CURRENT MISSION

Staying sane, mostly.
Making digitalization work for families, youngsters, civil society...
Thinking about picking my dissertation in sociology back up.
Thinking harder about renewing that skydiving instructor's rating.
Sticking my nose into anything worthwhile.

ABOUT ME

Sociologist by training, curious by nature, I'm trying to make the world a better place. First step is learning how it works and how we all see the world from different angles. And sharing what we've learned. Second step is applying that to our circles of influence.

I grew up in Germany and used to travel all across Europe back then, basically couch surfing. After a nine-year stay in the United States I returned to Berlin in 2012.

PHILOSOPHY

It's a mixture of Sapere Aude! and agnosticism, with the firm conviction that nobody means evil, only that some people's 'good' is just crushing other's. A world where many worlds fit would indeed be nice.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

After a couple years of personal unrest and moving around, I kind of settled in Berlin and am looking forward to hosting and sharing my love for this city.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Couchsurfed across the States. Yummie experiences, loved it.

Interests

I'm totally into books and wine and coffee, and weird things. I'm a bit of a dork and need to have toys. I love skydiving, which is basically the only sport I ever did with enthusiasm (distant second is Yoga). I like people, and give them the benefit of the doubt. Bullshit can drive me crazy though.

• books
• wine
• coffee
• yoga
• traveling
• surfing
• skydiving
• sports
• economics
• sociology

Music, Movies, and Books

Yes. Certainly. Many, much, and many. Not just anything though, it's got to be good, right?

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I fist bumped the president. Perhaps my brightest moment.

Teach, Learn, Share

My favorite bit of information is that Adam Smith, the guy who is cited to be the father of liberal economics (the 'invisible hand' regulating the free market) actually was concerned about his "The Wealth of Nations" being misconceived as his main work, when he believed "The Moral Sentiments" to be the book that should have that status. Turns out that in the latter he describes how that 'invisible hand' actually works, and guess what: it's not a product of the 'free market', but a product of *moral sentiments shaping the free market*. In other words, a free market only works so wonderfully for the benefit of all when not the maximization of profit is the goal, but the production of the best goods.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My curiosity, tips on skydiving, sociology, politics and government.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, El Salvador, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany, United States

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