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Comment by tucosan | Hacker News Reader

Even as a native German I find Saxony and Thuringia two of the most unattractive places in Germany. I would never ever consider to relocate - even if I would find great job opportunities (which don't really exists apart from a few exceptions). Why: Dresden, Rostock, Halle etc. are the most racist, culturally and intellectually backwards places in all of Germany. We call the area around Dresden "the valley of the clueless" for a reason.

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You are overgeneralizing. The "valley of the clueless" referred to places like Dresden and Greifswald that were not able to receive broadcasts from West Germany and hence were somewhat more closed communities (also for other reasons). On the other hand there are places like Leipzig that didn't have this problem and as a historical center of commerce and trade always received guests from all over the world, even during GDR times.

Saxony and Thuringia are not one homogeneous place, sentiments and opinions differ and so does the political situation.

I live in Dresden and I agree that there is are groups with pretty bad, conservative, racist or extreme views. But there are also other groups and I would say the 'other' groups are definitely the (largely silent) majority. Similar patterns exist also elsewhere: What are the 'Querdenker' (or Pegigda) in Dresden are the 'Gelbwesten' in France, the Brexit-voters in UK, the 'Unite the Right' In Virginia, Charlottesville, etc.

Saying that you would never move to Saxony or Thuringia is a generalization and it doesn't help anyone.

Oh, it definitely helps those who don't know better. As a person of color, YOU SHOULD NOT MOVE THERE.

Sorry, but this is absolutely not true. As a person of color, you may experience the same difficulties all over Germany (or, Europe or in the US, by the way), not just in Dresden. I am not saying that this is good or acceptable or anything, just that Dresden does not stand out in any way in this regard - only perhaps from an outsiders perspective.

Well, I know that my little sister and brother have been hunted in the streets of some town in (former) East Germany while visiting. I don't think it was Dresden, but close. This has NEVER happened to them while living in (former) West Germany.

Sometimes being an outsider helps to see things more clearly than when you are an insider, Helmut.

Oh, I've been born close to Leipzig, by the way.

I have worked in California, Virginia, and Germany, and I've seen racist contexts in all these locations. East vs West Germany: Yes, perhaps the east is somewhat more opposed to outsiders, but only in the country side - cities like Dresden, Berlin, Leipzig are similarly diverse as are West German cities. And if you go to a rural area in Bavaria, you'll find (former) Pegida as well. It is just not as simple as the generalizations made by you and others.

In the end, when it comes down to a decision, you need something simple: Yes or No. Yes, I move there, or No, I don't move there. As a person of color, and if you have a choice, the answer is NO (I also wouldn't recommend rural Bavaria, but Munich is fine).

Its "the valley of the clueless" because west TV could not be received for geographical reasons.

The 1992 Rostock attacks on the Vietnamese and Roma minorities - what an insane thing to happen. I’ve come to the conclusion that humanity doesn’t learn from its past.

That's just tip of the iceberg. There were 61 arsons targeted at immigrants in the past 6 years.

> We call the area around Dresden "the valley of the clueless" for a reason.

Who are "we"? It was a term coined in the GDR and you are for sure not from there.

I'm not a white German, and I don't live there, but I love Dresden. To walk through the city center, or walk around the Elbe River is a fantastic experience. One of the most beautiful Capitals in Germany (and one of the safest too!)

The idiots surely exist, but have you actually been there for some time?

If so, you might find, reality is quite big and divers. Dresden Neustadt is quite different from Dresden Prohlis. And Leipzig a whole other story.

And Rostock is no part of Thuringa nor Saxony btw.

Actually out of the three cities mentioned, only one (Dresden) is in Thuringia or Saxony, none is in Thuringia. ;)

Ah yes, but Halle is at least very close to Thuringa, while Rostock is quite far away..

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