According to a recent survey, there are 243,000 singles living in Munich. That's 28.8% of 18-59 year olds living in the city, followed by Berlin (28.6%), Cologne (25.9%), Hamburg (25.4%) and Frankfurt (24.8%). In Germany as a whole, almost one-fifth of 18-59 year olds live without a partner. The survey randomly asked 2500 people whether they had a steady partner, not whether they lived on their own.
To be honest I'm not surprised with the result. Munich is among the most affluent cities in Europe, let alone Germany. My experiences in Munich led to the belief that the unfriendliness and general coldness had a lot to do with the social pecking order that has evolved since Munich became affluent. Being affluent in Munich appears to be terribly important to many people. Several of them spend an awful lot of time and energy attempting to establish associations with those who are "above" them in the social food chain. I presume this is why you find so many people who lease stylish cars and pay outrageous rent for trendy apartments (even when they can't afford it), so that they can show their "social seniors" that they belong in their "clique". Once part of that clique, you then become the envy of those you left behind in your previous social class. Those who have successfully entered the higher "clique", of course tend to look down upon those who are no longer in their equal "social class", and ironically spend an inordinate amount of their lives trying to enter social "cliques" that are again another step above them.
So, it doesn't surprise me that so many Müncheners are single, because a large percentage of them seem to be more interested in achieving social class than establishing lasting, wholesome relationships. If one of the partners in a relationship is at some point, perceived not to meet the social standards of the other, then it's not unusual to "leave them behind" in favor of a "clique" that represents a higher social position. Of course, those in that higher "clique" would never accept your partner if he/she does not wear the proper shoes, drive the right car, or hold the right business title. Unfriendliness? Of course. In this environment, who can you trust? If someone is friendly to you, then the prevailing attitude is that they must want something from you. Safest is to just turn away. Otherwise you could find yourself associating with someone of a lower social order, and that could be embarassing.
Why do non-Müncheners also become this way? After a few years there, you realize that being friendly scares people away. Better to be stand-offish than friendly. Having been away for some time, it's seems obvious to me that Munich is somewhat unique in this regard. I don't see this arrogance quite as pronounced in many other more cosmopolitan places such as Paris, Amsterdam, New York, Boston, where the attitude seems much less arrogant.
To be honest I'm not surprised with the result. Munich is among the most affluent cities in Europe, let alone Germany. My experiences in Munich led to the belief that the unfriendliness and general coldness had a lot to do with the social pecking order that has evolved since Munich became affluent. Being affluent in Munich appears to be terribly important to many people. Several of them spend an awful lot of time and energy attempting to establish associations with those who are "above" them in the social food chain. I presume this is why you find so many people who lease stylish cars and pay outrageous rent for trendy apartments (even when they can't afford it), so that they can show their "social seniors" that they belong in their "clique". Once part of that clique, you then become the envy of those you left behind in your previous social class. Those who have successfully entered the higher "clique", of course tend to look down upon those who are no longer in their equal "social class", and ironically spend an inordinate amount of their lives trying to enter social "cliques" that are again another step above them.
So, it doesn't surprise me that so many Müncheners are single, because a large percentage of them seem to be more interested in achieving social class than establishing lasting, wholesome relationships. If one of the partners in a relationship is at some point, perceived not to meet the social standards of the other, then it's not unusual to "leave them behind" in favor of a "clique" that represents a higher social position. Of course, those in that higher "clique" would never accept your partner if he/she does not wear the proper shoes, drive the right car, or hold the right business title. Unfriendliness? Of course. In this environment, who can you trust? If someone is friendly to you, then the prevailing attitude is that they must want something from you. Safest is to just turn away. Otherwise you could find yourself associating with someone of a lower social order, and that could be embarassing.
Why do non-Müncheners also become this way? After a few years there, you realize that being friendly scares people away. Better to be stand-offish than friendly. Having been away for some time, it's seems obvious to me that Munich is somewhat unique in this regard. I don't see this arrogance quite as pronounced in many other more cosmopolitan places such as Paris, Amsterdam, New York, Boston, where the attitude seems much less arrogant.
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