7 Things Germans Do that Annoy Americans

[@Seegalgalguntijak]

In Germany, greeting strangers is mostly done in small villages, but not in bigger cities, since there are too many people there.

[@prinegonbevaris1788]

That's kind of right, but engaging in smalltalk actually is uncommon in most villages, too. You might engage in smalltalk with people living in the same street, but with most people a "Moin" would be all they would exchange.

[@Seegalgalguntijak]

@@prinegonbevaris1788 Of course, it would be much too inefficient otherwise!

[@m.m.2341]

In the villages, it's even considered rude not to greet.

[@Seegalgalguntijak]

@@m.m.2341 Yes, even as a stranger, which I sometimes find funny.

[@rebeccastadie5772]

In a village, you never know if that person might know you (or your family), so you just greet prophylactically in order not to be impolite.

[@tomzito2585]

I imagine that if Germans not "respecting the line" bothers Americans and some Germans, it certainly must drive British people completely insane with their queuing obsession.

[@silkwesir1444]

I did not notice this cutting in line business at all before you guys pointed it out (you have talked about it in previous videos). Since then I pay attention to it and take care to let others who were already ahead of me in line to also stay ahead of me in the new line.

[@Hundert1]

@@silkwesir1444 gute Idee, mach's gut und weiter so 🇩🇪

[@dukeboy51]

@@silkwesir1444 the problem is the ones that are behind you that might get ahead of you.

[@unapatton1978]

Also there is some cultural misunderstandings. One time when flying we flew as one family. Because we were kind of late for our connection, we send my brother ahead to queue up. When we joined with Grandma in tow, we did not feel like we were cutting in. The British behind us did, though.

[@jelongva]

I've noticed line cutting most in France, maybe they brought it to Germany during the occupation.

[@tunichtgut5285]

As a preschooler I learned the importance of proper swearing. I was watching a construction worker trying to start the engine of a rammer compactor. As it refused to start he did some terrible swearing and then the engine started immediately. I was deeply impressed.

[@DasPuppy]

I always interpret "Vorsicht!" as "Look out for yourself, you might get hurt, and I wouldn't want that to happen." .. so, it's "better" information than "Excuse me. I really need to pass you right now unless you get out of the way. I need this space right now." At least that's what is happening in my head for those two words.

[@aisabellgwondborg9300]

Same!

[@hamuandxerxl4255]

"Vorsicht!" is a warning that's given when people are not paying attention and could get hurt if they don't start to be more careful. It's nothing to feel bothered about, it's just a reminder to pay attention in a tense situation (hence no time for polite explanations). Of course it's also used in not so necessary moments, but then it usually has something to do with workers wanting to get a job done quickly and no German will be bugged by efficiency. :)

[@fordhouse8b]

@@hamuandxerxl4255 I think the point is that the employee coming through is the one that should pay attention, and make sure that the customer can not be hurt. This means that they stop and wait.

[@momostarkloff7284]

also oftentimes it is kind of just habit, „vorsicht“ in germany is often used as a kind of an „excuse me“. it is really more to warn the others, and oftentimes was used way before an actual danger actually occured. however as it is now used with an unkind voice and often duringwhile they actually try to pass it kinda is also viewed by me as unpolite.

[@wewillnevermeet]

Sometimes they're just rude af though. Just the other day I was in a store where the staff was really busy unpacking stuff. I kept moving to the side and going out of my way to make room for them. At one point another customer knocked something off on of the carts and I picked it up without hesitation. At some point while I was looking for something in one aisle one staff member quite rudely told me to move aside to make room for her cart. I did so immediately and even apologized for no reason. Soon after I had to go through the aisle she was then standing in with her cart. I politely said 'excuse me' to be let through and she literally said 'can't you just squeeze through here?!' ("passen Sie da nicht durch?!"), huffed and moved the cart 10cm to one side.

[@furzkram]

Saying "hi" to strangers is usually done when the people who meet obviously share an interest - as hiking clearly is. Or when two people who live in the same apartment block meet - provided if they "know" each other, meaning they can identify themselves as living there, or being a regular to some place like the other. But we don't do it if the other is a complete stranger to us and it seems to be a really random "meeting".

[@silkwesir1444]

That is a really good explanation, I think. But it also works the other way around then: Saying "Hi" can be used to point out, call into awareness, shared interests. (In a subtle, discrete way)

[@Igor_servant_of_Philemon]

In my observation, it's different with cities than it is with smaller towns and villages. In a big city noone greets each other. In smaller towns you DO say hello to each other.

[@pu2sitha]

Like why would I? I see so many people on my commute to Uni! It would drive me absolutely crazy to say hello to people that I don’t even know. I don’t even like to greet people that I know but do not know that well or don’t like. I‘m really happy with the way it is here! Haha i like the fact that people just mind their own business

[@ivetterodriguez1994]

From my experience (from America) sometimes neither person says anything but just glance for a split second in the general directions, as if acknowledging each other's presence, while just walking at a normal speed.

[@RepairCat]

From my experience, children often know a lot "meaner" swear words than most adults do. ^^"

[@dr.phibesinred6066]

For example?

[@kalskirata9643]

@@dr.phibesinred6066 they know more modern ones, an adult that is around his 40s right now won't utilise Hurensohn or something like that as much as a 14 years old brat

[@dr.phibesinred6066]

@@kalskirata9643 True. But that's a social thing. Kids use swearwords without thinking about the real consequences. And they hear those word on the street, from their older siblings or even on TV. So fact is, kids swear because it's all around them.

[@ratchetclank2948]

In america it's not allowed to swear in public but owning a gun is ok..i don't get that!

[@wolfskind_official]

@@dr.phibesinred6066 they swear because they see adults reacting to it, not because it's all around them. Adults react by laughing or being angry. Why kids stick out their tongue to people? Because it's all around them? Like adults doing it all the time? Ye.. Sure. Or maybe because of the reaction they get by all around them? Sound more reasonable for me.

[@milohrnic2023]

If German swearing annoys American tourists then the Balkans must be next level.

[@tendraausbuchhaim105]

Haha yes, Dana, go to the Balkans and you'll see what's true swearing 😂

[@sTuDiO54World]

Or Italian people 😂🤣

[@exeuroweenie]

@@sTuDiO54World Even Italian curse words sound beautiful.

[@SardonicSoul]

Thats why I sometimes use klingon to swear. Has a nice touch to it. XD

[@MrSp0iler]

Scheiße Video

[@horst_gott]

Cutting in line in Germany is also a no no as far as I can tell, though as you said, when a new line is opened, the order is open as well. I think it's really odd but most of the time I play along. [Edit] What I am seeing sometimes is that a group of people are spreading to multiple different queueing lines and when it becomes apparent that one line is the fastest, the others switch over. (Not for supermarket lines but ticket shops or festivals) To the not interacting point: When you said "why are they not saying hi to me, why are they not apologizing?" That sounded really entitled to me - sure, it is polite and all to say those things but when they become more like a requirement, it looses all meaning and becomes forced, which I don't think is healthy. If someone doesn't want to say hi or they are from a different culture where it's not common to do so, just let them not do it. People throwing a fit about it should just cool down. On the other end, the "vorsicht!" seems ill mannered to me as well. A lot of people are saying "Entschuldigung" (excuse me) or "darf ich mal durch" (may I pass) in Germany which is polite enough. I am catching myself a lot recently saying "Achtung" (attention) when people are daydreaming and are about to walk into me or others

[@MissKutschii]

I worked at a German grocery store for 3 years while studying and I may have a different view of the "Vorsicht" thing... When I had to check things like the price tags I would always say "Entschuldige, dürfte ich kurz an Ihnen vorbei?" or just wait to do those little organizational things. But when I had to manage a big pile of boxes or something, I would (sometimes a little strongly) yell "Vorsicht", because I don't want to accidentally hurt someone. "Vorsicht" is sounds more like a warning and therefore you're on the save side. I also worked mostly weekends, so there were many kids at the supermarket, who are often too small to be seen while carrying a cart. Especially because German supermarkets are so small, you can't really draw aside or stop your cart. So I would always yell a little, but not like "pff go out of the way, you're annoying me" but like "please keep you (and your kids) save, because I can't see shit and I don't want to hurt you". :o of course you could always communicate that, without shouting or even with some small talk, but honestly, after the first 5 customers I had this "Sorry I have to pass by"-conversation, I often had the feeling, that they mostly don't really care for my "problems" moving the new products around the shop and feel uncomfortable - but that's maybe a German thing as well :D

[@SeriousMoh]

When a new register opens I usually stay in my line. Often the people in front of me hurry over so I automatically skip a few. Also, it takes a while for the cashier to get to the newly opened register, so there's some delay. Doing it like this keeps stress away and sometimes is even faster than changing lines.

[@balthazarbeutelwolf9097]

Supermarket lines are a culture in themselves. In the UK, in the German supermarkets Aldi/Lidl anyway, when a new line opens, it is _announced_ to be opened, but it may take a moment or three till the cashier actually arrives. In that setting you are taking a gamble when switching lines, and people later in their line are often quicker to take that gamble. I see nothing wrong with that. Also, the line is fed from the overflow from several old lines, so there is no total order to begin with. It is a bit different when the thing just switches from 1 to 2 cashiers.

[@blackmanxrjc]

This is the way of madness! people at the front of the line move to the new line, or there will be chaos, zombies, dogs and cats living together....sheer madness

[@kimberlybone1]

@Lilman Yellow You seem to like the phrase "high maintenance". You've used it before. It's not high maintenance to treat others with kindness and respect and expect the same back.

[@m.m.2341]

Usually it's way better to stay in the old line, because who the hell knows where to cashier will come from. It just pays off to go to the new line, if you already see the cashier.

[@KSPilo]

The "Vorsicht!" or "Watch out!" is intened to make the addressed person aware that there's possibly something potentially harmful in their direct surroundings, especially if that person is unalert, absentminded or seems to be absorbed in something else. "Entschuldigung!" or "Excuse me!" doesn't increase the alertness of the addressed person..."Vorsicht!" or "Watch out!" instead does. It's by no means rude...in my opinion it's rather more effective to keep the addressed person out of harm. Germans often prefer effectiveness over politeness.

[@dagmarking3974]

You've made a point that I've never thought about. Dankeschön.

[@bigatheart]

I disagree entirely. It is rude. “Vorsicht! (with exclamation point) is an order and implies that the person being spoken to is required to get out of the way as quickly as possible. In fact, it is the speaker who is imposing on the other person and I find “excuse me” or “may I get by” more appropriate. The implication that he is important and the customer is somehow in the wrong is truly annoying. But I've only lived here for 48 years, what do I know.

[@chrischolewa9104]

thats a Very Important Point !

[@kirstenrb1050]

Yes and no, if in the supermarket someone is trying to restock and says 'Excuse me' I would attempt to step out of the way.. If he says 'Vorsicht' like 'beware', I carefully look up to see where I need to go. Granted everyone is in a rush and the tone of voice sounds harsh faster, I find, in German, than it would in my ears in American/English.

[@IsleNaK]

@@bigatheart depends on the tone. I think it's grammatically incorrect to use Vorsicht on its own and without exclamation mark so it's not an indication of tone in this case. It does not imply shouting or anything.

[@word20]

Regarding honesty: You can be honest and polite at the same time, politeness should not replace honesty, because you need to know where you have people or what people want. If you are saying one thing and meaning another thing, how can people then know what you want?

[@irondasgr]

but also you can't have honesty overlook politeness, can you? Being polite as much as honest is the right thing to do.

[@pkorobase]

ok, this is even worse with asians who say "yes" but only mean "i heard you".

[@andyspark5192]

"such a nice comment" Was it polite, was it honest, was it sarcasm, was it a lie ? It depends on situation and personality. For example a kid would be more honest, Chandler Bing would be more sarcastic.

[@emm_bee]

Ꮆяєу Ꮇαттєя Oh, stop being so dramatic.

[@kathom67]

Taking your example of "Scheiße" (I considered bleeping it ^^). There are sayings in German containing the word which we would not consider swearing, e.g. "Ach du Scheiße!" or "Das ist jetzt echt Scheiße gelaufen". And I would say there is a big difference between a child crossing the street at red light (real danger) and a child using swear words. "Cutting the line" - never happened to me in a supermarket. if it would, I would use the German honesty, "Hey, hinten anstellen!" and argue with them out loud. And if you really have a problem with that, never go to a country in the Middle Easrt It is line anarchy there. Whoever is loudest, will be first. ^^

[@archiegates650]

For the customer service: The US tells us "The customer is King", but in Bavaria we got rid of the monarchy in 1918 ;-)

[@kendavis8046]

On tipping - way back in the 1990's, I was sent on two business trips to New Zealand. I had an interesting conversation with a bartender regarding tips. He informed me that the economic model was different there and that every service worker was paid a living wage. It ended up being a very interesting discussion, and I got around to asking him what happened to tips when foreigners like me tipped out of the habit of doing so. He pointed to a big (probably 3 gallon-ish) glass jar on the top shelf of the bar, loaded with cash. The bartenders and waitresses would put tips in that jar, and they used it for a big party at the end of the year. I was so delighted by that tale that I gave him $100 (New Zealand dollars, at the time about $75-ish US$). The other side of that was that when that particular bartender was there for the remainder of my time there, I drank for free!

[@Snakesborough]

I like the 'Vorsicht'. It doesn't annoy me in the least as long as it's uttered in a kind way. In the Netherlands it would be 'Pas op'. To me it sounds polite.

[@DidrickNamtvedt]

We say "pass opp!" in Norwegian as well but most of the time we're more like Dana and say "unnskyld meg" ("excuse me") instead when trying to get past someone.

[@franzisburks500]

@@DidrickNamtvedt Pas op, would be (probably) "Pass auf!" in German as in watch out/pay attention. Vorsicht is stronger in my opinion. Plus, everything in dutch sounds much "cuter". xD PS: Plattdeutsch and dutch are extremely similiar, for obvious reasons.

[@Snakesborough]

@@franzisburks500 Many of my colleagues (I live in de Achterhoek) can cross the German border and continue to speak Lower Saxon. I'm of mixed blood (Lower Saxon and Frisian and alas can speak neither of them).

[@tramper42]

9:35 ... Vorsicht, ist much shorter then „Entschuldigung, könnten Sie mal bitte Platz machen?“... and yes, they are under time pressure and they are filling the shelf FOR YOU and ALL other customers, if you are in the way, please let them work, so other customers have filled shelfs...PLUS stopping with heavy load is not easy - ASK them if YOU DARE to TRY to pull a pallet truck just ONCE in your life to get an understanding what they are doing.

[@vickymc9695]

It's just polite to get out of the staffs way, it's their workplace after all. Why get offended if they are grumpy about it? America's seems to want staff to be always smiling, it's a little weird.

[@lichtgestalt609]

"Vorsicht, ist much shorter" - yes, it is, and now please think about the following: being short is one way of being impolite.

[@dukeboy51]

@Jonathan Parks exactly... She says it would be fine if they asked you politely. But come on!!! They're doing their job and probably have some other things to do, so having the customer move over for a few seconds is not going to impact his shopping experience. I am neither American nor German, but to be honest I don't get offended or annoyed when this "Vorsicht" thing happens to me, although I come from a country (Colombia) where people tends to be more sensitive and passionate. I think she over exaggerates it.

[@johngalt6627]

@Jonathan Parks The thing is: "Vorsicht" is not something that is considered impolite in Germany. "Vorsicht" and "excuse me" are more or less synonymous there. "There is a reason why U.S. stores stock at night." US stores are HUGE compared to German ones. I've worked in several stores when I lived in Germany and not a single one of them has enough space to only do that at night. If you'd only fill up at night, shelves would be completely empty within a few hours. The fruit and vegetable section of an average Walmart alone is about two to three times as big as a whole supermarket in Germany. German stores have very, very little space.

[@tanjakatharinaklesse4283]

There is a saying in German: The sound makes the music. I also don't like it when the employees are aggressively shouting "Caution!", but if they say it in a relaxed voice just to make me aware of the forklift or something like that, I think that's perfectly fine.

[@Chrona24]

I honestly think that being honest is more important than being polite. You can be honest in a considerate way, that's important, but honesty is something I definitely value the most.

[@boahkeinbockmehr]

I don't see anglophone fakeness as being polite. Actually i find it extremely disrespectful.

[@johngalt6627]

So do many Americans. She's just some liberal atheist apparently not even understanding that honesty and politeness aren't even opposites. All the Americans I know do value truthfulness very much, usually much more so than Germans who all too often are biiig hypocrites.

[@chrissiesbuchcocktail]

Saying "Hi" depends where you live. In the small town I live people always say "Hi" and sometimes even start a little smalltalk (at least when they know each other from passing by regulary). When I lived in a larger town it was different of course. The "Vorsicht" thing never happened to me in my 50+ years. Just the opposite - when I see an employee with a cart or box coming my way they usually wait until I passed or try at least not to be in the way. And if I step aside to let them pass (because it's easier for me) they usually say "thank you" with a big smile and happy that I have been nice to them and made their job easier. Generally people working in stores are nice and try to help in a friendly way (few exceptions aside). But maybe again it's because I live in a smaller town. Swearing: What is the use of not swearing around kids? They'll learn it anyway. And obviously they do it when grown up. For me it feels like sugarcoating something. People swear. Some more than others. What's the big deal? The words are not nice but since you just say them into the air or yourself and not to another person it's not like insulting someone. Insulting someone is something different and nobody should do that at all - kids around or not.

[@katharinaa.9166]

About swearing around kids ... two things: 1) It depends on the swear words, I think, and on how frequently you use them. Occasionally saying "Scheiße" = not ideal, but okay, it's ... human. Overusing sth. like "F**k" or "verf**kte Scheiße" or sth. else pretty strong, that's a different thing. 2) Parents or teachers etc. often try to teach kids that using swear words is wrong, that they shouldn't do it. You can't really do that, if you yourself swear all the time around them.

[@dobiebloke9311]

Christine Lorenz - I couldn't agree more with you, in all regards and experiences.

[@arrowsoulgirl]

Completely agree with your point on swearing! :)

[@ivetterodriguez1994]

Honestly, the only thing that's ever bothered me about swearing is when it's overdone, excessive, or just seems like an overreaction. If it sounds like an overreaction it sounds childish whether a kid or an adult says it. I really don't mind when kids swear as long as they use the words in the right context and don't drain out the impact of the word. If it was wrong to swear as a kid it should be wrong as an adult as well, or never wrong to begin with. Sure, mommy and daddy might not like hearing 4-year-old Jimmy swearing like a sailor but even if he did learn those words later on in life chances he would still say them. I guess it's just parents feel uncomfortable hearing their young children swear and not so much that they think it's absolutely morally wrong. In the U.S. it seems like no-swearing-around-children is more of an unspoken rule. Although, I have noticed that I can get away with swearing in Spanish when my Spanish-speaking parents are around than if I swore in English at school. In Spanish, it can be harsh but also casual. In English, it's mostly just harsh and rude with a hint of casual.

[@panospavlidis6111]

I don't see anything bad about the "Vorsicht". It is just a warning,and definitely not impolite. I use it too sometimes. Just want to make sure I don't bump into anyone who could get hurt then

[@HansJoachimMaier]

„Vorsicht“ does not annoy me at all. I don’t see anything impolite in that.

[@lilalakritzengel]

Nobody reacts to "Entschuldigung" in Germany though. That's why they say "Vorsicht". Also carrying heavy stuff doesn't make you very polite ;)

[@raggaman3361]

what bs i read here in the comments...in what part of germany do you live?! u evern live in germany or ever been to germany?? lol....

[@lilalakritzengel]

@@raggaman3361 Ich lebe in NRW. Was soll dieser komische und total unverhältnismäßig aggressive Kommentar?

[@raggaman3361]

@@lilalakritzengel weils nervt, dass leute einfach unwahrheiten streuen...fake news streuen...um damit andere menschen zu denunzieren

[@lilalakritzengel]

@@raggaman3361 Nur weil du etwas anders erlebt hast, sind die Erfahrungen anderer Menschen nicht automatisch "Unwahrheiten" oder "Fake News". So klein ist Deutschland auch wieder nicht. Es gibt hier durchaus verschiedene Mentalitäten und Umgangsformen. Mit denuzieren hat das auch gar nichts zutun. Du musst dich auch gar nicht persönlich angesprochen fühlen. Ein einfaches "erlebe ich hier anders" wäre eventuell die passendere Reaktion gewesen.

[@dearseall]

@cutting in line: Once a older man (80+) cut in right before me (I was the next person to be served by the cashier). So the cashier told him to go back at the end of the line. He answered: "But I am in a hurry!" "As all the old people!", replied the cashier. I tried to solve this and said to the cashier: "Just go ahead and serve him first. I just have to be back at work in time, but he has to be at his own funeral." PROBLEM SOLVED! :D

[@LythaWausW]

Awesome. I wonder why it is the older people who are the most rushed? What is up with that?

[@tzarcoal1018]

@@LythaWausW some old people get very grumpy, stubborn and egoistic when they are old

[@ralfbodemann1542]

@@LythaWausW The older you get the less time you've got left.

[@Herzschreiber]

Did you ever think about the fact that older people often feel weak and simply don't have the abillity to "stand around long time"? I am 58 now and got some deseases hindering me from standing still for more than 10 Minutes.........so I seem to be in a hurry at the cashier cause I really neeeeed to be back in my car and take a seat before the pain gets too much. I whished all of you youngsters complaining about the elders would be able to experience how it feels to grow old. In your age, I'd have acted the same like you do now...

[@dearseall]

@@Herzschreiber Ich bin querschnittgelähmt und kann eigentlich gar nicht stehen. Trotzdem ist das für mich kein Grund, sich vorzudrängen. Ich habe auch kein Problem damit, jemanden vorzulassen, wenn ich gefragt werde, aber einfach nur vordrängen und reinwürgen ist unhöflich und wird demenstprechend kommentiert.

[@mindthegap741]

As a German living in the US, it annoys me when I'm back in Germany and someone bumps into me and just walks on without apologizing.

[@religiohominilupus5259]

This!

[@religiohominilupus5259]

This!

[@Welteninsel_K]

In Germany, this is rude too.

[@hamuandxerxl4255]

@@Welteninsel_K No, depends on the city. In Munich people are apologizing all the time - if someone touches your sleeve lightly with his clothes he will most likely apologize very politely. In Berlin or Hamburg............ no. There they run you over and won't even notice. They are much less sensitive than the Bavarians. But if you try to use the Bavarian habits in the North they will give you the strangest looks.

[@rafaelcarbone1387]

@@hamuandxerxl4255 - It sounds a lot like the South and the North in the U.S. In the South people are more sensitive and apologize for any discrepancy. In the North, they are less aware of others. And the same applies to big cities in these areas. There the climate of indifference tends to predominate. Although there are exceptions. I've always lived in big cities and would freely apologize in any situation where I've wronged someone, even in the slightest.

[@Herzschreiber]

I interpretate the "Vorsicht" thing not as being impolite but telling a customer "attention, I have to pass here and don't want you to be hurt" . And as we all know how hard a job in a supermarket may be (especially because they NEVER really have enough staff), I do well understand that the employees simply can't wait for a customer who doesn't realize their approach to step aside. They are in a rush all the time. So....to make a long story short....... to me "Vorsicht" ranges in the same level as "excuse me" in that special case.

[@hansmeiser32]

Vorsicht is what I yell if somebody is walking in the bike lane for exactly that reason. I'm most of the time not even annoyed by this but I have to get the attention of that person and I've learned over time Vorsicht works much better than my bike bell. But I also learned that some people do get really offended by this and yell back "use your bike bell" and I then "I did, but you didn't hear it". 😉

[@tomzito2585]

Stefan is such a good sport when it comes to fielding these criticisms. I think that an English word you might be looking for about people being generally friendly is "gregarious". Germans are less gregarious than Americans: for example saying "hi" or being outwardly sociable with strangers.

[@EvenxBreak]

Omg the line-thing annoys me so much! I've noticed that mostly elderly people cut the line though.I've experienced this multiple times at bakeries. Where I was supposed to be next in line and an older person just started ordering their bread and when I ask them about it they behave like I am impolite D:

[@stevenmetzger3385]

EvenxBreak “To respect your elders” (Which Has Been a Diminishing Attitude, it seems) should mean, that a younger person would actually openly offer their place in line, to an older person I was raised to do that, in a small community, in the US Kids nowadays are impatient & self absorbed...

[@jeanysilva8686]

EvenxBreak I completely agree! They do it with such ease... and then make you feel guilty. What gets me is the sales staff who clearly see what’s going on and then ignore it!

[@EvenxBreak]

@@jeanysilva8686 nah, I get the staff not saying anything. I've worked in retail and honestly you just don't want to interact with stupid people any more than nessessary. They'll start yelling at you...they wanna speak to the manager...it's just not worth it.

[@jessicaely2521]

@@jeanysilva8686 staff (at least in the US) isnt allowed to say anything. If you do you could lose your job. This happened to my mom in the US. An old fart German walked in front of my mom and started ordering. Of course my mom said something. The old man said you have absolutely nothing to do. My mom said yes I do. I have 2 kids I have to pick up in 5 minutes and continued with her order. The clerk said "thank you for sticking up for yourself. If I said something I would have lost my job."

[@auser7120]

I get the same feeling! More older than younger people cut you or enter the bus & not let you get off the bus first without even feeling guilty! (Older people that aren't yet old enough to physically not be able to stand for 2 minutes) They sometimes act like you're disrespecting them for calling them out. Like, you violated the rules first?! I don't get why young people as a group sometimes get so much hate, in my experience they're not automatically less obedient to common rules than old people. I don't think cutting in lines or not letting you get out first happens extremely often, but sometimes for sure!

[@kjl6039]

We have a foreign exchange son. He lived with us for the 2017-2018 school year. We love him so much. Everything you say in this video is exactly how I feel! Germans are almost brutally honest about what they think. I am not a super sensitive person, but sometimes I feel Germans could say the same thing but in a more caring way. The whole cussing thing drives me crazy. My German son never cussed in front of us because he was very respectful, but when visiting Europe it was annoying that so many people cussed in every other sentence and it always seemed to be US cuss words. I felt like telling them to use their own cuss words. At least then my children would not have to hear filthy language while walking down the street. It also shocked me how many people smoke in Europe. They tout that they care so much more about the earth and the environment, but they could care less that they are not only polluting the air, but their bodies also with cigarettes? Does not make sense! BTW, I absolutely love visiting Germany and Europe. I know if I lived there though that the same things would bother me also.

[@irian42]

Things that annoy me in a German supermarket line: 1. "Hoverers": People who stay always next to their groceries at the conveyor belt even if there's lots of room in front of them and very little behind them. 2. "People who think physics do not apply to them": Those who put bottles on the conveyor belt without taking into consideration that the conveyor belt moves so that the bottle rolls into my groceries the next time it moves.

[@lina8316]

The don't think, that physics don't apply to them, they just don't have a f*cking clue of physics.

[@irian42]

@@lina8316 Language! There's kids here ;-)

[@religiohominilupus5259]

I used to stand next to my groceries too since I was used to it from the shopping culture in the US (or where I lived, at least) where checking out is generally a slow process. I caught on quickly and stopped doing but still ger confused whether to leave some room between me and the person in front when directly at the register for reasons of privacy when paying with a card.

[@boi-o-boi4624]

Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with standing next to one's own groceries? I think there's really no need to go ahead or behind of your groceries. In case the person in front of me has a lot on the conveyor and I have just a few items and there's still some space left on the conveyor, I step forward so people behind me can start laying theirs. But otherwise, going ahead of your grocery would just create some space for people behind you while there's no more space on the conveyor.

[@LythaWausW]

@@religiohominilupus5259 I guess I never thought about this as an American. I'll be more careful. I'm always protected because I place my cart directly behind me in line, and give people a lot of privacy space when they pay. (BTW the cart-behind-me thing works....until it doesn't and the next person in line is squeezed between my cart and the wall!) And WTH with people who stand at the card reader when it's my turn to pay? It's like all of their houses are on fire.

[@rickh.2420]

I‘m really annoyed by people who don‘t follow the „rechts stehen, links gehen“ rule (stand on the right side, walk on the left side) on escalators, especially in train stations and airports, but also in malls. And if you say „Entschuldigen Sie bitte“ in order to be able to pass by, they look at you as if it is ME who does something wrong and even start yelling at me.

[@irian42]

That's the same people who for some reason do not use the buttons on train doors when they want to leave. As if it's someone else's job to open the door for them.

[@beckyontour7417]

@@irian42 Or people thinking standing in the middle of the stairs during rush hour at the train station is a great idea and then get annoyed when you get mad at them standing in the way while you have to run for your train.

[@lenastorm6280]

DANKE! Das ist so nervig! Wie dumm können manche Leute bitte sein??

[@religiohominilupus5259]

Rick H, this seems to have become a regular occurrence (at least in Frankfurt). People don't follow this simple rule but then get mad at YOU when THEY bump into you. Wut??

[@Seegalgalguntijak]

Dann musst Du einfach direkt in einem genervten Ton sagen: "Entschuldigung, dürfte ich mal vorbei?!?", dann wissen sie, dass sie es sind, die falsch stehen. Ich kann aber auch verstehen, warum man so steht, denn es gibt Leute, die rücken einem auf der Rolltreppe echt so sehr auf die Pelle, dass man keine Chance hat, auszuweichen, außer auf die Seite. Als ob es einen Unterschied machen würde bei der Kapazität der Rolltreppe, wenn man 2 statt 1 Stufe zum Vordermann frei lässt! Das ist dann so unangenehm, dass ich auch zur Seite muss.

[@tabbeyah5351]

Love it. Please do a video the other way around. Have a nice day you guys

[@_cyndii_]

I worked at a grocery store in Germany and the queue thing annoyed me as a costumer and as well as a cashier 😂 considering the cart thing I always say "Entschuldigung" or "Kann ich kurz durch?" I really tried to be nice even though I have limited time to pack all the things on the cart onto the shelves, because other costumers went crazy when their favorite bread was not there anymore 😒 I tell you working in a supermarket can be the worst because many costumers don't treat you with respect, but they expect that from you. At the same time there are many nice people that are understanding and give you a reason to smile 😄 I always tried to be as nice as I could even though I was treated like shit sometimes.

[@irian42]

It kind of annoys me that after a certain age it's so difficult to make new friends. Especially that "distance" that's so common at work where you only ever interact with co-workers at the job or Christmas parties but never go out for a drink after work or similar. This strict distinction between work and "Feierabend" sometimes makes it really difficult to find new friends...

[@dirtydorte8355]

I asked some of my co-workers out and they agreed. We meet after work on a regular basis now. :) Sometimes, people are just shy or afraid of rejection, I assume.

[@religiohominilupus5259]

Irian Gaming, maybe it depends on where you live within a country since this is something I often experienced in the US, not the part of Germany I'm from.

[@Loonaki]

Maybe it's because I grew up in Germany and am "too German" but none of these things annoy me about us, really. Like if you're in line and get distracted by something, like come on of course people will cut. Nobody has time for that. And I do like the constant politeness in interaction you describe from the US, but only under certain circumstances. I like greeting cashiers and bus drivers and people passing by in uncrowded areas (which not everyone does). Other times it might even annoy me the other way around. Like, I live in Berlin and it really annoys me when you're in a FULL train (like soooo full you're smashed between people) and someone in the middle needs to get out at a station and politely asks everyone to move past them and excuses themselves constantly. Like no, we all know the train is full and you'll touch people while getting out, we're all prepared for this. Just squeeze past us, because you're delaying all the movement in and out of the train otherwise.

[@religiohominilupus5259]

You can squeeze through and still say "excuse me" without holding up the (non)flow.

[@peterkoller3761]

Fluchen ist der Stuhlgang der Seele!

[@Officiallxllx]

peter koller wahre Worte mein Freund..wahre Worte

[@MultiScooter63]

Genau. Ungesund zu unterdrücken.

[@Hamsterdam91]

Bad words are only bad because we give them a bad meaning. I know a women who says "schön" instead of "scheisse" around her daughter so now always her daughter drops something or any situation you say "scheisse" she yells "schön!". So for her "schön" is now a "bad word"

[@christianschmitt2409]

Peter Koller So sei es.

[@kirstenrb1050]

I think lots has changed. I am an American living in Germany for 20 years now. When I visit the States, not everyone who bumps into me, says Sorry or Excuse me. Same happens in Germany, some do, some don't. Scheiße vs shit vs f*, when I finished college I was so accustomed saying f*, it took time to get it out of my system. Alot of the curse words are hip, here in Germany... In general, I'd say most of us are cautions around kids.

[@mbuck5044]

Dana, the standard tipping is 10 to 15 percent in the USA. In New York city, no one says hi. I live in suburbs outside New York city where people do say hello. When I visited Munich two years ago, a girl cut in the line I was in at a supermarket; I was shocked she did that.

[@robynvanwingerden8479]

m buck50 I‘m in my mid-thirties and I can’t remember 10 percent ever being the standard where I’m from (suburbs of Wash. DC). 15% was standard when I was in high school, but I would say that it‘s been 20% for about 15 years now. I agree with you, though, that I’ve never heard of 25% being standard.

[@ioanarosca6985]

In Europe 10% is a normal tip, 15% if the serving was very good (more only if it was exceptional and you had a really good time and you have some extra money), and let's say 8% if something went wrong, but if it was really bad you can leave just paying your bill (this is an extreme situation and it should be very rare).

[@fl4shi238]

@@ioanarosca6985 0% is normal in the Europe I come from. 1 - 1.5 EUR extra is normal where I live.

[@ioanarosca6985]

@@fl4shi238 the personal in restaurants have a payed job and like in any job is normal to do your job well in any condition, without any other expectation or surplus. The tips should be just a way to say "thank you for a job well done", or something like that, but a nonwriten rule is 10%, at least in Romania, Spain, Italy... In Germany is good 2 euro (this is considered normal), but I think it depends on the total amount of the bill (consumation).

[@fl4shi238]

@@ioanarosca6985 I just wanted to point out that there's not single "normal" in Europe. In Sweden and Finland it's totally ok to pay exactly as much as the bill says. In Germany you're kinda expected to pay small tip.

[@boi-o-boi4624]

On my very first day in Germany, I went to a supermarket and an employer yelled at me "Vorsicht!", and the cashier kinda threw the receipt at me. It felt so blunt and rude that I was almost certain that I was discriminated against, until I realized that that's just their way.

[@hansmahr8627]

It's definitely not 'our way' to yell at people or throw receipts at them. That would be considered extremely impolite by Germans.

[@boi-o-boi4624]

@@hansmahr8627 You're right! It's more about perception. Even average German people can come off as "rude" in my culture. That's what shocked me on my first day here. But it doesn't mean they are actually being rude. On the contrary, most German people are nice, but I didn't realize that until I got used to the culture here.

[@Alfadrottning86]

Hm, none of those things really bother me that much. Also quite frankly .. i am still surprised that it is a German stereotype that Germans are direct and honest on point. In my time in Germany - i found Germans to beat around the bush of a sensitive subject matter quite a lot. But i also never noticed people cutting the line and/or chaotically rushing towards a newly opened up cashier line. I have experienced no "order" among those that would switch lines ... but usually there has always been a kind of unspoken "may i? or should do go first..." question. People dont talk much with each other, but exchange looks in that case. (sure, there are exceptions .. but those are not the rule)

[@habicht6]

when did you leave the place? bad behaviour... in supermarkets... I can see it on a daily basis.. und ich bin Deutscher.....

[@Alfadrottning86]

@@habicht6 I lived in Germany sort of until around 2 years ago - in Hamburg. The culture is very similar to Danish culture and by extension to my own in Iceland.

[@1Jasmin]

@@Alfadrottning86 Your name reminds me of Vikings. I personally never really experienced unfriendly honesty that often too.

[@rosebuddear1]

YES! The lines here! I don't care about the grocery store thing, but when you're standing in line at the bakery or something, and people just walk around you. Ugh! I have never had that happen to me in the Us because people generally ask you if you're in line if they're not sure. Also, if I'm standing to the side letting someone with a wheelchair, stroller, etc walk by first, and the people behind me just go around me about knocking them over instead of waiting, too. wtf

[@LythaWausW]

I feel like I'm the only person in Germany who uses the phrase, "Sind Sie in der Schlange?"

[@boahkeinbockmehr]

Bakery? There are no lines in german bakeries. The cashier will shout "Nächster!" and that is your time to act if it is your turn. If you don't respond immediately people won't let you waste their time and simply make their order (thinking that you haven't decided what to get yet)

[@modelleicher]

Here's the trick with the line.. if a new checkout opens everybody rushes to line there, you just stay where you are. More often than not you're faster that way.. :D

[@iSn0w]

I do do say the Vorsicht thing alot because with Entschuldigung or something else the people are going out of the way too slow.

[@lenastorm6280]

I will never ever understand why some people have something against cursing! I mean: If I call someone an asshole, of course this will hurt the person and therefore isn’t ok. But if I just say „shit“ because I dropped something, I‘m not harming anyone! It isn’t harmful! So, why do some people have a problem with it?? Suppressing your anger is really really unhealthy and cursing helps me to deal with it. (I mean; I could also start screaming or hitting something, but then I would understand why people would have a problem with that.)

[@michaegi4717]

You should also say hi to every one if you are in a small german town, thats very common.

[@hansmahr8627]

Mostly in Southern Germany though, you don't greet strangers in Northern Germany, not even in small towns or villages.

[@valentinverheggen9138]

It is not “cutting in line“ it's “active cueing“. A big difference in perspective

[@hansmahr8627]

But who is the next person in line? If there are already three cashiers and you open a fourth line, who gets to be the first? Some people also prefer to stay where they are which makes it even more complicated.

[@Speireata4]

People look weird at me when I greet them and never greet me back, so I don't do it anymore.

[@zacharysneed1500]

I definitely only tip 20% for exceptional service, 15% for average service and maybe less or not at all if it's bad service or someone is rude. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@romulusthemainecoon3047]

I like the rule of the trail in Germany - you say hello as you walk by! And I've never been subjected to the "Vorsicht!" in supermarkets but I definitely have gotten the stinkeye for not bagging my groceries fast enough!

[@sarahwg2304]

I enjoyed watching this video so much, thank you! The 'respecting the line' part is SO TRUE. I dislike it so much... also, impatient Germans asking to open up a new register because they can't seem to wait and then literally EVERYONE running there as if someone's after them, not paying attention to others, elders, children. It's so annoying! I've never experienced anything like that in the US, not even at places like Disney World. As for the 'excuse me /Vorsicht' parts: I used to live (and work) in the US for two years and at first I was really confused. Why would you apologize for walking up next to me to get something from the shelf? Or just walking past? But after a while I got used to it and then I started to like it and before I knew it I did it, too. Even after I'd come back to Germany... even now although I have switched from 'excuse me' to 'Entschuldigung'. I just feel comfortable saying it, even if the other (German) person gives me a weird look. I do miss this kind of politeness here sometimes. And I agree, 'der Kunde ist König' - unfortunately, a lot of employees and some managers here seem to have forgotten about that :(

[@BreadwithHagelslag]

I'm german but I actually never heard about people not respecting the queuing or cutting in line here

[@malte_hoffmann]

I think the example in the grocery store is quite accurate. I see it almost everytime when a new register opens. And maybe just maybe I also do it, when I have the chance to.

[@wolf310ii]

If you dont close the gap and looking around (in the shelfs), that means you are not standing in the line

[@nina1608]

Servers earn a living wage in Germany, in contrast to the US. No need for US level of tips.

[@courtneyharrisongeese7036]

nina1608 she was referring to German tourists not tipping enough in America. I’ve had to remind my German colleagues to tip more because they simply forgot about the difference.

[@jessicaely2521]

I second Courtney. This is mostly for German tourists not US tourists. I always have to remind my European friends to tip more if we go out. Usually we stayed home and cooked.

[@montyp312]

Funnily enough, I am a server and a lot of the times American tourists (which I get quite a lot) don't tip at all. It's like they heard you won't be lynched for not tipping here and they're so happy to just completely opt out of it with the excuse being "sorry, I thought tipping culture is not a thing here"

[@PadanGedowitch]

I'm a german and had never such problems at grocery stores. By us in Saxonia we orderly walk over when a new cash register opens, if some employ carries stuff through we make way before they even ask, and the closest to cutting in line was when someone with one item asked if I could let them go first. Same goes for the other places I had visited, like Berlin, Cuxhaven, Rügen and so on, Must be a Bavaria or Munich thing, the stranger part of germany, as I have heared.

[@YunaOo]

When someone cuts the line I usually get very honest with that person and start swearing 😂

[@PowerPohl92]

but what if it’s a kid that cuts the line? 🤔

[@LythaWausW]

ROTFL

[@wewillnevermeet]

Yes, me to. And I try and respect the line when a new register opens. On a positive note, I've noticed some other people doing that too. One time a guy rudely cut in front of me, even though I was in front of him and had even been the one who had asked if a new register could be opened.

[@dropmelon]

wewillnevermeet How is the queue supposed to be if a new register opened? I didn’t understood how there would be a line to respect if there’s no line. Don’t you just divide the line when a new register open?

[@LuisaH2022]

Cutting the line is still "working" in Romania. 60 years of communism cannot be erased by just half as much time "democracy" (aka capitalism)

[@fawnjenkins7266]

By the way, you two are so adorable! I am glad you are together. You seem to compliment each other so well. Stefan calmed Donna down at the end about the "Vorsicht!" issue. Good man!

[@ferrugemalemao]

German here: The thing with not respecting the queue annoys me a lot as well. Additionally, if it takes a lot of time, they start to push from behind, as if that would make it faster...

[@Zoldidi]

06:29 line cutting happens to me particularly at bakeries. There never is a really CLEAR line or oder there either, I feel like I need to be alert at all times or otherwise another customer who came in later would sneak himself in. On that note, I remember once seeing a grandmother and granddaughter at the bakery close to a train station. A man cut the line and ordered before them, the grandmother told him that he was being rude and it was their turn and not his. He said he was in a hurry and needed tu catch his train. She said "Das hätten Sie mit einplanen müssen!" (you should've planned for that). I really wanted to applaud the grandmother for those words. :)

[@Al69BfR]

When I was a teen, my parents and grandparents always told me not to swear while my little sister or cousins were around. I didn‘t got the memo that this has changed now. 😉

[@csawmcgraw]

I live in Nebraska and the order of the line is not respected when a new register opens up. Also people do cut, maybe every 10th time I shop.

[@ryanyodervlog]

Spanish people down here swear ALL THE TIME! Once heard an average, go-to-the-store, soccer mom call her 3 year old the ‘c’ word. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@jkb2016]

Swearing was also a no-no while my brother and me were brought up (Polish kids in Germany), making it even more tempting. As an adult, I still believe swearing is an effective stress and aggression release =)

[@zorrothebug]

When I'm cueing and someone cuts in front of me, I call that person out and demand he/she gets in line properly. On the other side, if some has less than 4 items, I've a full cart and that person is patiently waiting, I'll invite to advance in front of me.

[@jbZahl]

Worse than "Vorsicht" is "Achtung". It is stronger and should be reserved for dangerous situations in my opinion. Also it reminds me of the not so pleasant times in military service when you had to stand in attention.

[@jaybee78]

Peoples cuttin lines make me crazy. But I am always tellin them to get behind me in line. Believe me, nobody wants to start trouble with me in line🤣🤣🤣

[@chrischolewa9104]

Modern Life requires everyone to be civil-i agree with You !

[@vickymc9695]

Cutting in is definitely a pain in the arse, and will get you yelled(tutted) at in the UK; but a new line is a new line. If someone wants to walk to another cashier, then they take there chances of it being slower. I don't think anyone would think that it should be in the same order as the other, as new people are joining all the time.

[@jaybee78]

@@vickymc9695 I agree...here in germany it is the same. A new line is a new line.

[@jaybee78]

@@chrischolewa9104 thank you

[@mdubmachine]

9:10 when I was in Germany “Entschuldigung“ was definitely the word I said the most.

[@KoriShibo]

Cutting the line: we're german! so speak direct to person with swearing of course :D but I never done this by my own, it's not fair. To the Hi: I raised in village, life in village, here you always say hello at least. If you this in cities, you only gets confused faces and no hi.

[@michaelt.5672]

I work in a supermarket stacking shelves. I use both "Entschuldigung" and "Vorsicht". "Entschuldigung" when I need people to move out of the way, "Vorsicht" if I just need them to be aware of me (if I can move past them, but it's close).

[@christianbacker523]

I think your Point with the german word "Vorsicht" is a little bit different. In Germany sometimes the word is not the main thing. It is the pronounciation. If someone said "Vorsicht" in a pollite way it has an other meaning. In Germany we say: "Der Ton macht die Musik" Its more important HOW you say something not what you said word by word. So our Word "Vorsicht" in a soft way menas the same as "excuse me" in America.

[@andyspark5192]

topic *new cash register opens* I personally don't see a problem there, if the line gets out of order. Here is why. As soon the new cash register opens, there is a reaction delay in everyone's brain. Some react in milliseconds (before the announcement is finished), some react a bit later, some react after the announcement, some daydreaming, some "i don't care, i stay in this one", some need time to calculate the benefit of switching the line. And it depends on situation, if you can win or lose *few* minutes. Sometimes switching is a huge loss of time.

[@marloflanagan7421]

when a new register opens in the US it's every man for himself too. Have you been to Walmart lately? Cutting in line however is game over and I'm saying something no matter where I am.

[@Jukefox2107]

About the queueing (I simply hate this word) stuff. It isn't that rare to me since I was in the 5th Grade. We've got a small store called "Bistro" where we could buy stuff for breakfast. We had to queue up into three rows but it always ended up in a big pile of students pushing eachother to get something to eat. That was kinda annoying when you're the more shy person who ended up spending the whole break queuing up for sth to eat. I'm sorry for spelling and grammar mistakes. :)

[@johnp139]

How does the recommended tip amount keep going up, it used to be 15%. There are now several US cities like Seattle and NYC where servers get a minimum of $15 an hour, and they STILL want the SAME tips!

[@BetsyRene]

John P I tip 10-15% 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@franklantermann4680]

I do live in the US (as a German) and think 20 - 25% is not that common, more 15 - 20%. It is also very often the recommended amount on the check.

[@BetsyRene]

Frank Lantermann be careful with that because it’s based on post tax amount and not pretax amount

[@Taruchia]

You are right, we are absolutely stupid when it comes to lines. We suck in that.

[@jeremyemilio9378]

Where I live, I've seen queue cutters yanked out and even beaten up

[@mindthegap741]

Wow, where do you live?

[@jeremyemilio9378]

@@mindthegap741 Malaysia.I mean it's more of an extreme thing,but I've seen it happen a few times

[@LythaWausW]

@@jeremyemilio9378 I must go there.

[@jameskirchner]

In the places where I shop in the US, when a new register opens, the line doesn't move to the register in order. Americans usually let the shoppers with only a couple of items go ahead of the people with carts piled high.

[@Hundert1]

What annoys me in America is the ugly, huge, oversized school buses that stop door to door to door to pick up or drop off the kid, holding up all the traffic behind. Then, the mother comes out and chats to the driver for a long long time, holding up all traffic even longer, totally disregarding the cars behind the bus that need to go. We need school bus stops like we had to walk to back in the day. We kids actually got some exercise and weren't spoiled. In America there are also asinine and evil laws in big parks prohibiting bicycles from going on trails. The park may be huge 5000 acres and is deserted empty, but the occasional cop or occasional hiker will harrass the cyclist, yet huge deadly horses are permitted,( basically no sharing). Some hikers are nice and say positive things to the cyclist passing by but others are absolutely rude. Also in America people practically force their dog on other people assuming everyone else loves and knows their dog or don't even bother to use a leash. And the vehicle driving habits of people in America is terrible. They will tailgate, cut off, speed, not use turn signal and drive without lights on in dark, dusk, rainy situations. Not saying everyone is this bad but plenty are. America seems to be a weapons crazed country with many people ready to explode at the slightest chance possible. Sadly the USA really seems to be RAMPANT with bullies, thugs, nasty, insensitive disrespectful inconsiderate miserable selfish manipulative greedy capitalistic users exploiters and total jerks that won't give an inch and just can't wait to fight or bully someone else. I do not feel safe or treated properly by many Americans and their police force is mostly a bunch of jerks who harras innocent good people and don't do much against the real criminals. Los geht's Deutschland. Schönen Sonntag, schönen Wochenstart 👍

[@chrischolewa9104]

School Busses need to Stop on Residential Streets-not on a Popular Motorway/Highway-and hold up Motorists in Rush Hour ! Driving around major Cities in America-this Cowboy mentality-is crazy ! On Highways no one goes-with the flow of Traffic ! If-for example Speed llimit is 140 km-everyone should drive that speed ! Its polite,safe and not annoying-just saying !

[@Hundert1]

@@chrischolewa9104 Ja ja , exactly right about the USA school buses. Some highways have two or three lanes. The law is the far left lane is for faster drivers and is the passing lane. The far right lane is for slower drivers. I find so many people in the left fast lane actually going slow and not paying attention that they should move over into the slower lanes. So people actually do passing and going faster in the right lanes. It's ridiculous. I find the USA to be RAMPANT with arrogant, obnoxious, selfish, nasty, inconsiderate, greedy, bullies and thugs and some very angry miserable people about to explode. I don't feel safe in America and their police force mostly is a bunch of jerks who harass the innocent vulnerable people and don't do much against the real criminals. Most everyone in America is a sarcastic jackass that truthfully bottom line doesn't give a crap about anyone but themselves.

[@danclay8229]

Poor fellow. I am sorry you didnt have a good time.

[@janecaro6522]

Cutting in line find ich total nervig, aber komischerweise stört es mich kaum, wenn eine neue Kasse aufgemacht wird und ich trotzdem weiter hinten stehe, obwohl ich schon länger gewartet hab. Das ist einfach normal irgendwie - wer zuerst kommt mahlt zuerst 😂

[@renekramerrk]

Stephan is soo nice!! I like him😍

[@xWaterBlossom]

I had the cutting the line situation at my last doctors appointment. In my doctors office it works like that: you come in and neither you can go directly to the receptionist or if somebody is there you take a seat in the waiting room. So everyone in there is responsible for his own position in the queue. In my experience this is working very well because everyone is asking around if there is somebody else to go to the receptionist unless you are the next. But the last time (I wasn’t feeling good and just wanted a sick note for school ) there was a woman who could not respect that there are other people who were there before her and she cuttend the line very harsh and skipped 6 people. As we informed her, that she wasn’t the last one to come in, she didn’t have any interest and went to the receptionist anyway. So sorry for my english, I am a german native speaker but wanted to train my language skills :)

[@GuentherBN]

I vote for the video "Things Americans Do that Annoy Germans"! Please, please do it.

[@chrischolewa9104]

I agree-absolutely !

[@cahinton.]

Have you not already seen the thousands upon thousands of videos that exist on KZbin of Europeans explaining in full detail what they hate or don't understand about Americans and the US? You think we do everything wrong over here; we're very aware. We get it.

[@sabinebruhns6632]

I strongly agree with the last point. It happens so often to me. Like last monday: I was shopping shortly after they opened trying to buy my stuff for my lunch and almost get hit by a cleaning machine. I was yelled at! That was probably the very last time, they have seen me there. If they do not want customers to come in early, they should not open! The thing with the line is annoys me too. I was called super impolite, because I did not agree to accept a lady to pass. She only had one thing less then me to pay for and I was already in line for 10 minutes.

[@bastisonnenkind]

A new line is a new line. When you got in line in a line, there is no order to uphold when joining in a new line. You were not in line in the new line. So the "german" way of "cutting" into a new line is the correct one.

[@humming_bird1118]

Can't wait for the part 2 video!!!!! Please soon ! :)

[@jannecapelle_art]

to be honest, as a person born and raised and living in Ostwestfalen (in the northwest, famous for people being "cold" and not talking about feelings and hating smalltalk) , im so glad that no ones trying to interact with me in public omg. people i dont know better leave me alone when im out and about. oh and i also never understood why americans are so... peculiar about swearing? saying scheiße, shit, fuck is like, no big deal here at all. like, maybe don't do it at a job interview, but otherwise... no one really cares. im always surprised when i see american late night shows that bleep a "fuck"? similar shows in germany don't have to bleep any "fick"s that might get thrown around, haha

[@johngalt6627]

You want to say that "ficken" is a normal word in German? If so than something must have changed since I left Germany a few years ago. There's no beep on TV, sure, but it's not like this particular word is thrown around all the time (except for rappers maybe). Should also be mentioned that the swearing thing was about swearing in front of children. I certainly hope that "Scheiße", "ficken", "Fotze", "Hurensohn" and stuff like that are not the language you use when talking to kids!

[@leebennett4117]

Drrrrink,Girls,Fek

[@Anson_AKB]

many many decades ago, people used to honk as a greeting when traveling (eg on some lonely small routes through the alpes from germany to italy) and seeing other germans, but there were few cars overall and only maybe max 5 germans all day long. a decade later (still many decades ago) with more cars and on new bigger roads they used to do that only for people from their own town or region (german car plates have letters for the town/region on them and thus you know). this almost completely stopped when there were lots of good roads and thousands of tourists, and nowadays it would be crazy to honk 10 times per second :-) i guess that it's similar for pedestrians: greeting everybody and anybody on lonely hiking trails or in tiny towns (including friendly greeting someone sitting in a rocking chair on his porch :-) but ignoring people in bigger towns or like your example in new york or berlin where you wouldn't even be able to speak a simple "hi","hi","hi","hi",'hi" fast enough. and also in a supermarket it would only look rude to always say "excuse me" or "Entschuldigung", as if you were honking with a car on a busy road to push through faster *_("Platz da, jetzt komm' ich!")_*

[@johnlabus7359]

I was annoyed by how people didn't respect the no smoking rules on outdoor train platforms in Berlin.

[@__R__S__]

Me too! So much!

[@onlyAduck]

Yes the yellow line will keep the smoke inside 😒😒😒

[@davlorito]

"You snooze you lose" is what I have to say. I actually came back from grocery shopping and thought about it, I experience the opposite of what you said. Except for the new registry thing - but that's where you have to be quick or firm. The goal of opening a new registry is to cash out as many customers as possible and not to keep the order of the line. So, just be quick or stay in line (most people in front of you might switch lines anyway - win-win for everyone ^^) I understand what you are saying but when someone cuts in line I usually say "Entschuldigen Sie, da hinten ist die Schlange." Plus I never took offense in the "VORSICHT!" things, it's like saying "Excuse me!" or "Coming Through!". And not sure where in Germany you encountered these but where I'm from, people do apologize when bumping into each other, and we also say Hi every now and then in the neighborhoods/sub-urbs. But then again, personally, I find it a little annoying having the same small talk with every second stranger when shopping in the USA. Time is being wasted so much on these "polite-talks" that nobody actually cares about. Honest, real conversations out of genuine interest, however, are great. That is more of a personal taste though ^^

[@irian42]

I am also annoyed by parents with a buggy who try to get into a bus when there's no room (because for example there's already two buggies in there) making the ride a living hell for everyone else...

[@chrischolewa9104]

Spot On !

[@IsleNaK]

Do you expect them to wait for another 20 minutes....? With a baby....?

[@irian42]

@@IsleNaK Yes, I do

[@IsleNaK]

@@irian42 then I guess you are pretty young...? Also, if you act so selfish then why do you expect them to be less selfish..?

[@ffflammie]

It's nearly every day that people cut in the queue at the self-service checkout of my local supermarket here in Hamburg, they also get very argumentative if notified of that, so I've just given up, I mean in the end of the day I'm rarely in any rush to mind about a few minutes

[@robbicu]

More videos with Stefan, please! I found Germans in Munich were much more friendly than those in Berlin. I think Bavarians are much more friendly in general. Maybe that's just me.

[@Cuteemogirl94]

You should visist the People up north, they are the most friendy Germans. The least friendly are people from Berlin.

[@ralphisxamida8533]

The thing with "Vorsicht" is, that the store person gets in trouble when you run into it, get hurt by the box etc. So the person warns you, to pay attention to your sourrondings. It's what we call "vorausschauendes Handeln".

[@Lofwyr2030]

I mean, life in Retail (or industry for my part) would be a lot more relaxed without costumers.

[@vendela678]

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@LythaWausW]

LOL perfect German response reflecting the attitude we're so annoyed by!

[@flipaphira4202]

Not respecting the order of the line is something that really annoys me too... And it gets even worse if it's someone with so many things that it takes like 5 minutes and then there is me, with the one potato I want to buy, which takes like... 10 seconds.

[@MultiScooter63]

Even more annnoying if someone in front of you is not using a cart but his own bag and it takes sooo long to put them piece by piece scientifically (i.e. putting less sensitive goods at the bottom, others more in upper place), instead of using the cart and then after paying go to the packing board and there spend as much time as they like packing without blocking anyone.

[@beckyontour7417]

I do cut the line especially if someone would be in front of me with a whole full cart while I only have my 4 things. So I'm done and gone before he has even finished putting everything out of his cart.

[@irian42]

Regarding cutting in line: I feel if there's a line that splits in two (for example at a coffee shop) there's always that idiot who just walks past the people waiting and goes to the "other" cashier pretending people are just waiting for fun...

[@silkwesir1444]

Yes, and that then also sets an example for others, so over time people get the impression that it's normal and okay to do that.

[@christophfischer2773]

I have done that... It's just obliviousness

[@Welteninsel_K]

I never recognized people cutting in line. We do interact but without sound. You will see people nodding and smiling to each other.

[@handcoding]

If Stefan were my husband, I just couldn’t stay mad at him-he’s so pretty! Also, I don’t speak a lick of German, so is there anyone who could tell me what “forsicht” (9:45) and “ensure legume” (10:09) mean? (I’m pretty sure that I’ve also completely messed up the spellings for those, so I welcome any corrections there too!)

[@poluki]

9:45 "Vorsicht" means: Watch out! 10:09 "Entschuldigung" means: Excuse me.

[@handcoding]

poluki That’s so helpful-thank you!

[@karinbirkenbihl2053]

Ensure legume! Great! Lol! In germany that hapoens all the time: we listen to American Songs and seem to hear words we know, but they are totally different to what it really is. We call this the Agathe Bauer songs ( from the mishearing of " I got the power" as the name Agathe Bauer... )

[@silkwesir1444]

@@karinbirkenbihl2053 Misheard lyrics is also a phenomenon that can and often does occur _within_ one language, e.g. people hearing different english words in an english song.

[@LythaWausW]

Ensure Legume! I'm gonna use that!

[@art.ikulation-stimme2123]

I think it is polite to tell the truth and rude to lie. It's a matter of how you say something rather then what you say. I value honesty and politeness equally.

[@sugarphantom7837]

Not crossing on a red light in front of children is for their safety - to teach them a safe habit of waiting...it’s a bad example b/c not cursing in font of children doesn’t keep them anymore safe than cursing in font if them.

[@vickymc9695]

*Shrug* I think it come from pedestrians having more rights on the road in most of Europe, than they do in America. Jay walking isn't a crime, and it's the the car that will be at fault if they hit someone. They are the one in a deadly weapon after all. So teaching kids to cross when safe, instead of with the lights is the norm. In the UK most crossing are zebras (pedestrians right of way, not cars), and cars should to give way on all corners. Pedestrians have equal rights to use the road (exempt motorways). And if they are 50% or ≥ into the road at any point, they have to be aloud to complete their crossing. Even on roads without pavements pedestrians are aloud to walk along (opposite to flow or traffic), and cross at all points. This includes national speed limit roads (70mph) in rural areas, and private roads. Our highway code, that all drives must know to pass their test, is very clear.

[@jessicaely2521]

Older children have a brain. They know when to cross and when not to. Parents need to be responsible for their ankle biters. I'm responsible for my ankle biters. Adults have a brain and know when to cross and when not to.

[@sugarphantom7837]

Jessica Ely ....explain Tide Pods!

[@jessicaely2521]

@@sugarphantom7837 what does that have to do with crossing the street? Also it was teenagers NOT children. Parents take responsibility over crossing the street. Parents really didn't think teens were stupid enough to eat tide pods so they didn't talk about it. Teens think they are invisible, break down to peer pressure easier, the prefrontal cortex of the brain is under developed which means teens lack if I do this that will happen (they get pleasure out of risk), the pleasure part of the brain is over active (pleasure part isn't over active in children), and they are sometimes under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Teens get pleasure out of this because it's risky. Yes toddlers have eaten tide pods, but EVERYTHING goes into their mouth and they don't understand that's dangerous. This is why I said OLDER children have a brain. Btw the definition of childhood according to psychology is ages 6-11. Teenager is ages 12-18.

[@sugarphantom7837]

Jessica Ely 1. Adults in their 20s also ate tide pods. 2. You are saying certain people “have a brain” - the majority of properly developed humans have a brain. The point is, not everyone does the right thing (even people with a brain)! 3. If you actually listened to Dana and the comparison she made in this video, you would understand the point I was making! Let me make this more clear...teaching kids to cross the street is for safety...teaching kids not to curse is just pure etiquette!

[@agatopol]

I am with Stefan about swearing in English when it's not one's native language - it feels like not breaking a taboo. As for politeness vs honesty - I'll take honesty anytime. But I'm an European :D It would be interesting to hear about things Americans do that annoy Germans.

[@Seegalgalguntijak]

In the USA, if someone stands in my way, I wouldn't say "Excuse me", I'd probably also just shout "Comin' through!" ;-)

[@lindafredriksen1251]

In Norway you greet people when you're hiking and also when you're out on the sea, then you wave at other boats passing by or you wave to people on the shore. But other than that you don't talk to strangers. About the queueing thing, in Italy when arriving in a place where there are people waiting (at the bakery, doctor's office etc) you always ask "who's the last" (waiting) so that you don't cut in line. I think this happens because Italians are unable to wait in a straight line so it's impossible to figure out for yourself who is the last person in line... In Norway I think this practise would be seen as "strange".