Life is too short. Find something positive to talk about. 

Make lunch, not war.