Everyday people from other countries are calling my city a shithole. Why?

My city is again in the world news, and not for anything good. I heard this term "shithole city" for the first time last year on Chambers, when our city was in the news for the first time. I was surprised to read in the comments that people are using such strong words for our city. And again, today: "shithole city", "shithole country" etc. And again, I read in the comments calling my home city a "shithole". Why?<br><br>Some background: I live in a city in Germany, and this city is called Cologne. I'm proud to live here, and I really like my city. It's really awesome and beautiful. Many people from other countries have been to Cologne, and they look upon it as a "typical" German city. There's a lot to see here, like the famous Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Cologne is an old city, but many people from all over the world live and work here, and there are many different cultures in our city. Our city has a lot to offer and is always worth a visit, for example to the Carnival, which is a huge party here every year in February. We also have a football stadium (which is one of the largest in Europe) and many festivals and cultural events. We also have a large number of museums, and an excellent zoo. And of course, we are also known for our many breweries, which offer great Kölsch beer. We also have a large number of excellent restaurants, so there's something for every taste. Cologne is a beautiful city that offers many opportunities and is a great place to live and work. If you ever have the chance to visit Cologne, I highly recommend it! We are open-minded and tolerant, and again and again we welcome guests from all over the world.<br><br>So why is the city I live in and love so much being called a "shithole city" many times over in this sub? What is it about our city that makes people from other countries want to insult it? We're just ordinary people who are proud to call this city our home. We're not stupid, or uneducated, or lazy, or criminals. We're just ordinary people who work hard to build a better future for ourselves and our families. We're not "shitholes". We're just ordinary people, and we deserve respect.