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Comment by zupatol | Hacker News Reader

This joke, that the Germans or the Swiss have no sense of humor, I never found it funny. But maybe that's just because I'm Swiss.

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Not only is it not funny, it isn't true at all. Disclosure: I am Swiss too, albeit a naturalized one.

Like joining a huge HOA, no?

I’m sure a Swiss person will be along shortly to inform you how that is an inaccurate comparison, and furthermore, Switzerland is better than an HOA for several reasons, firstly the trains, secondly the efficient civil service, thirdly…

For reals though: at least in the French side I feel that there's a decent comedy scene, notably with the Montreux Comedy Festival. Two of my favorite humorists (Marina Rollman and Thomas Wiesel) got nicked for a time as panelists for some well known French radios (can't argue with the bigger exposure).

I went to see a recent swiss comedy film - "Bon schuur Ticino" - and it was hilarious. Granted, a lot of the humour might go over the heads of people who haven't lived in Switzerland, but there's definitely comedy

@PetitPrince: the French part is on the civilised side of the Röstigraben. You can't extrapolate from there to the rest of Switzerland.

Those are fighting words, mon ami.

Not really my fight, though. I’m an American with Swiss heritage, but German-Swiss. Bankers, not diplomats.

I proudly eat proper rösti. And I pronounce it properly too, much to chagrin of my spouse.

From https://www.amazon.de/Lexikon-St%C3%A4dtebeschimpfungen-Bosh...:

"Zürich ist doppelt so gross wie der Wiener Zentralfriedhof, aber nur halb so lustig."

(translated: "Zurich is twice the size of Vienna's Central Cemetery, but only half as much fun.")

Swiss people are extremely humorous, at least if you don't do laundry 1 minute past your allowed slot. Light-hearted fun is something that is taken very seriously around here.

It’s also nicely segregated to designated times and places: Fassnacht, and…well, Fassnacht!

I have read that in Switzerland, everything is either mandatory or prohibited.

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