...
In Germany your children belong to the state:
www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/world/europe/germany-school-vacations.html
This happens in the UK, too, and many other civilised places all over Europe (not sure about the USA, but the USA is a third world country, so things might be different there)
www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jul/11/parents-children-holiday-school-term-court
www.newsweek.com/alabama-un-poverty-environmental-racism-743601
Oh no, a source for a claim
Imagine the convoluted reasoning a person would have to employ in order to honestly think a UN report on ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION is a relevant piece of information in a thread about draconian German laws on compulsory school attendance. Imagine believing that a single, isolated case of poverty is representative of an entire nation. Imagine ignoring the fact that median wages in every US state are higher than those in Germany. That there is a lower percentage of people in the US living below the poverty level compared to Germany. That a higher percentage of people complete tertiary education compared to Germany. That a higher percentage of people own homes, cars, stocks and other financial assets compared to Germany. That the median net worth of an adult is higher in the US than in Germany. That long-term unemployment is America is half that of Germany. That on an annual per capita basis more Germans are infected with measles than Americans.
But yes, America is by all measures a third world country as long as you can find an article with a lede tangentially suggests that might be the case.
The problem is that every Berliner has an uncle, grandfather, cousin who is a huge conspiracy theorist and still harbors a lot of hatred towards America. They'll rattle off dozens of incorrect claims about life in America as if they were experts on the country despite having, at most, only spent two weeks in Miami twenty years ago. And there's a non-stop barrage of biased documentaries that run on all the government-owned television channels all the time. I'm well aware of the problems America has, but you absolutely cannot provide any facts to support outlandish claims like it being a third world country, especially if you want to simultaneously claim Germany isn't. If you actually take a minute to look at the data you cannot deny that America is decades ahead of Germany in most metrics.
First commentator. I am not retarded. Unlike you, I went to public school in u.s. When I missed school without a legit excuse, my parents received a warning informing them of legal consequences.
U.S. is not a third world country. There are bad areas in u.s. like Flint and opiod crisis states due to corruption, fckd up health care and justice system.
*A response to a post from a few days ago regarding public transport.*
Personally, I think that Berlin transport (even if terrible by German standards) is far above NYC (in terms of keeping a schedule, etc.) But these bums get mad and female dog when they get caught without a ticket. Hey, I've ridden "in the black" before; but I never bitched at the controllers; it was my fault; I knew the chance I was taking, and I knew what I was getting myself into.
The main problem with Berliners (and Germans as a whole)... THEY REFUSE TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. They expect the government to be their mommy; eternally sucking on its tit. These people are worse than bratty school children. Sorry for the rant. But so sick of these freaking scumbags.
Hahahaha, a Berliner accepting personal responsibility? That's a good one. They will blame anyone and everyone on earth before they will accept even the slightest amount of guilt. Just look at the mental gymnastics the idiot posted directly above this comment for a case study into the mind of a silly child.
I am from Salzburg (Austria) and the people of Berlin have a common problem with my dialect. Yesterday the salesman in the store kept telling me that he didn't understand what I was saying, and that's how he answered every question. I have a communication problem almost everywhere in Berlin. It's interesting that when Berliners arrive for the holidays in Austria, they can understand everything without a problem?! Berliners are just bastards! :((
That's why they teach you to speak like you're not chocking on a cricket in school. You'd also have a problem with a strong east German accent. Same goes for English where in the UK it would be harder for southerners to understand a strong northern accent. This is super basic stuff and exists in nearly every country.
I am a Czech and I understand many German dialects. I guess I'm a genius! I'm sure I have an IQ 376. (well, anyway; when a lot of people in Berlin tell you after every word that they don't understand you because you're from Austria, you feel like the Berliners are idiots. My girlfriend is from Linz and I know this problem very well!)
Just another typical Berlin male:
www.berlin.de/polizei/polizeimeldungen/pressemitteilung.703587.php
Accent whores. After spending a small fortune on private German lessons for years. I go into job interviews and have to deal with the person saying "Your German is very good" throughout the entire interview. Even though it is not. But the person is amazed that somehow I have been able to get rid of most of my Aussie accent so I no longer sound like I am chewing gum while speaking. The long and the short of it is. If Germans think Austrians and Swiss Germans can't speak German properly, you as a real foreigner to the language have almost zero chance of finding a job with a German company. It wasn't always like this. But apparently the Heimat Nazis have taken over the country.
I am from Salzburg (Austria) and the people of Berlin have a common problem with my dialect. Yesterday the salesman in the store kept telling me that he didn't understand what I was saying, and that's how he answered every question. I have a communication problem almost everywhere in Berlin. It's interesting that when Berliners arrive for the holidays in Austria, they can understand everything without a problem?! Berliners are just bastards! :((
Copied from ToyTown Germany forum:
"Okay, so I've been living in Berlin for about 8 months now.
Wow, what a shithole. It smells, graffiti is everywhere, lots of abandoned buildings, it's dirty, and the people amazingly unfriendly and impolite. I've lived in Stuttgart and Frankfurt before, and they're both much nicer cities to live in.
I'm 31, have a professional job, and I don't care much for "the scene" or whatever is hyped about Berlin.
Anyway, feel free to tell me to "fuck off and leave Berlin", because I spend a lot of timing thinking about where to go live next. The only thing keeping me here is my very good job.
My question is the following: Has anyone grown to like Berlin? I know I am in the minority, because all the hipsters, freelancers, people "looking for their next job" constantly tell me how great Berlin is and how they absolutely "just had to move here". I feel it's a great city if you're in your 20s but not the city for me."
Berlin seems good when you are g=here on holidays or when you fist decide to move here, but bit by bit you see behind the curtain and the hype wears off and you think others are digging the scene daddyo, but really, they are all new-comers as well, because all the others have left or committed suicides that never get reported. And so the carousel goes round and round.
Yeah, coming to Berlin where you earn a non-Berlin salary you think this place is great. 600€ rent for a studio apartment close to downtown, cheap food, beer and clubs. But try living here on your third minimum wage internship without being 4k€ in debt. This city is one big dead end.
Why is this post being down voted anyway? It's a normal polite impression of a person with experience of living in this city. It is quite obvious that Berlin has become some kind of an amusement park for hipsters and wannabee artists which has spread to young people in general. The description of Berlin as a great, amazing city etc. always comes from the same group. The reality of job prospects and possibility of living some kind of mature lives in general is quite the opposite, especially when limited by the constantly required language skills. And this comes from a person who has always been a part of alternative scenes, but having interests that differ from the mainstream does not necessary make you an infantile idiot which is obviously the only group that can be attracted to the mindset and the lack of perspective in this place.
People are not willing to pay for public transport in Berlin. They even have a page on Facebook where they warn each other for ticket inspectors. And they comment stuff like: "it should be free" and "I'm not paying for a train that is never on time". Funny thing is, that these people want you to pay for their Hartz IV.
I wish the stupid BVG would just install turnstiles at the entrances of the train station. It would nice to be able to ride to work in peace without annoying musicians, bums selling newspapers and run-of-the-mill beggars. It would be nice to not see junkies shooting up in the corner of busy train stations. It would be nice if the trains weren't always overcrowded with freeloaders.
Bvg's tickets are overpriced and keep raising. It stinks and overcrowded.
I hate paying for it more every year because it's not a quality ride.
Bvg is a greedy company that gambled millions in risky 2007 investments yet make the goverment (tax payers) to lock up thousands in jails.
Actually, I am more conservative than you are because I am against monopolies and using taxpayers money to lock people for non violent crimes.
Shut the f up you fake ignorant piss of s**t. You know nothing about free market. You call anyone a lefty who is not into crony capitalism and pro bribes.
Yesterday my boyfriend took me to Vabali Berlin which is some kind of German spa near Hauptbahnhof. I had never been to one of these places before in Germany because I only moved here three months ago. When we got inside I realised it is one of those nude places which I guess is ok. I tried to enjoy it despite the 80-90% overweight elderly German males there but after a while I noticed one old man was always showing up around where we were. Eventually I was sunning myself wearing a bikini in one of the lounge chairs and he comes to me and tells me something in German so I say I cannot understand and he says everyone must be naked there and complains something about foreigners never following the rules. Then he pretends to trip and rubs his erect penis on my shoulder!!! I complained to the management and they said they don't care at all. I kept complaining and they just ignored me. My German bf said it's no big deal and wanted to stay. I don't know how anyone can enjoy this place and thing this kind of abuse is normal. i am leaving this city as soon as possible.
Damn. My (German) boyfriend and I absolutely love Vabali, but the fact that the employees were so rude makes my mouth feel a bit sour. WTF. I read this out loud to him last night and he had the opposite reaction of your cuck. Dump him once you have your housing sorted, girl. But don't make yourself homeless yet. Be smart and safe!
Berli police are like Keystone Kops, good for a laugh, the Lefties run rings around them :o))))) www.msn.com/de-de/nachrichten/panorama/hausbesetzungen-in-berlin-polizei-geht-gegen-aktivisten-in-kreuzberg-und-neukölln-vor/ar-AAxyyZM Google translate, you won't believe what you read. Of course the last thing Berlin wants is gentrification, we need more drug and alcohol addicted, squatting, car-burning, hartz-iv LEFTY LOSERS
If you know any Lefties in Berlin and you want to piss them off, show them this wonderful debate about political-correctness with Stephen Fry and Jordan Peterson. www.youtube.com/watch
This place is making me seriously depressed.
I have no friends here (my own choice, don't pity me).
German BF always working (and still makes a pooping wage); never go on dates, etc.
People talk poop about Americans. I was so skinny there; and gained weight here (mostly due to lack of fitness here- but I'm already taking care of that problem, and am lucky that I have a decent body type, long hair, clear skin, etc.
I'm so sick of this pooping place.
I'm tired of going to a pooping private, for-profit uni that I was suckered into attending.
I want to work, dammit. I want to make money. I want to feel like I'm working towards something.
The happiest times I had in recent memory was when I was working a full-time job, over 40 hours a week, male attention, happiness, fitness, good food, nice clothes...
Feeling extremely depressed today.
Longing for a place I can call home.
Would like to try DMT and other things... I barely drink, and I'm ashamed to say I've become a daily spliff smoker just to not feel empty inside.
I feel you. When I came here, all the people I got to know somehow were only interested in getting wasted (drinking lots of booze, taking drugs and going to clubs afterwards) and acted strange (reserved, unable to speak and laugh from the heart, "disappearing" for months and then popping up out of nowhere just to disappear again), so at some point I decided to quit reaching out to anyone and started living the "no friends by choice"-life aswell. Thank God I will leave this city next year but until then, every day it's a struggle to go out there, doing what I have to do, having to move between lots of people that make me sick and angry and fighting with depression. The best days here for me have become the days I don't have to leave my apartment. I used to love doing sports and going for walks but these days I'm not doing anything, just because I don't want to see people if I don't have to. When I talk to friends/family (they all don't live here) about my situation, I always tell them: "I am sick and tired of this disgusting place and I don't want to build something up here. I know when I'll finally get out of here and until then I'll do what I have to do and try to survive, but on the day that I can finally go, I want all bridges to be burnt and nothing that is left behind."
So... all I can recommend is: Leave, as soon as you can. NOTHING is worth staying at a place that doesn't feel like home and makes you feel miserable.
I feel everyone around here. I have no social life and lots of times I blamed myself for being the anti-social. And I was, I was anti-social, not open because the anxiety this place put in me, I developed a nasty defence mechanism. I used to be a friendly, social, happy person until I reached Berlin. I was never close to my family and I was completely OK with that dynamic. It’s our deal, our thing etc. But now I feel super lonely and estranged. I had a boyfriend here that was my only thing going on socially, but he was always pinpointing things that are “wrong” with me, including not having friends here(by choice) and him blaming my family, which he never met, that they broke me or something. To mention here, I do care about my family and will jump to help them if they need me anytime, even though everyone has a completely separate life now. We broke up and I am super grateful we did. He was adding more poop to my poopy mood. I only regret not being more social and active.
There are likeminded people around as lonely and frustrated as we all are...
When pointing out pooping things and all you get is „It‘s Berlin“. People pissing on the street in the middle of the day- It‘s Berlin. Loud people burping beer in public transport- It‘s Berlin. Smoking in underground stations- It’s Berlin. Nudist old wankers in parks- It’s Berlin. Rude cashier at the supermarket- It’s Berlin. Getting AIDS- It’s Berlin.
Apparently the HIV/AIDS infection rate is extremely high in Berlin www.sueddeutsche.de/news/gesundheit/gesundheit---berlin-rki-schaetzung-380-neue-hiv-infektionen-in-berlin-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-171123-99-991297
Not surprising. Have a walk through any Berlin park at night and marvel at the sheer volume of bushfags out and about. Walk through Mitte in broad daylight and be dumbfounded by the number of junkies doing heroin. And let's be honest, those are pretty much the only way you get AIDS. Straight males sure as hell aren't getting infected.
Wtf is happening. This Karneval thing seems like a big massive thing for the most unemployed, most dirty, most primitive humans ever. I just took the Ubahn from Hallescher ( big mistake) and was like a human zoo full of hobos all caring a bottle of liquor in the hand.
I knew Berlin is rotten, but this weekend I am staying inside... for my sanity
Make sure not to get out at Hallisches Tor over the next few days. There are always at least 20 guys pissing right there in the bushes and in train station there for the duration of the entire karneval and I promise you I am not exaggerating. Berliners are animals.
I grew up in New Jersey in public housing and I have to say that the quality of life there was way better than in a normal apartment here. Sure, I had a lot of drug addict neighbors who never seemed to do anything, but they were pretty chill at least. They would talk to me but were never aggressive. Here it's the polar opposite. I have to call the police on my upstairs neighbor at least once a month because he is having a raging party at 3am during the week. And at least once every few months someone sets the junk mail trash in the entrance on fire. A couple of weeks ago some junkie was doing heroin at the bottom of the stairs. And the entrance always reeks of piss. I've had three bikes stolen within 12 months. I don't know how a city as f*cked up as this one ever managed to exist this long but that is the only thing impressive about Berlin - that it doesn't just collapse into itself. No one here seems to hold a real job. And lately I keep seeing all these news articles about how companies might move their headquarters to Berlin after Brexit. Does anyone really believe that? This place just seems like it is propped up by unsustainable, cheap tourism that will decline as the price here continues to increase. There doesn't seem to be any real industry here at all - just a bunch of "start-ups" that are actually 20-year-old companies that are pretending to be young and cool by only having open space offices and cheap furniture. Anything owned by Rocket Internet is not a start-up. I only moved here because I was in a long-term relationship with a guy from Berlin and he kept gushing about how great this place is and how he could never imagine moving somewhere else but wow, this place is simply the worst. I've still got about 6 months here before I can afford to move back to the states and I'm counting the days. It seems like everyone here has an undiagnosed mental mental illness. I've never seen so many passive aggressive people in my entire life. Can't wait until I never have to hear this ugly language again.