Is being weird and 'alternative' asking for trouble?

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
41
Like I said, I'm not here to justify my existence, but I'm not taking this lying down. It's not my style to write simple, one-line questions, and since I'm new here I thought I might as well give some background, explain my reasons for asking, and see if people would address my concerns. At the very least, it's more interesting for everyone that way. Maybe it's that word "goth" - I should have told everyone I'm a trained mime artist, that would have got me further. Likewise, I know there are some subtleties of humour that don't come across well on the internet, but I'd have to be a pretty poor specimen to think that a spider-shaped door knocker was the height of what I could achieve in the world - or do people actually think we're all identical Addams Family wannabes? Do we have time to do home decorating with all the heroin we inject so we can have kinky bondage sex?

As for the idea that I've come on here attacking everyone's way of life, that's completely out of order and out of nowhere, and I think compounding assumptions about who I am with assumptions about what I probably assume you're like is really stretching things into your own arena of fantasy. Fact is, I do occupy a great many of the less-frequented corners of the various human bell-curves (that's "different" in plain speak), and that doesn't mean I'm trying to wage war on "normals." I have had trouble, including physical violence, because of the way I am, that's a historical fact, and I have reasons for wanting to go somewhere where I don't have to keep looking over my shoulder in case a bunch of chavs decide to knife me for looking a bit funny. By the sounds of it, I may find it easier in Switzerland than here, and that's cool. As for a visa, I'm an EU citizen, aren't I lucky?

Anyway, I can honestly say I've found out more in the last few days about English people living in Switzerland than I have about the Swiss themselves. Not my aim, but useful information nonetheless.

Over, and out.

42
A tip would have been not to use the word "weird" in your thread title. You tee'd up the shot from there and laid it open to a community armed with a full set of Pings.

43
you'd be more welcome than chavs for sure

And as for our image of goths injecting heroin etc... where on earth has that come from?

i think you have had some good answers, i think some have had some fun and i think some were maybe a little offended in how you broached the subject

44
White... check

English speaking... check

Likes pop music... check

Plays the piano... check

Wears a hat... check

Likes to play with toys... check

... you sound pretty 'normal' to me.

Anyway, how would you define normal?

45
Yeah, we'll scare you if you scare easily.

Dude, nobody can guarantee Swiss Chavs aren't going to be a threat. What do you want to hear? It's already been stated: follow the rules, live however you like. It's a great place.

46
Black Watch...?

47
Dude, sorry about that! Maybe to get the indigenous viewpoint you should try a forum frequented more by Swiss goths, less by "English speakers in Switzerland"?

further reading here , here , here ...

48
I guess I am pretty abnormal then

Coming to think of it seriously, every human wants to stand out from the crowd, be at the ends of the bell curve. Different people adopt different means to acheive that, some are beneficial to themselves/society, some are just funny/silly, and some are just obnoxious. Each to one's own

49
Do we? I'm not so sure that we do.

I spend most of my life in plain black t-shirts, blue jeans and well-battered boots. I sometimes wear a collar to work, but not always. Unless you know me, there is no way that you could possibly tell what languages I speak, what music I listen to, what instrument I play, what literature I read, what leisure activities I enjoy.

I do not advertise myself as anything special, and am pretty much ignored wherever I go, until or unless I open my mouth and reveal myself as a foreigner.

This situation suits me just fine. I have no need to tell passers-by in the street that I'm something special, because I know that they, too, whether they have dreadlocks or wear a suit, are also pretty special: That man in the Hugo Boss jacket speaks fluent Aramaic; that chap with the mohican likes to play ragtime music on his guitar; that girl in the flowered dress built her own computer from scratch; that old woman with the beige raincoat was in Athens during the civil war...

Everybody is normal and special in their own way. Some of us feel the need to broadcast that to the world, some of us don't.

If we choose to broadcast to the world, though, we really ought to think about exactly what message we are broadcasting...

50
He ain't even vegetarian like me pfft! We don't even know if he uses "normal" white toilet paper or the "weird and alternative" pink/orange version

51
I thought it was a family forum. Why are you guys talking about bell end curve and stuff?

52
But what's the point in doing so when you end up in groups that are more homogenous than most?

I tend to think of this thread as less of one concerning personal safety, and more of a rather thinly veiled question of "How much attention can I get in Switzerland by acting like this?" The answer, not much, because there are thousands of people here, like most other places, who feel individuality comes from the clothes you wear and the color you dye your hair, instead of from within.

In short, you'll be fine here.

53
That did occur to me, though I thought maybe the Black Douglas ... ?

54
That's precisely what I am saying too

Some people stand out by doing well in their jobs, contributing to communities, even internet forums like EF, etc. Some others stand out by their choice of dress, tattoos, choice of meals etc.

No prizes for guessing which group this thread falls in.

55
OK Crystaljuggler. I'm sure you meant English speaking people. Fair play and good luck in your job search, you may need it. As explained by Shorrick below, you need more than being an EU citizen to stay here. However you do get at least 3 months to find out if you want to.

EU Permits - A few bullet points

Seen the haemorrhage of EU nationals asking oft-answered questions, time comes for another sticky, in the form of Q&A this time.

(applicable to EU-17 countries)

Q. Can I travel to Switzerland without a visa?

A. Yes

Q. Can I search for a job in Switzerland?

A. Yes. You will be given a 6-month residence permit (three months as a visitor, three months jobseeker's permit) allowing you to reside here while searching for jobs.

Q. Is access to the job market restricted?

A. No. A work permit will be delivered automatically upon signature of the contract.

Q. Is my permit tied to the employer??

A. No

Q. Does this mean I can change jobs freely?

A. Yes

Q. Can I work as an independent?

A. Yes. See details here.

Q. Is my significant other allowed to come with me?

A. Yes.

Q. Is my significant other allowed to work?

A. Yes, provided the union is official (marriage, civil partnership), and regardless of nationality.

Suggestions...?

The Confederation has picked up upon our wisdom and have also set up a Q&A page.

__________________

The opinions expressed above are not necessarily the opinions of management and in fact may be the opposite of that intended in order to confuse and obfuscate trolling readers.

Last edited by Shorrick Mk2 : 03.09.2008 at 13:32.

56

You need to work in an alphorn somehow....

57
I would've thought that the best way thing to do would be try and find out what's going on in the goth scene in Switzerland via some forums or other, try and find some like minded people to hook up with, take a cheap flight over here, stay for a week or so and ask around. One thing I would say is that the whole getting egged, rocks thrown at your house thing is something which you are unlikely to experience over here. Switzerland's got its share of teenage tearaways, but the situation does seem to be a lot worse in the UK with regards to harrasment.

58
Like these, for example?

Of course, then he wouldn't be the only goth in the forum ... and where's the fun in that?

59
In amongst all the p1ss-taking, which, OP, is all light-hearted and not worth getting worked up about, this is really sensible, sound advice. Hope that answers your question.

But crystaljuggler, please do lighten up. Maybe try wearing grey.

60
This point was already covered in post #22:

I am the only gay in the village