Fluoride in water?

Good ones :) But perhaps the reason is the greedy mentality here? The dishumanizing fact that people aren't important, only money matters?

Well, we all have a choice to stay or not to stay right?!

Sure. And we have also the choice to talk about the place we live in.

or rules matter?

I have been living here since many years so probably I do not notice much but people who visit me (family and friends) often tell me that they see a lot of anger and stress around. People don't seem happy. CH also has a higher rate of suicide compared to other eu countries. I agree with the point of too much focus on money. I see my neighbours only in annual meetings of regie. I did organise some drinks and BBQs in the beginning and tried to build up a relation but it always remained cold and distant. May be people are not interested in people. So many lonely angry individuals around....

Come on you must be joking guys. 

Money is everywhere and I can quote many countries where people first ask you how much you make before even asking our name.

Switzerland is not more money-crazed than its neighbours.

Recently I read someone writing in the forum that Swiss women are only interested in money.

Are they the only ones? And what led you here? Mountains, fondue, chocolate? Be honest.

Personally I don't give a damn about what people earn. What interests me is their human qualities, among which openness and generosity feature on top.

As we say in French "l'argent est un bon serviteur, mais un mauvais maître".

Use money, but don't let it use you.

What a disappointing thread - I was looking forward to hearing about serial killers and bodies under the floorboards. I thought I was about to discover that Geneva was actually an exciting city with an EDGE.

but sadly the thread had nothing to do with psychopaths.

think I will complain to admin about thread misrepresentation.....

Oh damn! I've been rumbled!

I hope and wish people living in this country are not forced to live in here, especially when they are not satisfied with the country, one can always take the next plane home.

I think you have a good point here. But I don't think it has anything to do with A. the location B. The amount of money people make. I think it's everywhere. It's a sign of the times. In stead of being connected face to face we spent more and more time on facebook - linkedin - glocals -  People are evening reading whilst walking, and get upset when you bump into them (on purpose sometimes I must admit). I think these media are means/tools to meet up - it could help, but than once you meet in real life, switch off. Too many people want to overconsume information, want to do too much in one day, don't want to miss out on the next thing, and hence are not really enjoying what they are doing at that moment. 

I'm not sure as I'm not a social scientist, but my gut feeling is that we should drop our Iphones for change, and start living up real social interactions again. Imagine how much fun the glocals discussions about Israel, misbehaving kids, and this could be over a beer and not taken too overly seriously?

I do believe that money is involved in that.  I've seen many Swiss that are rich in the wallet but poor in humanity.  And the more money they have, the more miserable they are.

A person that I know took care of an elderly lady in Geneva for 6 months.  During this time she saw the sons visiting the lady only once.  Both sons lived just on the other side of the street.  Same with her grandchildren.

I think it's a very extreme generalization to make out like it's all social medias fault. I'm not saying social media has no portion of the responsibility but some environments just make it easier for people to be more isolated. Switzerland is the one of such places. I'm British. Back home, even in these facebook-crazed days, I can walk into any pub order a drink and strike up conversation with anyone that looks friendly and open enough. That hardly ever happens in Switzerland. Especially in Geneva. You can't just strike up a chat with someone without being eyed up and down as to say, who are you and why have you bothered talking to me? It's even hard to find out about public events. Very few events are advertised/marketed as they should. People moved around in clicques and freeze out new people. As outgoing as I am, I find that if I'm not creative about it, I'm doomed to just go to work, go back home, eat a TV dinner and go to bed, repeat that 5 times a week. Then on the odd occasion that I go out on the weekend, I'll end up nursing a drink by myself for a couple of hours and going back home. Switzerland is one place I know there are so many single people that have a hard time meeting someone. Boys, where are you? ;) lol

So you have come to the right social media now. Seriously check out the tons of things to be done. There are hikes, climbes, ski trips, during the week, during the weekend.

I have been a member of glocals now close to 8 years, and I think it's brilliant - and for sure not a clique. Join the comedy club who visit stand up comedians all the time, get some hiking boots and go hiking or snow shoeing. Get your skis on and join somebody! Oh you can't ski? Look out - there are tons of others here who can't ski. I seriously cannot see how someone sits at home so much!!!! I have 3 kids so am a bit homebound, but I get out there as much as I possibly can (with astranging of my wife :-) 

Or even - check out the scuba diving group, we dive, but we also have drinks and just talk, it's open for all to learn more about it, and just drink with us! And we laugh a lot!

And still if you don't like all of this, there are groups learning a language, exchanging things and even feminism group! there is something for everybody! 

And if that's still not enough, create your own group - and organize what ever you like! There are so many people "alone" out there!!!! Open the door and go there?!?

Tom how can you be here 14 years and know it’s not the place for you? Or maybe you made a typo and meant ‘it’s the place for you’? 

Omegaman, I have been here 12 years and have never noticed any psychopaths (a person suffering from chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent social behavior) and I live in the center of town beside the station. People are quiet normal, go about their business and never bother each other!

Or maybe I am a psychopath so I don’t notice the others ;-)

13 yrs in... and I think I fit quite well in...

I havn't seen the madness yet. Ok I've only been here for a year and I only spent two months in the center of town and I have kids which I guess makes it easier to meet other similar people.. 

But anyways - Speaking to people, I do it. I have no issue to chat with the person next to me, language barriers aside since my French is rubbish. I've never had strange looks or people ignoring me. But I've just been casual chatting i guess.

Rules and regulations - I think they are overplayed by the expats. Yes there are plenty but calm down, most locals will not call the police if you put garbage out at 10.15pm

Meeting people - I'm a bit challenged there because of work and my own laziness. Often I just want to go home and relax. My wife has met loads of people though, very quickly. I do need to get my backside and get myself out there.

I do find people can be pretty blinkered, especially on the commute, the way they barge onto trains and busses and ignore people who may need a little space, I mean FFS the next bus or train will be along in three minutes, calm down.

Love and respect is something you earn, also as a mother.

I don't think this applies only to to Switzerland, it is happening everywhere in the western world. I remember as a child living in London and knowing all my neighbours. There was an elderly lady next door who lived alone and my parents  always called in on her. As children we were encouraged to visit her and carry out any little errands for her. My parents live in a house in Arzier now and there is still a sense of neighbourliness there. Whereas I live in an apartment in Geneva and harldy know my neighbours but that is also because I only go there to sleep and maybe I should also make more of an effort to get to know them. 

I agree with Martin that we are all so busy connecting to our smartphones and speaking to virtual friends that we often forget to look up and appreciate the sunset or smile at the cute little girl who is making everyone laugh on the tram. 

Personally, I believe that smartphones and social media are a symptom; not the cause.  The pursuit of financial attainment and personal advancement at the expense of all other aspects of a "normal", balanced life have gone beyond social acceptance and are now expected.  This leaves people thinking that they ought to be feeling successful and fulfilled, whereas they actually feel disenfranchised and cut off from humanity.  The use of smartphones and social media are ways to feel connected and involved.

Use of social media are on the decline, so some have seen the light.

As a Swiss from Geneva, I can confirm that after being victim of psychopath... Swiss in addition...Problem is that laxist justice encourage them in a way..But I noticed that some person have a strange attitude when they come to GVA...Another bad point: after you meet one, some others come :(

Well, I m a fun person. I m from Geneva ! ;)

Go to talk to this people they might need help ? Don't you think ?

They might suffer of lonliness.. ?

Look at the positive side of life and of the city. :)

I have learned the making generality about a country and citizen

isn't the best things to do.

Must be foreigners...