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China Elevator Stories
“Hungarians Think Austrians Have Been Really Brainwashed”
I chat with a man from Hungary.
20/02/2025
Ruth Silbermayr
Author
In February 2025, I chat with a stranger originally from Hungary. He tells me: “Hungarians think Austrians have been really brainwashed. All my Hungarian friends say the same thing—that Austrians can’t think critically.”
I reply: “I know. Most people don’t seem to see what’s going on, though.”
He’s surprised that I have a critical view of the situation. I ask him: “How’s Hungary? Don’t you have much censorship there as well?”
He answers: “Well, you know, Hungarians are kind of used to dictatorial regimes. We experienced communism, so we don’t believe politicians’ words quite as easily as Austrians do. I tend to see Austrians as rather naïve. They believe in their politicians and don’t think critically about their policies. In Hungary, politicians care much more about what people think of them and try to implement policies that are good for people. They tend not to manipulate people as much. Orban’s not actually that bad, in my opinion.”
I reply: “I agree that Austrians generally tend to trust their politicians. Mostly, people don’t think politicians are bad people.”
He says: “Yes, I think this is connected to Austria having been a prosperous country for so many decades. People didn’t need to fear much with regards to basic necessities and a prosperous life, so they haven’t learned to think critically about their politicians. In Hungary, we’ve learned that politicians can do harmful things, and we tend to think much more critically about them. We don’t trust them as easily. Even though the nation is as it is, many people still talk freely and don’t hold back. I can’t say the same is true for Austria.”
I reply: “Yes, people self-censor here. It’s impossible to have normal conversations anymore and talk about topics critically.”
He then tells me: “You know, I believe that people in Austria tend to welcome foreigners with ‘too’ open arms. There are so many foreigners coming in, and they’re all allowed in, but people don’t see this critically enough. Do you agree?”
I say: “Well, I have two Austrian-Chinese kids, so I don’t share the same opinion.”
He says: “The foreigners who come here, I think most of them shouldn’t be allowed to stay and should be sent back to where they came from. But when I tell this to Austrians, they disagree. They don’t see it as harmful to the economy.”
Have you ever heard a viewpoint like this?
