I'm Mexican and went to Serbia 4 times bc of my ex. This is SO TRUE! SPOT ON! also, God I miss the food 😭😭 somebody send me homemade ajvar pleeeaaassseeee
This is the best analysis of Serbian culture I have ever heard from a non-Serbian person! You nailed it when you said, "Serbian people are people of honor. They are people of pride." No matter how angry you are, do not mention the other person's mother or their family, unless you are asking for trouble. It is a common way to start a fight. Other touchy subjects are national heritage and Serbian history. On the other hand, Serbians do wear their emotions on sleave; if they love you, they will fully accept you; if they don't, they will tell you. Upon my arrival in the United States, I needed to learn something about American culture, and speaking freely was often construed as being rude or blunt. Thank you for this review-a well-done video.
Especially the part when a Serbian girl gives a number to a foreigner even though she has a boyfriend. It's in their genes. To be "open" to foreigner ...
@@gazibengazi Serbian girls giving away their numbers to foreigners has absolutely nothing to do with "Serbs being open to foreigners" and you are just as equally to encounter the phenomena in any non-Western country where they consider foreigners naive and gullible people who are easily fooled into thinking a woman likes them for who they are even though she is using that person to get a foothold in acquiring a working visa or even citizenship in the West. I know this because I myself am a Diaspora Serb and I've seen this countless times and despite me being a handsome young man I know that 95% of the time these girls hope I am this sheepish moron whom they can control for their own benefits, whether to come live here or to get financial aid as a personal financer.
thats true,do not mention somones mother or another family member in an insult,tho you can laughingly do so if you're a close friend in such expressive way like a joke you say when drinking if you're talking about some misstake they did while drunk,we drink alot here and like to joke around alot of stuff,but if you mention somones family in an insult that is meant as a full insult rather than joking insult,yeah good luck XD
Thanks for clarifying Serbian mentality. The take is on point. Many people from the west, when they come to a foreign, more conservative country, think they can act like they do in their own country. That is especially characteristic for the British guys. For the most part, you won't have any problems as a foreigner unless you are acting stupid and looking for trouble.
Even worse, those Brits who act like this actually feel ENTITLED to behave like this, believing we are so desperate for their pounds we'll just tolerate anything, and will actually take offence if called out on their behaviour. It's a fun little hypocrisy: if we do something that offends them, like the 'crime' of speaking our mind, we're a bunch of savages who don't know proper behaviour, but if they do something that offends us, we're a bunch of uptight conservatives living in the past that haven't embraced 'freedom' like the 'freedom' to be pissed out drunk to the point where perfect strangers have to take care of you while you piss your pants. I actually saw a column in Vice or somewhere similar, where a Brit complained people in Knez Mihajlova were giving him the stink eye for being completely sloshed on a weekday early afternoon. As in 'look at how narrow minded these people are... how can you learn anything about yourself if you don't get drunk to the point of passing out'. I mean why stop there? Why not snort some lines while you're at it?
@@SerbAtheist Well, at least we don't have much problems with foreigners like some other countries do. Greece for example. I spoke to couple of Greek guys about their tourists, and they don't like the British one bit. When fights with the drunk Brits start at the bar or on the streets, they are trying to pull out, since if they get into a fight with British tourists, the penalties are enormous money-wise, and jail-wise, while the British guys get released in few days because of the intervention of their embassy. We are good hosts, but I hate when some idiots are using that to their advantage and act stupid and overconfident.
@@SerbAtheist there are plenty of other people who act like that, not just British people ( though there is definitely a minority and that is well documented, however, I have seen people from all kinds of places act in the same way in Britain. Also, it is a myth that British people do not like people speaking their minds, most are quite happy with that directness, that is only true if you believe everyone behaves like the Queen, and regards the rest, that all British people are "hooligans" which is also a complete myth, from the 1970s. When I am abroad in Europe, I notice Italians, Germans, British people, Polish people, French people, Spanish people - because shock horror, these are the largest nations in Europe - and I have seen them all behaving just as badly on planes, abroad in cities and so on. It is pretty sad to generalise 80 million people according to a few experiences.
@@junctionfilms6348 In their case it might be based on a few experiences but Serbs such as myself who live in the West for a very long time such an excuse is absolutely inapplicable, now of course I will not go as far as to generalize millions of people but at least in the Netherlands, from my own and my circle's experiences, I certainly do notice a number of things key of which is a twofaced mentality, a lot of people will say that they are down with people being direct but when you are direct with them, say, because you're sensing someone is projecting their frustrations with you, it is hard to not notice a duplicity. Most of the time those same people who claim to be receptive to directness will say they do not have a problem at all, to make matters worse they will illusively thank you for it but afterwards they will distance themselves from you, now I am not going to say that all Dutch people are like this or that you only see this in the West, no, that is utter nonsense, but I do notice it much more in the West than in the East, I am very direct with people, especially if I sense a problem, not because I am violent or anything but because it is inappropriate and definitely unnecessary, especially in environments such as work and so I try to create a dialogue where a person can share their feelings and express their frustrations with me without me becoming angry because I might have done something which said individual might have interpreted incorrectly and thus is churlishly projecting this frustration. And you can go to any of my Serbian acquaintances, relatives, brothers or parents and they would tell you pretty much the same thing, most Serbs mean it when they say they are direct and they welcome any direct feedback, I think most people want to believe they have the character to be direct and also handle others being direct but most people just cannot handle it and this also applies to Serbs or any other Balkan people but I do notice it much more in the West.
@@Daurentius322 I think, contradictory behaviour is fundamentally a common and core programming for all of humanity, to one degree or another. I think a lot of this little situations we find ourselves in, have many little sub factors going in and at the root of that, is human biological function ( or dysfunction ) and then conditioning, then cultural conditioning. I think we can interpret many things and say it is XYZ, sometimes as an assumption, sometimes true. It is funny and interesting to observe such things as, in China for example, people there probably think there is 'one mentality' in Europe - yet we could make it so local so as to call it from town to town, city to city, region to region, in Europe, also in Britain -which seems to have a mix of many, at the root, a mix of all Germanic, Scandinavia, Germany, Dutch and all the many places there. I have met very timid and charming Balkans people, who are not "direct" whatever that means :-) I think there is a stoic-ness and pragmatism is a virtue in the Balkans - though can say the same for a lot of northern Europe also. I guess ' directness' just means, saying how you feel and what you want, which some people mistake for 'aggression is good' . I think the oddball Slavic nation is . . . . Poland. :-) As Britain is the oddball Germanic nation . . .. well, Wales is Celtic, well, half of Scotland is also, other half Norse. England is a mix of alll of those, plus lots of Irish and European migrants since the 1700s. Czech Rep, very studious and polite, also stoic and pragmatic, just my experence.
I am bosnian Croat and we have same mentality. Bosnian Croats have more in common with Serbians then with Croats in other parts of Croatia. I feel better and more connected with people in Belgrade than talking to people in Zagreb.
With Serbs... SERBIANS (written purposely in uppercase) are something else... Far different... You still have the metaphysics left. You people love and play gusle. i can show nothing but respect to that.
You're probably croatinized Serb. Serbs are native people of these lands while Croats, or better say Krauts are more swabian kind of people and mentality, probably went down from the Alps. Main difference is in our mentality and genes, while Serbian men have excess of male hormones, swabian kind of people lack them. Swabian kind of people are like kids, or later in life maybe even a bit "robotized", they like strict rules, laws and everything, while Serbs like more chaos and rules exist to break them. Me as a Serb, find swabian people very boring in my opinion, so maybe I’m biased.
Me as an austrian i have much more in common with croatian, serbs and slovenians as for example, germans, french, italians, skandinavians. i feel as austrian much more at home in serbia as for example in france or italy. you have to know that austria was heavily influenced in the past from slavic language and culture, especially through the austrian.hungarian monarchy, we always had croatians, bosnians and serbs living in the former territory of Austria. So for me people form the balkan are more conntected with us then west europeans.
You are right, but would like to supplement you that a lot of present Austrians are germanized Slavs from former big empire - same think with a Hungarians. am Serb and I feel same when I talk with Austrians. I feel same when I talk with Austrians.
@@StosicAleksandar you are right aleksandar, can i ask you how is the situation now in serbia with the corona virus? Do you have to wear the masks outside? Are restaurants open?
@@summ466, wearing the mascs outside still not, but this is recomendations. Everything is open, but the government is trying to establish more restrictive measures. I live in Gran Canaria 😁 and we wear the masks everywhere out of the house last three mounths and sutuation is better than in peninsular Spain, than we are recieving again a lot of turism last days 💪💪😁😁
I feel more connected to Austria Germany France Italy because of the influence of Austria Hungary I still love Serbia don’t get me wrong but Serbs for example they feel closer to Russians but still love us Croatians too
Wow, this is amazing. If someone asked me to try to explain the same exact topic in my own way, I'm almost sure I wouldn't manage to explain things in such a clear and thorough manner. Definitely want to see another episode of the "serbian mentality" series, I see a lot of potential in this particular thing. You should do more of these for a better understanding of serbian overall mentality. Cheers to you, Erik!
I see and hear a sense of honour when I interact with my team. Reminds me of Klingons in StarTrek with a great sense of humour, hospitality, and honesty.
This is a very interesting video. As a Hungarian person I visited Serbia only for two weeks. It was interesting to feel that something is totally similar but all together it is totally different. People have this Eastern European stone face - like us (that you described pretty well: this is the surface we show to unknown people), but at the same time I felt a vivid atmosphere in the air that I don't see in Hungary. I really liked this Mediterranean flavoure.
Good insight. Im from Croatia, therefore had no problem getting insight since Im the same mentality considering agressiveness in social relations. Dalmatia, Istria, and perhaps eastern Slavonia are this way (alongside bosnian Croats). Or tbh are "more" this way, while the rest of Croatia are also same, but to a less degree. Only ones who really seem to not have this kind of mentality in Croatia are the ppl from far north, near Slovenia. Okay, since Im a Croat we have "our thing" on top of that, but I like Serbs, I think this is much better to have than western type you mentioned, which boil inside.
Belgrade beat...you are spot on!!!! I am a Bosnian Serb living in Sydney Australia for 25 years. Being subscribed to your channel I follow your videos and of course and I loved them. The breakdown of Serbian culture, pride, personalities, control aggressiveness, hospitality towards foreigners, description of bottom line / pre-warning leading to possible conflict are second to none!!!! In ten-eleven years living in Belgrade you assessed Serbian mentality better than any other psychiatrist, psychologist, human culture experts together. You are an asset to Serbian tourism!!! You can run your business form every spot on earth...and you have chosen Serbia!! Thank you for that!!! ...I know win-win...but in my humble opinion you are giving my country more than you are getting back!! ....Cheers!
@@AutonomousOblast Pa ništa, ako tebi odgovara naravno ti se možeš zvati kako hoćeš. Ja sam inače iz Hercegovine pa to i ne važi za mene. Al kada kažem ljudima iz Bosne to za Bosanske Srbe, ljute se i kažu nismo mi Bosanski Srbi, mi smo Srbi. Kao fazon gledaju na to kao podjelu našeg naroda. Isto kao što za ove iz Srbije kažu Srbijanci a ne Srbi. Mislim sitnica je to, al' malo po malo pa opet podjele. A to nikom dobro ne donosi, il' bar nije do sad donosilo ...
@@estrador5795 Slažem se. Srbi su Srbi, još nam samo fali još više podele. Nije nam dovoljno što nam je Tito napravio Makedonce, Bosance i Crnogorce, a možda i Hrvate i Slovene
When I heard he told him "why do not meet me in the square" I just cover face with the palm and said "ajoj" (basically ouch) You do NOT say boyfriend of the girl you hit "come meet me" because they WILL meet you.......
Yo , if you haven't already, you should read the short book by Archibald Reiss "Listen Serbs!". A Swiss who spent World War 1 with the Serbian people. In the book he wrote the virtues AND vices surrounding Serbian culture. (You can probably skip the pre-WW2 politics).
I live in usa and Canada 20 years . And you said about the fake smile here , in north america. I would say that relations here is --- costume ball And i learnde here that dogs are really best friends to people . And cats . In Serbia is eeeasssy to hawe people for friends . REAL friends . Here you cant talk with people about the weather . In Serbia about EVERYTHING . Even at the street .
I don’t feel that way. I’ve lived in the US for most of my life, I’m Serbian too, and I live in a huge tourist city. What people see as “fake smiles” I see as common courtesy and politeness. There are boundaries that very clearly cannot he crossed but once you meet your average Americans and the hard working American Patriots you will meet just good people who want the best for their families, who are real and who will be there for you. There is actually very little fakery here, unless you are dealing with very liberal people like I did at my art school. They’re just bonkers and fake virtue signaling and for the most part you cannot trust that their emotional state is intact.
@@Adnezal Sigurno da su ljudi svuda isti u bazicnim vrednostima . I sigurno je da civilizacijske razlike postoje . Kazes da vecinu zivota zivis u usa , sto znaci da tesko mozes da izvuces korektna poredjenja civilizacija --- slovenske u odnosu na anglosaksonsku . To sto si rekao o tvojoj skoli umetnosti , i o liberalnom shvatanju , jednostavno ne postoji u Srbiji. Ni na jednom nivou drustvene lestvice . Da li govoris Srpski .Pozdrav Tebi iz Montreala .
@@milosstanojevic5899 - naravno da govorim a i naravno da mogu da izvučem te slavenske korektne vrednosti ili uporede jer kao prvo nisam retard i imam moć objektivnosti, pogotovo zato što živim u ogromnom, ako ne najvećem okruženju Srba u americi, veći community nego neki gradovi ili sela po bivšoj Jugoslaviji. Ljudi na balkanskom području retko kada imaju taj pristup znanju jer nisu izloženi drugim rasama, kulturama i tradicijama svakodnevno. A da na ne govorim da moja skoro cela familija (osim roditelja) žive još uvek na balkanu i sa njima pričam svaki dan, a zvuči mi isto kao da misliš da ja ne putujem i da je mogu da shvatim šta je šta za sebe. Simply untrue and a very basic statement at that from you. Besides, this is was a comment to your response about Americans, whom I am firmly defending for their patriotic qualities (which have long perished from the Balkans in this way and on this level) because I can actually compare them to my large Serbian community I am surrounded with every day.
Hello, I am an American that has lived in Russia for the last 6 years....but now I am in Belgrade for the next 3 months waiting for the Russian border to reopen. I have enjoyed your videos, they are very helpful, and I am happy to buy you drinks if I see you in repayment. Thank you!
@@markoscream8466 Sure, I've only been here for 2 days, I live in the old city behind Prince Milo's mansion. It seems Serbs prefer English to Russian, but I am learning Serbian...much of the vocabulary is the same. I will be here until December, the Russian border is supposed to reopen in January.
@@markoscream8466 Lols, I got lost for 3 hours last night, after getting drunk with Serbs...and walked to the megastore Tempo today. Serbia has too many foreigners like me, unlike in Russia due to the need for a visa...but Serbia and Serbs is/are very intelligent, cool, and not full of BS...just like most Russians. I am happy to be here, I've always wanted to visit.
This is not just about Serbian mentality, this is about Western mentality vs rest of the world. Once we were the the same, modern western culture is one that made people behave like robots.
I am Serb, living in Canada, to be honest, I had my doubts when I start watching this clip, I don't have them at the end of it. Well said, very , very well said, all the best to you ...
@Maki vazi maki hajde da istrazujemo, da ti kazem samo ti si moj i najvise te volim, "neprihvatljivo" se pise zajedno i "agresvniji" nemaju crticu, sta je problem, hajde molim te reci mi, sta to on radi, ne shvatam?
As Italian, half sicilian which makes his own difference in understanding Serbian attitude, with a Serbian boyfriend for over 4 years. I think this is a very spot on description but I would like to say that when you describe Western Mentality it is mainly connected with Anglophone countries, i have watched many movies especially from US where the villain if not Russian is Serbian (The blacklist season 1 Serbian as villain are shown in 4 different episode and this is just a small example). I think as US you have built a very big phobia against anything that was connected somehow with Russia, please do not make the big mistake that every corner around the Western world think as US think! You are big guys but there are other realities out there you just made a step forward on learning about it 😊
Love this bit: "... whereas Serbian people will express their aggressiveness... ... ...constantly!" 😂 it's that long pause that got me 😂😂. Stumbled across this clip as one does and blown away, especially about the cultural differences. And as a Serbian livng in London it's pretty hard to blow a gasket like someone from the Balkans without everyone in your vicinty thinking you're insane 😄
Honor more or less, but I feel pride in Serbia is very important, large portion of fights I witnessed were about pride, like argument starts and no one is willing to back down, people would rather get beaten than humiliated, especially if odds aren't even, like one guy won't back down in front of 2-3 guys while in one on one situations when pride is at stake anyway usually comes to deescalation, especially in smaller cities or villages.
I think the aggression is perhaps mistaken as directness or honesty. I’m part Serbian but born and grew up in Australia. I have always been told I’m direct and honest. I don’t know any other way to be. I think it’s in the genes. If I know something is rude I won’t say it but if you ask my opinion, I think you want and answer so I say it. Then people tell me I’m funny.
100% right. That’s how westerners see directness: as an aggression. And they see aggression only when their ego is under attack. And their ego is under attack when someone is direct to them. When the same westerners physically and economically attack someone they do not see that as an aggression. It is just a democracy in their system of value.
Yea, we don't mince words or care for political correctness. Honesty all the way. Sometimes it's brutal but that's how we are. We don't like that fake politeness like English are so good at.
@I C I’m not saying I do, it was just a light hearted comment. I’m British and growing up I noticed that it was always posh Brits that were the villains and later I noticed it was Serbs too. That’s all
Main character in Grand Theft Auto 4 is a Serb, Nico. And technically he's a criminal, but also the most loved character in all of GTA series. Nico was the best!
This is interesting.. My hat off to you for your insight!! As a born Australian with Serbian parents I feel I have always had this collective societal consciousness, although at the same time fully aware of the emotionally repressive construct of Anglo norms. It's a problem, as I fully understand and appreciate both, but frankly am more comfortable with the Serbian attitude of, let's discuss your hang ups or lay your cards on the table approach..
Well done, all that stuff you mentioned is why we dont go to shrinks and dont have mass murders in schools/squares/airports, we talk to each others, dont repress feelings but let it all out.
You observations about the mentality differences regarding Serbs and other nations (particularly those in North America and in some parts of Western Europe) are totally spot on. Being of Serbian origin and living in Canada, I see these differences commonly. With regards to communication style, I think that Serbs are more open about their thoughts and feelings and you will likely know where you stand with them. If you were to ask the average Serb what they though about an issue, they'd more likely tell you the truth then what they think the socially appropriate opinion would be. This openness and honesty is not necessarily aggressive, and in some cases can avert aggression. In North America and in Western European, there is more of an emphasis on (what is perceive to be always), political correctness, where people will go out of their way to behave in ways that they believe to be socially acceptable to the degree that they that they will sometimes hide their feelings, particularly negative ones, and let them out in ways that are aggressive and detrimental to relationships on a personal level. I think the mentality difference actually stem in part from the historical contexts that shaped the Balkans throughout the middle ages an onward. Throughout most of recent history, much of the Balkans was either under foreign invasion (the Ottomans empire) or experiencing some sort of upheaval. In the 19th century, the area came under turmoil through WW1 and WW2 and more recently during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia. The Serbs and other ethnicities in the Balkans lived in small, close knit communities where the primary goal was survival. As a result, the people developed ways of living, values, and communications styles that were beneficial to maintaining closer personal and family relationship as well as to life in smaller communities.
One old song from ex Yugoslavia (we all love that song it's called Pljuni i zapevaj moja Jugoslavijo/ Spit and start singing my Yugoslavia) and this is my( poor) translations sums us up pretty damn well,this is part of the song: ''Who doesn't grow teeth here, Eh, poor is his mother Who doesn't learn how to howl (scream/shout) will never find a herd (pack) here ''
I am very Agressive/Peaceful too I think. Thanks for bringing this up. I really hope to be moved to Serbia, Novi Sad specifically by next year. We tried in June but flights got cancelled. I hate the wait now until April.
I am lucky to have "summer girlfriends" from the Czech part of Czechoslovakia (Litomysl - Smetana birth town) and from Slovakia part (Trnava), and I can tell you that the girl from Trnava was almost like our Serbian girls! The other one was pretty much like you described...
I can unreservedly agree with that. Couldn't have described it better! I think it's a very good and fair way to give at least one verbal "warning shot" before aggressiveness breaks out. If you ignore this, you shouldn't complain afterwards if problems arise.
I worked in the west for a while. The passive aggressiveness and fakeness crushed my soul. Ppl ask you questions without really being interested in your replies. Conversations are bland and stale as there are so many things that "are not proper" to talk about. My voice is too loud, my mannerisms too aggressive, my accent makes everything I say sound rude to them, they talk about feelings and emotions over little insignificant things and you have to pretend you care instead to just laughing about it. I even found my perception of reality was different to theirs. The males are usually afraid of the women and aren't allowed to do things if they are not single. Even when in aggressive situations with other men I did not receive satisfaction as they just swear at you or insult you while walking, running or driving away. I chase them and then I am the bad guy even though they engaged me. I started off being my normal self and lost a lot of work and scared my coworkers. Eventually I just remained myself but would not speak and basically communicated through waves, nods and forced smiles. I would come home with enough pent up rage to scare Bruce Banner. I found it a very challenging way to live long term. Everything was offensive, everything was rude and nothing was ok to discuss. I'm not saying one way of life is better then the other but if you are raised in a country like Serbia and then end up in a western nation later in life, the language is not the hardest thing to overcome. My experience did help me understand why Western ppl perceive us the way they do. Compared to them we come off as aggressive barbarian tribes who don't understand "polite" conversation or "civilized" discourse.
I am Serbian living in Serbia, but through my work I interact with people from all over the world, and due to the nature of the work I have a window into their problems, state of mind and emotions, personalities, etc. I can tell you that people in the West, and especially in the USA are emotionally crippled to the point that they can be considered to be mentally ill. I suspect this is because of these forced concepts of civilized behavior and politness.. and many other things but let's not get into that... You bother and annoy them because you remind them of how repressed they are and how miserable. They lost themselves and they hate that you didn't and are trying to mold you into this same miserable emotional cripple that they have managed to turn themselves into. They lost the ability to read people, emotional intelligence equals 0 in that part of the world because they are all faking it through life. It is quite a mess I can tell you.
And people the thing about pressure releasing daily and telling people the truth in the face helps through life...Practice it daily, keeps the doctor away!
People are always different all are not the same and i would say that it depends on what its about . Some issues are very sensetive many are not and i wouldn't say people are aggressive people are passionate like in many countries in Southern, South Eastern Europe. Im Serb born in a Scandinavian country so i know in many Northern, North Western countries people are not so social usually like the Southern part of the continent . For example in Serbia people often say whats on their mind and that can be seen as rude too some or the so called aggressivnes which is actually in most cases people being more emotional and showing their emotions. Age can also have something to do with it , im not the same person i was in my younger days.
I will never understand for the life of me, how when you go into a shop in Canada and you're expected to put on a huge grin and ask how are you back to the clerk who you never met before. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
I had an interesting experience while briefly working in the US. On Monday a colleague asks me how was my weekend. I started talking, and noticed at 3rd sentence he was not listening anymore :D Then I realized they just ask this and don't really want to hear my weekend story :) That's the same as this 'how are you' in an elevator or the store.
Interesting but my wife is from Belgrade and she is more passive aggressive than me once she hits a certain point. But that’s Serbian wife. Only been married 18 years maybe after 48 it will be different but I must say that hospitality of Serbs fro villages or in Bosnia is unparalleled any where in the world. Read amazing story of the Allied pilots that were shot down and rescued The story is so great how they sacrificed to save them only to have the West turn their backs on them in favor of Tito. Unfortunately Tito’s legacy really has affected people there more than they can imagine especially those approaching mid life schooled in his utopian fantasy.
most of Serbs don't know that, my friend..sad but true...there is a book on that subject, operation Halyard (Code name air bridge) wrote by Dusan Babac
Unfortunately, in the past 30 years, Serbia went through a lot (it is a very long list). That all took a toll on people and they became much more aggressive. The problem is that aggressiveness usually does not turn into good like in a case of our athletes, but it turns partially into a "time bomb personality" that can "explode" in traffic, bank queue, or anywhere else. BTW in my opinion it is much less likely to happen toward foreigners, more likely toward the fellow Serbs. With the economy improvements, more job opportunities, and most importantly changing the mindest of who is in control of my personal life and taking full responsibility for it, that "bad energy" will eventually evaporate, but it will take some time.
Glad you brought this up. Time to speak about Serbs truly and based on the ground facts. (Not based on a political B/S). The way I know Serbs (not: Serbians! Serb is a nationality; serbian is an adjective!! Learn that, my friend. Please) - the Serbs are: 1. Direct 2. Honest 3. Competitive 4. Smart 5. Extremely hardworking 6. Warriors In general, these traits are in the majority of its population. Of course there are deviations from any rule, including this one. First 5 traits on my list are all derived/generated from the sixth one! Warriors. Geographical and historical position made Serbs warriors. Just like old Spartans. It is about the survival. In order to survive they must fight. Survival is a natural program, and it is built in any human tribes. Serb just happened to settle and live in the doorway between East and West. On the major paths of the world prevailing winds. And when the major winds blowing, you have to find the way to survive, my friend. Fight is the only way. This particularly when a small population is exposed to the major forces. David against a Goliath! You have to find the way to outsmart, Goliath; otherwise, you’re gone. This is what made Sebs being genetically competitive, direct, skillful, smart. . Take a look at he historical facts to learn that every 20 years in average for the last 2 centuries, Serbs were involved in wars where they have been attacked at home! And always by the strongest nation or nation allies. No exception!! Did you hear what I said: NO EXCEPTION. The lives of their own, then their family, parents, children, wives and friends were at stake. Not at stake, ON A STAKE!, My friend! Thick ‘bout that! . To make a long story short: just look at what happened in 1999: innocent serbs population were bombed in their homes by the 19 strongest countries in the world! The WSTERN BARBARIANS killed the Serbian children, women, old people, civilians, hospitals, schools, churches, monasteries, cvil trains and bridges, infrastructure, tv and radio buildings...Even the graveyards?? This all at home, just before Serbs were going to sleep! And so for 78 days and 78 straight nights, sleepless and tired, wounded, killed! And now, when you see the Serbs are friendly and smiling when they see you, despite of the fact they know that you are coming from one of those 19 contries - the right way to think about Serbs is: this nation is highly proud and classy of its personal dignity and confidence! The Serbs are proud of their own natural genes for the fact they KNOW they are not barbarians. They are smiling to you, because they KNOW they genetically evolved higher than the country you’re coming from. They are smiling because they are happy they are not like some politicians of your home country x 19. . And now, my friend, you talking about Serbs aggressiveness!?? Go, educate yourself first, and then come back to chat.
You are good at analyzing what we are.No hard feelings.There are plenty of reasons why this is so, we can talk about it when I get back.Until then, all the best.
They act the same as Spanish, Italian, French, Greek ppl. It is the Southern European mentality. Comparing Canadian with Serbian mentality it is the same like comparing Norwegian and south Italian mentality. I mean you compare the most closed societies with one of the most open ...
The way I imagine it if I went to Serbia and got into conflict with somebody, I would offer to sit down and talk it out over a beer. Is that a good way to go about resolving conflict? I would do this wherever I go pretty much though, not just Serbia.
If they realize that you are a foreigner, most of the time they will calm down, assuming that you made an unintentional mistake - and a short apology will do. If you want a friend - offer a drink...
Great video, when are you coming to Republic of Srpska to where the center of war was, to see our agression? I'm joking, kinda...We're a lot more agressive,emotional,nationalistic .You can find 6 foot men who were 5 years in war cry if a national or a love song hits them. We're also as hospitable as brothers from Serbia
In "collectivistic societies people are more used to checking in with each other emotionally and in terms of ideas [...] they are more used to having dialogue about every issue [...], it's the same with China [...] and a lot of countries around the world that haven't adopted this individualistic, sort of capitalist mentality [...]." With all due respect, you have done your credibility quite a disservice by making this statement. You certainly seem well-informed about Serbia - a place about which I can claim no special knowledge - but to make such an assertion in respect of China is absurd. Notwithstanding my comment, I commend you for making this video series. There are very few up-to-date sources on Serbia to be found on RUclips - your channel may be the only one - and I find your insights valuable. I would be very interested to hear your take on (1) homophobia and (2) racism in Serbia, as the country has a very bad reputation insofar as the former is concerned, and eastern Europe in general has a bad reputation for racism. Some folks may say "but he's not gay or black" to which I reply "he is therefore more likely to get honest responses from his interlocutors."
Serbs have no problem with black people, not in a way people in the USA have. They don't have this fake concept of superiority that Anglos adopted back in the days, that is still going strong. Older people in rural areas might react because they have never seen a black person before, or they are superstitious, but there is no racism in Serbia as a mass phenomenon like in Anglosphere. For homosexuals, it can be unpleasant if they are activists and laud about it. With some groups of people of course, not all, most don't really care. Older people in Serbia are very conservative. I was reprimanded once on public transportation because I kissed my boyfriend ( I am a girl by the way), by an older lady. Serbs are in your business and they are not gonna stay silent if they don't like what you are doing, or think you are acting out of line. I think it is normal to respect local culture when visiting and anyone who does that regardless of sexual orientation or anything else, will have no problems
How about calling it more of expressive and dynamic, vs aggressive! I don't think that is the right word - aggressive is hostile, too harsh, and not right! Otherwise, really good observation, hope you enjoy your travels!
As a Serb, I can say that this is a romanticized view of our society. I like that you have this idea of us because it gives me hope that there is a chance for this society to evolve, but then remember what is the reality of our lives here and I conclude that you simply haven't understood us properly yet. Yes, you can see on our faces when we like or dislike something, but this kind of "aggressive-peaceful" behavior, as you describe it, becomes really tiresome after some time. There is no decency in it most of the time, and I, who live here entire life, I find it barbaric. Conflict will de-escalate only if the weaker one backs out of it. Not the one who is wrong, but the weaker one! There is a big difference. As the country descends into poverty under this regime, this will become even more obvious, as was the case in the '90s. You haven't experienced that, and I pray that you never do, but I see signs of that happening already. The reason why you haven't experienced the worst of it yet is that your foreign behavior breaks the pattern of aggression people are accustomed to here. That may be a bit of luck for you here. So the best way to de-escalate conflict here is not to get into any problematic situation. I would prefer to live in a society like Canada, where people are maybe even falsely smiling and are decent, who give you a chance to correct your behavior by being nice. They give you that pause to reflect on your behavior and correct it. I find that as a perfect signal, not the outburst of emotions. In the end, if you are indecent or have no empathy, you will have a hard time everywhere in the world.
U Njujorku na godisnjem nivou strada nasilnom smrcu mnogo vise ljudi nego u Srbiji po broju stanovnika, kao i u Londonu. Covek ti lepo objasnjava ali ti imas tu primesu auto- sovinizma, neku frustraciju u sebi. Drustvo se ne ocenjuje po navijacima, nekim kriminalcima ili nekim bolesnicima. Covek ti lepo kaze da je na Zapadu mnogo vise slucajeva random nasilja jer potiskuju u sebi emocije ali ti ne razumes.
@@milosjovicevic6083 Ма брате видиш да он није ни разумео о чему човек прича! Говори о својим неким страховима! Мада има и тога то препичавања али баш као што си рекао код криминалаца,у навијачким групама,и ових повезаних са влашћу! И свакако остаје на крају да свако треба да поштује домаћине кад долази у туђу кућу!
I really like your videos and your insights.... I believe ALL Balkans people are exactly as what your saying.... I know you have been to HR in the past but i would like to know if you have spent time in other Balkan countries ie SLO, MN, MK, KS, AL?..... I love that you have been living in Serbia so long that your English accent has changed..... that's cool....ive never been to BG but I would love to go someday....... keep up the good work.
It's point of view of a non-citizen traveler. We have hospitality that is our tradition. We are very nasty people and our moral character is in decline..
I think that British "Romeo" was a fool - you don't challenge a Serb to a fight and mock him afterwards by not even showing up! It's a big sign of DISRESPECT that made situation infinitely worse. If the Brit originally showed up "at the Horse" I'm sure there would be some initial posturing by the Serbian 'boyfriend' but at least he would have respected him for showing up and maybe even being flattered by some Brit finding his girlfriend attractive. However, by making fool of him (in the eyes of his buddies) it was terribly insulting and there was no way back after that!
The thing about the western society and aggressiveness (the way I see it) is that it doesn't work on true principles and is rather delusional about the whole idea of what aggression is. Everybody has aggression in them. It is a part of human psychological composition, the same way sex is... It is not something bad, it is the animal in us and it is there for a reason (to protect us). Whether you abuse your animal to hurt others when you are not in danger is something else. However, everybody has the potential to be "wild" and fight, etc. as it is a natural and healthy defense mechanism - a sort of biological and psychological "survival kit" for dangerous situations. You cannot get rid of it, you can only pretend that you do not have it and moralize about it while trying to suppress it and then you get the unpredictable violent outbursts you mentioned that are much bigger and more dangerous because the person has ignored the aggression problem for too long and has lost all the ability to control it. In Serbia, we do not have this layer of media-inserted image of how a person should be "aggression-less". On the contrary, we were faced with a lot of aggression for practically ... forever (there is a saying that in the Balkans, 50 years cannot pass without a war). So a lot of Serbian people are very much in touch with their aggression - they use it when think it is needed and do not give it too much thought as it is not a big deal for most people. I wouldn't call Serbian relationship with aggression a very healthy one because it's not and most fights could be avoided as they are not really "danger conflicts" but rather "losing face conflicts" but compared to the west... well, it's a far lesser problem as suppression and ignoring a problem only makes it grow bigger. I like this kind of videos Eric. They are meaningful (cultural differences etc.). Also, not a lot of Serbian people have the ability to travel so they help people get insights into how other nations live and think. Make more stuff like this. Cheers.
Beautifully explained! I still remember when I asked you have you visited Cock's Hill (Petlovo Brdo) around maybe 3 years ago and how you thought it's a sweet little place and how you even managed to find a girlfriend there. That story was so sweet, hope you're still in contact with her!
Well it's interesting but not all the west act like that. Of course the mentality is similar in many aspects in the West, influenced mainly by American capitalism but not the same. You're talking about specifically the Anglosphere as you said and I agree that the mentality there is much more similar but very different from other nationals of Western countries with not English as a native language. German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Austrian, etc. are also part of the Western world and they have a complete different mentality than the Anglosphere nationals in several aspects. Also what the Anglosphere considers rude or aggressive it's not considered the same in other countries, not at all. In Germany for instance there's a lot of honesty in the way they speak which sometimes is considered too straightforward and rude by people from other countries specially those from the Anglosphere. But for Germans the hipocritical view of someone not saying what he/she thinks all the time just cause it's rude to them is considered actually rude to Germans and I agree with Germans in this regard. But I also understand that this behaviour is part of education and cultural differences so I don't always blame these people for being dishonest. In Spain or Italy for instance the way people express themselves can be seen as aggressive from outside specially when you don't know the language but for them is normal and not aggressive at all and probably they are just talking about football, food or some other normal topics. I think one should know or learn the cultural differences in behaviour when they are gonna live in different countries specially if they want to avoid uncomfortable situations and respect the other culture. Btw I'm from the Canary Islands, living in England for some years and I've also had to adapt to certain behavioural conducts. Some of them are just simply too hard for me to change but I'm trying my best in respecting the culture of where I'm living. I know some of the ways I would have to talk and act with English nationals so I'm not perceived as rude to them but sometimes is really hard for me and some could just see me as the foreigner with foreign manners so they kind of let it pass. Many other times they don't let it pass and see many tiny things as something really rude which has being shocking to me. But still adapting to some of these things.
Hi Erik! How you've been? i rarely use this channel, i saw this video just now. Collectivist mind could also be called information field and it is not just the Mind and it ends there. It goes above, into transcendental, metaphysical... Spirit... Something you inherit or tap into via your genes and through your family. That is why Family is Institution for the Serbs. And why we have a Family Saint... Proper Slavic word is ROD. Because Serbs are STILL, beneath all the concrete surface- ROD community, in translation *rodovska zajednica.* It is not bound by form and formality, much more than just National form. Yes, we were Built as a Nation in Western masonic way, but without cutting all ties with information field that we are coming from. By saying this i am not simply glorifying Serbia, but stating the fact that most of the European nations today are just nations in form. Collective persona. And most of the nations have cutt the bonds with information field, and created blockade in a way. Blockade to spiritual growth, where you can reach the highest ladder and fall from it. Example: ask any Greek PERSON, how far into history does he/she know the ancestors, origin... Most of them cannot go as far as to grand-grandparents. Not to repeat myself, i know my origin at least back to 15th century with the same Family Saint as we celebrate today- since 17th century. Nation in form is a Corporation, owned by Vatican or City of London. That is why i always confront ideological construct of "citizens" or "world citizens"... Cosmopolitans... Without intention to insult or mock, for me citizen is just sugar-coded word for a slave. In a fact, elevation of a slave through history of the Empire. "Citizen" belongs to this Center, to an Empire... It is why West is so individualistic, pragmatic, because Empire provides for the citizens Persona's, identities as Venice masks... Role play... i am not "citizen" as a Serb, i do not depend upon Empire... As a Serb, i exist in parallel system to that. Of course, our collective information field has been endangered and started to erode since creation of first Yugoslavia in 1918. Because we have made a union with Nations = Corporations, unaware of that. We rushed into that blinded by "freeing all South Slavs", "Brotherhood and Unity"... unaware that Corporation has only Interests. Since than, these completely formalized Nations have systematically eroded Serbian information field and claimed most of the information as their own. This process only maniacally speeded up after 1945 and during communist Dark Ages. Final result is: Serbs are nearing to an end. Since 2001-2003 we are literally nothing but a poor corporation registered in City of London. Sad but true. Serbs are becoming more and more Western individualistic, adapting without any conscious selection various identities, personas or role plays, subcultures, ideologies, foreign spirituality, etc, etc, etc... As i once said to you, there is very small number of Serbs left, in described meaning of the word. Do you know that young Serbs are taking Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian nationalities to be able to leave for the EU? Not only that, but parents are even registering children with double nationalities... If you wish to remain a Serb, you MUST build parallel system in territory called "Serbia" owned by British crown, that *SERBIANS* pay taxes to as good obedient "citizens"...
Ok..... this....of yours....I do appreciate. This was helpful....thank you for your insights into this subject. The Siberian approach to dealing with others I will love. I am from California and I will move to Belgrade on the 6th of April....and I am REALLY looking forward to being around Serbians....they sound like beautiful people 🙏....the California mentality is very annoying to me.... stressful....fake.... idiotic etc....thank you for making this B.B...I saw a few of your videos before....but I never joined....but after this video I subscribed to your channel...cool and thank you... from Brandon of San Jose California 🙏
Wow, such a fascinating video and very interesting to hear a westerners point of view on Serbs and Serbia. However, Serbs in Belgrade are quite different than Serbs in the remainder of Serbia and because of that are not a fair representation of Serbs in general. Belgrade is it's own little country within a country. Belgrade is a very cosmopolitan city where the people are much more open minded, more educated, well travelled, even more westernized than in the rest of the country, especially more so than those in the smaller cities. I would love to see more videos from you like this one. I didn't realize that you have lived there for as long as you have. Congratulations on reaching 10K subscribers and keep up the great work!
Actually bro the secret is that there wasn't just two guys searching for him. There was probably 30-40 guys looking to beat his ass up but they splitted apart, trust me i know that because i'm Serbian 😉
By the way, you mentioned in another video that you'd met women in "other cities in Eastern Europe" that you hooked up with easily, maybe had a one-night stand with etc. What cities in Eastern Europe are better than Belgrade for casual hookups? You mentioned Serbian women are pretty conservative. Not too promiscuous. Thanks.
I think we are not so collectivistc, maybe in smaller places or people who came in Belgrade from smaller place... There are a lot of different people, maybe you will see more with time...
Јел ти сматраш да је Косово Србија??? Ако сматраш као 99% Срба мисли да је Косово Србија онда је то један вид колективистичког друштва као и по питању других питања
@@Dushan88 Pogrešna ti je logika, tj. primjer ti je niđe veze, jer Kosovo ne priznaju mnoge druge zemlje, a normalno da mi svoju ne želimo da damo (većina). Kao što rekoh i kao što kaže izreka: sto ljudi - sto ćudi. Naravno, prirodno je da postoje neke veće sličnosti, u odn. na karakter ljudi npr. iz SAD-a, Švicarske, Belgije, Švedske... A opet i 21. vijek, mediji, internet, veća povezanost između različitih naroda na sve načine, više stvaraju neko globalno društvo i smanjuju razlike u mentalitetu ljudi...
I'm Mexican and went to Serbia 4 times bc of my ex. This is SO TRUE! SPOT ON! also, God I miss the food 😭😭 somebody send me homemade ajvar pleeeaaassseeee
It can be arranged XD
Hahahaha. Ajvar 😍😍😍
Wrote your addreas and I will send you one jar.
+Alex ME How come every foreigner likes Ajvar?? ))) I am Serbian and i don't really like it... )))
@@ivanrakic6604 oh my goodness would you? I'LL PAY YOU or exchange it for tacos!!! jajajjaa
Serbia is one of the most beautiful countries, rich history, culture, and people are realy nice. greetings from austria.
Thank you! You are right!
Danke Austria😊
@@realno3659 thank you bro. i want to come in november to serbia for maybe up to 3 month. Belgrade.
@@summ466 Herzlich willkommen Ronald😊
@@realno3659 Wenn du möchtest können wir in Kontakt bleiben. Ronaldtell@gmail.com
Serbs are tough but friendly people. Great nation !
Thank u, u beautiful person-
*Волим те-*
Hvala puno! Nazdravlje!🙂👍👍👍
I am a Serb living in Toronto and I can confirm that this is accurate. And I think that the Serbian way is way healthier.
This is the best analysis of Serbian culture I have ever heard from a non-Serbian person! You nailed it when you said, "Serbian people are people of honor. They are people of pride." No matter how angry you are, do not mention the other person's mother or their family, unless you are asking for trouble. It is a common way to start a fight. Other touchy subjects are national heritage and Serbian history.
On the other hand, Serbians do wear their emotions on sleave; if they love you, they will fully accept you; if they don't, they will tell you. Upon my arrival in the United States, I needed to learn something about American culture, and speaking freely was often construed as being rude or blunt. Thank you for this review-a well-done video.
Especially the part when a Serbian girl gives a number to a foreigner even though she has a boyfriend. It's in their genes. To be "open" to foreigner ...
Thay are nothing serbia nothing ok - only propaganda nothing more
@@gazibengazi Serbian girls giving away their numbers to foreigners has absolutely nothing to do with "Serbs being open to foreigners" and you are just as equally to encounter the phenomena in any non-Western country where they consider foreigners naive and gullible people who are easily fooled into thinking a woman likes them for who they are even though she is using that person to get a foothold in acquiring a working visa or even citizenship in the West.
I know this because I myself am a Diaspora Serb and I've seen this countless times and despite me being a handsome young man I know that 95% of the time these girls hope I am this sheepish moron whom they can control for their own benefits, whether to come live here or to get financial aid as a personal financer.
thats true,do not mention somones mother or another family member in an insult,tho you can laughingly do so if you're a close friend in such expressive way like a joke you say when drinking if you're talking about some misstake they did while drunk,we drink alot here and like to joke around alot of stuff,but if you mention somones family in an insult that is meant as a full insult rather than joking insult,yeah good luck XD
@@gazibengazi well, you should know, your mom gave several dozens of numbers....
On serbian war swords writes:"Dont pull me out without a cause,dont put me back without a honor."
True words! Completely reflects the Serbian mentality!
Thanks for clarifying Serbian mentality. The take is on point. Many people from the west, when they come to a foreign, more conservative country, think they can act like they do in their own country. That is especially characteristic for the British guys. For the most part, you won't have any problems as a foreigner unless you are acting stupid and looking for trouble.
Even worse, those Brits who act like this actually feel ENTITLED to behave like this, believing we are so desperate for their pounds we'll just tolerate anything, and will actually take offence if called out on their behaviour.
It's a fun little hypocrisy: if we do something that offends them, like the 'crime' of speaking our mind, we're a bunch of savages who don't know proper behaviour, but if they do something that offends us, we're a bunch of uptight conservatives living in the past that haven't embraced 'freedom' like the 'freedom' to be pissed out drunk to the point where perfect strangers have to take care of you while you piss your pants.
I actually saw a column in Vice or somewhere similar, where a Brit complained people in Knez Mihajlova were giving him the stink eye for being completely sloshed on a weekday early afternoon. As in 'look at how narrow minded these people are... how can you learn anything about yourself if you don't get drunk to the point of passing out'. I mean why stop there? Why not snort some lines while you're at it?
@@SerbAtheist Well, at least we don't have much problems with foreigners like some other countries do. Greece for example. I spoke to couple of Greek guys about their tourists, and they don't like the British one bit. When fights with the drunk Brits start at the bar or on the streets, they are trying to pull out, since if they get into a fight with British tourists, the penalties are enormous money-wise, and jail-wise, while the British guys get released in few days because of the intervention of their embassy.
We are good hosts, but I hate when some idiots are using that to their advantage and act stupid and overconfident.
@@SerbAtheist there are plenty of other people who act like that, not just British people ( though there is definitely a minority and that is well documented, however, I have seen people from all kinds of places act in the same way in Britain. Also, it is a myth that British people do not like people speaking their minds, most are quite happy with that directness,
that is only true if you believe everyone behaves like the Queen, and regards the rest, that all British people are "hooligans" which is also a complete myth, from the 1970s.
When I am abroad in Europe, I notice Italians, Germans, British people, Polish people, French people, Spanish people - because shock horror, these are the largest nations in Europe - and I have seen them all behaving just as badly on planes, abroad in cities and so on.
It is pretty sad to generalise 80 million people according to a few experiences.
@@junctionfilms6348 In their case it might be based on a few experiences but Serbs such as myself who live in the West for a very long time such an excuse is absolutely inapplicable, now of course I will not go as far as to generalize millions of people but at least in the Netherlands, from my own and my circle's experiences, I certainly do notice a number of things key of which is a twofaced mentality, a lot of people will say that they are down with people being direct but when you are direct with them, say, because you're sensing someone is projecting their frustrations with you, it is hard to not notice a duplicity.
Most of the time those same people who claim to be receptive to directness will say they do not have a problem at all, to make matters worse they will illusively thank you for it but afterwards they will distance themselves from you, now I am not going to say that all Dutch people are like this or that you only see this in the West, no, that is utter nonsense, but I do notice it much more in the West than in the East, I am very direct with people, especially if I sense a problem, not because I am violent or anything but because it is inappropriate and definitely unnecessary, especially in environments such as work and so I try to create a dialogue where a person can share their feelings and express their frustrations with me without me becoming angry because I might have done something which said individual might have interpreted incorrectly and thus is churlishly projecting this frustration.
And you can go to any of my Serbian acquaintances, relatives, brothers or parents and they would tell you pretty much the same thing, most Serbs mean it when they say they are direct and they welcome any direct feedback, I think most people want to believe they have the character to be direct and also handle others being direct but most people just cannot handle it and this also applies to Serbs or any other Balkan people but I do notice it much more in the West.
@@Daurentius322 I think, contradictory behaviour is fundamentally a common and core programming for all of humanity, to one degree or another.
I think a lot of this little situations we find ourselves in, have many little sub factors going in and at the root of that, is human biological function ( or dysfunction ) and then conditioning, then cultural conditioning.
I think we can interpret many things and say it is XYZ, sometimes as an assumption, sometimes true.
It is funny and interesting to observe such things as, in China for example, people there probably think there is 'one mentality' in Europe - yet we could make it so local so as to call it from town to town, city to city, region to region, in Europe, also in Britain -which seems to have a mix of many, at the root, a mix of all Germanic, Scandinavia, Germany, Dutch and all the many places there.
I have met very timid and charming Balkans people, who are not "direct" whatever that means :-) I think there is a stoic-ness and pragmatism is a virtue in the Balkans - though can say the same for a lot of northern Europe also.
I guess ' directness' just means, saying how you feel and what you want, which some people mistake for 'aggression is good' . I think the oddball Slavic nation is . . . . Poland. :-) As Britain is the oddball Germanic nation . . .. well, Wales is Celtic, well, half of Scotland is also, other half Norse. England is a mix of alll of those, plus lots of Irish and European migrants since the 1700s.
Czech Rep, very studious and polite, also stoic and pragmatic, just my experence.
I am bosnian Croat and we have same mentality. Bosnian Croats have more in common with Serbians then with Croats in other parts of Croatia. I feel better and more connected with people in Belgrade than talking to people in Zagreb.
With Serbs... SERBIANS (written purposely in uppercase) are something else... Far different...
You still have the metaphysics left. You people love and play gusle. i can show nothing but respect to that.
u HR mi jedemo sve sa rukavicama 😅
thats cuz you are bosnian
thats because bosnia was populated
predominantly by serbs before 1941 when Bosniaks appeared.
You're probably croatinized Serb. Serbs are native people of these lands while Croats, or better say Krauts are more swabian kind of people and mentality, probably went down from the Alps. Main difference is in our mentality and genes, while Serbian men have excess of male hormones, swabian kind of people lack them. Swabian kind of people are like kids, or later in life maybe even a bit "robotized", they like strict rules, laws and everything, while Serbs like more chaos and rules exist to break them. Me as a Serb, find swabian people very boring in my opinion, so maybe I’m biased.
Me as an austrian i have much more in common with croatian, serbs and slovenians as for example, germans, french, italians, skandinavians. i feel as austrian much more at home in serbia as for example in france or italy. you have to know that austria was heavily influenced in the past from slavic language and culture, especially through the austrian.hungarian monarchy, we always had croatians, bosnians and serbs living in the former territory of Austria. So for me people form the balkan are more conntected with us then west europeans.
You are right, but would like to supplement you that a lot of present Austrians are germanized Slavs from former big empire - same think with a Hungarians. am Serb and I feel same when I talk with Austrians.
I feel same when I talk with Austrians.
@@StosicAleksandar you are right aleksandar, can i ask you how is the situation now in serbia with the corona virus? Do you have to wear the masks outside? Are restaurants open?
@@summ466, wearing the mascs outside still not, but this is recomendations. Everything is open, but the government is trying to establish more restrictive measures.
I live in Gran Canaria 😁 and we wear the masks everywhere out of the house last three mounths and sutuation is better than in peninsular Spain, than we are recieving again a lot of turism last days 💪💪😁😁
@@summ466, and in Austria?
I feel more connected to Austria Germany France Italy because of the influence of Austria Hungary I still love Serbia don’t get me wrong but Serbs for example they feel closer to Russians but still love us Croatians too
As I watch your mimic and expressions , for past 3 years , this culture changed you . You are letting your emotions much freely
Wow, this is amazing. If someone asked me to try to explain the same exact topic in my own way, I'm almost sure I wouldn't manage to explain things in such a clear and thorough manner.
Definitely want to see another episode of the "serbian mentality" series, I see a lot of potential in this particular thing. You should do more of these for a better understanding of serbian overall mentality. Cheers to you, Erik!
Glad it was helpful!
Assertiveness may be a more accurate description of their character trait, in my experience. Directness and not 'beating around the bush'.
Totally true, nothing aggressive or violent about it.
I'm a Serbian, living in Ireland. And this is how my husband describes me!!!
Samo da nije neki crnac ili arapin
@@antonijejurisic2042 ah, kolega pešadinac očigledno. Taj dijapazon rezonovanja barem
Pozdrav komšinice. Dobro je da suprug to spoznaje nego da mu nije jasno :D
@@squid11160 pametan covek 🤣
This is SPOT ON! I've never heard someone describe Serbian mentality so well. Good job brother. You deserve to be called a friend of Serbia.
I see and hear a sense of honour when I interact with my team. Reminds me of Klingons in StarTrek with a great sense of humour, hospitality, and honesty.
this is the best compliment to my people, ever.....
@@dadob8458 All true comments.
Not in the village side the people are stupid and disgusting they have so much hate in there hearts
@@alexbelieves5818 wtf you are talking about, you are either too young or too ignorant, " stupid and disgusting" is only your comment
Everywhere you can find ignorant people. But, we are talking about people of certain country in general
I have as an austrian no problem in serbia, because i know the culture and mentality of this countries on the balkan.
if you come to us you feel like in Austria 😅
This is a very interesting video. As a Hungarian person I visited Serbia only for two weeks. It was interesting to feel that something is totally similar but all together it is totally different. People have this Eastern European stone face - like us (that you described pretty well: this is the surface we show to unknown people), but at the same time I felt a vivid atmosphere in the air that I don't see in Hungary. I really liked this Mediterranean flavoure.
Good insight. Im from Croatia, therefore had no problem getting insight since Im the same mentality considering agressiveness in social relations.
Dalmatia, Istria, and perhaps eastern Slavonia are this way (alongside bosnian Croats). Or tbh are "more" this way, while the rest of Croatia are also same, but to a less degree. Only ones who really seem to not have this kind of mentality in Croatia are the ppl from far north, near Slovenia.
Okay, since Im a Croat we have "our thing" on top of that, but I like Serbs, I think this is much better to have than western type you mentioned, which boil inside.
Belgrade beat...you are spot on!!!! I am a Bosnian Serb living in Sydney Australia for 25 years. Being subscribed to your channel
I follow your videos and of course and I loved them. The breakdown of Serbian culture, pride, personalities, control aggressiveness, hospitality towards foreigners, description of bottom line / pre-warning leading to possible conflict are
second to none!!!! In ten-eleven years living in Belgrade you assessed Serbian mentality better than any other psychiatrist, psychologist, human culture experts together. You are an asset to Serbian tourism!!! You can run your business form every spot on earth...and you have chosen Serbia!! Thank you for that!!! ...I know win-win...but in my humble opinion you are giving my country more than you are getting back!! ....Cheers!
Why would you call yourself a Bosnian Serb? I can see that you were out for a long time.
@@estrador5795 Šta je problem? I ja strancima govorim da sam "Bosnian Serb" da nebi mislili da sam Musliman čim spomenem da sam iz Bosne
@@AutonomousOblast Pa ništa, ako tebi odgovara naravno ti se možeš zvati kako hoćeš. Ja sam inače iz Hercegovine pa to i ne važi za mene. Al kada kažem ljudima iz Bosne to za Bosanske Srbe, ljute se i kažu nismo mi Bosanski Srbi, mi smo Srbi. Kao fazon gledaju na to kao podjelu našeg naroda. Isto kao što za ove iz Srbije kažu Srbijanci a ne Srbi. Mislim sitnica je to, al' malo po malo pa opet podjele. A to nikom dobro ne donosi, il' bar nije do sad donosilo ...
@@estrador5795 Slažem se. Srbi su Srbi, još nam samo fali još više podele. Nije nam dovoljno što nam je Tito napravio Makedonce, Bosance i Crnogorce, a možda i Hrvate i Slovene
Slow Path naravno da pozitivnije gledaju na muslimane nego na Srbe ali zašto bi im dao da misle da sam ovo drugo? To je toliko nedostojanstveno
I haven’t been to Serbia yet but you articulated this very well and it makes sense. Appreciate the insight.
When I heard he told him "why do not meet me in the square" I just cover face with the palm and said "ajoj" (basically ouch) You do NOT say boyfriend of the girl you hit "come meet me" because they WILL meet you.......
LOL exactly
You do not say such thing anywhere on this planet if you are wise enough.
I had to read this twice to understand. Though very valid point.
Yo , if you haven't already, you should read the short book by Archibald Reiss "Listen Serbs!". A Swiss who spent World War 1 with the Serbian people. In the book he wrote the virtues AND vices surrounding Serbian culture. (You can probably skip the pre-WW2 politics).
I live in usa and Canada 20 years . And you said about the fake smile here , in north america. I would say that relations here is --- costume ball And i learnde here that dogs are really best friends to people . And cats . In Serbia is eeeasssy to hawe people for friends . REAL friends . Here you cant talk with people about the weather . In Serbia about EVERYTHING . Even at the street .
I don’t feel that way. I’ve lived in the US for most of my life, I’m Serbian too, and I live in a huge tourist city. What people see as “fake smiles” I see as common courtesy and politeness. There are boundaries that very clearly cannot he crossed but once you meet your average Americans and the hard working American Patriots you will meet just good people who want the best for their families, who are real and who will be there for you. There is actually very little fakery here, unless you are dealing with very liberal people like I did at my art school. They’re just bonkers and fake virtue signaling and for the most part you cannot trust that their emotional state is intact.
@@Adnezal Sigurno da su ljudi svuda isti u bazicnim vrednostima . I sigurno je da civilizacijske razlike postoje . Kazes da vecinu zivota zivis u usa , sto znaci da tesko mozes da izvuces korektna poredjenja civilizacija --- slovenske u odnosu na anglosaksonsku . To sto si rekao o tvojoj skoli umetnosti , i o liberalnom shvatanju , jednostavno ne postoji u Srbiji. Ni na jednom nivou drustvene lestvice . Da li govoris Srpski .Pozdrav Tebi iz Montreala .
@@milosstanojevic5899 - naravno da govorim a i naravno da mogu da izvučem te slavenske korektne vrednosti ili uporede jer kao prvo nisam retard i imam moć objektivnosti, pogotovo zato što živim u ogromnom, ako ne najvećem okruženju Srba u americi, veći community nego neki gradovi ili sela po bivšoj Jugoslaviji. Ljudi na balkanskom području retko kada imaju taj pristup znanju jer nisu izloženi drugim rasama, kulturama i tradicijama svakodnevno. A da na ne govorim da moja skoro cela familija (osim roditelja) žive još uvek na balkanu i sa njima pričam svaki dan, a zvuči mi isto kao da misliš da ja ne putujem i da je mogu da shvatim šta je šta za sebe. Simply untrue and a very basic statement at that from you. Besides, this is was a comment to your response about Americans, whom I am firmly defending for their patriotic qualities (which have long perished from the Balkans in this way and on this level) because I can actually compare them to my large Serbian community I am surrounded with every day.
@@Adnezal Lepo je citati tvoje reci . Bog s nama ljudima. Pozdrav Tebi .
What i do in serbia is start random conversation and go out couple times with random people when im bored
Hello, I am an American that has lived in Russia for the last 6 years....but now I am in Belgrade for the next 3 months waiting for the Russian border to reopen. I have enjoyed your videos, they are very helpful, and I am happy to buy you drinks if I see you in repayment. Thank you!
This is astonishing! Please, can you tell me which parts of my city have you discovered so far?
@@markoscream8466 Sure, I've only been here for 2 days, I live in the old city behind Prince Milo's mansion. It seems Serbs prefer English to Russian, but I am learning Serbian...much of the vocabulary is the same. I will be here until December, the Russian border is supposed to reopen in January.
@@markoscream8466 Lols, I got lost for 3 hours last night, after getting drunk with Serbs...and walked to the megastore Tempo today. Serbia has too many foreigners like me, unlike in Russia due to the need for a visa...but Serbia and Serbs is/are very intelligent, cool, and not full of BS...just like most Russians. I am happy to be here, I've always wanted to visit.
@@MarkMcAllister-ni9sf True.
hey.. can you add me on facebook? ERIK MUT
This is not just about Serbian mentality, this is about Western mentality vs rest of the world. Once we were the the same, modern western culture is one that made people behave like robots.
I am Serb, living in Canada, to be honest, I had my doubts when I start watching this clip, I don't have them at the end of it. Well said, very , very well said, all the best to you ...
@Maki kakva mu je misija, i sta bi bilo neprihvatljivo za crnce i "latince", stvarno ne razumijem o cemu govoris?
@Maki vazi maki hajde da istrazujemo, da ti kazem samo ti si moj i najvise te volim, "neprihvatljivo" se pise zajedno i "agresvniji" nemaju crticu, sta je problem, hajde molim te reci mi, sta to on radi, ne shvatam?
@Maki Izvini sestro, hvala ti , pogledacu malo pazljivije, neka te dragi bog cuva
@Maki Ајд да те питам. Колико се мафијашких обрачуна или туча на сплавовима дешава у Торонту?
Hi. I'm Serbian. Everything said in the video is true, generally speaking. Good observations. God bless you.
As Italian, half sicilian which makes his own difference in understanding Serbian attitude, with a Serbian boyfriend for over 4 years. I think this is a very spot on description but I would like to say that when you describe Western Mentality it is mainly connected with Anglophone countries, i have watched many movies especially from US where the villain if not Russian is Serbian (The blacklist season 1 Serbian as villain are shown in 4 different episode and this is just a small example). I think as US you have built a very big phobia against anything that was connected somehow with Russia, please do not make the big mistake that every corner around the Western world think as US think! You are big guys but there are other realities out there you just made a step forward on learning about it 😊
Italy probably has more in common with Serbia than it does with the US, for sure. It's a collectivist, traditionalist society..
Love this bit: "... whereas Serbian people will express their aggressiveness... ... ...constantly!" 😂 it's that long pause that got me 😂😂. Stumbled across this clip as one does and blown away, especially about the cultural differences. And as a Serbian livng in London it's pretty hard to blow a gasket like someone from the Balkans without everyone in your vicinty thinking you're insane 😄
Honor more or less, but I feel pride in Serbia is very important, large portion of fights I witnessed were about pride, like argument starts and no one is willing to back down, people would rather get beaten than humiliated, especially if odds aren't even, like one guy won't back down in front of 2-3 guys while in one on one situations when pride is at stake anyway usually comes to deescalation, especially in smaller cities or villages.
I think the aggression is perhaps mistaken as directness or honesty. I’m part Serbian but born and grew up in Australia. I have always been told I’m direct and honest. I don’t know any other way to be. I think it’s in the genes. If I know something is rude I won’t say it but if you ask my opinion, I think you want and answer so I say it. Then people tell me I’m funny.
You're right. These are genes. Serbs are direct and honest, which is considered rude in Western culture.
100% right.
That’s how westerners see directness: as an aggression. And they see aggression only when their ego is under attack. And their ego is under attack when someone is direct to them. When the same westerners physically and economically attack someone they do not see that as an aggression. It is just a democracy in their system of value.
Yea, we don't mince words or care for political correctness. Honesty all the way. Sometimes it's brutal but that's how we are. We don't like that fake politeness like English are so good at.
We have a saying: oko za oko,zub za zub
Translate: eye for eye tooth for tooth...if you are polite we will be 2 times more polite
Србија је лепа ❤️👍😅
@gillan64 generally speaking thats true,if it wasnt they would bomb each other still like nra or taliban
To se zove talion.
То је из старог завета
It’s always Serbs and Brits that are the villains in US films 🤣
hahahah, good one
@I C I’m not saying I do, it was just a light hearted comment. I’m British and growing up I noticed that it was always posh Brits that were the villains and later I noticed it was Serbs too. That’s all
Main character in Grand Theft Auto 4 is a Serb, Nico. And technically he's a criminal, but also the most loved character in all of GTA series. Nico was the best!
I did not pay attention to any brits in their movies, but Serbs and Russians most definitely are popular bad boys.
Serbs, Britts and Germans.
Eric's british friend must have left us a nasty trip advisor review after comming home.
This is interesting.. My hat off to you for your insight!!
As a born Australian with Serbian parents I feel I have always had this collective societal consciousness, although at the same time fully aware of the emotionally repressive construct of Anglo norms.
It's a problem, as I fully understand and appreciate both, but frankly am more comfortable with the Serbian attitude of, let's discuss your hang ups or lay your cards on the table approach..
Well done, all that stuff you mentioned is why we dont go to shrinks and dont have mass murders in schools/squares/airports, we talk to each others, dont repress feelings but let it all out.
You observations about the mentality differences regarding Serbs and other nations (particularly those in North America and in some parts of Western Europe) are totally spot on. Being of Serbian origin and living in Canada, I see these differences commonly. With regards to communication style, I think that Serbs are more open about their thoughts and feelings and you will likely know where you stand with them. If you were to ask the average Serb what they though about an issue, they'd more likely tell you the truth then what they think the socially appropriate opinion would be. This openness and honesty is not necessarily aggressive, and in some cases can avert aggression. In North America and in Western European, there is more of an emphasis on (what is perceive to be always), political correctness, where people will go out of their way to behave in ways that they believe to be socially acceptable to the degree that they that they will sometimes hide their feelings, particularly negative ones, and let them out in ways that are aggressive and detrimental to relationships on a personal level. I think the mentality difference actually stem in part from the historical contexts that shaped the Balkans throughout the middle ages an onward. Throughout most of recent history, much of the Balkans was either under foreign invasion (the Ottomans empire) or experiencing some sort of upheaval. In the 19th century, the area came under turmoil through WW1 and WW2 and more recently during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia. The Serbs and other ethnicities in the Balkans lived in small, close knit communities where the primary goal was survival. As a result, the people developed ways of living, values, and communications styles that were beneficial to maintaining closer personal and family relationship as well as to life in smaller communities.
Great analysis, fair and square.
Great analyse!!!! Bravo!!! I hope that your friend took his lesson!
been watching your videos for time now, I think this is the best review of my ppl so far. good man, keep up the great work.
One old song from ex Yugoslavia (we all love that song it's called Pljuni i zapevaj moja Jugoslavijo/ Spit and start singing my Yugoslavia) and this is my( poor) translations sums us up pretty damn well,this is part of the song:
''Who doesn't grow teeth here,
Eh, poor is his mother
Who doesn't learn how to howl
(scream/shout)
will never find a herd (pack) here
''
I am very Agressive/Peaceful too I think. Thanks for bringing this up. I really hope to be moved to Serbia, Novi Sad specifically by next year. We tried in June but flights got cancelled. I hate the wait now until April.
Man you explained it so well in regard to collectivism vs individuality.
I am serb. My wife is czech. czechcs are the most passive aggressive on the planet. We have a lot of misunderstandings. So true what you say
I am lucky to have "summer girlfriends" from the Czech part of Czechoslovakia (Litomysl - Smetana birth town) and from Slovakia part (Trnava), and I can tell you that the girl from Trnava was almost like our Serbian girls! The other one was pretty much like you described...
Keep these videos coming
interesting video! I agree that the Anglosphere has an unhealthy level of emotional repression going on.
You did your "homework", that was pretty good! Thank you...
Purely amazing! You're more Yugo than I am
I can unreservedly agree with that. Couldn't have described it better!
I think it's a very good and fair way to give at least one verbal "warning shot" before aggressiveness breaks out. If you ignore this, you shouldn't complain afterwards if problems arise.
We are not aggressive people..... But if we are attacked we won't cry....
BTW love channel 🇷🇸 🇷🇸 🇷🇸 🇷🇸 🇷🇸
I worked in the west for a while. The passive aggressiveness and fakeness crushed my soul. Ppl ask you questions without really being interested in your replies. Conversations are bland and stale as there are so many things that "are not proper" to talk about. My voice is too loud, my mannerisms too aggressive, my accent makes everything I say sound rude to them, they talk about feelings and emotions over little insignificant things and you have to pretend you care instead to just laughing about it. I even found my perception of reality was different to theirs. The males are usually afraid of the women and aren't allowed to do things if they are not single. Even when in aggressive situations with other men I did not receive satisfaction as they just swear at you or insult you while walking, running or driving away. I chase them and then I am the bad guy even though they engaged me.
I started off being my normal self and lost a lot of work and scared my coworkers. Eventually I just remained myself but would not speak and basically communicated through waves, nods and forced smiles. I would come home with enough pent up rage to scare Bruce Banner. I found it a very challenging way to live long term. Everything was offensive, everything was rude and nothing was ok to discuss. I'm not saying one way of life is better then the other but if you are raised in a country like Serbia and then end up in a western nation later in life, the language is not the hardest thing to overcome. My experience did help me understand why Western ppl perceive us the way they do. Compared to them we come off as aggressive barbarian tribes who don't understand "polite" conversation or "civilized" discourse.
I am Serbian living in Serbia, but through my work I interact with people from all over the world, and due to the nature of the work I have a window into their problems, state of mind and emotions, personalities, etc. I can tell you that people in the West, and especially in the USA are emotionally crippled to the point that they can be considered to be mentally ill. I suspect this is because of these forced concepts of civilized behavior and politness.. and many other things but let's not get into that... You bother and annoy them because you remind them of how repressed they are and how miserable. They lost themselves and they hate that you didn't and are trying to mold you into this same miserable emotional cripple that they have managed to turn themselves into. They lost the ability to read people, emotional intelligence equals 0 in that part of the world because they are all faking it through life. It is quite a mess I can tell you.
Sve si rekao, nisi mogao detaljnije
@@belosevickris3379 Try living in Australia... U feel u r d only person alive.
And people the thing about pressure releasing daily and telling people the truth in the face helps through life...Practice it daily, keeps the doctor away!
As a Serb u are 95,68% right 😀😬😉
I agree, i never could have explained like he did, but I agree that is the difference.
People are always different all are not the same and i would say that it depends on what its about .
Some issues are very sensetive many are not and i wouldn't say people are aggressive people are passionate like in many countries in Southern, South Eastern Europe.
Im Serb born in a Scandinavian country so i know in many Northern, North Western countries people are not so social usually like the Southern part of the continent .
For example in Serbia people often say whats on their mind and that can be seen as rude too some or the so called aggressivnes which is actually in most cases people being more emotional and showing their emotions.
Age can also have something to do with it , im not the same person i was in my younger days.
Interesting, and very insightful, thanks!
I will never understand for the life of me, how when you go into a shop in Canada and you're expected to put on a huge grin and ask how are you back to the clerk who you never met before. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
I had an interesting experience while briefly working in the US. On Monday a colleague asks me how was my weekend. I started talking, and noticed at 3rd sentence he was not listening anymore :D Then I realized they just ask this and don't really want to hear my weekend story :) That's the same as this 'how are you' in an elevator or the store.
Yes, it's strange how people are trained to do what they actually don't want to do, or express what they don't feel...
You are really smart man! You nailed like 98% serbian mentality
thanks
bosnian, macedonian and montegrin too
Interesting but my wife is from Belgrade and she is more passive aggressive than me once she hits a certain point. But that’s Serbian wife. Only been married 18 years maybe after 48 it will be different but I must say that hospitality of Serbs fro villages or in Bosnia is unparalleled any where in the world. Read amazing story of the Allied pilots that were shot down and rescued The story is so great how they sacrificed to save them only to have the West turn their backs on them in favor of Tito. Unfortunately Tito’s legacy really has affected people there more than they can imagine especially those approaching mid life schooled in his utopian fantasy.
most of Serbs don't know that, my friend..sad but true...there is a book on that subject, operation Halyard (Code name air bridge) wrote by Dusan Babac
Unfortunately, in the past 30 years, Serbia went through a lot (it is a very long list). That all took a toll on people and they became much more aggressive. The problem is that aggressiveness usually does not turn into good like in a case of our athletes, but it turns partially into a "time bomb personality" that can "explode" in traffic, bank queue, or anywhere else. BTW in my opinion it is much less likely to happen toward foreigners, more likely toward the fellow Serbs. With the economy improvements, more job opportunities, and most importantly changing the mindest of who is in control of my personal life and taking full responsibility for it, that "bad energy" will eventually evaporate, but it will take some time.
Glad you brought this up. Time to speak about Serbs truly and based on the ground facts. (Not based on a political B/S).
The way I know Serbs (not: Serbians! Serb is a nationality; serbian is an adjective!! Learn that, my friend. Please) - the Serbs are:
1. Direct
2. Honest
3. Competitive
4. Smart
5. Extremely hardworking
6. Warriors
In general, these traits are in the majority of its population. Of course there are deviations from any rule, including this one.
First 5 traits on my list are all derived/generated from the sixth one! Warriors. Geographical and historical position made Serbs warriors. Just like old Spartans. It is about the survival. In order to survive they must fight. Survival is a natural program, and it is built in any human tribes. Serb just happened to settle and live in the doorway between East and West. On the major paths of the world prevailing winds. And when the major winds blowing, you have to find the way to survive, my friend. Fight is the only way. This particularly when a small population is exposed to the major forces. David against a Goliath! You have to find the way to outsmart, Goliath; otherwise, you’re gone. This is what made Sebs being genetically competitive, direct, skillful, smart.
.
Take a look at he historical facts to learn that every 20 years in average for the last 2 centuries, Serbs were involved in wars where they have been attacked at home! And always by the strongest nation or nation allies. No exception!! Did you hear what I said: NO EXCEPTION. The lives of their own, then their family, parents, children, wives and friends were at stake. Not at stake, ON A STAKE!, My friend! Thick ‘bout that!
.
To make a long story short: just look at what happened in 1999: innocent serbs population were bombed in their homes by the 19 strongest countries in the world! The WSTERN BARBARIANS killed the Serbian children, women, old people, civilians, hospitals, schools, churches, monasteries, cvil trains and bridges, infrastructure, tv and radio buildings...Even the graveyards?? This all at home, just before Serbs were going to sleep! And so for 78 days and 78 straight nights, sleepless and tired, wounded, killed!
And now, when you see the Serbs are friendly and smiling when they see you, despite of the fact they know that you are coming from one of those 19 contries - the right way to think about Serbs is: this nation is highly proud and classy of its personal dignity and confidence! The Serbs are proud of their own natural genes for the fact they KNOW they are not barbarians. They are smiling to you, because they KNOW they genetically evolved higher than the country you’re coming from. They are smiling because they are happy they are not like some politicians of your home country x 19.
.
And now, my friend, you talking about Serbs aggressiveness!?? Go, educate yourself first, and then come back to chat.
Sorry for being direct, but I'm sure you'll understand why. Smile.
@@pot_kivach160 Thank you for taking the time to write this Mr. Jak.
I'm grateful for every single word.
Cheers and all the best to you!
@@MrDejan1976 Hey, it was my pleasure. Glad you like it. *SMILE*.
You are good at analyzing what we are.No hard feelings.There are plenty of reasons why this is so, we can talk about it when I get back.Until then, all the best.
Just one more note to take ALL SERBIANS KNOW HOW TO FIGHT all all All
Hi mate. I enjoyed your video very much. Very insightful and objective and you are very engaging to listen to. Would love to see more. Take care.
They act the same as Spanish, Italian, French, Greek ppl. It is the Southern European mentality. Comparing Canadian with Serbian mentality it is the same like comparing Norwegian and south Italian mentality. I mean you compare the most closed societies with one of the most open ...
The way I imagine it if I went to Serbia and got into conflict with somebody, I would offer to sit down and talk it out over a beer. Is that a good way to go about resolving conflict? I would do this wherever I go pretty much though, not just Serbia.
If they realize that you are a foreigner, most of the time they will calm down, assuming that you made an unintentional mistake - and a short apology will do. If you want a friend - offer a drink...
Great insight to understand how serbian people mentality works. Great job!
How about Serbian beliefs in any crazy conspiracy theory out there? Your opinion on yhat?
Wrong topic, you are confusing them with on Americans. This video is about Serbs, a country in east Europe, between Croatia and Hungary, google it.
Great video, when are you coming to Republic of Srpska to where the center of war was, to see our agression? I'm joking, kinda...We're a lot more agressive,emotional,nationalistic .You can find 6 foot men who were 5 years in war cry if a national or a love song hits them. We're also as hospitable as brothers from Serbia
i think serbs from republika srpska are more hospital than from Serbia? is this correct or am i wrong? thoughts?
@@christinakiki75 I think that you are right!
I have a lot of friends from Bosnia and think that you are correct.
How did you come to that conclusion?
I'm really interested in what you do for a living, since you came to Serbia and you talk about aggressiveness and conflicts?
In "collectivistic societies people are more used to checking in with each other emotionally and in terms of ideas [...] they are more used to having dialogue about every issue [...], it's the same with China [...] and a lot of countries around the world that haven't adopted this individualistic, sort of capitalist mentality [...]." With all due respect, you have done your credibility quite a disservice by making this statement. You certainly seem well-informed about Serbia - a place about which I can claim no special knowledge - but to make such an assertion in respect of China is absurd.
Notwithstanding my comment, I commend you for making this video series. There are very few up-to-date sources on Serbia to be found on RUclips - your channel may be the only one - and I find your insights valuable.
I would be very interested to hear your take on (1) homophobia and (2) racism in Serbia, as the country has a very bad reputation insofar as the former is concerned, and eastern Europe in general has a bad reputation for racism. Some folks may say "but he's not gay or black" to which I reply "he is therefore more likely to get honest responses from his interlocutors."
Serbs have no problem with black people, not in a way people in the USA have. They don't have this fake concept of superiority that Anglos adopted back in the days, that is still going strong. Older people in rural areas might react because they have never seen a black person before, or they are superstitious, but there is no racism in Serbia as a mass phenomenon like in Anglosphere. For homosexuals, it can be unpleasant if they are activists and laud about it. With some groups of people of course, not all, most don't really care. Older people in Serbia are very conservative. I was reprimanded once on public transportation because I kissed my boyfriend ( I am a girl by the way), by an older lady. Serbs are in your business and they are not gonna stay silent if they don't like what you are doing, or think you are acting out of line. I think it is normal to respect local culture when visiting and anyone who does that regardless of sexual orientation or anything else, will have no problems
How about calling it more of expressive and dynamic, vs aggressive! I don't think that is the right word - aggressive is hostile, too harsh, and not right! Otherwise, really good observation, hope you enjoy your travels!
As a Serb, I can say that this is a romanticized view of our society. I like that you have this idea of us because it gives me hope that there is a chance for this society to evolve, but then remember what is the reality of our lives here and I conclude that you simply haven't understood us properly yet.
Yes, you can see on our faces when we like or dislike something, but this kind of "aggressive-peaceful" behavior, as you describe it, becomes really tiresome after some time. There is no decency in it most of the time, and I, who live here entire life, I find it barbaric. Conflict will de-escalate only if the weaker one backs out of it. Not the one who is wrong, but the weaker one! There is a big difference. As the country descends into poverty under this regime, this will become even more obvious, as was the case in the '90s. You haven't experienced that, and I pray that you never do, but I see signs of that happening already. The reason why you haven't experienced the worst of it yet is that your foreign behavior breaks the pattern of aggression people are accustomed to here. That may be a bit of luck for you here. So the best way to de-escalate conflict here is not to get into any problematic situation.
I would prefer to live in a society like Canada, where people are maybe even falsely smiling and are decent, who give you a chance to correct your behavior by being nice. They give you that pause to reflect on your behavior and correct it. I find that as a perfect signal, not the outburst of emotions.
In the end, if you are indecent or have no empathy, you will have a hard time everywhere in the world.
U Njujorku na godisnjem nivou strada nasilnom smrcu mnogo vise ljudi nego u Srbiji po broju stanovnika, kao i u Londonu. Covek ti lepo objasnjava ali ti imas tu primesu auto- sovinizma, neku frustraciju u sebi. Drustvo se ne ocenjuje po navijacima, nekim kriminalcima ili nekim bolesnicima. Covek ti lepo kaze da je na Zapadu mnogo vise slucajeva random nasilja jer potiskuju u sebi emocije ali ti ne razumes.
@@milosjovicevic6083
Ма брате видиш да он није ни разумео о чему човек прича!
Говори о својим неким страховима!
Мада има и тога то препичавања али баш као што си рекао код криминалаца,у навијачким групама,и ових повезаних са влашћу!
И свакако остаје на крају да свако треба да поштује домаћине кад долази у туђу кућу!
@@ПредрагР Pa to
Kod nas se zna ko moze da explodira
Tamo moze svako jee potiskuju agresiju u sebi
Would u like d feeling of being invisible n no one really caring about u?
Could you describe the mentality of Canadian people and how they would do in the same situation?
Oh BTW please IF you do visit these other countries I would love to hear your insight... again...awesome work.... keep it up
Very interesting observation and mostly correct
I really like your videos and your insights.... I believe ALL Balkans people are exactly as what your saying.... I know you have been to HR in the past but i would like to know if you have spent time in other Balkan countries ie SLO, MN, MK, KS, AL?..... I love that you have been living in Serbia so long that your English accent has changed..... that's cool....ive never been to BG but I would love to go someday....... keep up the good work.
It's point of view of a non-citizen traveler. We have hospitality that is our tradition. We are very nasty people and our moral character is in decline..
šta će ti ovaj monarhistički grb? ne želim svoju hrvatsku vidjeti pod orlovima i monarhijom nego samo pod zvijezdom crvenom
@chat nick sine petokraka je buducnost i srbije i hrvatske
@@mifftiosan У недостатку бољег ја сам узео овај грб.
@@klimlib Kralj Zvonimir se u grobu prevrce zbog vas dvojice.
@chat nick nije to je buducnost proslost je feudalizam
I think that British "Romeo" was a fool - you don't challenge a Serb to a fight and mock him afterwards by not even showing up! It's a big sign of DISRESPECT that made situation infinitely worse. If the Brit originally showed up "at the Horse" I'm sure there would be some initial posturing by the Serbian 'boyfriend' but at least he would have respected him for showing up and maybe even being flattered by some Brit finding his girlfriend attractive. However, by making fool of him (in the eyes of his buddies) it was terribly insulting and there was no way back after that!
The thing about the western society and aggressiveness (the way I see it) is that it doesn't work on true principles and is rather delusional about the whole idea of what aggression is. Everybody has aggression in them. It is a part of human psychological composition, the same way sex is... It is not something bad, it is the animal in us and it is there for a reason (to protect us). Whether you abuse your animal to hurt others when you are not in danger is something else. However, everybody has the potential to be "wild" and fight, etc. as it is a natural and healthy defense mechanism - a sort of biological and psychological "survival kit" for dangerous situations. You cannot get rid of it, you can only pretend that you do not have it and moralize about it while trying to suppress it and then you get the unpredictable violent outbursts you mentioned that are much bigger and more dangerous because the person has ignored the aggression problem for too long and has lost all the ability to control it.
In Serbia, we do not have this layer of media-inserted image of how a person should be "aggression-less". On the contrary, we were faced with a lot of aggression for practically ... forever (there is a saying that in the Balkans, 50 years cannot pass without a war). So a lot of Serbian people are very much in touch with their aggression - they use it when think it is needed and do not give it too much thought as it is not a big deal for most people. I wouldn't call Serbian relationship with aggression a very healthy one because it's not and most fights could be avoided as they are not really "danger conflicts" but rather "losing face conflicts" but compared to the west... well, it's a far lesser problem as suppression and ignoring a problem only makes it grow bigger.
I like this kind of videos Eric. They are meaningful (cultural differences etc.). Also, not a lot of Serbian people have the ability to travel so they help people get insights into how other nations live and think.
Make more stuff like this.
Cheers.
Beautifully explained! I still remember when I asked you have you visited Cock's Hill (Petlovo Brdo) around maybe 3 years ago and how you thought it's a sweet little place and how you even managed to find a girlfriend there. That story was so sweet, hope you're still in contact with her!
hahahhaha........... 2009
@@BelgradeBeat Oh fuck that was long ago
Spot on, mate!
Spot on!
Spot on mate, awesome video!
Well it's interesting but not all the west act like that. Of course the mentality is similar in many aspects in the West, influenced mainly by American capitalism but not the same. You're talking about specifically the Anglosphere as you said and I agree that the mentality there is much more similar but very different from other nationals of Western countries with not English as a native language. German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Austrian, etc. are also part of the Western world and they have a complete different mentality than the Anglosphere nationals in several aspects. Also what the Anglosphere considers rude or aggressive it's not considered the same in other countries, not at all. In Germany for instance there's a lot of honesty in the way they speak which sometimes is considered too straightforward and rude by people from other countries specially those from the Anglosphere. But for Germans the hipocritical view of someone not saying what he/she thinks all the time just cause it's rude to them is considered actually rude to Germans and I agree with Germans in this regard. But I also understand that this behaviour is part of education and cultural differences so I don't always blame these people for being dishonest. In Spain or Italy for instance the way people express themselves can be seen as aggressive from outside specially when you don't know the language but for them is normal and not aggressive at all and probably they are just talking about football, food or some other normal topics.
I think one should know or learn the cultural differences in behaviour when they are gonna live in different countries specially if they want to avoid uncomfortable situations and respect the other culture.
Btw I'm from the Canary Islands, living in England for some years and I've also had to adapt to certain behavioural conducts. Some of them are just simply too hard for me to change but I'm trying my best in respecting the culture of where I'm living. I know some of the ways I would have to talk and act with English nationals so I'm not perceived as rude to them but sometimes is really hard for me and some could just see me as the foreigner with foreign manners so they kind of let it pass. Many other times they don't let it pass and see many tiny things as something really rude which has being shocking to me. But still adapting to some of these things.
Hi Erik! How you've been? i rarely use this channel, i saw this video just now.
Collectivist mind could also be called information field and it is not just the Mind and it ends there. It goes above, into transcendental, metaphysical... Spirit... Something you inherit or tap into via your genes and through your family. That is why Family is Institution for the Serbs. And why we have a Family Saint... Proper Slavic word is ROD. Because Serbs are STILL, beneath all the concrete surface- ROD community, in translation *rodovska zajednica.*
It is not bound by form and formality, much more than just National form. Yes, we were Built as a Nation in Western masonic way, but without cutting all ties with information field that we are coming from. By saying this i am not simply glorifying Serbia, but stating the fact that most of the European nations today are just nations in form. Collective persona. And most of the nations have cutt the bonds with information field, and created blockade in a way. Blockade to spiritual growth, where you can reach the highest ladder and fall from it. Example: ask any Greek PERSON, how far into history does he/she know the ancestors, origin... Most of them cannot go as far as to grand-grandparents. Not to repeat myself, i know my origin at least back to 15th century with the same Family Saint as we celebrate today- since 17th century.
Nation in form is a Corporation, owned by Vatican or City of London. That is why i always confront ideological construct of "citizens" or "world citizens"... Cosmopolitans... Without intention to insult or mock, for me citizen is just sugar-coded word for a slave. In a fact, elevation of a slave through history of the Empire. "Citizen" belongs to this Center, to an Empire... It is why West is so individualistic, pragmatic, because Empire provides for the citizens Persona's, identities as Venice masks... Role play... i am not "citizen" as a Serb, i do not depend upon Empire... As a Serb, i exist in parallel system to that.
Of course, our collective information field has been endangered and started to erode since creation of first Yugoslavia in 1918. Because we have made a union with Nations = Corporations, unaware of that. We rushed into that blinded by "freeing all South Slavs", "Brotherhood and Unity"... unaware that Corporation has only Interests. Since than, these completely formalized Nations have systematically eroded Serbian information field and claimed most of the information as their own. This process only maniacally speeded up after 1945 and during communist Dark Ages. Final result is: Serbs are nearing to an end. Since 2001-2003 we are literally nothing but a poor corporation registered in City of London. Sad but true.
Serbs are becoming more and more Western individualistic, adapting without any conscious selection various identities, personas or role plays, subcultures, ideologies, foreign spirituality, etc, etc, etc... As i once said to you, there is very small number of Serbs left, in described meaning of the word. Do you know that young Serbs are taking Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian nationalities to be able to leave for the EU? Not only that, but parents are even registering children with double nationalities... If you wish to remain a Serb, you MUST build parallel system in territory called "Serbia" owned by British crown, that *SERBIANS* pay taxes to as good obedient "citizens"...
Pretty good analysis.
Ok..... this....of yours....I do appreciate. This was helpful....thank you for your insights into this subject. The Siberian approach to dealing with others I will love. I am from California and I will move to Belgrade on the 6th of April....and I am REALLY looking forward to being around Serbians....they sound like beautiful people 🙏....the California mentality is very annoying to me.... stressful....fake.... idiotic etc....thank you for making this B.B...I saw a few of your videos before....but I never joined....but after this video I subscribed to your channel...cool and thank you... from Brandon of San Jose California 🙏
Wow, such a fascinating video and very interesting to hear a westerners point of view on Serbs and Serbia. However, Serbs in Belgrade are quite different than Serbs in the remainder of Serbia and because of that are not a fair representation of Serbs in general. Belgrade is it's own little country within a country. Belgrade is a very cosmopolitan city where the people are much more open minded, more educated, well travelled, even more westernized than in the rest of the country, especially more so than those in the smaller cities. I would love to see more videos from you like this one. I didn't realize that you have lived there for as long as you have. Congratulations on reaching 10K subscribers and keep up the great work!
gillan64 I didn't say that it did.
Your friend thought he was gonna be a knight dueling over a woman ⚔️ lol
Actually bro the secret is that there wasn't just two guys searching for him. There was probably 30-40 guys looking to beat his ass up but they splitted apart, trust me i know that because i'm Serbian 😉
Moral to the story don't go to a country that had just come out of war and hit on someone's girlfriend .
Right on the point
11:05 very insightful and quite true.
great analysis!
You said it perfectly
👍👍👍👍👍
are you still in touch with your british friend? what happened to him after the beating, what happened to the people that beat him? not enough info
By the way, you mentioned in another video that you'd met women in "other cities in Eastern Europe" that you hooked up with easily, maybe had a one-night stand with etc. What cities in Eastern Europe are better than Belgrade for casual hookups? You mentioned Serbian women are pretty conservative. Not too promiscuous. Thanks.
Verry good analysis mate
I think we are not so collectivistc, maybe in smaller places or people who came in Belgrade from smaller place...
There are a lot of different people, maybe you will see more with time...
Yes.
Јел ти сматраш да је Косово Србија??? Ако сматраш као 99% Срба мисли да је Косово Србија онда је то један вид колективистичког друштва као и по питању других питања
@@Dushan88 Pogrešna ti je logika, tj. primjer ti je niđe veze, jer Kosovo ne priznaju mnoge druge zemlje, a normalno da mi svoju ne želimo da damo (većina).
Kao što rekoh i kao što kaže izreka: sto ljudi - sto ćudi. Naravno, prirodno je da postoje neke veće sličnosti, u odn. na karakter ljudi npr. iz SAD-a, Švicarske, Belgije, Švedske...
A opet i 21. vijek, mediji, internet, veća povezanost između različitih naroda na sve načine, više stvaraju neko globalno društvo i smanjuju razlike u mentalitetu ljudi...
@@Dushan88 Kosovsko pitanje nema veze sa kolektivizmom...