h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Garfield,

If you think Germany has a negative image, try to imagine what it's like for the Swiss. At least Germany is a big, important country in the heart of Europe. People think they can say what they like about the Swiss, as there are only 6.5 million of 'us'.

For what it's worth, I used to have the usual English prejudices about Germany, but having visited it, I think it's great - cheap prices, lively towns, friendly people. Definitely not boring. The only criticism I would have is that, to me, Germans are amazingly ignorant about the rest of the world. All the English wear bowler hats, all the Americans are cowboys, etc. What do they teach you at school?

Grüss aus der Schweiz.

I couldn't possibly fail to disagree more!

I have never seen anything negative about the Swiss the only pre-conception that most people I know have about Switzerland is that it is "very good cheese and democracy", thats not _Too_ bad a stereotype is it?

I also think that Germany is much less self centred than England; this can be seen simply from comparing German news to that shown here in England. The German news is much more likely to give priorty to an earthquake in a distant part of the world while English news would concentrate on a traffic warden strike in London

Oh, I think the German news is as self-centered as news anywhere else. They'll do the earthquake thing as long as someone from the Association of German Pharmacists isn't moaning that people are buying branded asprins in drugstores in Holland for a third of the price of those in German Chemists' shops.

And don't forget the Swiss Cuckoo Clocks!