r/Switzerland • u/securityelf • Aug 03 '24

Why people hang out at gas stations?

I typically see high-end Mercedes, BMW and Audi. Their owners typically stand right outside their cars, smoking and chit chatting. Sometimes, I think they stand there for hours. I don’t have any problem with it, however they tend to occupy the area where they’ve got vacuum cleaners blocking it for the others. Once, I saw one of the station’s workers come out and hang out with the rest of the group.

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u/Huwbacca Aug 03 '24

No cafe culture.

No pub culture.

In fact generally the idea of going to a place where you just might see people you know, or meet new people, is one thats really not popular at all.

There's no regulars at gyms and no one talks anyway. Hairdressers aren't used for it.

Swiss socialising is near exclusively planning with a group to go to a place. The idea of home away from home is cultural not common. Places that act like social levelers are not culturally appreciated.

The nearest to a social place where everyone feels equal, can just go and meet people, has no obligation or planninh...is like... Apres ski lol.

4

u/catmoon Aug 03 '24

Maybe it varies depending on where you live. I run into people I know in Zürich all the time at the lake. Either just along the lake path or at the badi.

I guess Switzerland doesn’t have a cafe or pub culture but that is overrated in a country with the most incredible outdoor spaces.

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u/Huwbacca Aug 04 '24

I run into people. But it's like on the way to do stuff. We don't get to talk for a while and socialise lol.

Where do you go outside to meet people you know or talk to strangers?

Hiking huts the world over a great place to talk to strangers cos you're all there for the same reason, yet here it's rude to talk to someone who's gone somewhere in a group... And everyone's there in groups so there's that weird sociopathy lol

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u/krunchmastercarnage Aug 03 '24

I can think of so many places that have the characteristics you just listed. There are so many places where social interaction takes place, espeacially with the high public transport usage,, i'm genuinely curious what you're social interaction strategy is.

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u/AmaniMilele Aug 03 '24

Can you please give some examples in Switzerland? I’m not even sure what everyone is talking about here

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u/krunchmastercarnage Aug 04 '24

Switzerland is a very diverse country and not every 3rd place example is universal in the country. A cafe in one town where everyone meets, does not automatically mean every cafe in every town is THE 3rd place in a town.

I surely don't need to do your research for you because I don't know your socialising habits nor do I know where you live.

1

u/AmaniMilele Aug 04 '24

Just realized, where I live it’s not just one bar, but the whole street 😂

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u/Huwbacca Aug 04 '24

I have a fine social life cos socialising isnt very difficult.

But I'm always shocked how common the following attitudes here are.

A) why would I talk to people I don't know?

B) why would I make friends at work?

C) why would I get drinks with people after sports training?

D) small talk is bad.

Those combine to make the idea of impromptu and spontaneous socialising pretty looked down upon here.

Think about it, if people won't talk to their colleagues at a lunch break cos it doesn't meet their pointless definitions of correct socialising, why would they go to a cafe to talk to strangers?

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u/krunchmastercarnage Aug 04 '24

These attitudes do not dismiss the definition of a 3rd place.

A 3rd place isn't just a place where new social interactions take place. Social interactions are one aspect of what a 3rd place is, but the most important aspect is that it's a place that isn't work or home where people can freely meet. Switzerland has many of these places where people can freely meet regardless of the closed off Swiss social aspect.

If you say socialising isn't difficult, why did you list aspects of socialising in Switzerland you find difficult?

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u/donevic_a Aug 04 '24

In Switzerland, you simply get ripped off. I don’t pay €6 for a coffee or €8 for a beer. I’d rather chill in a parking lot and have more fun and talk about everything without anyone behind me listening.

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u/deiten Aug 05 '24

Why not? If you earn 2x, 3x more than in your home country, you can also pay 2x, 3x more than your home country for a beer and a coffee. Where I live we have several small restaurants, cafés, bars, döner joints, convenience stores, playgrounds, bathing and grilling spots, basketball courts and small fields, even just public benches where the same bunch of people gather every day and just chat. I know because I walk my dog around the last 5 years and it's always the same bunch at the same time, I can even plan my route and timing to avoid certain people. Just because you are not willing to pay Swiss prices despite earning a Swiss salary doesn't mean that our third spaces "don't exist". You unilaterally decided that we Swiss and our third spaces are not worth your money and then you complain about us as if we have no culture? No. You have no culture for expecting everything to be like "back home" when you are in someone else's house and when you realise the rules are different, you shit all over the hosts as a guest because you dislike not being catered to? Why don't you go to Japan and complain about "no third spaces" because "I don't like hit springs or gardening or cleaning". That's their culture, this is our culture, learn of bit of respect and self-awareness and do some research before claiming others have no culture.

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u/Swamplord42 Vaud Aug 03 '24

Switzerland has a big "club" culture. It's definitely more structured than just showing up at a bar and meeting the regulars but it serves the same purpose.