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OK< here are a couple more past posts, just to bring the topic back on track and to help new-comers have a more realistic view of Berlin and the ignorant, miserable people who live here, including me, even though I came here five years ago with a positive, optimistic, generous and trusting attitude towards life. Gradually I had to put on a miserable mask, just to survive the constant onslaught of negativity and lack of any social graces.
Here are the earlier posts:
You know that feeling when you try to describe Berlin to someone who hasn't lived there? They are staring at you in disbelief, trying to figure out why you suddenly became so agitated. And why are you telling to them things that doesn't match their expectations at all. I swear to you, few of them even had "this guy is clearly a kuu kuu head" look in their eyes. And I can't really blame them. The stereotypical image of Berlin / Germany and the reality differ so greatly.
I fully agree, I meet so many people throughout the world that still think Berlin is a wicked cool place to go. When they find out I lived there for 10 years they say "OMG... wasn't it awesome?".... my pulse rises immediately and I try not to be too negative about it but I can't help it... After my ten minute rant they are pretty sorry for asking... I try to end with " It an OK place to visit but I strongly advise you not to stay too long as it will suck the soul right out of you."
Met (what I thought) was a wonderful guy from Berlin, in the states. Dated for a number of years, then we made the decision to move to Berlin. I did enjoy it for a while, but it didnt take me long to realize that Berlin and its people were just AWFUL! The bureaucracy, though tedious, isnt as bad as some claim it to be, I found that after one year basically being alone in Berlin (my BF traveled for work weekly) caused me to become very depressed. The people and their neurosis', the weather, the lack of Community, the lack of Trust, and barely being able to find a hope of refuge ANYWHERE. I got tired of being around people that were just so Miserable and displaced. I made the decision to Divorce and leave after 3yrs. His true Eastern Block roots began to show; cheap, squalid, controlling and Toxic. It was very hard, for I do miss being in Europe in General. But Berlin...F**k what a pit!!
"cheap, squalid, controlling and Toxic"
This should be the motto of the city.
This place is dirty. People piss everywhere. Tons of poor people looking to vent their anger on you, throw a bottle under your bicycle or whatever. Controlling? That's putting it lightly. Everything is regulated, down to what you wear, on what days, and what you can do (eg. Sunday mornings: semi-sporty pristine cloths - must walk dog or take child to park). Toxic?
Yep, everyone wants to leave after some time. I'm really surprise that some people from here admit to living in Berlin 5 or 10 years - I'm ready to go after just one year. There are so many good places in the world, so many honest, fun, and friendly people, there's no point in wasting your life here.
"Cheap Squalid, Controlling and Toxic" OP here. *thanks for using my testimony as a Warning. Yeah, Ive never been happier after leaving Berlin. Not only was that relationship Poisonous, but Berlin itself was Toxic. UGH so many useless and lost souls congregated there. It was like Purgatory; no one had any passion other than to wander aimlessly and shout about some forgotten Dream. Such a desolate Wasteland of youth and broken dreams. Get OUT!! fornicate the money and just leave!! Even if you dont have the resources, just GO!! Find another place in Europe to be. Any place...is better without GERMANS!
This is a post I came across earlier here and thought it was worth a re-run:
Hello,
I know this page is committed to express anger, hate, negativeness or bad experiences. However, i will try to evaluate very objectively.
I used to live in Germany ( not in Berlin) two years. I have experienced almost everything which were written here. I was master student and i am not living in Germany right now but will be back very soon. So, i am living my favorite place in the world currently and it will be hard to go back to Germany ( Berlin) definitely. This time, i reckon, i will be not as depressive as previously because i am considering myself as Germany immunized. Not in a bad way actually. I will be justifying myself.
Number one obstacle for foreigners is being alone. You probably expect to build a new social network ( including partner ) as soon as possible because social network can boost your integration process. According to my observations this is extremely hard in Germany. People tend to stick their existent social network and closed to new interactions. I had my birthday couple of days ago. I have been working at the company since 6 months and i have invited couple of colleagues to my birthday party. The fact that ,they have attended even tough, we do not know each other well. In Germany, it would take at least one year to be able to invite someone for going out. ( I do not know why ) The invite should not be spontaneous in Germany by the way, i have invited my colleagues spontaneously. So, random interactions or invitations are almost impossible in Germany to take place. When it comes to communication, i would say Germans ( sorry for generalizing but i have not had reverse example ) have very weak communication skills. They only talk about work or school. Okay, minority of them are exceptions but seriously, i could not have progressive conversations with Germans. Can i have problems in order to communicate ? ( i was assuming this in Germany )Since i have been living in my favorite place, i have noticed that i can actually communicate with people progressively and meaningfully. This is like endless loop. You can not communicate, you feel lonely.
The biggest challenge in Germany is understanding German culture. German culture is based on pragmatism utmost. Yeah, this sounds mainstream but believe me " utmost " is the keyword. Unless, there is no benefit to talk to you for German person, you will be ignored. Is this rude or just cultural thing ? You can decide. Please, make yourself get used to this fact. This is the milestone of living in Germany as foreigner.
So, Germany is definitely not suitable country to live for foreigners from social aspect. It's better to build your social network with other foreigners to have joyful life in Germany. I personally do not believe that having German partner ( male / female) would change anything because, it means you will be dealing with German culture more and more.
In public, I get nasty stares and glares from others. Some of it are hate glares and some annoyed "f*** you" death glares and it really has started to get in my head to the point where I wear sunglasses and headphones just to block out the microagressions from these people.
This is normal in Berlin, they just stare, and you're not sure if they're looking for a punch in the mouth or just admiring you, of course in my case they're admiring me :o) but I give them a smack in the chops anyway, just to help them know they're actually alive
I ask myself How People can live their whole life in this Hellhole ?
Easy.If they leave Berlin they may have to interact with people from other cultures who know 1. How to work hard. 2. Find pleasure in working hard and with others to get the job done. 3. Being German does not automatically give you the right to a job which you are clearly poop at. 5. (Now you know why they stay put)
Can anyone tell me why do Germans tend to pout their lips when they talk? It looks so darn stupid. Why do they do that!? WHYYYY?! :@
I feel sorry for the children. Raised in state supported misery.
This bloomberg article on deutsche bank perfectly sums up the attitude of everyday berliners - if its good for me, than F*** everyone else, I deserve it: www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-01-19/how-deutsche-bank-made-367-million-disappear
Your friends and family who occasionally visit you in Berlin and don't understand why you can possibly hate it.
Germans support blind order and strict, inflexible laws. They love borderline compulsive societal norms. But then they all seem to think that, at an individual level, the rules shouldn't apply.
And then they're all so neo-luddite. They curse the state (and private enterprise) any time any mention of video or cyber monitoring are mentioned. But then they engage in witch hunts and rejoice when people's lives are ruined for even minor offenses that aren't compatible with their pseudo-post-modern liberal views (e.g. Benjamin Sch. and the drowned refugee). Accountability is something only for the alt-right, not for those mindless leftists burning cars, destroying trains and spraying graffiti on every flat surface in this city.
Most of the people here under 30 have never even worked a full-time job. They don't know anything about hard work, humility, dedication or responsibility. They just know how to pass German school (easy), pass German college (even easier) and collect government handouts along the way (Subsidy for "kids" until they are 26? Explains their emotional development). But somehow hey can still find the nerve to criticize southern Europe, Africa, Asia and, most happily, America.
At least the rate of measles infections in this country rivals that of the developing world. When enough of these unwashed snowflakes lose their kids to a treatable disease maybe they'll consider rethinking their worldview.
And then when that German trade surplus disappears (very soon, thanks Trump), expect things to decline rapidly. Wages here haven't risen notably in 15 years. Their mindless trade unions won't let them fall further, so when foreign demand for German products inevitably falls, they'll hold out for too long and German firms will fail. The government will be overburdened. The end of this decade will be a difficult time in Germany.
It will only be a difficult time if people recognize it as such...the Mama Merkel propaganda machine will NEVER admit tough times or reality, as will the average Berliner will NEVER admit that thinks in Grun-land are the best, they will probably yell at you, yes, starving in Berlin is better then living well in West London...and actually truly believe such a statement!
So true - especially the part about them being neo-luddites. I have never seen a more conservative place than Berlin and I've lived in Poland and Ukraine as part of a doctorate research program. Yes, they tolerate certain things... to a point, then it's time to get a unionized job, start popping out kindergeld babies, and walk the dog on the weekends. Anything different, anything foreign is the worst thing ever. Worst of all are the auslanders and their stupid job-destroying techonology. The world is changing - people are expected to learn new things, change jobs, move around - all of these things the germans hate - how will the function in this new world? What will happen to the millions of germans who went into apprenticeship programs so they only know how to do one job? What happens when that job is gone to robots or the developing world?
Of course, they will cry for the government to give them money. But the government doesn't have infinite money.
Also "starving in Berlin is better then living well in West London" is sooooo true. Most berliners you meet will agree with you how horrible this city is, how bad the weather is, how there arent any jobs, etc. but they will all proudly proclaim that it's still better than "stupid brexit UK", "fascist trump america", "poor eastern europe", "stupid asia", etc.
"Accountability is something only for the alt-right, not for those mindless leftists burning cars, destroying trains and spraying graffiti on every flat surface in this city."
And there's no far-right in Berlin? Not even in Marzhan? Alt-righters always need to cut in their buddy Trump on every single thing. Screw Trump.
I especially hate it how some righteous Germans look down upon Greece. The Greek people are suffering while the parasitic bankers, German corporations and eu elites profit.
After WWII, Germany received major support to rebuild its manufacturing base and infrastructure. The Greek people have not started a war and have not killed millions of innocent people.
How dare Merkel to suggest the Greeks to be economical like the Swabian hausfrau who receives help and support especially for every extra baby she pops.
I have nightmares that Shillary Cunton won the election, at least under Trump people can have an opinion without being called a racist or misogynist etc etc etc etc etc. People brand others with labels when thy have nothing constructive to add to the conversation. uck political-correctness.
Newly settled germans from west germany, who fled their provincial towns and try to adopt a cosmopolitan attitude in berlin. They are usually found in mitte, prenzlauer berg and friedrichshain. Acting design savvy, phony, rude and really just as intolerant and nationalist as the fellows from east Berlin, who they look down on with disgust. These people regard themselves as open minded, vote for the green party, they attend hip art events, but their attitude and language is still full of subtle forms of racism.
Nordic hipsters are the worse. They live in a fancy ghetto devoid of authentic variety to life. The moms with their over priced strollers congregating at a cafe are the worst. These 30+ usually in marketing who tries to be cute and perfect on the outside but neurotic, envious and bigoted on the inside.
Just four more months until we get a glimpse of sunshine and are able to stay outdoors for longer than 30 minutes.
I thought it'd get better the second time around, but I'm just as depressed as I was last winter.
^ I am leaving :^). See - instead of moping around all my life how bad things are - I just vent my emotions here, but I take action outside of this site. Leaving germany soon, never coming back.
I have a theory that so little sunshine does some kind of damage to a person's brain. Their emotions die, they become territorial, aggressive, especially towards outsiders.
Week 12: Come come back to BLNHTR.de to remind yourself that it's not just you.
I'm sure all the ex-Stasi where snapped up to work in the BVG shops. I've never come across a more miserable lot.
BER Airport delayed another year :o))))))