5 STRANGE things about GERMANY | American Reaction

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[@klausjuergen]

It's funny that a culture, where wait staff is paid for the most part in tips, has a hard time to grasp the concept of tipping the person in charge of upkeeping the restroom.

[@rizzo170980]

Ganz genau. War auch mein Gedanke 👍

[@jlpack62]

And vice versa. There are certainly plenty of Europeans who find it hard to grasp the tipping culture in the USA. Not knowing in advance is not knowing in advance, and learning is learning.

[@joel17721]

@@jlpack62 Thats not completely true we understand the tipping culture. What we dont understand is why you make the tipps a necessity for survival.

[@jlpack62]

@@joel17721 That is the culture piece that you don't understand.

[@beldin2987]

@@joel17721Fact check: Tipping began amid slavery, then helped keep former Black slaves' wages low Based on our research, the claim that tipping became popularized by restaurant owners who didn't want to pay Black workers after the passage of the 15th Amendment is generally TRUE, though more context is helpful. Tipping in America began before the Civil War. But afterward, it is true that employers in the restaurant industry, railroads and more used the practice of tipping as a way to keep some wages low. Formerly enslaved Black people worked in many of these jobs.

[@TS29er]

First of all, I am always suprised that Americans who basically invented the tipping game are so confused when it comes to tipping personnel for bathroom services. Then, the thing is that you don't pay an entrance fee for the bathroom, you just give a little tip for the person who keeps you from getting every known disease possible. And I've seen toilets here and in the US where no one has ever taken care of, and believe me, I am super happy to pay 50ct for a clean toilet.

[@chris_0018]

I think it is more about restrooms you have to pay like sanifair. Nobody has to tip the lady sitting in front of the bathroom. They make 12 € an hour, minimum wage, so it is enough to just say thank you or have a nice day. But sanifair really is a problem, because it is a monopoly.

[@enimaroon4631]

@@chris_0018 I'm not a big fan of the predatory "pay 1 € and get a 50 cent coupon back. Oh and also the coupon has a minimum purchase value, so now you have to buy something to get your money back". That said, I never had a memorably bad experience with Sanifair toilets. The opposite is true for the system used at Leipzig central station. Same system, different name. Except despite charging 1€, half of the stalls were blocked and the few remaining ones were utterly disgusting. To be fair, that might be because of the location. But what irked me the most is that there was an attendant but they did not bother to clean or even fill up the toilet paper.

[@Xxl2eactionzZ]

Its literally the first thing that came to mind,...like imagine paying properly, sounds like communism to me. - Murica

[@Thinkgood-u2l]

Right, people pay 5 Bugs vor a Drink, but not 50 Cent vor a Clean Restrom, The same : People pay a lot of Money for Things (furniture Electronics ) but The way to the Recycle Facility ist to far ( most Free, oder some Bugs) an litter it in the Wood..

[@AlexanderGoeres]

the dude is payed to keep the toilet clean! it's worth it!

[@felixklusener5530]

Germans start counting with the thumb. There is a scene in Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" where a spy orders three drinks with his index, middle and ring finger which leads to him beeing outed as a non-german spy, because Germans would always show thumb, index and middle finger.

[@jasperzanovich2504]

Pretty sure that us nonsense they made up for plot contrivance.

[@dieZera]

yep famous example

[@markschattefor6997]

We do the same in the Netherlands, it's more logical when you count with your fingers to start at the side of your hand.

[@sefribu4159]

@@markschattefor6997 you talk about "logic" to someone from a country measuring distances and heights in lengths of bodyparts. so much for "logic"... 😉

[@markschattefor6997]

@@sefribu4159 Well Sefri maybe you don't know it (yet) but there are 2 other third world countries doing the same, Liberia and Myanmar. ;-)

[@raysterius]

19:00 I'm from Germany and I never experienced anyone using an actual check. For us this is like a relic system from long forgotten times. Our employer directly transfers money from their bank to our bank. We pay either with actual money or with our credit/debit cards.

[@HalfEye79]

The system was rather short-lived in Germany. My great-grandfather was confused by this, but my grandfather knew it. When I was a child, they were mostly gone.

[@michaelnjensen]

Same in DK think it’s mostly an American thing these days?

[@oliverbraun8639]

@@HalfEye79 scheckgesetz is from 1908. 😬

[@thorstent2542]

A few years ago I was a member of a medical Study., I had the choice to collect a cash - check or be paid per bank transfer. You know, I know and they know, sometimes there are "situations".

[@hariseldon02]

Believe it or not, my previous German landlady still paid me back my excess prepaid heating/water costs in 2019 as a check. I had to write my IBAN on the check and send it to my bank in the mail. Kinda surreal sending 120€ worth of paper by mail. My landlady was over 70 years old though.

[@Talkshowhorse_Echna]

The public TV and Radio is a mix of about 2 Full time channels + 1 channel for every staate (Bundesland) so that you get local and world news + a lot more. They fund film projects and a lot of documanteries and they are hold to be mostly "neutral" towards all political parties. (They are not neutral towards the extremly right winged parties, wich is a reason some people have problems with that.) Also they support a network of multiple radio stations and youtube channels. Additionally their are channels for non nativ speakers and channels that are connected to other countries like france. So most people use some part of that puplic TV and Radio system, even you when you watch DW in english. The real problem is not so much what you get, but if this could not be done cheaper and more tranparent, but it has a big benefit to it even if its absurtly expensive. Also they don't use comercials on the same level as private TV or Radio.

[@Nuin.]

@Luperion Plus, those funds are direly needed by them to allow for redundancy payments or compensations of their management staff. With sums rising as high as 700.000€ for top managers while not being government- funded they simply HAVE TO rip off every german household 😇

[@thomask8011]

*more than two full time channels: DasErste, one, tagesschau24, zdf, zdfneo, zdfinfo, Phoenix, 3sat, KiKa, arte and I guess more I forgot

[@songohan4051]

Die Tatsache dass du glaubst dass es in der deutschen Politik eine "extreme right wing" partei gäbe, zeigt dass du selbst viel zu viel vom staatsfunk geschaut hast. Verfolg lieber Medien die sich selbst finanzieren und keine politische Agenda haben, dann behälst du auch nen besseren Überblick. Die AfD will den Rundfunkbeitrag ja zu 90% abschaffen, dann würden die alle ihre jobs verlieren und das wollen die auf keinen Fall also sehen die bei den Medien die AfD als ihren Endgegner. Vom Politischen Auftrag noch gar nicht angefangen.

[@Talkshowhorse_Echna]

@@Nuin. Thats true. Thats why I said I could be cheaper or more transparent, but thats something not so importand for someone outside germany. So I kept it simple.

[@Talkshowhorse_Echna]

@@thomask8011 With that I ment ARD and ZDF. Most of the others are specialist offspring and not all of them are sending their own content 24/7. But you are right that its more in total.

[@mascami]

In the US I always think I'm getting robbed when I pay in a restaurant with my credit card and they take it away and I can't see what they are doing with it! You can't be shure if they duplicate it and later use it. In germany you pay with your credit card on the table so that you can see what it's done with the card! That is always so weird to me in the US!

[@voyance4elle]

that sounds scary

[@jesberlinzeb]

I wanted to make the exact same point. I was traveling the US by myself and every time a waiter walked away with my credit card I prayed that he’s not running off with it bc I would be seriously screwed and second that I don’t find weird charges on it after my return. I felt inclined to ask if I can accompany him to wherever he’s going with that card bc I don’t wanna let it out of my sight 🙈 I didn’t. Most stressful 5 minutes of my life.

[@jung_interessted]

At some places in Germany. At others they take away your card or you have to go with them to the "pay-tool" (🙈I'm from Germany, don't know how to call it). And, in some restaurants far out you cannot pay with any card still 🤷‍♀️.

[@slyparis2447]

Is cash still heavily used in Germany despite the shift towards e-payments? It seems it is changing here in France. I Wonder about you guys.

[@jung_interessted]

@Sly paris yes, cash is for most gernans still the best way to pay.

[@jancleve9635]

16:44 There are around 20 different stations financed by this. The DW stuff you reacted to; for example; is public financed state TV.

[@vomm]

The fact that there are so many stations doesn't make it any less sick. You have to ask yourself why so many stations and billions of euros are needed, and whether a fraction would be enough. In the end, it's a scam, because presenters are totally overpaid, directors are corrupt (see RBB scandal) and there are far too many irrelevant stations and programs.

[@tridder]

I can't open the comments for this for some reason. But just to point out DW is not financed by the payment formerly known as GEZ now Beitragsservice. DW is in fact a "propaganda" channel directly financed by tax money and linked to the federal govermnent.

[@aglaiacassata8675]

Hey Ryan, we don't write checks in Germany! We use bank transfers, direct debit, credit cards... but no checks. Whenever I receive or need to write a check (payment to or from the UK or US), the people at my German bank almost get a heart attack because they are so unfamiliar with this.

[@reinhard8053]

And it is completely normal to pay something private on ebay or any other market with bank transfer by sending/getting the IBAN.

[@bryce-bryce]

Schonmal was von TransferWise gehört?

[@reinhard8053]

@@bryce-bryce Might be interesting for different currencies. But most people in Europe will only need to pay in their own country or at least in Euro.

[@aglaiacassata8675]

@@bryce-bryce Ja

[@bierkraftwerk]

Credit cards for the masses are a relatively new development though. 10 years ago most average people did not have a credit card (or only used it when travelling abroad). A few years ago a lot of even big super markets did not neccessarily accept credit cards. It has changed now (and I'm curious if that had any impact on debt statistics).

[@laurajpr2]

German public broadcast also make up a big share of popular german social media content for example - there’s a lot to criticize but the idea of having a public form of media that’s not controlled by government in is something very important - like so many things about Germany, it makes more sense in historical (and very recent!!) context

[@manub.3847]

Not to forget that a program is not constantly interrupted by commercials. Yes, there are also commercials in public broadcasts up until the evening news (7.30/8 p.m.). These advertising blocks are usually between 2 programs. The public broadcasters still have the task of educating and informing us, which is why there are also a relatively large number of programs on scientific and historical topics.

[@suppenschlund]

The public Media founded by taxes is also called "The Forth Power". Its an important tool to control the judiciary, executive and legistative. So it has to be financial independent from politicians or business elites. Could do a better job in Germany but still it very important. Its a stereotype and i dont wanna offend anybody but i think a big problem in the US are the media groups that look more like propaganda channels.

[@olgakipke3720]

It is controlled by politics though.

[@silkwesir1444]

@@olgakipke3720 No. Politics has an influence of course, but it's not controlled by it. That's why the fee is a fee and not a tax.

[@olgakipke3720]

@@silkwesir1444 What about the Parteibuch? I guess Prof. Mausfeld knows more.

[@schnelma605]

15:30 German public television and radio are not paid from the normal taxes (but own fees) in order to give the broadcasters a little more independence from the state. The amount is determined by a commission.

[@mercuryfalconog]

In my opinion thats bs. Even in communist Russia propaganda was free

[@TheDoctorIWho]

Going to the essence of this: Democracy heavily depends on independent access to information. That is why these kind of European broadcasting companies are NOT state owned but collect a mandatory fee. It is basically a fee that you pay that you have granted access to independent information (you could say that you are not dependent on Rupert Murdoch) thus it is a kind of "democracy tax". That it is needed you can see in US, Poland, Hungary, Russia or, under Berlusconi, in Italy.

[@mercuryfalconog]

@@TheDoctorIWho I have been around the world and been to a lot of countries. Only missing Australia and let me tell you German public television is not independent 🤣 If you think that this is a democracy tax .... well I guess they done it right 😁🤙 greetings from "Hawaii"

[@TheDoctorIWho]

@@mercuryfalconog :D Your post itself, referring to have been to all countries and understanding journalism in all those countries shows for all: You are living in a dream world. When did you start to visit all these 205 countries?

[@BlueFlash215]

@@mercuryfalconog are you US American? Your passport doesn't let you visit certain countries. I doubt you've traveled the world. What German News are you referring to?

[@goatbrother8718]

The radio tv fee is per household not per person. The fee funds 13 tv and 83 radio stations throughout germany. The news coverage is objective, the produce funny educational programs for kids, informative documentary, tv series and movies, etc Overall I am happy we‘ve got these stations They are if you will tax funded but independent from the government

[@barbara-xt6cc]

In addition: in emergency case, the public media has to inform the people. For a long time forgotten, but maybe we will need this function in this times. The fee seems to be high, but if you are too poor to pay it, you can be freed from paying. So you pay within your fee free and independant information for everyone, which, for me, is beautiful. Information has to be available for every person. The system Germany learned from the BBC while UK station after WWII for good reasons, to avoid mass manipulation like the Nazis did. And yes, there are mostly their fanboys who argue today against independant public media. I pay the fee proudly, even I have some nitpit critics. Generally it is the best solution for not following any guy with enough money to buy media.

[@goatbrother8718]

@@barbara-xt6cc right Some programs shown aren’t just my stick. But if you wanna get news on TV the fee funded public stations are the one to watch

[@ruzicas.5819]

Public tv and radio. We have this in Croatia too and in many other european countries. 😊

[@JeroenJA]

i think belgium cancelled his version 15 years ago :) . but you could claim not the use radio, sometimes someone got fined for that.. it was all a big fuss to control it a bit and such, they just decided to cancel it, and use general tax money, then the whole last person claiming never to listen radio or so didn't matter anymore :) I also thought is was more like 50 or 60euro a YEAR, really having to pay every month... i got cancelled before i moved out, so never had to pay it myself :)

[@windyway2424]

Lol, never heard such one-sided arguments pro these fees. In theory there may be 13 tv news channels but only 3-4 of them have many viewers. So you could delete at least 7 of them. Most people dont even listen to radio anymore, you could easily delete 70 radio channels because no one is listening to them and there are just a waste of money too. And everybody knows that it is quite controversal how independet these stations really are, although in theory, yes they should be. And I mean lets say they are. They are still wasting a lot of money. Their only mission is to provide information and news to people living in Germany, which might be important to them. So yeah, discussions, news, reports, documentaries, I am fine with these. But the truth is, most of the money is spent on silly entertainment series, like the billion different Tatorts and many other series and movies. Total bullshit and full of bad actors. You cant watch it without having to spit because its so bad. So why should the public pay for these entertainment series and movies? It has nothing to with the job of the public broadcast stations to inform and "educate" the people. And if you would cut these things out of the program and cut the public sponsoring for it, the fee would be less by a half, which is a lot. So I am absolutely not happy to have to pay these fees for such BS and bad actors, I am not pleased with their program at all, garbage movies and series with awful actors who would not be able to compeed at the free market.. additionally its really lacking a lot of international news. In case there is an "emergency" they should report on, they are far too late most of the time. ...22:30 and a nuclear war started? We dont report on that today, sorry. You will hear about it tomorrow at 7 am, if Germany still exsists then. You would have to watch private or international TV to reveice important emergency information in such cases or even hear of it. Honsetly I dont know anybody living in Germany who is happy to must pay these fees or is happy to have these stations (except of course people who profit from it, like bad actors and bad performers or who work directly at or are involved in these media channels). So I agree: It is a scam.

[@signiferaquilifer7954]

in germany we have private and public tv-radio. The public tv and radio is independent and each household pays a fee. not all people pay the fee. all households pay for it.

[@magmalin]

Right. That is, public TV and Radio isn't funded by the commercials of large companies that want to have influence on the news and programmes. Between about 18.00 and 20.00 hours, there commercials on TV though but the films or shows are not interrupted every few minutes, only at about half time. Starting at 20.15, there are no commercials at all which is really great.

[@nixbuongiorno]

Additionally a lot of audio content is created with this. Podcasts, documentaries and so on. There are also KZbin channels of the "funk" network that are paid by that money. It is much more than just TV and radio.

[@Markus-zb5zd]

also public streaming services

[@magmalin]

@@Markus-zb5zd Exactly. I forgot to mention that.

[@Ulrich.Bierwisch]

@@magmalin Not to forget Deutsche Welle including the DW Euromaxx channel on KZbin where the "Meet the Germans" videos are produced.

[@berndhoffmann7703]

4:24 they are not "just" sitting outside at the front, once the person has left they are actually cleaning it again... :) Anyway, it is found in "public" restrooms, those at a festival, on the motorway (that is actually a cheat), some petrol stations (most are free of cleaning charge), Restaurants are generally not asking for money, as one is paying for the loo via consumption -. but if it is in a touristy area, where people just pop in, not consuming anything to wander secretly to the loo, they either put a sign, telling you to leave 50 Cents if one is using the facilities without consuming anything or they have a cleaner in front.

[@mats7492]

Ive seen paid toilets in the US tourist areas in restaurants as well

[@berndhoffmann7703]

13:49 "not everyone" could do the walking tours, it is Germany mate :), that means even street musicians are checked, they have to have a licence and the area where they can play is defined by the town. They even have to pass auditions!!

[@thorstent2542]

Not in all cities. In Berlin I think it's only in the Underground-Stations because to many street musican was there and they want a basic art-niveau.

[@silkwesir1444]

As long as you don't ask for payment, you pretty much can. There is no law stopping you. Only when you ask for money you enter the commercial realm and then regulations may apply, depending on where you are (which state, which city and which part of that city etc.).

[@0raj0]

@@silkwesir1444 I think not everywhere. Different cities - even in the same country - have their own regulations and some might require some kind of permit while others may not. Even if you are not asking for any money, you may need a permission from the municipality, as you are literally using city grounds for your own activities. Many cities have a Municipal Guard (aka Metropolitan Police) which is patrolling the city and checking (among others, like improperly parked cars etc.) for such things.

[@emptysvoid]

When I think about the bathroom thing, normally you can go inside into the bathroom and when you come outside and found out everything was clean you give the person 50Cents /1€ afterwards.

[@vomm]

Yes or you climb out the window

[@AlphaSigmA1]

You know already that is clean. You don't need to check first.

[@isohua]

@@AlphaSigmA1 not always

[@AlphaSigmA1]

@isohua in my country it is clean. These people stand there for making sure you pay the 50 cents but also to maintain the hygiene in the toilets. If its not clean you can make a report . .

[@sun_up]

We don‘t have that where I live. But when I go to Germany, I usually pay on my way out. And there‘s not always a person there. Sometimes there‘s just a saucer for the tips.

[@dillspitzen]

Paying for the restroom is considered a tip, which you give AFTER experiencing the „service“… So go past the collection plate, use the toilet and then reward the attendant with the amount of money you deem appropriate. For very clean and well-kept toilets I drop 1€, but the disgusting ones usually receive 20ct 😁

[@DonDadda45]

Never seen that. Here you always pay before

[@McGhinch]

@@DonDadda45 In Germany -- that is where the majority of my experience lies -- it depends. For some restrooms you pay *before* using it, but they almost exclusively have a "vending machine" for your money deposit. Many times you receive a voucher for either the full price or a large part of it. If a "real" person is taking care of the restrooms with a tip jar, most often it is something like a saucer,, you tip *after* using the restroom. For US Americans, yes the lady will come into the restroom to do some cleaning or depositing new paper despite you standing at the urinal and doing your business.

[@DonDadda45]

@@McGhinch I'm german and am also talking about the ones where a lady sits in front of the restroom. Everybody I've ever seen puts a coin into it before going there, not after

[@aw3s0me12]

@@DonDadda45 This is *their* choise. If this is a region thing so be it but not a *must* Also here in the South and North mostly seen afterwards. At festivals this could be seen as entry fee before going in.

[@scarba]

Where I live there’s often a fixed price of 50c with a 50c glued onto a plate and you pay on the way out, at least in my city in Rheinland Plalz

[@tommelchert5285]

Hey Ryan, im German, im from Cologne, here it used to be a tip for the clean Bathroom, but u pay after ur done ur buisness not befor. if the Toilette isent even clean, i pay nothing and you dont have to do to so...

[@Miristzuheiss]

Yes, and in Clubs they have deodorant, menstruation things, or an ear when you are in trouble🤩👍

[@DaGuys470]

The thing with TV fees is that they prevent the mess that is the American model, where you have to decide which private TV channel's lies and agenda you want to swallow. Instead we use the fees to install a relatively neutral state broadcasting network (in fact multiple networks) with information you can trust in 99% of cases.

[@konty2349]

About the bill for public TV... we also have the same thing in Czechia and I don't mind paying it. It basicly grands you independent public TV on any company (commercials) and political parties.

[@hertelantje]

Same in Ireland.

[@lulaa123]

Tbh, I kinda mind paying it here in Germany, because it gets more and more expensive and a lot of the money just goes directly in the managers' pockets. There was a huge scandal about it this year and the some of the attendants get 700 000€ per year.

[@konty2349]

@@lulaa123 Than I understand your frustration my friend. I hope you guys can solve it. Alles gute aus Tschechien.

[@senker1544]

@@lulaa123 It´s not getting more and more expensive. In the last ten years they raised the price one time and only 0,80 EUR.

[@Carol_65]

Something that I found strange when I moved here (not a scam) is that the attendees cleaning the bathrooms may be of the opposite sex. I remember my American friend and I walking out of a rest room in a beer tent at Volksfest and she said, “You can tell we’ve been in Germany for awhile. There was a man cleaning the stalls in the ladies’ room, and we didn’t even bat an eyelash.” I didn’t even notice him although he walked into the stall to clean it! Also, men and women can use the same dressing room area or men are in the changing room in the ladies section waiting for their partners (and vice versa). There are often chairs across from the curtains for someone to sit. In the States, I’ve seen men waiting at the entrance to the changing area, but they don’t enter. Personally, I have never had a man changing clothes in the cabin beside me in the U.S., but I have here. That said, in the States, it seems as though there is barely enough fabric to close the dressing room cabin. Often, there is a gap. I’ve never experienced that in Germany. The curtains are always big enough to block the view.

[@AlphaSigmA1]

As a European I never thought these simple things you mentioned are strange for someone else. I mean , in my country (the Netherlands) since we are at the basic school we don't have different toilets or dressing rooms. We are kinda comfortable with our bodies. As adults , we love to visit saunas.. there you MUST be totally naked... and it's mixed... women and men together! If you haven't been there yet... then I recommend 👍🏻

[@jancleve9635]

15:29 We pay this tax for radio and TV. The money goes to "state TV and radio". But these TV and radio stations are not controlled by the gouverment. It is another thing that goes back to adolf. During the nazi years adolf centralised the radio and tv broadcasts. To prevent this from happening again state TV was split in local independent stations after the war. These are finaced with this tax.

[@christianwieg]

And we all think its crap

[@jensschroder8214]

In Germany there are two types of public toilets. Those that are free to use and are always littered and dirty. And those where a cleaning lady takes care of cleanliness and order most of the day. You have to spend a small amount of money for this. Actually, that's the case with almost all toilets. Oh yes, the Americans call it a bathroom, the Europeans call the room a toilet. A bathroom has a bath or shower. You can find the toilet in the toiletroom.

[@dutchman7623]

And there is always a room/space between the actual toilet and the restaurant. In the US you step from the eating area directly into the smelly toilet. So never ever accept a table near it!!!

[@michaelwittmann4513]

In Germany we don't use checks in daily life. Money is transferred via bank-transfers from one account to the other. If you want to pay an invoice you need to know the bank account number of the receiver to transfer the money via online banking. There is very little i could do with an account number other than transferring money to it.

[@oliverjahn1149]

Greetings from southern germany :) The person sitting in front of the bathrooms is generally an employee of either the restaurant or some kind of cleaning company and is getting an regular wage. The money you throw in their bowl or whats on the table is more a tip or a pocket money for "thanks for cleaning peoples shit and piss" - BUT it has so much become a habit that you get bad eyes on you if you do not give anything. Some places have a machine with a barrier so you need to throw in money to pass into the bathroom. Thats more common in Autobahn restaurants where people often go to the bathroom without eating there.

[@0raj0]

Regarding bank account numbers: I'm not a German and I'm not an expert in German banking system, but the banking system works quite similarly in the whole EU, as we for example have unified account numbering (IBAN). So it's probably less or more similar in Germany as in my country. As they have already told in the video, basically the only thing someone can do if he/she knows your bank account number is to deposit money into your account. To withdraw money in any way from your account, you need some additional form of authorization. That may range from showing up physically in the bank and presenting your ID, to logging in to the online banking system with your login and password (that has nothing common with your account number), and also usually authorizing each transfer with a one-time code that you get via SMS on your phone. We basically don't use cheques in Europe anymore, if you have to pay someone you either use cash (if it's a small amount), credit/debit card or just transfer money from your account to their account. As for the latter, you can pre-authorize some recipients - for example it's common for utility companies - to deduct money for paying the bills directly from your account, and for this they need to know your account number; but you must authorize them to do so in advance anyway (either on paper or online). So someone knowing your account number basically isn't any threat for you.

[@Nils.Minimalist]

I almost ONLY watch public TV here in germany, so i support this fee! I would already pay this fee for Böhmi's ZDF Neo Magazine Royale alone.

[@Dosenwerfer]

That's not the question. You could totally do that even if the public TV was private, if you enjoy it. The question is if it is okay to also force others who do not want to use that service to pay for it, just because you enjoy it. That certainly needs a very very good reason. And THAT should be the center of the debate, not whether you like the public TV or not.

[@thorstent2542]

@@Dosenwerfer If you're honest, you use it very well, no one keeps going through the dumbing down of private broadcasters without mental consequences in the long run.

[@olgakipke3720]

🙈

[@SilverSmrfr]

Yeah I would go to a movie theater to see the Anstalt. :D

[@MoleculeTwo]

kannst meine Zwangsabgaben gerne zahlen wenn du das so gerne machst.

[@missyterry7509]

Last but not least: The IBAN Informations you'll get requested are highly protected by Law. The moment a company ask you for your financial datas they can be charged by law, if they forward your datas and brings you in financial trouble, so the companies have a high security on this datas! And usually you'll only get asked of your financial datas if you get some money or you have to pay a bill.

[@oliboy6204]

"so the companies have a high security on this datas!" nice joke, did you ever worked in a customer service?

[@JeroenJA]

what can you do with someone IBAN only?? you can wire money.. and fill in on a form for domicilation, but that is worthless without an autographe.. and even should it happen , your bank will repay you immiadiatly .. i had it on my birth cards for my kids , for contribution to 'pamper'account :), but it was of course just me regular IBAN number.. if you would feel worried, pretty ease, open a free account with an other bank , and give that account number (be sure to block it from being allowed to go beneath zero.. ) and then you can just wire an bit of money that is not worrisome for you to that account ;), but should be enough for payment you do expect to go from that account.. I do it for domiciliation now, since that stupid new system you can't annulate domiciliations yourself any more .. and no i really don't trust companies to always bill correctly ;).

[@vomm]

If someone unlawfully withdraws money from the account, you can have the money reversed within 13 months, and also within 8 weeks in the case of shortfalls, for example. In Germany, people are relatively well protected against abuse, so there is a correspondingly high level of trust in the direct debit procedure and the issuing of the IBAN.

[@MichaEl-rh1kv]

"somebody sitting before the bathroom" was really a thing some years ago at bigger restaurants, but also e.g. at railway stations. Nowadays that's in many cases replaced by some kind of coin-operated locks or similar gadgets. The person sitting there was responsible for maintaining the bathrooms (cleaning, stocking up the toilet paper, ...) and what you gave was seen as an half-obligatory tip; sometimes there was even only a plate on the table (without anybody watching your conscientiousness).

[@nothingTVatYT]

Oh yeah, the modern world. Just yesterday I watched a guy got stuck in such a gate because it was too small for him, his backpack and another small case and I helped him lifting his baggage over the bars. It's OK to me to automate things but especially at train stations and airports don't make these separator gates embarrassingly tight.

[@royblakk]

The fee for radio and television is not towards the government. It provides an independent radio and television from government to do what it should: to be a free press

[@denniskruse4534]

One thing he didn't mention about the TV license thing: The public (not private owned) tv channels in Germany (about 15) have very little to no commercial breaks in their programs (and if, it's only in the evening between to shows) The other private channels are mostly getting their money from commercials (with the same commercial break pattern like in the US) As to my knowledge other countries like Italy (maybe Poland too) make you by an encoder card (credit card shape) to even be able to receive TV signal. There is not even a way of watching TV without paying like in Germany)

[@slyparis2447]

Public tv is freely accessible to all in France, as in Germany. We do have commercial breaks though, during the day. No breaks in the evening and night, but inly for a few years.

[@teacup3000]

So about the TV licence fee: Public TV channels are very different in comparison to the US. They are not allowed to put advertisements before or after their shows. Therefore they aren't able to collect revenue like private TV channels do. To be able to offer independent and reliable information, it is the peoples duty to pay the broadcast stations to be able to receive (in theory) unbiased articles and news. You can just watch a show from ZDF or ARD to see the difference to American channels. Many people think they are paying for a service, like Netflix, and can just unsubscribe if they don't use it. BUT in the background everybody uses parts of this system wether we read online news or watch shows made by the "Öffentlich Rechtlichen" on youtube or on TV. So in general this is a good idea that's badly described and has plenty of room for improvements. Also people are pissed due to some corruption affairs lately.

[@myeramimclerie7869]

my guy learned about our lovely toilet aunties 😂

[@DSP16569]

I think you reacted to some "DW" (Deutsche Welle - German Wave) content. This content is also paid by the TV-fee (Deutsche Welle is a public broadcaster for news and information in foreign languages)

[@thorstent2542]

Yes , maybe I am a bean counter (Erbsenzähler), but here the facts: Since the reorganization of broadcasting as a result of German reunification, Deutsche Welle has been the only remaining broadcasting corporation under federal law. Unlike the ARD state broadcasters, Deutschlandradio and ZDF, it is not financed through the broadcasting fee, but from federal taxes. The Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media is responsible. In addition, DW can offer limited advertising time.

[@sebastians4791]

In my city in germay the free walking tours are pretty normal, 5-6 times a day someone from aut local city marketing office does this tours around our historical old-town, showing landmarks and telling the people about the history of the town. the guide does this voluntarily or gets a small payment from the marketing office - payed by the City.

[@videoponder4673]

German guy here: I cannot comprehend what they are telling about giving the IBAN number to anyone. What are they talking about? You give it to companies and institutions you have a contract with (and they need your signature to collect money from you), but apart of that you try to keep it private. I guess it is just like you describe it for the US, Ryan... I guess that these guys got something wrong here

[@falkdorsel3631]

Its not a random person sitting infront of the toilett its the person who also cleans it

[@ninavanoverveld4269]

It is the same in Belgium and the Netherlands. I think all over Europe we have cleaning ladies at the bathrooms who we give tips

[@dutchman7623]

Usually there is a price ticket, use of restroom €0,50 or €1,- . And you'll get access to toilet paper, a clean seat, no dirty pot. Complaints? Go to customer service, get your money back, and they'll check.

[@Hendricus56]

19:00 This always confuses me the most. When I hear about my parents using them, it is stories from the 90s. People here just transfer stuff directly to the bank account of the recipient

[@redcrafterlppa303]

17:00 the "Rundfunkgebühren" are heavily debated in Germany. Manly because of questionable content delivered by public broadcast. The upside is that public television channels are 100% ad free. They even have KZbin channels like "Funk" that create informational content (also no ads on KZbin). I think it's a good thing since it enables the public broadcast news to be 100% unbiased since they are 100 % funded by -tax- a government fee.

[@silkwesir1444]

no, not by tax, by the broadcast fee. if it was a tax, it could not be unbiased, that's why it is being done the way it is.

[@redcrafterlppa303]

@@silkwesir1444 right, my bad a tax is something you pay based on other factors like income or price of an item.

[@antjeprivat1010]

Maybe you should make a video of the social system in Germany. It is not only the health care system, but also 3 different forms of social wellfare for unemployed people. SGBII, SGBIII ans SGBXII. SGBIII depends on how much you earned in the last 2 years, SGBII is about giving you enough money to live, and SGBXII is about giving you enough money to live when you are not able to work anymore or for a longer period of time. Very complicated (and complicated to explain in english), but a great achievement for the citizens. There is also a form of social wellfare for widows and orphans.

[@arnodobler1096]

TV: This also keeps Guys like Murdoch off our backs it´s per household not per ppl

[@alexandrorocca7142]

Starting with the thumb makes more sense since the index finger is not the first or the last.

[@digger66a]

16:50 The German public Broadcasting Service includes 21 TV and 73 Radio Stations. And yes its pretty much a Tax by now.

[@Markus-zb5zd]

and streaming services + youtube channels and podcasts

[@dnocturn84]

Most pay-to-pee public toilets in Germany are equipped with some kind of automatic gate, where you pay your fee and enter. Like the gates at a subway station. The variant, where a human person is sitting in front of the toilet to collect this fee, is much more rare in my opinion, but it does exist. I saw this solution a lot more in southern Germany and much less in the north.

[@moritz1071]

Just a month ago, I saw a guy with a Romanian car, with his hazards on, on the side of the street in Austria. I am generally happy to help anyone who needs help, so i stopped, and he asked for gas money. He would even borrow his "expensive" watch to me, as some kind of insurance, that I get my money back. I told him that I have no money on me and I drove off.

[@dutchman6936]

A main difference in the European banking system is that you transfer money directly from bank account to bank account WITHOUT any service provider in between. So a bank account number is pretty secure. Unfortunately these important details get lost when you as an American watches videos from other people from the U.S. who don't fully understand it by themselves. Maybe watching some videos from Germans on certain topics from time to time😊😊😊

[@0raj0]

It isn't "without any service provider in between" (unless it's within the same bank). It wouldn't work given the amount of banks involved. There is something called the National Clearinghouse (or similar) in every country; it is usually some form of a syndicate formed by all the participating banks. The information about all the outgoing transfers (to any bank) goes from the bank to the clearinghouse; it sorts all the data and returns to the bank information about all the incoming transfers (from any bank). The balances are calculated and every bank knows how much it has to increase or decrease the total sum of their deposits. Such transfer sessions are conducted several times per day at predefined hours. International transfers work in a similar way, but another level of an intermediate service is introduced. Without such a "middleman", the banking system would not work, so it's absolutely essential. But it usually works invisibly to the customers, hence the impression that it is "directly from bank to bank".

[@dutchman6936]

@0raj0 "invisible" is the keyword, in the US the middleman is not invisible and you as a customer needs separate accounts for that...

[@atminYT]

16:25 it is not per person, it is per TV, and for any extra tv it is cheaper,

[@jensschroder8214]

The US still uses antiquated checks? In Europe, everything is processed using the uniform IBAN. Either you transfer the money to the landlord's account yourself. Or you give the landlord permission to debit the money from your account. Debiting is particularly safe because you have several days to undo this. This will automatically block the withdrawal permission. Then you have to agree with your landlord on the amount of money on a different way. There is no advantage in knowing the IBAN without having permission to withdraw money.

[@fxlei1856]

France unfortunately still uses checks a lot.

[@damienzwikstra1667]

there is a big difference though for watching tv, there is WAY WAY WAY less ads in european TV

[@fraeuleinsommer75]

We use our bank account number a lot more as we almost never pay with cheques, but rather allow companies to directly withdraw from our bank accounts (which they then need the IBAN for)

[@Mabinogion]

I lived in Germany for 35years (British) I never once saw someone sitting outside a bathroom requesting an entrance fee. In contrast; I now live in Thailand and in public places there is always someone sitting and requesting an entrance fee and selling toilet paper (the toilet paper only in areas where tourists are to be expected; in Asia they use a bum gun, not toilet paper)

[@mats7492]

You’ve never seen that in 35 years? You didn’t go out much? The „Toilettenfrau“ has been a thing for over 100 years in Germany now..

[@Maercx]

Have you watched Inglorious Basterds? It’s a tell tale sign your not from Germany if you start counting with your index finger. The movie has a great scene that highlights that.

[@josefineseyfarth6236]

Sometimes free walking tours are also offered by students who want to earn some money besides their studies with giving tourists some nice and mostly well- researched insights into their city! They don't demand money beforehand, but you can tip them if you liked the tour. So it's not always agencies sending their employees, but also just random people offering these tours. Basically everyone might do that though

[@blacksun9455]

Hi Ryan, thanks for your cool videos, I like it so much! I was 2019 in Kansas City for 3 weeks, it was so Great. Greetings from Austria!

[@schnelma605]

16:40 Not every person, but every household (and business)

[@Johnny1_0]

16:50 The german goverment actually founds a few educational youtube channels with this money too and some of them are actually really good

[@privatevendetta]

If you look out for them you can usually spot the undercover ticket agents. It's like in a low stakes spy movie. Plus they do charge you if you don't have the ticket 40 - 60 €.

[@pashvonderc381]

Yeah they are normally in groups of 4,

[@honvitus]

i think the bigger difference is that in europe we dont use checks at all. All is done via wire transfer, especially wages.

[@pongesz2000]

this tv and radio fee makes the state owned channels independent from private money. there are many types of public broadcasting services which do not produce profit and so the private owned studios would not make such services (ie giving screen time for minorities who have such a low population that it would not worth making anything for them)

[@Fynth_]

I am from Germany and i drove with a Train and the person checking tickets was sitting down after finishing and played candy crush xD

[@schnelma605]

4:20 Some cleaning staff even have to give part of the money to the boss (was a scandal, no idea if that's still the case). There was once a report: "Ausgebeutet und abkassiert - Toilettenfrauen in Kaufhäusern" by Ilka Brecht and Stephan Wels

[@schnelma605]

The scandal was that from a German (moral) point of view, the money belongs to the cleaner for their hard work. Typically, the money is given voluntarily after use when the toilet is clean.

[@zuzanaangibaud292]

The fee for radio and tv is because there are no or very few commercials on public television/ radio channel , It is the same in my country Slovakia . It doesnt matter if you actually don’t watch tv , even if you don’t own any tv set , if there is electricity in the apartment , you have to pay It

[@llleiea]

In Austria we also have to pay the tv and radio “tax”. The idea is that public tv and radio is independent from the government. Therefore, the public has to pay for it, and it is not covered by tax money, as tax money is controlled by the government.

[@alihorda]

cool and all but why should i pay for that crap when I don't even have TV or radio?

[@llleiea]

@@alihorda at least in Austria u only have to pay if u have tv or radio. but other then that democracy and such things....

[@alihorda]

@@llleiea and not like that amount brings me to my knees, just feels like a dick move. I won't donate to useless things.

[@mariondiemert430]

Germany has three national television stations, these HAVE NO COMMERCALS! Must be paid for by all civilians.

[@StephenSilverbeard]

Coming from the UK my introduction to restroom staff was at an East German service area. Just inside the door was a little old lady sat behind a table doing some knitting with full view of the urinals. After a quick double take I noticed know one was paying any attention to her beyond giving a small tip on the way out. By the end of my three week visit, it had become normal,.

[@grimmscarlet1690]

Based on your comment Mr. Wass: You can't just send a ticket authority away. If you enter german public transport without a ticket and get caught you have to pay a 60€ fine. If you can't you will be thrown out the train/bus and the police will be contacted.

[@philippschell5246]

Such videos are beautiful and fun! Maybe also helpful when you are new in another country and many things are new and different! But I think you should make more videos about history! there were some already, Berlin Wall and so, that was super interesting to see how your reaction was! But there is so much more... nur keep going! I have enjoyed every video so far 👌🏽

[@Alex-ye8qp]

I really love your channel and videos, theres nothing better then true curiosity

[@Schon1Kevin]

The City Tour Guides in my city are usually old people who were born here and do this for free just to have something to do, interact with people and tell them about the city they lived their entire life in. actually pretty sweet.

[@JonaxII]

Usually, you don't have to actually pay the toilet guy (not usually a guy, mostly a small old turkish lady), the price tag is just a recommendation for the tip. Which is what that money actually is. Mostly, these people are underpaid service stuff who just watch and clean the restroom all day long, and they mainly exist at malls or larger entertainment venues. Restaurants or smaller shops don't tend to have them.

[@nelennam]

Ryan: "Nobody starts to count with the thumb". Me: "Then my name is Nobody - or I am just German." 😅

[@Dreaded-Flower]

thats why i pay on my way out and depending on how clean it is- she gets a good or bad tip

[@weilwegenisso79]

Well for the radio and television fee (called GEZ). It's payment per household and public television has.. compared to the US, high quality news and some general content like movies, shows and stuff. The main problem is that public television is a competitor on the market and therefore they have to finance and raise the quality of their content to make it interesting for people

[@iR0CKt]

The TAN Number is basically a two factor auth. Code. Similar to online accounts like Google and so on. But you do need a PIN aswell.

[@OrkarIsberEstar]

To the restroom thing. this is technicly illegal under certain circumstances. You have the right, in germany if not human right, to use a bathroom if one is avalaiable. Has to do with human dignity and that you cant legally urinate just anywhere. So, if there is a free public restroom within i think 100 meters, they can legally charge cause you do have the option to go elsewhere. However if there isnt one, you can just go in, do your thing and leave. they cant make you pay legally speaking and if you were to soil yourself cause they wont allow you in, you can in fact sue them for compensation. if you are pregnant you can actually ring random doorbells and demand to be let in and go to the bathroom even in private homes if you dont have an option. If you are an actual customer of a business where you usually stay for longer than 10 minutes, they have to legally provide free restrooms to their customers. So if you are eating at a restaurant you as customer can always legally use their restroom for free. That said most places will allow you to pee for 50 cents and take a dump for 1 euro if you want to pay. And yes these bathrooms are almost always pretty clean and comfortable.

[@Kawaiilolrofl]

As an American, you're probably unaware of quality TV. While it's far from perfect, German state television is much better and neutral than fox news and channels like that.

[@fairgreen42]

It's 18 Euros per household, not per person and people with low income are excluded from the payment. Also, the multiple channels are relatively commercial free in comparison to private channels.

[@S1lentSt0rm]

You can always ask these undercover people to ID themselves, and they have to show an official document from the transport company that operates the public transport you're using, identifying them as being authorized to check tickets.

[@laura_gieger]

My friend doesn't have to pay that broadcasting fee or whatever because she actually can't watch tv. She had the people where she bought her television from remove that module with which you can connect the card or cable or whatever and has a confirmation that she can't watch regular tv because of that. She only watches Netflix anyway and uses her tv for video games so she has no need for regular television programs. We're from Austria btw 🙈

[@lucahoffmann8695]

@24:33 in germany everyone starts counting with their thumb 😂

[@carldenig2500]

There really is sitting no one in front of a "bathroom" in Europe. Sometimes there is someone at the entrance of a toilet open to the public, yes. So you better watch your choice of words, and its implications.

[@VoiceOfSilence99]

19:05 Nobody writes checks in germany 😄

[@annonymat]

Germans don't give off that scaming vibe: Deutsche Bank giggling, Volkswagen Diesel division vaping some fumes...:D

[@SatieSatie]

😂

[@annonymat]

@@SatieSatie … And that monopolistic public toilet company „Sanifair“ that charges 75 cents a pee is owned by a clan and paying off politicians. What else … We all got copper cable for TV instead of fiber, because of family relationships between a copper cable company and a politician in the 90s. Yeah, one of our party leaders got caught, giving classified information to the boss of Porsche. No repercussions for him. We killed our domestic solar and wind generator production companies because big coal asked the government nicely. Yeah, we Germans have scams and Corruption going. But it impacts our daily lives less obviously than in other countries, so you only notice when you watch the news or satire shows that investigate.

[@symmetrie_bruch]

the fahrkartenkontrolleure (under cover people who check your ticket) are not officers really, they´re not even public servants. they don´t have any authority. they´re usually just some minimum wage slaves without any real training. and if it comes to it they have to call the police. the most they can do is hold you if you run away, similar to a citizens arrest. they can´t even check your id. and since they can only use violence to defend themselves you could just wrest yourself free and run away and they can´t do anything about it

[@ririri88]

My partner is from Rheinland-Pfalz and I can agree. It’s a very unique culture. Alla Hop !!

[@danngehdochzunetto]

In germany in restaurants normally nobody sits in front of a toilet. But in shopping malls you have this. If you have also have a food court there, you shouldn't pay for the toilet, because the restaurants also have to pay this. The most common things in germany i hate, are to pay for toilet and for drinkingwater in restaurants.

[@Nils.Minimalist]

*tap water

[@Nazdreg1]

I understand both. I think, it is ok to pay for toilets in order to honour the maintenance. But then I expect it to be perfectly clean and comfortable. If you hand out tap water or free, you might as well stop trying to sell any kind of non carbonated water as it is in direct competition with tap water (and generally not of better quality). If you follow through and just offer water as a free service, that's fine but then there are the other drinks you want to sell and generally, restaurants make their money with drinks, not with meals. In the US, you have the mandator tip instead, so there is your water price going. In the end, it is just a different way to pay the same thing. In Germany, you pay the actual good you receive and in the US, you pay the person giving it to you. ;)

[@pha1798]

writting a check :)) ... greetings vom the 60s. I have never seen a real check in austria

[@oliheg9230]

Hi, have to say it again: at least in Berlin every toilet in a restaurant has to be free IF you're a costumer, even Mcdonalds restaurants except they're located in trainstations. These people sitting in front of the toilet entrances a mostly seen in like shoppingmalls but you can see more and more of these coin machines

[@fxlei1856]

That's not only in germany. I've never seen a restaurant toilet you had to pay for, if you were a customer. The exception are the Sanifair toilets in Raststätten on the highway you pay 70 cents and only get back a 50 cents coupon.

[@strenter]

If you are a bit on the lookout you can see the undercover ticket inspectors before they even enter the train or tram. If you see four people standing together chatting, and spreading out while the transport arrives to enter through four different doors, chances are those are undercover inspectors. Also, they usually carry a small map with them to bill you if you get caught. I remember calling them out when I was back in school, or the views of the other people when we called out "Fahrkarten bitte!". 🤗

[@martinaklee-webster1276]

We pay for public Broadcast, so we have truly independent TV, not just Fox, etc.

[@manuelmaas7774]

You dont have to pay the GEZ. Just inform yourself. Most People thought they have to pay, but thats wrong.

[@schmidtikovsky2825]

11:20 in germany there is a thing called Ehrenamt. It is some sort of activity you want to do for example these tours or being an instructor for your sportsclub. You will not get payed, but the organization the people in the Ehrenamt are accainted with will get more funds if there are new instructors trained for example. There are also volunteer firefighters in vilages or life savers etc

[@annak.-g.8280]

Well... Germans start counting with their thumb, that's the normal way to do it for us. Believe it or not 😁

[@ChrischenL]

The movie "Inglourious Basterds" has a great scene about this fact. American infiltrators are discovered because they show numbers the “wrong” way with there hand in a German pub.

[@HD-Gaming]

15:28 the Radio and TV are the "Öffentlich rechtlichen" wich means they are running with the money everybody pays but then you don't get ADs and they produce pretty high quality radio shows and TV Things !Without ADs!. And they make independet reports. so the state gives them money and they are allowed to do everything they want to with it.

[@christophersavignon4191]

When's the last time you watched public TV? They *do* run ads, on top of collecting their scammy fees.

[@fxlei1856]

16:33 We are spending a lot on public broadcasting, but it is subjectively well made and necessary. Not all broadcasts are funded by this, but those that are, are given some responsibilities, such as neutrality, diversity, informativity, education... and they are not controlled by the government either, on the contrary, they are generally quite investigative an critical of the government. Furthermore you can't really turn off public broadcast. Not having a TV or radio (not in the car either), doesn't mean you cannot or don't consume their content, since they are also present in the internet with their own mediatheques or on a multitude of youtube channels, you might not even notice you are consuming their content. Finally it's 20 bucks per household, not per person which would be about 40 million (still a lot).

[@Ekitchi0]

In France we have some free and some 50 cents bathrooms. I remember when the train station bathrooms stopped being free. In my experience, the 50 cents are sooooo worth it as the cleanliness is usually on an other level compared to the free ones.

[@revo8662]

Are checks still a huge thing in the US? I'm working in Germany as an accountant for 15 years and never had a check in my hand!

[@theawolf2478]

I've never been there but as far as I know, they are! It's even common to pay your landlord with checks, a wild thought to every European

[@felixklusener5530]

I'm fine with giving my IBAN to a business or person asking for it for a reason. One reason a business or private person might ask for your IBAN is that they want to collect money from your account by direct debit which is pretty much the same as giving them a credit card number for that purpose and the other reason is that they owe you money and want to transfer it to your account. If someone tries to transfer money from your account by direct debit you can book the money back to your account with just a few klicks in your online banking system. You have 8 weeks from the time the money was tranferred to claim it back. So there is not a real risk that anyone can steal money from your account if you provide people your IBAN.

[@rudolfgernd8760]

Starting counting with your index finger is not intuitiv. Starting with the thumb and going all the way in chronological order makes much more sense.

[@chezratte1357]

the trick with tipping the bathroom personnel is to first do your business in the bathroom and leave the tip when you go out. Then you know how clean it is and have a better reason to tip. Also you don't have to leave a tip, but it is seen as rude behavor if you don't (especially by the personnel). There are some places you can't avoid it though. About the undercover ticket checks on public transportation, they have a special id identifying them as a ticket checker, and they have to present that. Not sure if there are people trying to scam that way, but if you think there is something fishy, ask for that, and if they show it to you everything is legit.