Many world renowned architects and designers come from Switzerland
Many people dress highly and nice polychromatic
I prefer peaceful and quiet Trams
If you like noise... have you actually ever been to the Street Parade?
You may write your own definition of not being boring or/and having fun then you may get accurate responses to your post
Regards
The question is, were I and this forum in America, would it be considered intelligent of me to start a thread stating this opinion of Americans?
Or would I be spotted straight off as a troll I obviously would be?
Perhaps they all went down the pub to get away from the boring old sods back at the party?
Maybe, while you were sat there, scowling into your warm prosecco, they were downing tequila slammers, fondling fair Latina ladies and singing rugby songs very loudly in Schwiiiitzertuuuuuutsch?
Then, as you drove home to your flat, tears welling in your eyes at the sheer unfairness of having to live amongst such an uninspiring people, they were off to the Niederdorf to smoke fat cigars, gargle caipirinhas and enjoy the attentions of some delightful ladies of the night?
And as you woke up in the morning, and crawled over to your desk to look over the notice terms of your work contract, they were still out on the town, drinking strong sweet coffees in the HB, nursing their well-earned hangovers, and discussing that boring foreigner who had been sat like a wet blanket at the works' party the night before?
Of course, if you actually do all work in financial services, then perhaps they really did go home to bed.
(Meanwhile, I shall be avoiding our company's xmas party like a bad case of herpes. Warm wine and raclette with my colleagues? In my own time? On a Friday night? Er..... I'd rather not, thank you very much... I'll be out with the Swiss!)
http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/d...37030000&ty=st
A sample:
I got tired of the "shape up or ship out" attitude I encountered from many Swiss when I expressed opinions about the country in which I was resident (as someone has already pointed out - "not a guest"). Even though many people here would doubtless point out that my observations were probably due to inadequacies in my personality, I felt that my opinions were valid and based on observations I'd made in many different countries. Feeling "muzzled" was one of the things which prompted me to create this forum and the complaints corner in the first place.
I'd personally like to see the complaints corner as a place where people can get things off their chest, without the feeling that they are being run out of town. Sure, sometimes the complaints are so totally "out there" that I'm tempted to point out the facts - but in this case the complaint isn't totally groundless, and every single one of us on this thread knows it, despite what we might say publicly.
I'm also interested to see that at least one of the people on this thread, who often pulls people up for a bad attitude with respect to this country, was at dinner with me the other night and having a jolly good poke at the Swiss. You know who you are mate
So please remember everyone - the complaints corner is for complaining - not preaching. You may have a different opinion on matters, but that doesn't make a complainer's opinion any less valid - they just have different perspectives and experiences than you do. And remember - one day you may have a complaint - you don't want to get trashed for it do you?
What I don't want to see develop on this forum (though I fear it is too late), is that someone who has a complaint about something feels as if things in here are too bitchy, so they don't post for fear of getting trashed. This creates the feeling of being "muzzled" that I mentioned above. If that happens then this forum has failed in one of its originals goals. Let's have a little less judgement and a bit more understanding for alternative points of view.
So if you don't like complainers folks - there are plenty of other interesting areas of the forum for you! And always remember, a "troll" is not simply someone who has a different opinion than you do, especially in the complaints corner. A troll is someone who has an opinion different from almost everybody, and expresses it for no other purpose than stirring up a negative response.
because now we know.
As to the original post. The Swiss are indeed incredibly dull. Anyone that requires so many rules in order to tell them how to live on a daily basis can't be that interesting let's face it.
The op is not on his own either judging by the number of conversations that I've had with ex-pats over the years on the subject. I have to conclude that a number of you are being politically correct because your Swiss wife/husband may read what you have to say on the subject.
If you disagree with him then tell us why?
It's perfectly normal, when one is stranded amongst a load of barbaric foreigners instead of living somewhere civilised like Smethwick or Bolton, but whingeing is whingeing all the same.
Personally, I find most of the Swiss people with whom I associate to be very entertaining, and have never had any difficulty in avoiding those who would conform to the stereotypes laid out here. Of course, I've been tutted at in shops like any other dimwitted foreigner, but there are foolish people in every country - why should Switzerland be any different?
I suspect, as observed before, that a lot of this has to do with the particular kind of Swiss people with whom the expats are associating - mixed with a hefty dollop of grass-is-greener syndrome...
fduvall
dave