Yes. Today I am on the side of childlike innocence.

Yeah...um...I will NOT be buying anyone a bottle of wine. But if I did, I would tell him where to put it. We're talking about scaring my kid. This
guy is like the child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang but without the long hair and candy.

Ought- the Brooklyn way. I love it! Won't do it, but hilarious!

Talk to your neighbours and find out what kind of guy he is. It sounds like this guy is not only a problem for your 6 year old, but for the whole apartment block.

Broken jaw keeps one very quiet,just saying

Brilliant idea! You are a genius, Inspector!
Seriously tho- great idea! Alas, I think my daughter is more the princess, baby animal type, but a sticker is on the way!

There is "grumpy" and then there is maniac.

Another Brooklynite!

I fear Canada made you lost your swissiness!

Call an electrician, explain that the Grumpy git is a building warden and everyone else in the building is deaf. Ask the electrician to add a circuit from everyone else's buzzer to his so that at least someone can hear the buzzer. Explain how kind and generous this man is and that you want to pay for the work.

Then again, this man likes peace, just disconnect his buzzer. The faceplates usually come off and a little snipped wire never hurt anyone.

I believe that rest is important to all human beings not just Swiss beings. Yes? This guy is outta control and needs anger management.

You've been Switzerlanded. Sorry to say but, yes this unfortunatelly happens regularly. My kids, myself, my husband we have all been screemed at in Switzerland in a way that has happened to me nowhere else in this world.

I can usually deal with it when it happens to me but when it happens to my kids I can't. I even feel so uncomfortable about this that we decided to change out family situation partially because of this particularity of Swiss society.

I wish I had the courage to do either. Do you happen to hang out with the people from Brooklyn NY who posted earlier?

No idea what sh1t you are talking about here, what your experiences are. But Ceppych is trying to find a way to defuse the situation and allow you to go on and live peacefully. If it means an apology and a bottle of wine- then so be it. The best would be to talk it out quietly with him- but I guess language is a problem. One reason why I always say, you might not need to learn the language for your work, but it makes all the difference in a situation like this.

When we were kids (I grew up in CH) - ringing peoples' doorbells and running away was a favourite activity, along with scrumping fruit- so I'm not surprised he thinks that your child was messing around if it happened more than once. Perhaps he suffers from insomnia, or works shifts- so being disturbed is particularly important. NO EXCUSE though for his rude behaviour, none whatsoever, but I'd say idiots like him are not a particularly Swiss invention.

A bit like at a junction with the green light in your favour, but with a truck at great speed jumping the red light - being 'right' serves little purpose. Why not get a card and get a Swiss colleague to write a note of apology explaining your child just made a mistake because he is shortsighted, or something, get a sticker for the bell so id doesn't happen again. Then if the situation deterioriates, at least you will be able to say you really tried to defuse situation, which will go in your favour with the landlord.

Canada!? When did they move Brooklyn to Canada?

I take my German lesson once a week for 90 minuten. I also speak Spanish, a bit of Italian and a teeny bit of French. I am not your typical lazy American when it comes to languages being only 2nd generation immigrant on me mum's side.

I agree that anger and rage are NOT a CH invention. Of course I know that. BUT, there seems to be a theme of outrageous anger amongst older Swiss when things aren't perfect. I have noticed this, heard stories about it and now have been victim and witness to it. Do I think all Swiss are angry? No. I am part Italian by blood, and so I know not think all Italians are mafia. I do, however, invoke my American right to think that all politicians named Bush are warmongering idiots. That being said, I am also a quarter Swiss on my Dad's side. My Dad never yelled at me like this dude yelled at my daughter. This guy is the French word for shower.

The important thing is that this shouldn't have a negative effect on your daughter. If it was my kid, I would make it quite clear that the guy is a lunatic. In fact, I would probably belittle him in front of the kid, just to show them that people who beat their chest tend to be quite insecure.

Don't actually beat him up, though. You don't want the kid to think that's how you solve problems.