Reading (For Dummies)

Yes, Germans are rude! Especially with line cutting...I've lost count how many times it's happened now. Even when I tell them that it is rude, most of them just smile like I'm crazy.

So today, it happened twice today and I was so aggravated that I decided to type into Google "Why are Germans rude?" and found your entry :-).

Rebecca,

I lived in Germany for two years as i was working there and all i can say is that the Germans are quite rude and cold. I was remembering some of the events that took place and I typed the same thing in yahoo and Voila, here is my message to you :)

This is funny..I am here after looking for Rude,Germans at google and here I am,all I can say is yes Germans are very rude and hostile.They have big heads,think they know it all and they still think they can rule the world,I cannot stand them!

My husband was waiting for me in his car for me to return rented vcds which took less than 2 mins. He was standing in a 2 lane small road with a curb in the middle. The lane he was standing at was for picking up and dropping off lane. It was late at nite and the other lane was available and his hazard light was on which common sense mode states "waiting". This german drove straight into the lane and stopped behind my husband to pick up his wife. He asked my husband to move but I was on my way down the stairs already. He went back to my husband,opened my husbands car door without permission and scolded my husband an a**hole. His local wife was behind "adding oil to fire". I saw him slammed my husbands' door so hard. He told my husband who is not local to behave himself in my country. I think he is speaking for himself and should go back to his country. His son who eventually is half german scolded bitch at me too. I think their whole family should get out of my country. Go back to their country, learn some manners before they come back again. And look at themselves in the mirror for a long long time. In addition, german technologies are european heaven. Unfortunately, this german doesn't know how to operate his reverse gear or have a low IQ or else just simply aloof, stubborn and absoultey rude.

I lived in Germany for 1/3 of my life (age 21-31),my mother is german and so is my husband. All I can offer is that it is a cultural thing. Older people and people with children are always given 'cuts' and this is usually okay if you really think about it . All other age groups are arrogant and a few do it on purpose. Don't forget they are all living in very crowded conditions and in those circumstances a 'me first'attitude developes...remember also, the hours stores are open are not very convinient and there are always lines. When you no longer live there, you will miss it!

Ahh...back in the states...Americans are soo nice! And guess what, got a phone call today from some German chick my husband worked with over in Germany. And let's just say...what a b*tch!...I was trembling after the phone call, rude people just make me shake whether it's just being appalled..or feeling the defense mechanisms go up. I was once again reminded of one of the things I will never miss and that is Rude Germans! And to top if off...I am married to a German...who I say is a freak of nature, cause he's so nice :-) and he too agrees with me about the rudeness of Germans.

Oh gosh, and God forbid you are waiting in the car in a place that they forbid while you wait for that 1 or 2 minutes for your spouse to get back to the car...we've been scolded too before. But how dare somebody open up your own car door. Sheesh!

I'm so glad to be back where good manners and people with compassion and understanding is still a virtue.

golly, i fully agree that germans can be downright nasty. i lived there for 2 years and i think that i've never experienced so many rude individuals all in one place. when i came back to the states, it was like heaven. the americans don't have this general look of being pissed off all of the time and are for the most part civil to one another. i think that a lot of the germans are probably just unhappy. i guess living there your whole life would do that to you. i remember shopping at lidl grocery store and there was an old lady that came up to the checkout. then she dropped her pickle jar that she was carrying and everyone that worked there all gasped and were looking at her like she just killed someone. downright rude. i just don't get it, that's why i moved.

I am so with you people!! I am currently living in Germany and anxiously awaiting returning to the USA in a few months. We (my husband, dog, and I)have had so many negative experiences with Germans - it is really outrageous. I will share a short one. We were headed out on a Sat. morning for a weekend roadtrip and decided to stop at McDonalds for a quick bite. We got our food to go but once we got to the car decided to eat in the car so my husband wouldn't have to juggle food while driving with Germans! Not to mention the fact that McDonalds in Germany is not a pleasant place for us to eat as it is filled with cigarette smoke! Would you believe a guy and woman were looking for a parking spot -- the guy flashed his lights at us and then got out and knocked on our window asking us to move!! Loser!
Before I came here - I wondered how people Living in a modern, civilized world could commit such atrocities as they did in WWII. Living here has made me understand how it could happen.

Sharon -

I certainly won't go so far as to agree with you on war stuff. I think it's a far stretch and quite a bit on the inconsiderate side to relate WW2 occurences to what we as americans consider to be cultural politness.

I'm sure Europeans of a similar mindset would say the same things about us, ie "Americans never let you get in front of them while driving...I used to wonder how a country could commit mass genocide on the native inhabitants of the continent (ie Native Americans), now I see how it is possible." Every country has its dark side and its cultural quirks, I just found Germany's to be particularly interesting :).

I get the feeling that people take this entry way too seriously a lot of the time, though. Bummer that it's way at the top of Google searching...

you know what, if it wasn't for the Germans, the world wouldn't be the place it is today. Americans went to the moon because of the Germans- Werner von Braun- a former Nazi scientist. Plus, the nuclear programs were excelled by former Nazi scientists working for the Americans and Soviets. plus, many former Nazis were in charge of counter communism here in the states-Klaus Barbie. the Germans have influenced warfare as we know it today. maybe they're rude because they've been harassed and blamed for everyone's problems for the last 50 years.

hm, I can only agree that some Germans are very rude, especially the old people. I am a German myself, but I consider myself very polite... (I will move to England when I'm older anyway *g*) I have the feeling most Germans are quite paranoid. They think everyone is against them (well, everyone they don't know) and when you look a little different (like a punk or goth.... or it needn't even be that 'extreme'), you are already someone who is considered as 'strange', and who should be ignored. (that's my impression)
I rather like to smile at people I don't know, so, not all Germans are the same :) *hehe* Wow, it's kind of hard to write about your own country.... hm. Well. There are always assholes, everywhere, so don't make it seem like Germany is evil. It isn't. (AAAAH! Bavaria is! LEDERHOSEN! ...I hate it. Sorry *g*)
To the shopping thing, at the supermarket etc.... that is really mean. But I never experienced such a thing.... maybe you just went to the wrong city? (Karlsruhe is very nice... not too big, and very nice people there ^^ hehe)
I feel kind of insulted... I am not rude, I'm no know-it-all, I have a sense of humour, I am patient... well, I don't drive car yet, but I'm sure at least women don't jump out of their cars just to yell at you.... or do they? O___o
I've got the feeling you have all just met the wrong people.... or went to the wrong place. Big cities are not the right place if you want to meet nice people everywhere you go.... (at least, I haven't met any in Leipzig when I went there....) Visit little villages ^____^!
Well, that was my opinion. Useless, probably, but Germany has, like every other country, good and bad sides.... don't just list the bad ones ^^
Jasmin

My wife and I have been living in Germany for a little over a month. It is absolutely AMAZING how rude these people are. Can anyone actually keep up with all of the ridiculous rules? Heaven forbid you try and take the time to speak a little of their language; that's ample time for them to cut you off with an insult, tell you they cannot help you and send you to stand in a different line, in which you will be cut in front of at least a few more times. Experiencing that, suffering from constant second-hand smoke inhalation and unwittingly participating in sidewalk hockey is unbelieveable. Word to the wise - defend your place in line with your life, and if a little old man or woman is heading your way, brace yourself... they will body check you faster than you can say, "Entschuldigung!"

I encountered a rude German lady yesterday at the Photo Lab where I work as a Lab Technician. I was extremely busy (3 hours behind on the 1-hour orders b/c we are so short-staffed), but despite that I stop to answer ALL of her questions. She said she didn't want 1-hour but wanted it ready tomorrow, so I told her to fill out the in-store envelope. I give her all the prices (single and double). Then she has the nerve to tell me that I am the rudest person she has ever met in America. I replied, "I'm sorry but I am very stressed right now because I have 30 One-Hours to do and I am very busy, but didn't I answer all of your questions?" She kept talking to herself and nodding her head while I was explaining my behavior. So, I replied, "I'm sorry you feel that way," and turned back around to continue doing my work (because there is absolutely nobody else working with me there in the Lab). Later on, a customer service cashier tells me that the German lady came back with her mother and the mother had to tell what happened to her daughter; I guess her daughter wasn't very good at understanding or speaking American English or maybe she was too "shook up" (yeah right!). She described me as "the Pakistani guy". Where in the hell did she get the idea that I'm Pakistani. I'm from India for crying out loud! Calling me a Pakistani is like calling me a nigger b/c I'm not Pakistani.

Oh well, let me tell you about this other rude lady that walked up to my counter. I explained to her that it doesn't matter if she marks One-Hour or Next Day because they are the same price. I told her that her order will be ready at 10 am (in the morning). I didn't want to take a chance and have them figure out what AM means. So she says, "OK". Then when I'm on my break and am about to clock out for the day b/c I didn't even get a lunch, the photo clerk, "Bel" pages me. I talk to the lady and she says, "Well, I'm not gonna pay the One-Hour price if I'm getting it the next day. So, it'll be ready in One-hour right?" I reply, "NO. It'll be ready 10 o'clock in the morning b/c I'm not here 24 hours a day and I am leaving in 5 minutes." I say "Well, I already explained everything to you, and you are gonna have to ask the cashier (photo clerk) to call the manager for you b/c I can't do anything else for you." Her reply was, "Well, somebody has an attitude!" haha. I say "bye" and hang up the phone.

Dear Reid,
I saw your note when you responded to my previous post - but thought -- it is not worth getting into a discussion or explaining myself, but now I feel compelled. My post was simply to agree with your observations that Germans are rude. Since I have been in Germany I have had a disproportionate number of negative (ie.rude) encounters. I really feel like most German people will not stop and help there fellow man here. This made me ask myself, "What makes people help one other or not help one another?" I can't say I have a conclusive answer! But I do know that something really incomprehensibly horrible happened here. Nothing like it anywhere in the modern world. (The American Indian and American slave comparison to Nazi Germany is absolutely ridiculous - and irrelevant when answering the question, "Are Germans Rude?") So, I have honestly wondered how could this have happened. Maybe it is the people here in Germany -- they are not stereotypically kind and generous. I have met nice people and have even made a close friend here. But I am very glad to be leaving soon. I just feel something really awful happened here and it is still lingering. I hope this explains my comment a little better and doesn't make you defensive. It is simply my attempt at answering your question.
Kind regards.

I am from Canada and have been in Germany for five years and must admit that I am totally shocked with the behaviour of the Germans. Is there something in the drinking water?? I have never seen so many rude people per captia, in all my life. Is being stressed out, pushing and shoving the law here?? Don't bother buying cigarettes either, just breath the air, it is much cheaper.

Before you come to Germany, be ready and stand up for your rights because these people DO NOT belong in the EU, G8, etc.

Robert from Toronto Canada