I often encounter situations where the dog is blown aside so that I can safely run over to it.Image: Shutterstock
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All you read and hear is negative. But my experience shows that we Swiss treat each other very considerately.
Above me to the right an A380 hung in the air, below me to the left the Glatt rippled and before me the opening of the motorway underpass yawned. A young woman with two dogs appeared on the narrow path. I think she's about 18. As far as she knows, she prefers looking to the future rather than staring at her smartphone.
Anyway.
When she saw me she whistled to her dog. They immediately followed and sat next to their master. The larger one, a giant beast, takes things more calmly, but also obeys every word. I also moved out of the way before I jogged past. Not down into the nettles, but to the other side of the path.
The young woman smiled and nodded in agreement. I'm trying the same thing. But as I've explained elsewhere, when the pulse rate exceeds 150, this is no longer really possible. A husky “Thank you!” but enough breathing.
That was enough – we understood each other: she made sure I could run past animals without any worries. And I, through my distance, ensure that neither humans nor animals are offended in any way. Specifically: We briefly expressed our concerns to each other.
How beautiful is that? She might say “fine” to that.
Two people of different generations, who have never met in their lives and may never meet again, create out of nothing an interplay of silent respect and respect. Once upon a time, Bykov/Homuto was on black ice in public space. This is simply because it seems important to both of them that, while they are engaged in their own leisure activities, they do not interfere with others doing the same thing. Or to paraphrase Kant: the exercise of one's own freedom does not restrict the freedom of others. fair play.
But this is a given!
No.
Yes, because that's actually how we should always treat each other.
No, because if we take these gestures for granted, we rob them of their magic. What lies behind it is inadvertently ignored. It's such a shame.
The tragically fallen but brilliant comedian Louis CK gave a brilliant analysis of a similar case: how we suddenly feel uneasy when our smartphones don’t send emojis to the farthest corners of the world in a fraction of a second. Red head! loose the temper! The end of the world! Here, a tiny high-tech device passes through various stations, under the sea, across space, from Walliselen to Okinawa, sending data to a recipient around the world, and if he does not receive your data immediately, his life will be in doubt. It doesn't make sense anymore. Poop emoji. We still get unbridled upset when these complex processes don't work right away.
Mutual consideration is similar in public spaces. To guarantee this, various conditions must be met: empathy from the childhood of both parties, feeling for the situation, maintaining the necessary distance from oneself, a set of values, a certain selflessness, recognition and respect for the needs of others, teamwork The ability to collaborate, to harness the energy of the latter…and, and, and.
What happens when two frogs meet? They block each other's way, stare at each other, and then lick each other's eyes. At some point, one person decides to step over the other. Zero consideration for each other. The frog is too stupid to do that.
In order for each other to function in consideration, a staggering number of cogs are required to work together. One of them, which hasn’t even been mentioned yet, is communication.
If I just jogged past the dog owner without saying thank you, I would have come across as arrogantly as if Mbappe celebrated in the fans' corner after scoring a goal without showing any appreciation for Luka Modric, Although he set up the goal with a sweet pass: Mbappe's celebration seemed ungrateful. In my opinion, this happens more often in football than in ice hockey. It doesn't matter. That's not what it means now.
What’s more, this form of ignorance ultimately ensures that similar actions will not occur in the future. That would be a real shame.
Because this small one-on-one time with people is truly a joy. Especially when so many things seem to be going wrong. These are refutations of the often claimed self-society. Yes, there are others. Those who carry chic business bags and arrange seats in crowded trams. Those stuck in traffic, those space idiots. But this is clearly a minority in Switzerland.
I have spoken to over 1000 dog owners. This is a data set—not just anecdotal evidence. Many of them actively strive for peaceful coexistence. Hats off to all the dog owners in Oerlikon, Schwamendingen, Dibendorf, Ferlanden, Opficon, Glattbrugg and Kloten – I can only speak for you. But you did make it sensational. But I doubt it works well throughout Switzerland.
Thank God it didn't end with the dog. On trams, people give up their seats when pregnant women or elderly people approach them; on public transport, people put their bags on their knees; and friendly road users make gestures. Smile instead of curse. If you look closely, there are a lot of little Keanu Reeves in Switzerland. They are among us. And I don’t say this without pride: you are the majority.
Known for his caring personality: Hollywood superstar Keanu Reeves.Image: reddit
Switzerland’s much-lauded cleanliness is a silent testament to my argument – it’s unparalleled in Europe. This is only possible if the vast majority of people cooperate. This includes picking up dog poop. Here I can jog and enjoy the scenery without any worries, whereas in France I had to keep my eyes on the ground to avoid stepping on landmines.
There are still some people in this country who use toilet brushes in public restrooms. These are extreme athletes who coexist with culture. They won nothing, not even a hoarse “thank you.” Yet they risk almost everything. Just out of consideration.
Damn, it looks like we are really considerate little people. You just can't close your eyes to it. Ignoring the consideration as a simple fact would be a missed penalty. Because there’s something truly soothing about experiencing them and watching them.
