Perhaps. Yet both are excellent examples of "behaviour precedes attitude". Or as this idea is phrased in German "Verhalten geht Haltung voraus".

In other words, one can train oneself to behave that way before one actually feels any compassion or tolerance.

At first, it is a bit pseudo, just deciding to act AS IF one were feeling compassion or exercising tolerance, no matter how upset one really is. And then, bit by bit, one may find - as a warm relief - that one's inner feelings really do change towards deeper compassion and greater tolerance.

Never heard that staring is a cultural habit. Is it?

I highly doubt that their "personal struggles" are the cause of staring or justifies any other rudeness. And if that theory were true, is it statistically possible for so many people to be in such agony.. in what's termed as one of the best countries for quality-life? OP, I and I'm quite certain many people here, have lived and traveled to several places (big or small).. Amsterdam, NY, London, some tiny towns in Germany, France, Croatia, you name it. There, the stare-frequency is far, far lower. And, if /when it happens, people show some basic social skills by accompanying it with words clarifying WTF the matter is: e.g. "you can't park here", or a compliment like "cool shades", or simple conversation starter question: "where are you from". Here in CH - keep guessing! the "redneck" (quoting) is not gonna say it.

Your constant and exaggerated apologism really is nauseating.

It's a redneck habit.

To be fair, it balances out the frankly bizarre random attacks on "Swiss culture". Some of the assumptions and outright scathing attitudes for something so benign suggests either a super-sensitivity of some poor little snowflakes who are first time away from mum, or a state of such persistent boredom to notice these things in the first place.

umm.. who's the one bored enough to be noticing here? If majority attitudes were benign towards auslanders, SVP wouldn't have won.

I think you simply forgot to buy the "I love CH" tshirt. Get it and those sensitive unexposed flowers who stare here when confronted with anything mildly unfamiliar or foreign, will leave you alone. Or, will even add a smile when caught eyeballing you!

That, or you are simply just that stunning.

I am just waiting for "be glad to be only starred at and not killed". Anyone?

But your ongoing assumption is that people are actively or (reading the subtext of your comments), aggressively staring at you. How can you assume that? Is it too difficult to consider that perhaps some people are just staring into space and you happen to be in the target area?

Don't you ever stare into space, lost in thought? I bet you do your fair share of "staring" too but don't realise it.

I'm not denying that there are people out there that do think it's their business to have a good old look up and down and bore into you with their eyes, but to paint an entire nation with the same lazy brush is... Oh, hang on, this is EF.... as you were...

I never painted "entire nation" with anything.. that's your wishful reading of subtexts, and some deep desire to always take the "Swiss-side". I'm commenting only on a good fraction of those who practice this "cultural" habit. To get some clarity on the topic: I'm gonna confront someone this evening on my way back home.. and ask WTF the issue is.

No idea about Switzerland but let me highly recommend you never to do that f.e. in Berlin, unless you want a fist in your face?

Aren't you just a bit afraid of appearing a bit hysterical and paranoid?

That would be OTT. As per protocol he'd be thrown off the bus/tram. Though if he asks his question #2 .....

No, just wondering anyone would move somewhere that sucks?

I certainly wouldn't.

Tom

This thread makes me grin. The Trump thread too. People are funny today - why is it, bad jokes trump the grumpies?

Can you tell us how it goes?

I had a few strangers asking me to smile on my commutes, when they caught me stare out the window (I run through mental to-do lists usually). Not sure if those are weird pick up lines or they were asking to be stared at? What cultural cues are we missing? Makas, those witches are surely hitting on you! How can you be so thick?

Maybe try a "Go F... yourself" followed by a smile as a reply?

Are the askers mostly male?

Always

What can a povre commuter girl do? Stick her tongue out?

I actually once took my cell and pretended to take a pic of a lady who stared at me once for a lengthy moment.

I do think that the people who stare just have a blank moment. I find it more palatable than an ott effort to communicate.

I definitely had that on the tip of my tongue, hahahah. I think they think they are hip. I picture the 70s to be like this...am I wrong?