> They're not singling you out. Seattle people don't talk to random strangers on the street or transit unless there's an actual reason. This aspect of the city is well known: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Freeze.

Is this unique to Seattle? I don't think I've lived anywhere (lived in both north and south CA previously) where people just talked to random people.

I feel like that's just one part of being in a big place? No point saying hi to every single person because there's way too many people and you're unlikely to see most of them ever again.