Why are German cities so depressing? (black, house, water, visit)

[Ulysses61]

Customer service is terrible in Germany.. No one is friendly and what's worse they do a worse job at being efficient than friendly..

Things like refusing to serve you, they often give you the wrong food or drinks and will say that's what you ordered or what ever..

Do you speak German? Maybe that's the issue. As an American who lived in Munich for three years (and speaks fluent German), I never encountered this. Americans go to Europe expecting everyone to speak English and understand them. People calling Germans "arrogant" on this thread need to realize that many Americans travelling abroad are unbelievably arrogant.

[DrunkSam]

Chicago & NYC has way more graffitis or wall vandalism than any city in Germany.

[Ulysses61]

And about 500 million times more crime in ANY American city of comparable size to a German city.

Obviously there are some German cities which aren't very scenic. These are generally the ones bombed into oblivion during WWII and either not rebuilt in the old style or poorly rebuilt. Nuremberg was horribly bombed but it's a nice, clean, tidy city which was rebuilt in the old style. However, Cologne, Frankfurt and Stuttgart aren't scenic cities.

Graffiti doesn't make a city "dirty." It makes it unappealing where the graffiti is.

Another filthy city with tons of graffiti is Amsterdam.

[chielgirl]

Originally Posted by Ulysses61

Do you speak German? Maybe that's the issue. As an American who lived in Munich for three years (and speaks fluent German), I never encountered this. Americans go to Europe expecting everyone to speak English and understand them. People calling Germans "arrogant" on this thread need to realize that many Americans travelling abroad are unbelievably arrogant.

My German is pathetic (but I try) and I don't have many problems with customer service (can't think of any at the moment).
People seem genuinely willing to help.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by Ulysses61

Do you speak German? Maybe that's the issue.

Yeah, I asked the same question and never got an answer...

[irish_bob]

Originally Posted by Ulysses61

Do you speak German? Maybe that's the issue. As an American who lived in Munich for three years (and speaks fluent German), I never encountered this. Americans go to Europe expecting everyone to speak English and understand them. People calling Germans "arrogant" on this thread need to realize that many Americans travelling abroad are unbelievably arrogant.

that has not been my experience , ive always found americans very friendly and polite while they were abroad , they were however a tad lacking in knowledge of the country they were visiting , met a bunch of americans in barcelona a number of years ago and they hadnt a clue about barcelona fc

[irman]

Originally Posted by irish_bob

met a bunch of americans in barcelona a number of years ago and they hadnt a clue about barcelona fc

A bit off topic, but whatever ...
OK ... now think of the USA as Europe as a whole, and each country as one of the States in the USA.

Now take a person from Barcelona, fly this person to Utah, and ask them what they know of The Bees, or Raptors ...
I bet he/she, wouldn't have a clue either ...

I do assume the *barcelona fc* means the Soccer club from there ?

Keep in mind that Soccer in Europe is so much more popular in Europe, compared to The USA.
Have you heard about:
LA Galaxy, DC United, Chicago Fire, and the New England Revolution.
Most people in the USA, probably do not know !!!
The *only* reason I know, is because I played soccer while growing up in Europe ...
Now, if that Barcelona person was a Baseball *nut* ...

[Ryuji]

Originally Posted by Rob702

They do smile if they want to be friendly, but they don't necessarily smile at every stranger they encounter, neither do they ask everyone how they are doing unless they are truly interested in hearing an honest response. I don't consider smiling (or artificially happy) people friendly in general, sometimes they can be very annoying, especially if you can tell that it's not honest. It all depends on your background I guess.

What if you can not tell that it's not honest? Which person do you think friendly, smiling one or not smiling one? I think the smiling one.

Originally Posted by Rob702

Very philosophical, but you're missing the point.

Not really. You can say anything about anything even if you know little about it. What do we call this? Freedom of speech or something, I remember.

[Ryuji]

Originally Posted by chielgirl

What the heck are you talking about?
Perhaps, by your own words, you should not make comments.
Apparently you don't know much about anything.

OK, tell me anything, say a noun, which you believe you know. I will ask you some questions about that. Let us see what you know.

[chielgirl]

Originally Posted by Ryuji

OK, tell me anything, say a noun, which you believe you know. I will ask you some questions about that. Let us see what you know.

Go troll somewhere else.
You're tiresome.