😀From Berlin to Bangkok: Why a German Supermarket’s Tiny Shelf Gap Would Go Viral on Thai Social Media for Being Totally Inconvenient.

The other day, I went to buy some bread at a supermarket near my home in Steglitz. I come here very often, but I always feel curious about a Dead Zone in this shop. It's a bit surprising for me to see how they manage the space.

​If you look at the picture, there's a very narrow gap between the pillar and the shelf. It's so small that nobody can walk inside or even reach the products. I stood there for a while and wondered, "Why do German people do this?"

​I have two ideas. First, maybe it's because of the #planogram system. The staff might have a rule about how many items must be on the shelf. If they move the shelf away from the pillar, maybe some products will disappear from the shop. So, they have to follow the plan strictly.

​Second, it might be an Altbau or a renovated old building. This place wasn't a supermarket before. The old pillars don't match with the standard shelves. The staff had to choose between "missing a shelf" or "having a tiny gap." In the end, we got this gap that even a cat cannot walk through na.

Anyway, I think there must be a reason about architecture or engineering. I don't think it's just a special German way to manage space, but it's really interesting to see. ​I also thought about my country, Thailand. If this happened there, people would surely complain because it's not convenient. They'd take photos and post them on social media or the supermarket’s page to ask for a fix or an explanation.

​I'm not sure if I'm the only one who feels curious about this, or if anyone else thinks the same as me?

Dr.Natthaphon Jarat

Berlin 

How the trees themselves "feel", delighted and proud during the festive season.

 While walking through every corner of Berlin these days, I've noticed so many abandoned Christmas trees dumped on the sidewalks.

Before the holidays, Berliners bought them to bring home, decorate, and celebrate the Christmas season with their families. I can't help imagining how happy those trees must have felt while fulfilling their wonderful role; sparkling with lights and ornaments, bringing joy to everyone.

But once Christmas is over, they suddenly become bio-waste, left out on the street.

People often think they're turned into food for the animals at the Berlin Zoo, but actually, that's not quite true for the used trees from homes.

The ones collected by BSR (Berliner Stadtreinigung) are usually shredded and recycled into compost or used in biomass power plants to generate energy, a very eco-friendly end.

Only unsold trees from shops sometimes go to the zoo as a special treat for the animals. I wonder how the trees themselves "feel", delighted and proud during the festive season, but perhaps a little sad or relieved when it's all over? What do you think?

#Christmastree #Berlin

"Original Orgasm" : In the Shadow of a Pink Banner

 On a snowy day, my partner and I went to S-Bahn Rathaus Steglitz, where I noticed a pink advertising banner for an adult product with an ambiguous message. As an adult, I considered it effective marketing and emotionally appealing to its intended audience. However, I was taken aback when I heard several school-age students talking and laughing about it. Although I could not fully understand their German, I recognised some of the words they mentioned and wondered how much they truly understood its meaning.

In my view, the public display of advertising for adult products in train stations raises legitimate policy concerns, particularly regarding the exposure of children to sexualised commercial content. Such places are shared civic environments, and their regulation should reflect broader social responsibilities, not solely commercial interests. I also question whether explicit terms such as #orgasm are appropriate for young students to encounter so openly in public spaces. This remains one of my personal points of reflection about contemporary Germany.

That said, I respect the German approach to freedom of expression and social openness. My concern is not cultural judgement, but rather the question of suitability for young students and the boundaries of what should be presented in environments used daily by children.

On a snowy day, my partner and I went to S-Bahn Rathaus Steglitz, where I noticed a pink advertising banner for an adult product with an ambiguous message. As an adult, I considered it effective marketing and emotionally appealing to its intended audience. However, I was taken… pic.twitter.com/IxaxCzLyaY

— Nath Jarat (@nathjarat) January 12, 2026