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German bluntness is a myth. It's just plain rudeness. These fuckers are rude as fuck. And they better learn to shape up because there are few incentives beyond culture for internationals to tolerate this pooping climate for long.
Berlin is a cursed place. The people make it so. Everything that I thought was good about Germany and its people I discovered all was a fabricated myth...and I am not liberated in this realisation. Im from the Uk and went through a period prior where I thought bad of my country but Im thankful for one thing....Berlin and even Germany made me happy and proud once again to be British....once again! It made me realise there is something special in UK and its people.....and Im sure many of you feel the same about your own countries. We are a lucky few a band of brothers (excuse the term) and our optimism and resolve should never waiver to the depths of that forsaken place of Berlin and Germany as a whole.
The problem goes both ways. Germans are often blunt because foreigners are used to being babied in their own countries, so they expect it to happen here too. It simply doesn't work that way here. Germans place a lot of value on helping yourself instead of expecting everyone around you to do all of the thinking for you. This is often at odds with how businesses treat people in other first-world countries, where the customer is treated like a king, no matter how dumb they are behaving.
I can honestly count on one hand the amount of times I've thought someone was being genuinely rude in Berlin.
Above. No. They are rude, and customer is king!
I am not saying there are not imbecile customers out there, but they are horrible by default...
Expectation to be treated right when you paid from your own money a service is not a high expectation, it’s just common sense in business of any kind.
Also, Foreigners are not babied. If there is a society that is the babied, that is Germany at top. Why do you think all refugees want to come here? Because in all other foreign countries will not get as much baby-sitting and security. If you make it until Germany, then you can use the social solidarity system to take your time to get on your feet in a new country.
No disrespect to the refugees, I can understand their reasoning. It makes sense.
Strongly disagree. Customer is not king. The person behind the till is there to do a job for a poop salary, they are not paid enough to be your friend. If you think someone needs to lick your butt just because you're forking out cash to pay for stuff you want, you're part of the mentality of being babied.
I've never been treated unfairly in a shop or restaurant unless I was somehow being a jackass. Or when I didn't even attempt to speak German. They treat you much better and will happily switch to English if you at least make an attempt at German, no matter how bad your skills are.
I work at a restautant saw so many times my colleagues treay customers very rude.What are you talking about???Maybe you did not go out so much or only visited 5 or 6 stars hotel.They treat customers rude and ignore many times for their chat.They came to kitchen to pick up the food anh while having them on their hand stop there and talk abouy yhis and that for 5 minutes .dont care food get cold or whatever.But compalon when tjey have no tip.
Agree with the guy above. The default attitude of service workers here is piss poor. And I don't even want chitchat or niceties. I just want people to not deliberately be butts to me. I speak nearly perfect German, I order fast and pay immediately but somehow it's still often necessary for service people to be penises just because they can. A low salary is a poor excuse in a country where most low skilled service workers actually chose their line of work and went to trade school for 3 years to "learn" to do it.
Perhaps the guy who's saying foreigners are used to being babied could explain because I honestly don't know of any examples. I don't consider expecting a waiter to know whether a dish contains peanuts to be babying. Or expecting lab techs in German hospitals to explain things without being condescending/sarcastic. Expecting some level or respect and dignity isn't expecting to be babied.
It feels absolutely like a dream when I am outside of Germany and people in restaurants ask if I want to substitute the dies in my meal for something else. Or when strangers on the street tell me an entrance is blocked and save me from needlessly walking down stairs. Common courtesy is unheard of in Germany and it's impossible to explain to people who've never experienced it why it makes life more pleasant.
Germans love vacationing abroad because they all know Germany is a massive shitshow.
What's the scene and tech scene in Stocklohm and those areas, Nordics? Better, same or worse, though the last one seems unlinkely lol.
You can't compare Sweden to Germany? Different dimensions. If you can handle the winter, you will love Sweden. They have the highest Standard in Europe with wonderful people. Berlin is like a toilett. Sweden like a beautiful lounge.
And yes very open minded and as much as I know a good tech scene
Hi Everyone,
It's been quite a few years since I first visited BerlinHater. A big thank you to the guy who set it up, you really saved my sanity, I thought I was going crazy. You've provided a great service to the expat community.
As much as I have fond memories of using this site to vent, I am now completely over the trauma of my time in Berlin and back to my old self again in my own country. It just seems like a distant nightmare now. So I won't be visiting here anymore.
I wish for everyone here to eventually get out of Berlin and into a saner place to live.
Thanks again and best wishes to everyone.
Life is too short to spend it in Germany
Having a grey atmosphere around winter is actually something you know when you move to Berlin or London or Amsterdam. But what makes this city depressing are the architectures and the buildings. This city is similar to moscow or romania and so on.
It's just fickinng ugly.
And the germans have absolutely no taste when it comes to style. I am not talking about walking around like one of those wall street guys. I am just talking about a nice jeans with a white t shirt and some clean sneakers or boots. Oh come on. And what is wrong with german women. They look so unfuckeble ( Berlusconi voice)!
Add the behavior of germans to all of that and voila: ALEMANIA.
omg. I miss Valencia so much. I love my country so much and I never thought saying something like this before I moved to this city, but I am freaking proud beeing spanish and freaking proud not beeing german. Thank you god. Thank you so much.
And much love to you guys here who made me feel that it's not me that is insane. It's this stupid country full of nazis and poor philosophy thinking people.
Well said....You could say I lived in Berlin or been there long enough over time to see how it really is. You are spot on like everyone is here with their views and opinions as I relate to all these things. I just got back to London....Surrey the nicer part; and there are many around London....and when I flew back into British Airspace from France.....I could see the weather and moreso atmoshpere of hte weather just change and despite being winter it was so much brighter, clean and not so suppressive.....the weather might be similar but its totally different to that of central Europe as it feels more free and airy.....and the climate was mild I could go out for a bike ride and enjoy the sun on most days intermittently.....unlike Berlin which felt like a big suppression concentration camp of misery. You mention you are from Valencia and I never considered moving to Spain or at least considering a holiday home there with my wife......but since Ive been back I have considered and started looking into Valencia as I have a good friend who is married to a Spanish lady and lives in Spain. After talking to him when I was in Berlin prior telling him about the negatives.....he said; just come to Spain the people are firendly and at least the weather is good. I work remotely and can also do English teaching to top it off.....but looking ideally for a property in Valencia at the moment. It appeals to me as I keen not to be around too many expats at least not the loudish types you see in some parts....but a nice quiet respectful area and so far the journey research looks amazing:) If you have any advice Id love to hear it.....Are you planning to leave at all?
Of course guys. Valencia is just beautiful.
Of course you can hang out on the port with lots of restaurants
And here are some places I recommend:
Bluebell Coffee very nice cafe. Beautiful and warm.
El Saler Beach best place.
San Tomasso (yummie) restaurant italian
La Fabrica de Hielo live music and relaxing.
But let me tell you amy spot in Valencia is nice. Just the traffic sucks. But you will love it
@Spanish guy you are so right. Living in this country made me feel suppressed in so many ways. In the beginning I couldn't figure out what was going on and thought I was losing my mind. Then I came across this site and thought 'Thank goodness I'm not alone!'
Feels good to be out of Berlin and to not feel that weird negative (evil) energy that's the absolute norm there. I didn't believe in the importance of spirituality before moving to Berlin and meeting all the mechanistic people suffering there. As some one on this site posted a few weeks ago: it just feels like with Germans something is missing.
Happy for you and feel jealous too.I also have 3 to 4 months left.Living in Berlin was not nice at all but instead I have learned so many things too.And appreciated what I have had since I was born(not talking about material things).I will never be such a miserable human being like Berliners who lost dignity,emotions,tust,respect and empathy long long time ago or never had since they were born.
You know what is a big problem. Things being above one. Be it sport, cleaning, music, anything. It's also typical for here. You cannot not feel small such way or feel through it. And if you don't feel, then it's drifting, not alligned with life. To play correct, to sing correctly, to clean one's place properly. There is so much anger for that, that feels good, not this anger from being reactive and affected by it which is also understood.
I think he refers to the fact that Germans don't do things for pleasure, but they rather do things just because they want to be busy with work.
It follows that they approach a lot of things without soul and passion. It's no wonder their cuisine is bland, and that their music scene is a catastrophe, just like most German movies. Or TV show or comedians.
Yes but thr OP definitely has problem.It seems same person who wrotr very long ones last time.
Exactly their comedy is just what they would say as krass.....its very passive aggressive and then you hear the fake tin laughter......I really dont understand this.....its just angry.....also I dislike the way they poke fun at the Polish and I find it very disrepectful like they think they are a superior; its outrageuoue and all the Germans just go along with it....like sheep.....I swear what happened in the 30's nad 40's could happen again with these peoples mentality ---- they really have not learnt a darn thing......I used to think I like Germany before I went there but having spent more time and reflecting truthfully on my experiences of actually being there I cannot tell you how true these comments on this blog are.....and frankly Berlin being the worst but all of Germany is very very very close to this mentality too...I even found it in Bavaria of all place......despite a slightly nicer experience due to natural beauty of the mountains ....but the people much the same maybe just a tad bit less obvious. Honestly it dosnt matter what colour you are they dont trust or like any of us.......thats my experience......and girls will only sleep with you if they are wanted to be different and " progressive" or try something new.......but then there is no loyalty and its on to the next one.....of course Im not saying there wont be accept ions to that rule....but is it worth putting up with all the countries crap and problems for that.....plus long term......I havnt seen anyone happily married to a German person long term......they are difficult at best.........And going back to Poland I can say the people there have more integrity, culture and common decency in their baby finger than a German does in their entire body......Germans are krass, impolite, arrogant, rude, aggressive if not passive aggressive, think they are superior, among other things, even the ok ones mostly turn out to be penises in the end......You could say on one hand its kinda sad.....but f%^& it I aint going to cry over them.....
'Yes but the OP definitely has problem.It seems same person who wrote very long ones last time.'
I know the thread you're talking about. I felt sorry for OP seeing what Berlin maust have done to him/her
You are so fukking dumb. I was writing about being and feeling, nothing to think. Of course it gotto be put into words, but it's whatever. I didn't mean a solution to a problem. Things beings.. you wanna tell me you never came across it, just fukk off doh
Things being above one, is what it was supposed to mean. And thank you, I'm good. When I write, I don't am as it felt. I felt angry, cleaned a few things, it was not about that, I imagined somebody wud be like you forgot something.. then I realised how low it is by contrast. Just sth to make a point..
I was rather light but now I think you are pathetic. I am pretty much the best singer in the city, soulful wise. Of course you are fukking dumb! to assume I meant this any other way but related to what I wrote. You have no respect for your feelings, otherwise you had respected mine. You are merely projecting. And it's all your fault cause I just peacefully wrote about a topic. Meddle with me and you meddle with yourself.
It's surely also not all about feeling, but I'm not interested to show the connections. I know it and wanted to share it with you, but then you won't know. Repressive ignorant bunch of losers. Just felt it was appropriate. It is metaphorical for how it feels. And I'm a human being, artist is just some extra level within that. Go ahead click dislike, it not change one thing. Silly muppets
I want to apologize. I think it's all overly serious. I'm sorry for what it's worth. Think you naturally kept that at distance, I kinda did too actually. You know, it's just not good, to feel, yes of course but it had these overserious...it's the complete opposite of everything. I had the bugs, you know
3134 reasons to hate berlin. And 6 million reasons to spit on the whole country
So today I read “Du entscheidest wieviel ein Mensch Wert ist” in the Subway. Are we really there again? The whole thing was an ad for Big Brother.
I don’t know if this is just me but do Germans have really bad BO? Hygiene seems to be lacking
The water here is very bad quality and it hurts your skin and hair. I heard from many expats that they got rashes and hair falling out or breaking off from using the water here. When I came here my skin developed bleeding rashes and dermatitis, and my curly hair started falling out and became straight. I was uncomfortable all the time as if there was some scratchy powder on my skin and hair. I learned these are common effects of all that nasty brown calc in the water. I think people here are used to it so they don't notice, but they do shower less and just scrub less because the water is so harsh.
to the person who mentioned skin and hair issues, I can totally relate to it. I have developed rashes and some kind of dermatitis, although the doctor gave little importance to it. Perhaps unrelated, but I am interested to know whether you managed to resolve it? Did you use anything specific? If so, what is it? I would love to know about it as I am still struggling with these skin issues and I am not going to shower less, if that is the only way to combat it in Germany! :)
Jesus, its so crazy. Even after world war 1 & 2 germans are still able to make everyone hates them.
but let me be honest about this site. I'm kind of ambivalent. There seems to be a lot of racist people on this site. I hope i am wrong and it is a minority.
I have myself noticed some racial slurs towards East Europeans or Muslims, for example, but I took them as "bad-apple episodes". If you read through the posts you will see very sound comments and views. There are also posts from people who are going through some hard time and had very negative experiences, but still they take time to share their experiences with this community (a healing process for them and an opportunity for the rest of us to see that we are all pretty much on the same boat). When I discovered this community I felt less lonely and it restored my faith in humanity (there are indeed people who see Berlin the way it is). I thought that some of my experiences were caused by the lack of my German language skills, but I have come to know that even people mastering the language witnessed similar situations.
Using the U-Bahn or S-Bahn is a nightmare. They never let people exit the trains, instead everyone is just pushing themselves in. Whenever there is an escalator, they decide to randomly stand anywhere, completely ignoring the simple rule of stand on the right and walk on the left. It always stinks in the trains as well, but if you open the window they almost attack you.
So many times most of them are old Germans.Even though they looked and(hope they noticed)the left side is empty while the right side is full.They jusy stood on the left side.Come on.why????I can not understand this "I dont care.I can be bothered"attitude...
To the liberal, diverse and welcoming Berlin (read sarcasm)....yesterday I was walking in the street and this elderly man cursed an Asian looking woman (guess why). I am not even mentioning the bad looks towards any Asian looking person (it does not matter if they are Japanese rather than Thai etc) you can spot around. I would expect that from a small village where people are ignorant and narrow-minded, but really a multi-cultural capital?!? This is essentially what Berlin is, an overgrown village.
I am Asian woman self and old men here are so disgusting.These smelly ugly and fat people think all we asian women are desperate to be their 3rd or 4 th wife.Because they never visit any other Asia countries other than sex tour.All they can think is what they did and see in thier pervert and small world.So disgusting and thank you for your empathy.
Yes that is true indeed, but I think it is now exacerbated by the Corona Virus paranoia. She was probably born and bread in Germany, but still regarded as class B citizen. Regardless, nobody should be treated like this in a civilised country or anywhere for that matter. Especially in a city that praises itself for being welcoming to all races, cultures etc. I hope you did not have similar experiences here.
I met a woman from the Philippines who was marries to an older German man and she is seriously NOT happy. Unfortunately she had a child to him and so is stuck in S****y Eastern part of Germany surrounded by people who couldn't care less. Boy do I feel sad for her
Wow what a brilliant Artist.Typical Artist in Berlin with talent.I feel so bad that I am too ignorant and stupid not seeing any art or any feeling out of this masterpiece.And it would be my honour if my tax was used to this great artist to buy beers to drink.Must be so thirsty to walkaround with so many smartphones.