...
Can dumb Americans please stop loudly looking for cranberries, please?
It's bad enough you have inflicted this black friday poop upon the rest of us, but your genocidal holiday feast is probably the stupidest celebration of all.
At least Americans have something to celebrate. Germans on the other hand,well...One currywurst please.And a genocide for which your "Culture" will never recover. Go eat some dead horse you retrograde long dead people,long dead culture..Just bite hard on that cyanide pill you have stached in your subconcious and do everyone a favour.
Look in the mirror, the genocide happened under European colonists/settlers. Quite a bit of it may have been accidental, such as spreading illnesses the native Americans were less adapted to. German ancestry is the largest European ethnic ancestry in the US and at one time German was the second most commonly spoken language in the US until it was forcibly removed from public use and discouraged due to WWII. Also, keep in mind European settlers did the same throughout the Americas, including Canada and all of Latin America.
The reason a large percentage of Americans are obese has to do with the way the cities are structured, requiring a car to get around, and the prevalence and low cost of junk food (an issue other developed countries, including Germany, share as well), not thanksgiving. If you spend time in NY, a city more similar to European ones where most people walk and take public transport, you'll notice most people are not obese and look healthy, eat healthy for the most part, and dress well.
German ancestry is not largest European ethnic ancestry in USA.
The Largest ancestry is British. The overwhelming majority of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America were of English extraction. Eight out of the ten most common surnames in the United States are of British origin
I don't know where you got your info from. Germans are by far the largest. I am not sure about surnames, but some immigrants and slaves, or descendants of slaves, adopted generic surnames. www.businessinsider.com/largest-ethnic-groups-in-america-2013-8
www.economist.com/news/united-states/21642222-americas-largest-ethnic-group-has-assimilated-so-well-people-barely-notice-it
blogs.voanews.com/all-about-america/2014/12/19/people-of-german-ancestry-dominate-us-melting-pot/
www.nytimes.com/2015/09/23/opinion/whatever-happened-to-german-america.html
Pretty Much all my research show German ancestry as nearly 50 million with African next at 41 million, Irish at 35 Million, Mexican at 32 Million and English at 26 or so million. So if you bunch up Irish and English then yes, more from the isles then from Germany. Definitely a lot of German Ancestry in the US but maybe due to many babies more than number of immigrants.
Nobody "inflicted" black friday on anyone - Germans are just trying to steal it, just the same as they are trying to steal rap and hip hop culture (love me some blonde german guys trying to talk like black rappers), super hero movies, fast food...
This is what really hit me - why are Germans trying to steal all the worst parts of the US culture? Like sure, they'll steal black friday which is freaking awful, but they won't steal stuff like being pleasant to people or getting to know your neighbors, which is really nice.
So, you don't want black friday? Then stop trying to imitate it! You know what I hate about you berliners? When you use english phrases like "Ah, ok!" or "Ah, wow", or "ah, oh my god, das ist...". Just stop, ok? It makes you sound retarded.
Oh, also, I really like your usage of "dumb americans". I have never met a culture that is so "besserweisser" or however you call it. You've got Berliners that have spent a week in NYC (shopping, because they are cheapskates) talking about the USA as if they spent 20 years there, traveling, meeting people, learning. They know all about it - how the education system sucks, how the healthcare is bad, police brutality, etc. And their favorite: everyone is fat!
Great! Then stop coming over, do your shopping in the UK or China. You know, one thing I dislike are the dumb german tourists. See, they've been coddled up until being around 30, so they biologically they are adults, but mentally they are about 15-16. Sure, they have phds and masters degrees and are "herr engineer" or "frau doktor" and all that stuff, but here's some childlike stuff that I've seen dumb german tourists do in nyc:
- try walking from manhattan to brooklyn because "how far can it be?", then calling 2 hours later and crying "vee are lost, vee are scared, vee've run out of vater, help us!"
- unable to comprehend sales tax (it differs from state to state, even from city to city)
- unable to comprehend leaving a tip ("but I left them a 25 cent tip, why did they throw me out!?")
- being terrified of everything - I once saw a german family holding hands (for fear of getting lost) and refusing to let go even when going through the subway turnstiles), approaching food vendors as if they were lepers, etc.
- just standing in the middle of the sidewalk, eyes upwards...
- ... then getting pushed to the side by someone in a hurry...
- ... talking about how rude americans are. Jesus christ, just don't stand in the middle of the sidewalk, people are trying to get somewhere, you're blocking them.
- being smelly. I poop you not, but germans don't like using deodorant. It's hard to catch this outside, but if you get on a plane going to germany that's full of germans... getting ready for some major stink.
- doing the whole german noise thing - snuffling, sneezing, gurgling, farting, burping, just being disgusting. Especially visible (audible?) in restaurants.
But it's all ok because these people all have PhDs! They're "smart"!
The women. It seems like every woman here is ugly. They all have nose rings, stupid tattoos, blue/pink/green hair, and depressed faces. Probably because the lot of them do drugs (smoke, drink, get high and everything else). It's usually the ugly women who make themselves even more ugly by further ruining their faces with piercings. I am sorry, "Peggy", but a tattoo and a piercing won't hide the fact that you weigh 100 kg.
The women in Berlin make you want to go gay.
I would say in general German girls are far away from being feminine. I am not talking about appearance purely. The behaviors of them are irrelevant with being feminine. I am also not fan of their appearance. They look all similar. Blonde, blonde, blonde everywhere.
That's what happens when you lose two world wars in a row: you lose your best men, and your women don't feel attracted to the remaining males (at least not enough to put effort into being feminine). Considering how effeminate men are and how unattractive females are, it is no wonder that Germany has such a low birthrate.
The rudeness of the people and that everything is dirty and broken
Day-to-day rudeness, freezing weather, darkness and language I don't speak but apparently can't survive without. Why didn't I go somewhere else...
i hate it how strangers especially women always stare at me with pure hate in their eyes. My friend also noticed the hateful looks I receive from strangers.
Insecurity and hate plagurs these people.
This is a question, not what bothers me. I know Berlin well from my US Army days and I lived it back then, it is the city of my coming out of the closet. I am also an Israeli citizen. What keeps about 15,000 Israelis in Berlin, who feel that they don't have a wealth of opportunities in Tel Aviv? I was considering either Berlin or Madrid for retirement next year, but I chose Madrid anyway, even before I discovered this website. So yeah, what keeps the Israelis coming, (as you know, many of them have EU passports)
Job-hunting in Berlin and in Germany 101. Questions like age, picture, multiple phones are illegal in America and in many other places so expect a lot of discrimination depending on what you look like, your age and what they think you are even if you're the opposite. Expect people saying wow you speak great English/French/Spanish/German, even if you're a native English/French/Spanish/German speaker if you don't fit the stereotype. In practice you need to be part of their network going back to college and even high school to even get a glimpse of their company. Their impervious network only can accept you if they are in dire need of people i.e. IT and healthcare to a lesser extent. But if you go into these fields you may make some money (not a big amount in most cases) and most important forget about promotions and career progress, don't expect to be manager, lead anything, etc. I hope you are in just for the same pay that you will get for years to come and probably doing the exact same thing in the exact same position forever. That is your place in Berlin, so pay taxes so all the worthless people in Berlin can still survive and be edgy.
Funny you bring that up. NYT recently did a piece on Berliners'/Germans' inability to accept non-conformity to their archaic stereotypes.
www.nytimes.com/2016/11/17/world/europe/berlin-racism-isaiah-lopaz.html
The thing that makes me laugh is the openness with which these people can express heated bigotry, especially hatred/mistrust/discomfort with other Western nations. I once had to meet with a professor for an interview at a certain technical university in the depths of East Berlin and discovered on a wall an experience board detailing student's impressions of an excursion to San Francisco. One German's thoughts pondered (paraphrased) whether Americans are capable of realizing the problems of homelessness in the Bay Area. It went on, in fact, to plagiarize the adage that anti-Americanism is the only form of bigotry that increases with higher education.
That's Berlin.
Great article by the NYT, even tho I'm not a huge fan of their non-economy articles. More people should read this article. What makes me happy is that big media outlets are finally showing Berlin for what it is. I hope more articles like this come in the future.
You people are making me sick!! Why all this negativity? Just look at the bright side! Look at all the nice things Berlin has to offer: good kebab, falafel, lamacun, haloumni and the chicken-vegetable kebab, yummy! And thats just to name the most important ones...
Berlin is my social nightmare. Everybody just keeps up his freaking facade and I never feel like getting through to anyone. Why is nobody telling silly jokes or trying to help other people or welcomes strangers? Berlin is a humor free zone. Everybody pretends to be open, politically correct and creative, but whats the use if nobody cares about one and another. Im german btw and believe me there are some rural areas where warmth and joy are not completely unknown.
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.
Wow...I used to comment on here before I left that hellhole Berlin 3 years ago....the comments are becoing increasingly desperate - with longer threads - indicating that its become worse there - if that was at all possible....what a poop hole - so may people still think Berlin has an arts scene - wrongo - anyway I won't go on about it ...its SHIT....get out while you still have energy and sanity.....
Just your daily reminder that Germany is institutionally xenophobic. It doesn't matter if you think they accept you. Germans hate each other (Berliners hate Swabians, etc.) but above all they hate foreigners, and it varies how much depending what you look like. When in doubt just remember that when the 2016 Munich shooting happened the hashtag #ScheisseAusländer started trending almost immediately.
There is a "coaltiion" of Berliners, a group of berliners who have confused activism with group sociopathy - they Use Whats app to follow around people they choose don't "deserve" to live there, and they treat them with disrespect and rudeness. So, if your photo is on their whats app "list", and you go to the same cafe each day, there will always be one of the group members there to ruin your day by stepping on your foot, pushing you while walking away, blowing smoke in your face... the group thinks it's so funny. My bike was vandalised every time I went to a cafe or for lunch in Kruezberg, hundreds of times. They never damaged it - but I would come out and the seat would be adjusted, or handlbars moved... just, stupid pranks, over and over again. Eventually, my front wheel was loosened and i ended up in the hospital with a broken arm. They follow me and my girlfriend around and photograph us constantly lately. Its really annoying, but not illegal, and I can't complain to the police because it sounds crazy. Finally though, I managed to ask one of the people why they are hassling me all the time, and he was kind enough to let me know about this group, that has felt their need to "protect" Berlin from gentrification, by singling out foreigners they dont like (Americans) and adding them to the whatsapp group. Once the person is marked, there are people all over the city that will come out to harass them It's like a neighborhood-watch group gone bad. Very bad.
"Once the person is marked, there are people all over the city that will come out to harass them It's like a neighborhood-watch group gone bad"
Yes, that's how people act in Berlin. I don't believe one have to be specifically marked though, it is enough that you are not German. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they have a WhatsApp group where they add all the foreigners. That is actually quite novel and interesting explanation why we keep meeting such vile Germans all the time.
I couldnt believe it myself, the 2 guys that explained it to me were gay. I can't believe such historically persecuted people would do this and i metioned that to them. I said "i thought berlin was a place where all the misfits and refugees could come for peace" and they told me "not all special interest groups get along" my partner and I have both experienced the constant photographing and I have filmed it with a hidden camera so no, it is not paranoid delusions." it is a technique called "stasi-stalking" look it up. They think they are 'protecting' Berlin. There are many people in this group. its sadistic and really sick, and it is the actual reason some people come to berlin and have terrible experiences, and some people come and feel good about this city. I have been yelled at "pig" on the street, can't go to any cafe or yoga class or bar without an incident, it took years to figure all this out, and a hidden camera, but it didn't all make sense until the two guys explained it to me. They still try to follow me around all the darn time but it is a lot easier to keep calm at the pervasive rudeness now that i know it IS directed at me, and that Berliners actually are sociopathic sadists.
vimeo.com/192151844
filmed with a camera mounted to a hat on my head, worn backwards. I make no accusation against anyone- all i can say is this guy followed us around filming me, sneaking up on me in the bio company, taking pictures, acting creepy as hell. This is relentless and very intrusive.
This doesn't surprise me at all. This is not the first time I've heard people talking about "stasi-stalking" and "gentrifier-profiling". I have information about something similar. I know for a fact that club owners, music producers based in Berlin and in adjacent cities have profiled and harassed journalists, artists and musicians that have spoken out negatively about Berlin and its scene. They do this to defend their interests and investments obviously and they go as far as harassing and even hacking their victims. Just think for a second, why do they have such a brutal figure as the icon of the most famous club in the city if they didn't have equally brutal PR and marketing people working for them. To me it's just another example of their "it's our way or the highway" mindset. Just another reason why I moved far, far away from there.
you wouldnt believe the poop they are doing to me. It has gradually increased over the past year especially. At this point, I cannot leave the flat without being harassed. They have tried to frame me for crimes, they follow me around, literally jumping out from behind corners at me. They dont do anything, I am not in danger of physical harm, but still, my underwear was stolen while I was in yoga (twice) and i am very worried about that. I can't believe how much of my income goes to this country and still i dont have the right to be here and just live peacefully. I am lucky because I am a sensitive person, and I was able to notice pretty early on this sick sense of joy each person was getting out of simply sitting next to me and blowing smoke in face, for example. I was SHOCKED when it was explained to me. So, there you have it- now you know why Berliners are cunts to some people and lovely to others.If you are on their shit-list, you're gonna have a bad time. Anyway, the cops aren't going to do anything - you go to the cops and say there is a group of people who "decided" I am unwelcome in Berlin, they are gonna throw you in a nuthouse. And so what if you can prove they are following you around photographing you day in and out, strictly to annoy you- thats not really illegal. I have other videos of these fools. One day I will put them all up. (If I make it out of this city without being framed for some crime or killed) Wishing you the best of luck- one dis-enfranchised Berliner to another.
There is a "coaltiion" of Berliners, a group of berlins who have confused activism with group sociopathy - they Use Whats app to follow around people they choose dont "deserve" to live there, and they treat them with disrespect and rudeness. So, if your photo is on their whats app "list", and you go to the same cafe each day, there will always be one of the group members there to ruin your day, sometimes several.
Obama: "If you want a model for what is possible, if you want to see how to build a peaceful and prosperous and dynamic society, then look at Berlin and look at Germany."
You got to be f**king kidding me.
I have been travelling among Berlin - London and my home country recently. Let me share two conversations (one of them is monolog ) from London and Berlin airports.
- London Heatrow - P : Police Officer M : Me ( I was returning from my home country to London )
M : Hello sir. Here is my passport.
P : Hello. How long have you been away ?
M : Since couple of days i was visiting my family.
P : - Smiling face - It must be nice to visit your family i hope it was nice visit. ( He has given my passport back )
M : - Smiling face - It was. Thanks sir ! Have a nice day !
P : - Smiling face - : You too ! Welcome back to London !
- Berlin -
M : Hello sir !
P : No answer and facial expression. -Given my passport back -
M : Thanks have a nice day !
P : No answer and no facial expression.
Number one rule of living in Berlin. You should forget about your humanity and kindness.