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For me this city is just plain ugly and boring without a shred of atmosphere or energy... but this seems obvious. My main confusion (and concern) is why so many people say it is amazing...how???? In what way is it amazing? Why do people say this?? I really just want to know! How is having graffiti and abandoned buildings enough to make it cool?
This is my third (and last) time to Berlin, I keep coming back after hearing people rave about it sure that I've missed something and Berlin's "awesomeness" will dawn on me...nope. It's still a piece of shit.
Before I die I just want to understand why people say it is amazing....
no worries, you are in the right place, you are not alone! Communist nostalgia, dirty and filthy premises, occupied buildings, fairly bad restaurants and lots, lots of trouble people who have been functional drug addicts or/and alcoholics for a while. I am temporarily in Berlin and miss Britain very much (as much as my native country - nothing to do with any ex-communist country). Can you imagine retiring in Berlin? ahah
Berlin definitely has a very different vibe in the summer than it does in the winter. And in the summer it does have something about it with everyone just drinking outside. There is quite a relaxed atmosphere with noone judging you for what you wear or where you live or what car you have etc. It is very multicultural and alternative lifestyles are not frowned upon. But the downside of the city is the long grey cold winter, the dirtyness, the bad attitude of the locals, the fact that most people who come here are not going to stay so its impossible to settle down with anyone, the fact that nothing feels stable or real and people are just interested in being cool and having a good time but not in actually connecting with you as a person.
I don't mean this as a snarky reply, but what is this "no one judges you in Berlin" business about? Where do people who consider this to be uniquely Berlin come from? I'm from a much, much more conservative part of the world than Berlin but the people there judge me much less. The only place in the entire world I have randomly been insulted on the street for something I was wearing was in Berlin. If you're talking about interacting with the people who live here then I must again disagree. A lot of Germans in Berlin treat foreigners like some kind of otherworldly species and will openly mock your accent and caricaturize your nationality - or they will simply ignore you completely. I don't find anything about Berliners to be accepting at all. I think people may be misinterpreting actual apathy and avoidance for lack of judgement. I honestly feel like Berlin causes autism.
I agree 100%.Here people judge you.But with another criterias.The Berliner must be Artist.Vegan(I myself am a vegetarian.But I hate these arrogant vegans and vegetarians in Berl)must be bisexual and in open relationship and not work hard because working hard and paying tax is something only stupid Capitalist do because they are idiot and greedy.You must have half broken bike and wear second hand clothing and not taking shower.These people in Berlin have even more strict rules how to live and behave.Only immature young people feel that this is a city of freedom.Neverland Berlin with full of Drug addicted,Alcohol addicted,Casual sex addicted angry fake Peterpans.
No these comments about berliners being apathetic and berlin causing autism are absolutely spot on. I was trying to point out what the positives may be but then in the second half where I talk about the downside I complained about the lack of connection with people here and the bad attitude they have. This includes what you say about xenophobia and a lack of openness for foreigners. I have never been insulted as many times in my life as in Berlin. But you can't take it personally and just have to see it as their loss and inability to see anything outside of their small restricted world.
"A lot of Germans in Berlin treat foreigners like some kind of otherworldly species and will openly mock your accent and caricaturize your nationality - or they will simply ignore you completely"
Germans all over Germany do that. Why do you think Germany has such a big problem integrating nationalities that have been living there for decades?
Yes while they also have very strong accent always mocking accents.Very funny..They act as if they are perfect.And when they travel to another countries they are really stingy and stay at very very cheap backpackers in a slum area and eat at cheap imbis.Then they think that is all of the country and said all those countries are underdeveloped and people are poor.And when they back to Germany they judge all Auslander as according to their own little little experiences.
Yesterday DIW put out a study based on data from the OECD showing that Berlin has the highest rate of attempted murder of any city in the EU. AfD put out press releases citing the research and demanding action. Instead of actually trying to support a solution for the problem, all other parties and every news agency simply claims (falsely) that the data (from the OECD) is incorrect because they consider it "implausible". No actual discussion of the statistics, no alternate explanation. The data is incorrect because the German media wants the data to be incorrect. Just like with the falling GDP figures over the last 3 quarters: there's no recession, there's no crime problem. People don't smoke crack at Moritzplatz every night. Blood stains and vomit aren't a common sight throughout the city. Cars (and now the homeless) aren't set on fire here every single night. In fact it's all such a non-problem that Berlin-brewed schnapps called Brandstifter is sold at the airport, the BVG openly jokes about drug overdoses and assault in their adverts. And really who cares about some Bulgarian scum that gets arrested for jerking off on some random girl and then immediately gets arrested again for kicking someone else down a flight of stairs. If you don't like grit then go back to Edinburgh or Sydney or Austin and leave Berlin to the meek and anxious locals who are afraid of answering their Gegensprechanlagen after 10pm because at least they won't complain - and even if they do then at least we can paint them all nazis for not embracing crime.
That's the real Berlin mindset - deny anything negative about this jerk of a city or trivialize if that doesn't work. That's probably the real reason holocaust denial had to be prohibited by law here - otherwise these dumb German genetic failures would refuse to admit they'd ever done anything wrong in the entire history of the world.
The DIW and OECD are not the far right party. Argue the facts and not the strawman (perceived) messenger or don't bother to comment at all. Also, we're not talking about the US here but that's a nice tactic you've picked up from all the miserable Stefans in this squalid country. Get raped.
What do you expect fro a city of lefty fascists, where anyone with white skin is deemed a racist, yet the attempted murder rate and murder rate went up after the lefties lobbied for open borders. So happy to be far away from that imbecilic city, full of brainwashed, SJW, virtue-signalling students who think they know everything. .
PC, feminazi, soy boy, leftard, capital of Europe. Being decent looking conservative self-confident man is the real rebel here.
Any time I make the mistake of speaking with my coworkers or other adults I meet here they always seem to drone on and on about the clubs here. And I'm not talking about 20 year olds, I am talking about people who are in their 30s and 40s. Even people in long term relationships seem to spend every weekend in clubs. Do people in other cities do that? I always had the impression that clubs were more for people in their early 20s while they're trying to figure out who they are, experiment a bit and whatnot. Here it seems to truly be a way of life for some people.
Berlin is a great place to be poor and that is all.
I hate the smug mediocrity of Berlin. Seems like everyone is under/unemployed, suspicious of another persons success, goes bat poop in FB groups when someone posts a sublet that isn’t €2 per sqm, hates anything convenient or “luxury” (Lieferando is truly the poop that Germany deserves), proudly “shops” trash bins and are willing to spend hours of their life going through the trouble of getting a half broken washing machine in Spandau and learning how to fix said washing machine because all of that was “free”. Cheap butt mindset here.
I totally agree what you said.At the beginning it made me feel ridiculous and annoying.But now it gives me sadness.Another 4 months..Then I am not in this miserable city anymore.
God damn, I'm wondering if I wrote this last night.
This was one of the saddest parts of Berlin for me. You can't have nice things in Berlin. The population views you with suspicion. Dare to drive around in anything better than a BMW and own an apartment in an area of Berlin not on fire... YOU MUST HAVE STOLEN IT!!!! F Berlin and its underachiever attitude. Moved back to London and aspiration isn't frowned upon, it's celebrated.
I got an anxiety disorder. I cannot sleep, my eating habits are completely sh!t. I am lethargic... I was happy, open and quite self confident before Berlin. This whole experience turned me upside down.
It’s the most depressing place I have ever experienced, and I think I need professional help to overcome the damage now.
2020 is the year I plot my exit. Fingers crossed!
I agree, it's like another plane in Poland, very friendly and courteous and great food. By the way, also much cheaper. For the original post here, try ReleaseEffect.com it saved my sanity.
Even other cities in Germany would be better than Berlin.Even "many normal Germans"can not stand this city anymore and move to other cities.Berlin is insane itself already and these sick minded people from all around Europe and other continents moved to Berlin and are making this city even crazier.I can't wait to get out of here ...not so long..
After spending 3 years in Berlin one thing made me feel really good is I am glad that I was not born in BERLIN AND NOT A GERMAN BERLINER.While the economy is very good compare to many poor country and having a good social welfare system people are just sick.Always complaining,0 torelance and emphasy.Having problem to have healthy relationship and be mature parents.
Why people think Germany is a wealthy country is beyond me. Taxes are high, salaries aren't that great and if a German family lives in a house, they usually share it with another family (that lives on another floor, of course).
By the way, why is social welfare a bonus? People should move to another country to WORK, not to live off social benefits.
What’s up with all the trashy people in this country? You know the type, “music” blasting from a JBL, cheap-ass Fred Durst looking motherfuckers and their filthy half-naked underage girlfriends. My husband and I have the misfortune of living in a small town between Berlin and Leipzig and these scumbags seem to be the only people we see on the streets. AND recently one of those moved into the apartment directly below ours and is blasting his techno 24/7 so loud that everything in the house is shaking. Tried communicating with him one night when he was going ape-ship at a drug-fueled party at 3am, but, of course, that animal was barely able to speak German, let alone English, and our little intervention only made him turn the volume up. I can’t stand those imbeciles anymore, thankfully our studies are soon over and we are gonna be OUT OF HERE. I can safely say that, I my experience, in no other country is this toxicity as prevalent as in Germany.
These people feel safe here in their poop country. They do and say things that would get you slapped across the face in another country. Don’t get angry with these retards in this place. I don’t respect these people or care about their country. I’m too the point now if a German ask me if I like living here I just say no. I don’t care if I offend them I just wanna leave before I hurt one of them. No joke. I hope their whole economic system crashes. These people and the weird foreigners who also live here deserved each other. If your retard neighbors continue with their loud music then just call the police. But I doubt the police would do anything...they too are useless motherfuckers.
I also can not stand these people.They belive Techno makes them superior than others.And all other music is trash and too capitalistic or too common compare they are unique and know what is art.Thier face "Oh I am enjoying this music".....I dont think the role of music is suppoesed to be making people rude and aggresive.And Hiphop...Yes of course Germany is not a paradise but compare to USA or Asia or Afrika people have so much more chances to go to Uni,having not a miserable life even though you have no job.Kindergeld etc.Not real soul for Hiphop just mocking the cliches "Oh this society and our anger"Made me laugh all the time.
My neighbours did this two years! I had to sleep bathroom! Ducking lame! Every weekend same ten people wasted at home when we lived near berghain! Idiots ! So redundant these people. I fled in corona. If I ever see a German outside of Germany I will tell him to speak English and go home and kick in balls! Who is programming them to all say the same poop do they have a chip planted in their head? Idiots!!!
Oh yeah you can try ordundsamt in daytime hours or call police later . Police would stop multiple times but guess what these idiot just kept going every weekend! And i talked to landlord did nothing. Bunch of inbreds. I would never fornicate someone same nationality as me. It’s gross. Idiots
I left Berlin a few years ago (I lived there for 4 years) and now I live in the Scotland and although the social justice warrior feminist lefty degenerate mentality is big here as well, it will never be as dangerous as in Berlin. People here are nice, kind, friendly and have manners. Everytime I see a German tourist I run away. Escape people, let those cunts rot in hell
They are already rotting in hell, Berlin.
The social justice warrior feminist lefty degenerate mentality is about to get blown out, by Brexit, Boris, Trump and Morrison in Australia. If some communist country takes them in, lets see how long the morons last :o))
Can someone who has lived elsewhere in Germany advise if it is better or is it really just German culture to be rotten to the core?? If you can, please elaborate as I'm trying to figure out where I should go next...
Thanks a lot!! :)
Hi there. Yes, I lived in Leipzig for most of my time here and also spent some time in Dusseldorf and Wiesbaden. These places seem a bit nicer however I can't help but think it's a cultural thing. It's almost as if there is something missing in these people (not all, but I'd say a majority).
People like confrontation. They like to put their to put their foot down when they think you're messing with their precious sense of ordnung. Went to the park to enjoy a nice sunny day. There was a little lake surrounded by a wooden fence with a door. As the door was unlocked, I went to the other side of the fence. Suddenly, there was a reproachful voice asking "what the fence is for". Some random middle-aged guy thought it was a good idea speak a machtwort to let me know that what I was doing was unacceptable. Ignored him at first, but he insisted. I replied, in my most condescending voice, that there was an open door in the fence and turned my back on him. He left. A clear statement shuts them up.
In smaller cities Germans seem to be a little less blunt and outright rude but they're still completely German. And by that I mean the following: uncouth, standoffish, know-it-alls, obsessed with nudity, aloof, overcompensating for inferiority complexes. Berlin truly seems to be the worst bunch of them but they're all a far cry from anything decent. Ever notice how the only Germans you ever see conversing casually about anything are drunk? It's because they all have serious social disorders.
People in Munich is nicer. It is more difficult here to makes friends too in Munich. Things are more expensive. The city is boring. But people are more normal : hold jobs, responsible, they even feel a shame if they have to depends on government money (H4), people wants to be in relationship and have a family. It just the city is really really boring. Everyone go to Marienplatz/Stachus, people do like to showoffs and they dress nicer.
Germany has really proven me wrong. Scum really do congregate under one roof. I've been living here for long enough that it has had deep psychological impact(Anxiety/Depression). Finding a job is hard, even if you have the skills they won't hire you because you are not like them, Having a relationship is traumatic. German women monkey branch right in front of your eyes. There is no sense of SHAME in this country. no shame in treating others badly. No SHAME in hurting others feelings. Since I moved here. I've been homeless for a period of time, jobless, hurt by relationships I thought were serious but turned out to just be a typical German relationship(Self centered). And in alot of mental distress. I now suffer from severe social anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Everytime I meet an AUSLAENDER they are kind understanding and have manners, unlike the Germans who have and EQ of -2. I've never felt more alone in the world. apart from not having family. I notice that Germans will never support you even as friends and especially when you are down. I think in Germany the saying is "Beat a dog when it's down". I've been taunted, ridiculed and the atmosphere in any shop, bank or otherwise is that they are doing you a favour by helping you. They are vile people. a Vile race. Every German I meet is elitist, they are entitled and expect you to thank them just for their existence. I hired a few Germans in my business before, never will I do that again. Lazy, incompitent and entitled.(Yes I went from homelessness to a business owner. By working schwarz. The government institutions made fun of me instead of helping me). My landlord is a passive aggressive pice of poop riddled with mental issues. For how many mentally ill there are it startles me that many do not understand self reflection. They are aggressive and hostile. Wherever they can drag you down they will.
Health insurance and social payments are through the roof. Taxes are crazy high. Yet I see no benefits to these taxes as countries with lower taxes also have nationalized healthcare(Italy). I have been living without health insurance coverage since I'm here. As a self employed I'd be on the street eating twigs if I had to. Which means I can get no help for my deteriorating mental health as I go into a suicidal state except for paying out of my pocket for which I don't have the money, as work is getting harder and harder to do I'm loosing clients. The system here squeezes you out. The difference with Germans is how they handle stress. They are a weak people. Stress pulls them down, in return they pull others down and it becomes a cycle which gets worse over time. I often get Germans telling me that it's human that cashiers and tellers can be angry and sad, but they always are. By making a customers day bad they arent going to make it any better for themselves knowing they went home and made 3 people sad and angry today. I've worked in service positions. and I have to say. Even though deemed fake here, smiling and making a customers day can boost your own happiness. They are just lazy and guize it under "efficiency" if anything they are efficient at being innefficient. Efficiency, is being on time, which they are never. Efficiency is creating customer happiness and getting their requests done within a dedicated time frame whilst offering the best of services. They are so lazy that they cant even be nice while being "efficient" because being nice takes energy. They are dumb. Somehow they think in the opposite way. I once had a business partner who was German. He said we should go squander money and have a party before opening our business. doesn't it work the other way round? How will we have initial capital if we go to "Ibiza" first? Shouldnt we have a party after we rach a milestone in our business? Another business partner was so entitled she expected me to take on her own tasks. Needless to say and German business partner I've had. They've been lazy. So lazy that they can't even file finanzamt papers in on time(2 month leeway). I've never seen more vile people that speed up when you cross the road. Never move or say excuseme when they bump into you. Servers who are lazy and garbage at their job. Supermarkets that don't take credit cards in tourist hotspost but do in the shitholes of berlin. Buses that don't stop. Bus drivers that shut doors on old people, hitting them. This place is hostile. Then they go on to call Africans thugs, Asians smelly and Arabs stealers. but they themselves went and enslaved Africa and stole their resources. All that they own is stolen out of coloniolization. Additionally they are ignorant. They don't know basic things about the world. Ettiquete ofcourse being a major player. But holy crap. Fornicate this place! I need to leave.
Everything you say is true. I am German myself but got lucky when I was younger to build friendships with people from all over the world. I helped me not to develop that nasty German mentality. Every time I arrive in Germany from another country I am appalled by their behaviour.
freaking Andy's Diner and Bar - who shouts at a customer and demands a bloody tip after you treat someone with absolute disgust the whole time you're serving them. Tips are never mandatory - they're a bloody perk of the job. No one should ever expect a tip and when they do actually get a bloody tip, they should act surprised and thank the person. If you're not given a bloody tip just get on with your life and stop being such an asshole.
Rant over...
Just back in Oz mate, and feel like I'm on another planet, people are courteous, except for a few w0gs, but otherwise all is good, "thank you" and "please" are very common here, and tips are never expected. Fk Berlin, don't think it will ever get better and if you have a relationship with a German, dump them right now and leave, trust me, it never gets better, only worse, and eventually to survive emotionally, you start becoming like them. Go now, just pack your bags and go.
I decided to return to Oz after nearly a year here. I understand what you guys are saying. The frustration that one endures trying to get set up and dealing with grumpy locals can seem pretty overwhelming. I had started to behave like them after a certain point and I knew then that enough was enough.
Foolishly spent Christmas and New Year here in Berlin with family. I can honestly say that I will never be back. I've spent the week holding the door for many a local (as is good manors) but no word of thanks or even eye contact. I can't tell you how many times I've had to say the sarcastic "YOU ARE WELCOME! ENJOY YOUR DAY"! For anyone akin to good customer service, and common decency, please don't go near Berlin. Locals are as scummy as the streets.
Actually Xmas Eve Night and Xmas Day in Berlin were my favourite days of the year, because you didn't see any Germans on the street. In all the years I lived there, not one German ever invited me for Xmas. I didn't want to go, and would have declined the offer with gratitude, but they never invited me. They are social retards.