What I got most out of the this article is the difference in trust between his home and host countries. What conditions make a high-trust community? What a fascinating topic.
More German than many Germans
221–230 of 545 posts
Re: More German than many Germans
#222On the topic of rules: > [Rules mean that] someone, or a group of people, sat down and thought about that specific thing and decided on a standard for everyone. When you have to do something, you don't feel lost, because you can just look it up. You don't have to find someone who knows. I mildly disagree with this stance for two reasons. First, "you can just look it up" it's like arguing that it's okay if the Linux k…
Sounds like the rule system worked in your example. What other better solution do you imagine? > Try and figure out the rules for opening a GmbH by yourself (and the advantages over a Ug) and let me know if you feel comfortable in doing it without "finding someone who knows". It's possible from the laws, but it's a complex topic. If you do not have the time to understand complex topics you get help... > Rules are fin…
> What other better solution do you imagine?
I believe there are two ways to deal with a system that's not working as intended.
One alternative is to have shock buffers for unexpected circumstances. Berlin, known for its chaotic nature, used to have a second queue at the Foreigner's Office for people who needed an appointment today. You had to queue sometimes even from 3am on, which sucks, but it sucked less than having to cancel your holidays because you couldn't get an appointment. In my case all I needed was a signed piece of paper saying "this person is allowed to stay in Germany until we finally process their papers", but the office had no mechanism (or no will?) to do so.
The other alternative is to pretend that the system works fine, which is what the German administration is currently doing. Sure, I could hire an attorney to sue the government - it will cost me an upright investment of 1k€, it will take months, and all I'll get afterwards is most of my administrative costs (forget about my canceled flight) and an appointment.
Edit: on the topic of the GmbH, it is a complex topic because the German government made it complex. Estonia, Texas, and my own home country have much simpler rules for starting your own small company. Every government keeps promising "we'll simplify bureaucracy and we'll digitize" and yet all we get is new rules and more letters.
Re: More German than many Germans
#223A very nice read and pretty much my experience. I have been here for a quarter of my life now, I do not think I can live anywhere else now. People may not like me being here because of my skin color or whatever but I do not mind. I keep to myself and follow all the "rules" I can. In fact, I like most of the rules, rules are good because they ensure order, fairness and equality. Will a little bit of empathy be nicer,…
I'm living in Berlin for 13/45 of my life, but I don't think I will ever feel integrated. As much as I tried to get around and adapt to the local culture, I quickly found myself only connecting with non-Germans, most of them from Southern Europe, and on a smaller scale from Poland and the Balkans.
> living in Berlin ... I don't think I will ever feel integrated.
I’d understood this was a typical Berlin experience even for German.
Re: More German than many Germans
#224Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm living in Berlin for 13/45 of my life, but I don't think I will ever feel integrated. As much as I tried to get around and adapt to the local culture, I quickly found myself only connecting with non-Germans, most of them from Southern Europe, and on a smaller scale from Poland and the Balkans.
Would like to hear your thoughts on why that is the case.
I'm also a foreigner in Berlin, and my guess is twofold:
1. Their German isn't good enough, which limits the pool of people you can connect to
2. They only or mostly hang out in the expat-scene, which limits the pool of people you can connect to
Re: More German than many Germans
#225Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think there are two aspects. First, quite obvious, everyday life and overall infrastructure is really good. It is clean, well maintained in most places. And there are only few countries where all open landscapes are yours to have. Germany is one big park. You have a small garden? No problem, every forest or unfenced meadow is yours to use and to enjoy. The other aspect, which makes people leave, is the direction in…
"And there are only few countries where all open landscapes are yours to have." Well, I am into wild camping and here germany is definitely not so open. You have to be very well hidden.
Come to Norway.
Re: More German than many Germans
#226Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Public company" is a very specific thing; the BVG is state owned, but very much not a public company.
In the US, “public” can be short for a private business with publicly listed shares on a stock exchange anyone can buy, or public can mean an organization owned and operated by the government.
Perhaps the fact that we’re having this discussion on HN shows the kind of media I’m likely to consume, but I’ve never seen it used in the latter sense. TIL, I guess!
Re: More German than many Germans
#227[flagged]
i had to re-read your comment twice. i thought i might have misunderstood. it’s rare these days to read such a pure, unfiltered ethno-nationalist argument, that level of ethnic and racial essentialism is a rare sight. you are the realest of the real, a true heartfelt nazi. i’m impressed.
Why are blatant american supremacist posters like this not permabanned? Tolerating the advocacy of the erasure of ethnic groups and to have the whole world be subjected to the anachronistic american racial caste system creates an extremely hostile environment for for anyone that isn't an american or one of their cultural vassals
Re: More German than many Germans
#228A very nice read and pretty much my experience. I have been here for a quarter of my life now, I do not think I can live anywhere else now. People may not like me being here because of my skin color or whatever but I do not mind. I keep to myself and follow all the "rules" I can. In fact, I like most of the rules, rules are good because they ensure order, fairness and equality. Will a little bit of empathy be nicer,…
I think it depends on the job one has. Working as senior software engineer for international companies? Any western european country is nice and all. Top p90 salary. English only needed.
Working as a bank cashier? Well, then you will notice the difference between let say Germany and Portugal. Low salary. Need proficiency in the local language, etc.
Re: More German than many Germans
#229Earlier quoted context omitted.
German films are mostly not great, but if one wants to get immersed into the language, music and literature are much better places. And also comedy. The language allows for some great puns.
On the other hand, the dubbing for foreign movies is usually very well done though.
It's one of the things I can't stand. Just by hearing, not even seeing the actors or knowing the movie title, you can hear it's a dubbed movie. I always find it uncanny to listen to.
A lot of Germans have Satellite TV, where it would be possible to send multiple audio tracks. But they use it to send dubbed German and dubbed French (in case of ARTE). AHHHH.
German movies can be great though. Land of Mine (2015) comes to mind.
Re: More German than many Germans
#230Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wanted to leave this Faden for all the immigrant voices but this misinformation simply cannot stand, lol. Dubbing for foreign movies is an art long lost in Germany; the East Germans (DEFA) were especially good at it, my favorite being Karel Steklý's eternal Dobrý voják Švejk ( The Good Soldier Schweik ), for which DEFA tapped the Austro Rudolf Wessely. And today? Whenever I get exposed to a German dub I get reaquai…
I have no idea what you mean, because I also feel dubbing in Germany comes out pretty much right. Mouth is moving (mostly) in sync, even. I can compare with other countries where I watched dubbed stuff, but let's not compare and stick to Germany: well done.
It might be good compared to other countries, but it still "feels" strange. Unsettling. I rather have the undubbed version.
Big budget animated movies often have great dubbing.