Go Back   English Forum Switzerland > Living in Switzerland > Complaints corner  
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #21  
Old 05.01.2015, 22:19
Pancakes's Avatar
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Zurich-ish
Posts: 6,354
Groaned at 510 Times in 355 Posts
Thanked 14,195 Times in 5,442 Posts
Pancakes has a reputation beyond reputePancakes has a reputation beyond reputePancakes has a reputation beyond reputePancakes has a reputation beyond reputePancakes has a reputation beyond reputePancakes has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

To be honest, I think you will find really nice people and complete a$$holes in just about every country and culture.

Not to mention the fact that sometimes people just have a bad day. I'm usually a pretty laid-back, friendly person but every now and then I do get in a grumpy mood and don't have much tolerance for (for example) an extremely crowded Migros on a Saturday morning. So I'm not sure if you can really judge a person's overall character by just one chance encounter.

I've met some incredibly nice Swiss people as well as a few that did seem a bit cold. But I usually never get to know the cold ones to find out if that's how they normally are, or if they were just having a bad day that day.
Reply With Quote
The following 6 users would like to thank Pancakes for this useful post:
  #22  
Old 05.01.2015, 22:28
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Swiss people, what to know (by a non-Swiss)

There are many different kinds of Swiss. Some of them have hats.
They eat many exciting dishes, mainly made from potatoes, cheese and swine flesh, or "gemuese" as they call it in Swiss French.
There is a man called Urs.
There are some Swiss people who are over 1m tall!
Swiss people enjoy games such as Jassen, Schwingen and a peculiar sport called Football, in which the participants throw potatoes at a circular target.
In the quaint village of Olten, nestled in the foothills of the Alps, lots of people read newspapers.
Swiss people like to keep fish. They train them to predict the weather.
The Mayor of Hornbach drives a Ferarri. He uses it to distribute plumbing equipment to the destitute.
Once upon a time, all Swiss women were required by law to be called Regula. This was repealed in 1971, and women can now be called anything you like.
Reply With Quote
The following 14 users would like to thank for this useful post:
  #23  
Old 05.01.2015, 22:29
Swissish's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Frequent Flier
Posts: 420
Groaned at 29 Times in 20 Posts
Thanked 493 Times in 217 Posts
Swissish has earned some respectSwissish has earned some respect
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
I wish that the German part of CH would have much more TI influence I remember when I was in Porto Ronco near Locarno with my wife on a boat of small passenger ship. He had the hair of Che, cuban cigar and when I asked how it is to drive the boat, he put me on the steer and made me navigate it! Imagine someone doing this in the Zürisee!!! Dream on
I think I would have been much happier in either the French or Italian part of Switzerland regardless of my German background and family ties.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 05.01.2015, 23:08
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
To be honest, I think you will find really nice people and complete a$$holes in just about every country and culture.

Not to mention the fact that sometimes people just have a bad day. I'm usually a pretty laid-back, friendly person but every now and then I do get in a grumpy mood and don't have much tolerance for (for example) an extremely crowded Migros on a Saturday morning. So I'm not sure if you can really judge a person's overall character by just one chance encounter.

I've met some incredibly nice Swiss people as well as a few that did seem a bit cold. But I usually never get to know the cold ones to find out if that's how they normally are, or if they were just having a bad day that day.
I hear there are some nice ones who live above you but you haven't got the courage to introduce yourself.....
Reply With Quote
The following 3 users would like to thank for this useful post:
  #25  
Old 06.01.2015, 00:08
Downerbuzz's Avatar
Forum Veteran
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: town not big enough for the both of us
Posts: 1,251
Groaned at 61 Times in 45 Posts
Thanked 1,805 Times in 731 Posts
Downerbuzz has a reputation beyond reputeDownerbuzz has a reputation beyond reputeDownerbuzz has a reputation beyond reputeDownerbuzz has a reputation beyond reputeDownerbuzz has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
I assume you stopped reading where the pros/good things were and only read through the cons. I am sorry if you felt insulted, this was not intended, but perhaps you can shed some light and proof me wrong by making your own post. I am not a lawmaker here, nor am I writing this on stone. If people disagree, they can make other topics to help other cultures and nationals perhaps understand us better. Again, sorry I caused you discomfort, but I will stick with my opinion. But if it makes you feel better, please have a look at the pros, and then tell me what you di don't flatter yourself to think sillsagree with there.
You making yourself look a bit of a tit might cause a sympathetic wince from my part but I hardly would consider myself discomforted or insulted.
Reply With Quote
This user would like to thank Downerbuzz for this useful post:
  #26  
Old 06.01.2015, 00:37
st2lemans's Avatar
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Lugano
Posts: 33,935
Groaned at 2,968 Times in 2,056 Posts
Thanked 41,306 Times in 19,534 Posts
st2lemans has a reputation beyond reputest2lemans has a reputation beyond reputest2lemans has a reputation beyond reputest2lemans has a reputation beyond reputest2lemans has a reputation beyond reputest2lemans has a reputation beyond repute
Quote:
Swiss people, what to know (by a non-Swiss)

There are many different kinds of Swiss. Some of them have hats.
They eat many exciting dishes, mainly made from potatoes, cheese and swine flesh, or "gemuese" as they call it in Swiss French.
There is a man called Urs.
There are some Swiss people who are over 1m tall!
Swiss people enjoy games such as Jassen, Schwingen and a peculiar sport called Football, in which the participants throw potatoes at a circular target.
In the quaint village of Olten, nestled in the foothills of the Alps, lots of people read newspapers.
Swiss people like to keep fish. They train them to predict the weather.
The Mayor of Hornbach drives a Ferarri. He uses it to distribute plumbing equipment to the destitute.
Once upon a time, all Swiss women were required by law to be called Regula. This was repealed in 1971, and women can now be called anything you like.
But only in Svizzera Interna.

Here they're all called Katia (at least the hot ones).

And our mayor drives a Yamaha TDM, and brings his daughter to kindergarden on the tank (when he's not driving his Lambo, Ferraris are for foreigners, unless they aren't red)

Quote:
View Post
I think I would have been much happier in either the French or Italian part of Switzerland regardless of my German background and family ties.
So move, I did.

Tom

Last edited by 3Wishes; 06.01.2015 at 17:44. Reason: merging successive posts
Reply With Quote
This user would like to thank st2lemans for this useful post:
  #27  
Old 06.01.2015, 02:24
Wollishofener's Avatar
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Glattbrugg
Posts: 18,967
Groaned at 332 Times in 257 Posts
Thanked 11,715 Times in 6,858 Posts
Wollishofener has a reputation beyond reputeWollishofener has a reputation beyond reputeWollishofener has a reputation beyond reputeWollishofener has a reputation beyond reputeWollishofener has a reputation beyond reputeWollishofener has a reputation beyond repute
Quote:
View Post
Wolli? Is that you??

Negative. It would be SwissA350 anyway

Quote:
View Post
But only in Svizzera Interna.

Here they're all called Katia (at least the hot ones).

And our mayor drives a Yamaha TDM, and brings his daughter to kindergarden on the tank (when he's not driving his Lambo, Ferraris are for foreigners, unless they aren't red)

Tom

No no no, in Zürich, men are FELIX and women REGULA and butlers/waiters EXUPERANTIUS




Quote:
View Post
But only in Svizzera Interna.

Here they're all called Katia (at least the hot ones).

And our mayor drives a Yamaha TDM, and brings his daughter to kindergarden on the tank (when he's not driving his Lambo, Ferraris are for foreigners, unless they aren't red)

Tom

To say it again, "Svizzera Interna" and "Innerschwiiz" is not the same.


And here the three before and after the execution. As the Story has it, they took their heads, walked up to where the Grossmünster is now and declared that a big church should be built right there





Last edited by Wollishofener; 06.01.2015 at 20:05. Reason: merging successive posts
Reply With Quote
This user would like to thank Wollishofener for this useful post:
  #28  
Old 06.01.2015, 09:36
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Kt.Zh
Posts: 12,543
Groaned at 494 Times in 409 Posts
Thanked 19,919 Times in 10,060 Posts
greenmount has a reputation beyond reputegreenmount has a reputation beyond reputegreenmount has a reputation beyond reputegreenmount has a reputation beyond reputegreenmount has a reputation beyond reputegreenmount has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
No no no, in Zürich, men are FELIX and women REGULA
..more like Beat and Vreni in my neck of the woods.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 06.01.2015, 10:16
olygirl's Avatar
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: d' Innerschwiiz
Posts: 7,982
Groaned at 422 Times in 286 Posts
Thanked 18,904 Times in 5,849 Posts
olygirl has a reputation beyond reputeolygirl has a reputation beyond reputeolygirl has a reputation beyond reputeolygirl has a reputation beyond reputeolygirl has a reputation beyond reputeolygirl has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

The OP listed "better knowers" twice.
Reply With Quote
The following 3 users would like to thank olygirl for this useful post:
  #30  
Old 06.01.2015, 10:46
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Vaud
Posts: 4,518
Groaned at 491 Times in 320 Posts
Thanked 4,099 Times in 1,952 Posts
CorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond reputeCorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond reputeCorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond reputeCorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond reputeCorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond reputeCorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
The OP listed "better knowers" twice.
It's because the OP knows best.
He's helping ignorant non-swiss foreigners to get to understand human beings. Sorry I mean "Swiss Italians, Swiss French, Swiss Germans".

Which reminds me of adding the to very useful and accurate list, that Swiss People know the same information better than a non-Swiss would ever do. It's often called "Swiss Experience".

PS: I wish I found some kind of remote motivation to contradict each items of the list, but I have some disease after reading in the toilet... *

*Oh that's also to add in the list: Swiss People can get hemorrhoids from reading! What an amazing science!
Reply With Quote
This user would like to thank CorsebouTheReturn for this useful post:
  #31  
Old 06.01.2015, 10:53
Sbrinz's Avatar
RIP
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Murten - Morat
Posts: 11,865
Groaned at 563 Times in 354 Posts
Thanked 11,548 Times in 5,941 Posts
Sbrinz has a reputation beyond reputeSbrinz has a reputation beyond reputeSbrinz has a reputation beyond reputeSbrinz has a reputation beyond reputeSbrinz has a reputation beyond reputeSbrinz has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Thanks Swiss787, now I know where I have been going wrong! Seriously after living here 25 years, I have to agree with you.

My 3 cents:
Swiss people are very restrained, but when you do manage to form a friendship they are very loyal and good friends.
When you offer a new idea, they usually reject it outright. Much later they sometimes sneak it in as their own.
Mountain areas in Germany and Austria have natives with similar characters.
Reply With Quote
The following 2 users would like to thank Sbrinz for this useful post:
  #32  
Old 06.01.2015, 10:58
PaddyG's Avatar
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Pensier, Fribourg
Posts: 9,243
Groaned at 118 Times in 102 Posts
Thanked 16,857 Times in 5,912 Posts
PaddyG has a reputation beyond reputePaddyG has a reputation beyond reputePaddyG has a reputation beyond reputePaddyG has a reputation beyond reputePaddyG has a reputation beyond reputePaddyG has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
..more like Beat and Vreni in my neck of the woods.
Whereas in Bern, all men are called, Danu, Padu, Bidu, Tinu, Richu, Simu etc etc...
Reply With Quote
This user would like to thank PaddyG for this useful post:
  #33  
Old 06.01.2015, 12:40
sir's Avatar
sir sir is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: York, UK
Posts: 99
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 163 Times in 65 Posts
sir is considered knowledgeablesir is considered knowledgeablesir is considered knowledgeable
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

I think we need to add 'Gullible' to this list of characteristics. The Swiss (and I'm partly one !) seem to believe :
  • The full moon affects children's behaviour
  • Fresh air can make you ill (if it comes in through a window)
  • Homeopathy works
Reply With Quote
The following 3 users would like to thank sir for this useful post:
  #34  
Old 06.01.2015, 12:47
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Vaud
Posts: 4,518
Groaned at 491 Times in 320 Posts
Thanked 4,099 Times in 1,952 Posts
CorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond reputeCorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond reputeCorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond reputeCorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond reputeCorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond reputeCorsebouTheReturn has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
I think we need to add 'Gullible' to this list of characteristics. The Swiss (and I'm partly one !) seem to believe :
  • The full moon affects children's behaviour
  • Fresh air can make you ill (if it comes in through a window)
  • Homeopathy works
Something else which is believed "world-wide", but again: the Swiss do it better.

Reply With Quote
The following 3 users would like to thank CorsebouTheReturn for this useful post:
  #35  
Old 06.01.2015, 14:14
Forum Veteran
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Evian France
Posts: 753
Groaned at 16 Times in 10 Posts
Thanked 516 Times in 295 Posts
evianers is considered knowledgeableevianers is considered knowledgeableevianers is considered knowledgeable
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
I find the opposite to be true to be honest. In Belgium people are far more stressed than here (at least that is how it feels to me)

Switzerland is not really high up in the the suicide rate raking by country and maybe the heart attack rate is linked to the cheese fondue being the swiss national dish

Seems it is often fashionable to be stressed in CH. All our CH friends are - well, lucky them eh?
Reply With Quote
This user would like to thank evianers for this useful post:
  #36  
Old 06.01.2015, 14:36
zerogre's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Montreal, CA
Posts: 365
Groaned at 3 Times in 3 Posts
Thanked 230 Times in 119 Posts
zerogre is considered knowledgeablezerogre is considered knowledgeablezerogre is considered knowledgeable
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
Swiss people, what to know (by a non-Swiss)

<snip>
There is a man called Urs.
</snip>
You know Urs as well!?

(True story: I actually did interview for a gig in ZH with a guy named "Urs". I'm guessing this is actually a fairly common name, but was the first time I had ever heard it.)
Reply With Quote
  #37  
Old 06.01.2015, 14:45
olygirl's Avatar
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: d' Innerschwiiz
Posts: 7,982
Groaned at 422 Times in 286 Posts
Thanked 18,904 Times in 5,849 Posts
olygirl has a reputation beyond reputeolygirl has a reputation beyond reputeolygirl has a reputation beyond reputeolygirl has a reputation beyond reputeolygirl has a reputation beyond reputeolygirl has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
You know Urs as well!?

(True story: I actually did interview for a gig in ZH with a guy named "Urs". I'm guessing this is actually a fairly common name, but was the first time I had ever heard it.)


True Story: I know at least 15 men called Urs. It's a common name here.
Reply With Quote
This user would like to thank olygirl for this useful post:
  #38  
Old 06.01.2015, 15:41
Forum Veteran
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 1,983
Groaned at 69 Times in 52 Posts
Thanked 5,074 Times in 1,802 Posts
crazygringo has a reputation beyond reputecrazygringo has a reputation beyond reputecrazygringo has a reputation beyond reputecrazygringo has a reputation beyond reputecrazygringo has a reputation beyond reputecrazygringo has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

I never realized Swiss people liked to talk about themselves so much. and in English, too.
Reply With Quote
The following 3 users would like to thank crazygringo for this useful post:
  #39  
Old 06.01.2015, 16:08
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Bern
Posts: 402
Groaned at 99 Times in 61 Posts
Thanked 318 Times in 179 Posts
Sublime is considered unworthySublime is considered unworthySublime is considered unworthySublime is considered unworthy
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
Swiss mentality varies significantly in the German, French and Italian speaking areas.

For the Italian sector, read up on Northern Italian culture and traditions.
The French, read up on French culture and then mix it in with what I am writing below. The German part of Switzerland, read below.
Hey thanks for the opportunity to let me live out your so hard developed stereo-types. It is always a great pleasure if I am not responsible for them by myself. It is propably about the same pleasure to pretend to be a wannabe-Swiss and to spew out some own frustration.

But let me play a bit with you with great pleasure:

- Stubborn. We CH are always right, even if we are wrong.

I suppose this makes all Swiss quite female

- Jede da isch en Polizischt oder pensionierte Polizischt "everyone here is either a police officer or a retired police officer".

I suppose it is much more effective than any organised form, and much cheaper as well. To your information: nowadays, it is called swarm intelligence.

- not united / uncooperative unless you pay for a service

I don't get this.

- extremely hard to make friendships

You know what, communication is always a two-way interchange!

- distrust new faces immediately instead of rather being welcoming

If you would know how ugly you look to us ...!

- judge people too fast by appearance and initial comments

What else should we rely on, when you are not able to communicate!?


- do never forget a bad experience (bad as in it isn't even so bad), grab to it until the end of days to get back to someone.

I like elephants very much. The only solution for you is: treat them very well!

- too much negative stereotyping of foreign nations (not racism, racism is common, but not more or less like in any other countries, the stereotyping is bad however).

You are a very good example. Congrats!

- Better knowers

Dito.

- Problems with small talk, extremely direct and appear distrusting to people that apply social small talk with them, but then they do small talk themselves...

I don't get it.

- Complain and complain instead of taking action when it would really matter. But for small ridiculous things, we do start conflicts immediately as mentioned already.

Yeah, you keep repeating this. Can you tell us more about your family?

- negative feedback and friendly complaints here unacceptable unless you are at a very expensive restaurant or hotel, and even there you often hear: Oh, sie sind aber de erscht wo reklamiert!! "you are the first that ever complained"

Hmm, I see where your experiences are based on. Too spoiled eventually?

- unfriendly government employee. Police can be extremely rude.

Well, I prefer to experience effective policing instead of being shot dead for nothing.

- boring in general, but the few here that are the opposite of boring, make up for it (we got some serious extreme sportsmen and women that do crazy stuff !! perhaps list this also as good!) no, but really, people here are boring.

I see, your concept about "being exciting" are lists about your stereo-types. So interesting!

- careful whom to offer an apology here, people s...t on your apology half the time and make you feel even worse.

So tell us more about the many appologies you have to provide all the time!

- clothing washing machine warriors in apartments. MAKE SURE YOU RENT AN APARTMENT THAT HAS ONE IN YOUR APARTMENT AND NOT ONE THAT YOU SHARE, YES, I NEED TO WRITE THAT IN CAPS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD !!!!!!

Not really a complaint I would expect from a Swiss. Even neither from a wanna-be Swiss. Quite demasking, isn't it?

- Jealous. If you drive a Ferrari, you are either a crook, thief, criminal or other scum.

So you feel treated in a unjustified way when you drive your ferrari? I think we have to dive further in your undiscovered unconsciousness.

- Unfriendly > Friendly . If someone looks unfriendly here, he or she is !! If someone looks friendly, that person can become quickly very unfriendly!!!

Well, as you wrote by yourself already several times, we prefer to meet people quite honestly. If you keep smiling like a brainwashed and glowing Scientology baptist, we inevitably and profoundly keep the prejedice that you "etwas im Schilde führst" (being up to something), so true indeed!

- Stressed. Stress is not good, but people here always seem to be stressed... everything works here, public transport, organization, etc, but people always stressed. We have a high heart attack and suicide rate, extremely high by the way!

I suppose these is the reason why the Swiss have the highest life expectancy in the entire world (they even recently overtook the healthy Japanese!). My personal advice: I would rethink this one again.

- Not really social when it is time to be social. So you go to that fare, you see a huge long wooden table with a long wooden seating bench. It appears you are in a medieval festival, the music is going, the sausages are grilling, but, the people that sit there and eat all look sadly in front of them, instead of interacting interestingly and friendly with the people to the left, right and in front !!!

Well, I agree, I always had a profound suspicion about people who prefer to live in earlier, gone and underdeveloped days. Thanks for reassuring me. Well, at least they take care of themselves, otherwise we would have to spend a lot of tax money for very expensive lunatic asylums!

- Shhhhhhhhhhh. Don't make the slightest noise when a lot of people are around and it is extremely silent. Turn your phone to silent!!! Watch the scowls if you make noise.

Yeah! But wait until they get grown-ups. It's a burden you simply have to accept when they are still too young. Children like to be loud, it's a matter of fact.

- Silent when it is time to be quiet.

Well, this is almost philosophical. Reminds me somehow about Wittgenstein. Well done, my boy!
__________________
Either you are honest or polite, but you can not be both at the same time, since they are exclusive attitudes.
Reply With Quote
The following 2 users would like to thank Sublime for this useful post:
  #40  
Old 06.01.2015, 16:16
cannut's Avatar
Forum Legend
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: canada
Posts: 6,917
Groaned at 182 Times in 142 Posts
Thanked 6,196 Times in 3,409 Posts
cannut has a reputation beyond reputecannut has a reputation beyond reputecannut has a reputation beyond reputecannut has a reputation beyond reputecannut has a reputation beyond reputecannut has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Swiss people, what to know (by a Swiss)

Quote:
View Post
I never realized Swiss people liked to talk about themselves so much. and in English, too.

Phone me @ (613) 224- forget the rest
Reply With Quote
This user would like to thank cannut for this useful post:
Reply




Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What About Swiss People's High German? Cavalier Language corner 56 24.10.2011 11:59
What do you like about the Swiss people and Switzerland? Mado Daily life 2 27.07.2011 06:24
Impressed by Swiss people's courtesy Aryans Daily life 10 29.04.2011 16:45
Swiss citizen by birth - what other steps are required to become a resident? waltz411 Permits/visas/government 14 10.02.2010 17:11
Non Swiss, married to Swiss, what visa? Curious George Permits/visas/government 1 21.11.2007 10:57


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 20:39.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2023, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.1.0