Do foreigners think Germans are too direct?

[@djoh615893]

I was in Stuttgart for a couple years. One of the German neighbors told one of the American wives that her newborn baby was ugly. Definitely a Top 3 life memory. The look on her face and her reaction was a true Kodak moment.

[@ravanpee1325]

Made my day :)

[@SoufianFangyuan]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Valentina.Montano]

Wow 😂

[@MaLoDe1975]

Truth hurts

[@marty9404]

😂😂😂

[@KomradeKrusher]

What always sticks out to me is that to a lot of people, "directness" and "politeness" are mutually exclusive concepts, because they conflate directness with rudeness and politeness with falseness. You can be polite and direct at the same time. Clear and consise in your message, polite in your verbalization. Soft to the person, hard on the topic.

[@kUb_kOb]

Hear Hear.

[@JeBusInYoutbe]

Apparently they have never met a honest and kind person .

[@JetskiDex]

thats such a strong and valid point

[@kobac8207]

I've been telling this for years about Germans and to the Germans! It's a false dichotomy.

[@toomuchinformation]

@@KomradeKrusher 🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯

[@tammo100]

As a Dutch I think Germans are almost as direct as we are. Although Dutch are more easy going when it comes to following the rules. The big thing with directness is that people conceive it as bluntness while it is meant to be honest.

[@surabaya5927]

I cannot put enough stress on the word 'almost'. When it comes to directness you Dutch are the undisputed champions, my dear Dutch friend. I personally don't have a problem with it - actually kind of like it - but I can understand that for many people Dutch bluntness can be a hit in the stomach. 😉

[@MrSheduur]

@@surabaya5927 better direct than backstabbing with false politeness.

[@surabaya5927]

@@MrSheduur yes

[@retrograde126]

Dutch are far more blunt than Germans. Some opinions and comments are better left unsaid, it's like autistic people who have no filter.

[@opa8928]

You are blunt. You express your opinion when noone asks. And that's honest.

[@aluuusch]

1:50...yeha well, just don't ride your bike on the sidewalk unless you are a kid under 10. There is mostly a bike lane available. :)

[@FunkyBuddha81]

He can be glad not being on the ground because the person did a citizens arrest, but fun aside just obey to the rules and don´t take our directness the wrong way as rude sometimes we just want to help you out not getting in to trouble in the first place. If he would been stopped by the police it would cost him 25€ driving on the sidewalk.

[@mus5046]

There is not always a bike lane don’t lie

[@aluuusch]

​@@mus5046 Right, then you gotta ride on the street those sections.

[@agatopol]

@@mus5046 In Berlin? You must be kidding.

[@Stadtpark90]

qed

[@caro35able]

Im Ruhrpott sind die Leute auch öfter direkt, sprechen dich einfach an, ob du willst oder nicht ... geben zu allem ihren Senf dazu, aber nicht ganz so hart wie in Berlin. Leute ausm Pott mischen sich auch gerne ein, wenn sie helfen können, ungefragt. Ich find's toll :-) Und wenn man weiß, wie die Leute in einer Region oder Stadt drauf sind, braucht man sich auch über die Frechheit nicht ärgern, sondern kann drüber lachen :-)

[@mariokrings]

Sehr guter Kommentar.

[@sonjagatto9981]

👍👍

[@ronneyismael605]

People from Ruhr gebeit region Bochum, Dortmund and number 1 is betraying and telling lies . I do not trust people from Ruhr region.

[@MVBNov]

Das stimmt

[@elvarwinston]

I just came from a long trip around all of Bavaria and I was a little nervous of what to expect. i had heard of all the stories of Germans being so uptight and maybe even rude. But I have to say I thought they very really nice and helpful. even some random German guy that did not speak a word of English helped me with my flat tire on my bicycle. he just came out of nowhere and had tire glue and a bicycle pump and everything and totally saved the day for me. I really like Germans.

[@andreasrademacher5715]

bicycle repair man!

[@lp2395]

I've been in Germany many times, a couple for a whole month, and even it they've got their faults too, I've always liked them very much. I've had the chance to live situations similar to the yours, too.

[@Vivi-vg9lx]

You need to have an experience of working or communicating with Germans everyday to understand what people call German directness.

[@robfarol4246]

Hey man, I’m watching this from Denver, Colorado and I noticed that you constantly are doing videos, asking foreign people they’re experiences in assimilating into that country. However, you don’t ask the follow-up question and I think you need to so that you get off of this topic. A lot of rules yes. But do these people believe that they have an easier time going around their daily lives because of the rules and respect for one another and are they becoming similar because they know that that culture works well?

[@RobinFalkowski]

👍🏻

[@anilihism]

just worry about denver my guy

[@texasgirl75]

Did you mean 'assimilation' as opposed to 'in the simulating'?

[@kimrocksthetrees]

Why don't you try doing your own videos since you know so much about it? 🙄

[@robfarol4246]

@@kimrocksthetreesbless.

[@KlePhys]

I am from Greece. I prefer the German directness to some other countries' fakeness trying to act polite. This way, you really know if something is OK or not. Also, I think the young German generation is not so direct. The older more. But not so much that's it's bad. In my point of view:)

[@vmoses1979]

Telling someone they smell and they should take a shower is just rude. Whereas if a friend cooks something and you tell them honestly it wasn't good - that's fine. Directness has a time and a place.

[@toomuchinformation]

​@@vmoses1979Doesn't it depend on who it is? Surely you'd tell your spouse or family member if they smelled bad. You wouldn't do that to a stranger on a train, but try to move away.......

[@gerhardma4297]

@@vmoses1979 If this person intrudes into your house or apartment and has a direct negative impact on your personal environment, you have the right to tell them. Americans or British are always beating around the bush and then whining and complaining afterwards. That's ridiculous. Tell the person and they'll learn from it. Either they change or they stop coming. Both are acceptable

[@sk.2422]

@@vmoses1979 I think the mum did this bc it was a friend of her son whom she knew well (and so treated him like her son). It was to protect him from being judged and seen with disgust by other people, strangers on the metro and on the streets. I think she wanted him to be aware of it so that he takes care of it and doesn't t lose face in front of other people.

[@madarah8533]

​@@vmoses1979 no its rude not to tell them and letting them go through life stinky

[@godsowncountry3605]

riding with your bike on a side walk is an absolute "no go" except you are a child. This is considered extremely impolite, dangerous and provokative. The same if you walk on a bike lane or park your car on it.

[@kerstingravel8160]

100% agree 👌🏻

[@acoknitteruntemha]

there are roads where it's not safe to ride bike AND there are no bike lanes, happened to me a few times

[@sabrinanicole758]

It's not only a "no-go" it is literally a law. You are supposed to ride your bike on bike lanes or in not available on the street. The exceptions are kids until 12 years and kids under 8 can be accompanied by an adult who drives with them on the sidewalk. Everything else is breaking the law and finable. When you are part of an accident you are going to get the main responsibility and insurrance might not cover damages.

[@weizenobstmusli8232]

Germany has not enough safe bikelanes. Especially in Berlin. It's a mess for bikers. And dangerous, because some drivers are very aggressive.

[@DerAusdauersportler]

⁠@@weizenobstmusli8232God, get used to ride on the road. The roads are not exclusive for cars, even when drivers give your this impression. Look up a map application and plan your bike rides accordingly. Munich and it is a great city to life and even ride a bike.

[@Winona493]

"Are you hobbylos?"😂 Natürlich gleich mit 5 Sternen bewertet. Who knows what I mean?

[@KimKim25]

"If you ride a bike in a sidewalk..." then you're in the wrong f@cking lane "brother"!! Check yourself Alter 🙄

[@surabaya5927]

I know what you mean but would claim that it's either not a word or a word that shouldn't be a word. Btw yes, I am a native German speaking person.

[@fral.2708]

@@surabaya5927 No doubt about it 🤣🤣🤣

[@Antaquelas]

I am Turkish guy that’s about the move to Berlin for a job. During the job interview, I told the German HR lady about my experience with the German visa process and how hard it was for me to get a tourist visa. She directly told me “We don’t need tourists. We have them enough already. What we need is skilled workers.” I was kinda surprised the way she told me this directly :D But I liked the honesty.

[@Moe5Tavern]

People complaining about Germans sticking to the rules don't realize that the reason they want to live in Germany is because people there respect the rules and therefore also enforce them when others break them. It makes society work. They are so ignorant it's sad. Nobody wants to live in an unstable country where rules are just suggestions, but everybody complains once you have to adapt to the rules.

[@gunwu9084]

Right. Clean streets, clean houses, quiet rental flats were not possible if ppl would not stick to the rules. In some cultures they throw the garbage right out of the window and don't care about it. Complaining a neighbor had complained they were being too loud is "intruding their life", obviously it does not occur to them that it was vice versa: they intruded into the life of their neighbors when being too loud.

[@KlePhys]

Love your comment, and it's also the reason I want to live in Germany:)

[@elesendar]

Indeed. This is why I always wished to live in germany.

[@Moe5Tavern]

@KlePhys @elesendar If you ever come to Berlin you will see that by now many people with the attitude that some people in the video have, have created a culture of more neglect and less consideration. In smaller cities it's still the norm though or generally in the south of the country :)

[@AntonioBarsanio]

I remember a story of WW2. The Germans were bombarbing certain area in Russia where troops and artillery were being moved. The Russians realized that the Germans came at a certain time, ON TIME and they figured, we'll move at a different time and they did! MORAL : Improvisation is also a good thing!

[@briantitchener4829]

As a Brit I've lived in Germany. Germans are a mixed bunch when it comes to character traits. I've met and know some very friendly neighbours but also some ignorant ones. I have to admit that I've been shouted at or else made to feel uncomfortable more times in Germany than anywhere I have been. Directness doesn't have to be rudeness. A lot of shop staff in Germany need to go on a Customer Service training course.

[@sonjagatto9981]

😉Customer Service .... I mostly agree. However you find very friendly people too. Just be direct and tell them...Der Kunde is Koenig...watch their face. 🤣💖

[@xxxmrsfishxxx]

Always take care of your own action... its not like you brits are all friendly 😉

[@HansEgonMattek]

So it is like everywhere else. I recommend to you to try to by something in a grocery store in Paris by just talking English... they will just ignore you.

[@briantitchener4829]

@@HansEgonMattek Yes, Paris is famous for its rude waiters. But in Germany, even if you speak in german a good number of shop staff still remain cold and indifferent. You very rarely find that attitude anywhere in the U.S. or Britain. There, customer is king, as another replier rightly points out they should be. Some EU countries need lessons in inter-personal skills I think.

[@fral.2708]

Most Germans working in that kind of jobs are lazy, above all in Berlin and Eastern Germany. Normally they are people who did not make any Ausbildung or kinds of Ausbildungen for jobs which do not bring any perspective of progression or improvement. The German job market is very stiff and rigid (like everything in Germany) and it has not anything like 'climb the career ladder' from ,say, clerk to manager, how it happens in the US. These people are just frustrated from life and put their frustration on the customer. Simple as that.

[@BlackAdder665]

Keep in mind that Berliners are very direct even for German standards, sometimes to the point of being downright rude. In German it's (euphemistically?) called "Schnauze mit Herz", i.e. roughly "big mouth, but big heart". The "policing" / social control is a thing throughout the country, I'd say, but it varies in intensitiy and frequency. Seems to be more prominent in the southern regions. The thought behind it is not as bad as the behaviour might seem to foreigners: we think the rules are there for the benefit of all. But to be of benefit everyone has to stick to them. So when someone doesn't we like to "remind" them. And some of our compatriots are grumpy fellas so it comes across accordingly. Those are the ones that stay in your mind, though. All the other ones, the normal, maybe even polite and friendly ones, are more quickly forgotten.

[@BenHatira]

"The "policing" / social control is a thing throughout the country, I'd say, but it varies in intensitiy and frequency. Seems to be more prominent in the southern regions. " what a bunch of nonsense ever been to BaWü ? But i guess you think the southern region of Germany is mainly Bavaria ..

[@BlackAdder665]

@@BenHatira What's your point? Are you saying BaWü doesn't have that?

[@davinnicode]

Berliners are just using the „more direct“ as a scapegoat to just be rude. I‘ve experienced it so many times in Berlin although I grew up in Germany and know how to react to the German directness. People from the Ruhrpott are also pretty direct but they aren’t rude.

[@sonjagatto9981]

Very well stated. 👍

[@sonjagatto9981]

@@BenHatira Was is denn Dein Problem? He never said anything like that. 🤨 Relax and be kind. Kindness changes everything❣

[@EmergentStardust]

I lived in Germany for two years and found communication to be so wonderful. It can't be summarized as just direct. Very functional and organized though. I did however once almost get arrested when a police officer told me I need to have my bike light on and I laughed thinking he was joking. I do think they have the best driving in the world because of how well they follow the rules. In general it's great in Western Europe but it's truly fantastic in Germany.

[@KatzeMelli]

you’re invisible in the darkness without your light so therefore you’re a risk to yourself and others. That’s why you’re required to have a light. I always thought it was an exaggerated rule. Then I started driving and had a couple close encounters with invisible bikers at night. I wear a helmet and full on reflective gear with all of the lights. 😅

[@martinburke362]

The German language is a inflected language and forces the speaker to make definite statements which can seem to be a bit abrupt especially when communicating with English speakers which is a prepositional language and tends to make it's speakers propose a statement as a question or enquiry

[@MickeyMouse-el5bk]

Great and true comment! 💯 Language is mentality and thus culture! Very important!

[@FHi349]

Interesting

[@toomuchinformation]

What you say about English pertains more to New Zealanders.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

What??? I'm American and but also speak Dutch (a cousin of German, I guess) . You can be direct or indirect in English and Dutch very easily. You simply "soften" your approach with certain phrases. "Would you mind...". "Sorry but it's not allowed...". It's called being respectful.

[@MrPartch]

i am fluent in both german and english, and this is simply not true.

[@zaphodbeeblebrox9443]

I'm a bit surprised. Firstly, directness is equated with rudeness and then I got a lesson in directness when I read the comments about Germans.

[@joanofarcxxi]

Well, you can be direct without being rude. And smile and show kindness, being friendly, while still being direct. I do it all the time, and I am Portuguese. But I lived in Sweden, and I do believe that perhaps Swedes are similar to Germans in that sense. I was actually cut off in line by people in Sweden as if I wasn't there at all, and once while I was walking to the train station, a guy yelled at me "sieg heil". I didn't even know what that meant until much later when I asked. I can't remember seeing people smile much not even at babies. It was depressing.

[@freecheese4143]

I bet i would like Germans.

[@YasaswiGomes]

Not unhoflich because of Psalms.

[@santadog9]

I'm a dually US/German citizen. I prefer German directness over fake US friendly any day.

[@KVuong-rv2hs]

I prefer people telling direct if I am wrong or if they don'tlike something about me. Do it fast and understandable. Much better than talking behind my back.

[@teekanne15]

don't got to West-Germany (NRW) then. Everyone is gossiping there.

[@KVuong-rv2hs]

@teekanne15 It depends on which cities in NRW. Most people who like gossiping live in Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), especially in small towns. Disliked it there, I have moved to the South after university.

[@ricardocima]

You like shouting too?

[@melrosepark4463]

You just don’t know that they also like to talk against someone behind their back.😂 join a Verein and you will know.

[@melrosepark4463]

@@KVuong-rv2hsI am in the south and they do gossiping too. I think that’s human nature.😂

[@ptrcrispy]

Wait till they find out about the "Anzeigenhauptmeister" 1:50

[@gunwu9084]

🤣

[@ShredAstair]

er ist privatperson

[@InNOutmuncher]

What is that, sorry I’m American .

[@anonymousandauthentic8704]

Exactly what I thought ;D

[@leslieberwick7315]

@@InNOutmuncherhe’s a guy in Germany who as a hobby reports parking violations 🤣🤣🤣

[@holliecroft3536]

I'm a respectful, law-abiding person from the UK. I've been yelled at so many times since living in Bavaria - for shutting the gate too loudly, standing in the way, parking 1cm over the line etc. I don't mind being told I've done it wrong, it helps me get it right next time. But it could definitely be said without the anger! Contrary to popular belief, Brits do say what we think, the truth is just wrapped in politeness and sarcasm. Other Brits know what we really mean, though I understand it can be confusing if you're not used to it. I wish we could have a combination of the two cultures, honest but still polite!

[@vomm]

Why should it be said without what you consider "anger"? Do Germans come to the UK and say "Brits should say things with more anger"? Just adopt to it. It makes no sense to want to change another culture. I really don't get this attitude. It's normal you're not used to what you call "anger" and it's okay if you don't like it but it's wrong to judge about it like your culture is better when in reality you're just adpopted to your own.

[@holliecroft3536]

@@vomm thank you for sharing, I see your point, perhaps I am being more sensitive because of my background. The people I’ve encountered have definitely been shouting at me though. The cultures aren’t that different, I know anger when I see it. But I’m definitely not saying all Germans are like that! Actually I'm not particularly proud of my culture in general, I've lived in Japan and much prefer the super politeness and community-centred approach there. My point is I'm a good person who's trying not to do anything wrong. And still I seem to be constantly being told I'm doing everything wrong in Germany. I'm trying my hardest, I can't do any better than that!

[@sonjagatto9981]

@@holliecroft3536 I am sorry you have such a hard time. However I know some British people living in Germany and like it there. I can't believe your doing "everything" wrong. If you do not follow the rules and someone is telling you not very nicely...You could ask them to tell you in a nicer tone of voice and tell them you did not know and will correct the error. That is a very direct answer and I believe it would be appreciated. Good luck...I hope you encounter nicer people. 🌍🌳💖

[@fral.2708]

@@vomm Hey buddy, she was not judgemental at all. I am an Italian MMA practicioner living in Berlin, 192 cm × 91 kgs. Come to me and say to me things with anger and then you must cope with the anger coming back to you ;). Just saying: you cannot overreact and then expect that anger does not get back to you somehow ;). I think that in Europe a basic politeness for this sort of petty things should be normal, right ? How would you feel if once in Italy or UK everyone is threating you as sh*t just because you don't know / you don't understand some rules ?

[@moestavernee]

But WHY do you shut the gate loudly? WHY do you had to park outside the line? We are germans we like to be correct. Should know this before moving in.

[@mariokrings]

The Iranian guy just doesn't like to follow rules. Not sure if going to Germany was his best best decision... 😂😂😂

[@sonjagatto9981]

👍😉Iranian people are nice also...however our rules are not theirs and therefore we are the funny and annoying Germans. I guess I would have to respect the rules in Iran.

[@mariokrings]

@@sonjagatto9981 and thats what germans expect him to do here with our rules.

[@surabaya5927]

​@@sonjagatto9981 which is exactly the reason why I would never ever go there (Iran, I mean). You are right though, Iranians are nice people.

[@MrSheduur]

@@sonjagatto9981 and from what we know, not following rules in Iran is actually pretty dangerous for germans, while all he gets might be some trash talk from a local grandma...

[@teekanne15]

My uncle is from Iran came to germany in the 70s and is now more german than most. He's an engineer and works for the city and loves that everything is regulated and it works if everyone follows the rules.

[@yoyokatchonga9124]

"Germans are like police" "In Iran, when you eat a banana in public you will get shamed" Sure 🤔

[@Gilren1]

... In Iran you get stoned when you don't wear a hijab ... .

[@angosalvo5734]

It is considered rude to eat in public in many cultures. The reason behind that is that you don't want to make hungry people carving and wanting what you eat especially if they cannot afford it, like poors or small kids .

[@darleneschneck]

I’m 8th generation Pennsylvania German American, and I can tell you this culture followed us across the Atlantic.

[@balticdubai950]

It is genetically, love.

[@kellymcbright5456]

Directness is an attitude of Germany in general (as the Netherlands, too). But that does not have to be rude; it is just honest and frank. The rude way to express something is an attitude of Berlin's culture.

[@ftdecastrolondon]

Horrible. I could never live in Beriin. Actually there is nothing special there.

[@mariokrings]

The only thing which surprises me is that British people are complaining about our directness. As if they were any different.... 😂😂 Don't get me wrong: I love it, because in the UK you get that directness usually served with a huge dose of sarcasm or cynicism. Guys, just relax and be able to laugh about yourself or maybe apologize for something your did wrong. And everything should be good. That works in the UK and in Germany. Even though I have to admit, that British people can be very laid-back being directly which doesn't cause the same account of tension you may experience in Germany.

[@surabaya5927]

It's usually not rude, but having been living in various places on this planet for extended periods I totally get the looks of pure shock on e. g. Asian faces at times.

[@surabaya5927]

I loved West Berlin. I will never go there again because I don't want this memory destroyed.

[@surabaya5927]

​@@mariokringsBritish directness has a lot more finesse

[@lukaboyle4144]

A lot of these things that they say Germans are strict about are just basic norms that everyone should follow. I dont want to walk on the pavement and have cyclists ringing their bells behind me doing three times my speed, oh, and please don't hold train doors open, it's inconsiderate and can cause problems even if you think it won't (I am a Londoner, I see it all the time, the train drivers hate it just as much here!). This isn't a German thing, it's just basic consideration. Yes, the Germans are more Karen-ey about it but sometimes I wish we polite Brits could do the same.

[@vomm]

Yeah maybe the people who are not able to differ between directness and rudeness are those who are not respecting the culture of the country they're in. It's just normal people get rude if you don't follow basic social rules of a society like being loud at night in a culture which is used to quietness or if you ride your bike on the pavement in a culture which archived high social standards and want's keep them. For example Germany has almost 6x less dead people in traffic accidents than India (4 vs 23 per 100k). How is it rude if they want to keep things safe and civilized. Not respecting rules in other countries is the real rudeness

[@drstefankrank]

The train will also depart late and leads to a chain reaction for the whole day, just because a few people were late to the train.

[@akmalhassan]

Your videography device is awsome. Literally giving the best output.

[@yourtruebrit]

awww thanks man yeah glad you noticed, 10 bit raw Sony A7S3

[@MrPartch]

you can call it a camera

[@leitaochen8889]

Germans are direct, and they can accept people do the same to them. That's fair.😄😄

[@EverythingEuro]

Being direct is rude. It's not something to be proud of.

[@leitaochen8889]

@@EverythingEuro Agree to disagree. Although I’m not a German, I kind of appreciate their straightforwardness. On the other hand, faked politeness is rather annoying.

[@EverythingEuro]

Faked politeness got us so far as a species and separated us from Animals. Being straightforward all the time is considered uncivil, which makes Germans uncivilized.

[@EverythingEuro]

@@leitaochen8889 I don't understand why my original comment was deleted. In my opinion, not being straightforward sets us apart from animals and helps us progress as a species.

[@RobinFalkowski]

@@EverythingEuro youre weak pc woke p*ssy

[@I_Willenbrock_I]

People in Berlin are not direct. They are just rude. Since most foreigners visit Berlin, they off course think that all Germans are like that.

[@haniaboufadel309]

Munich are the strictest tbh

[@MrWasLabberschDoo]

The stories in this video sound a lot like Berliner Schnauze to me. Berlin has 110% of directness and -10% of sugarcoding

[@amm287]

Das denke ich auch. Berlin ist eine Welt für sich. Nirgendwo ist es so, wie es dort ist.

[@teckyify]

Yeah, I don't actually know this mentality from south Germany. Also I question if the people they met are all Germans or East European.

[@stevthethief]

The word is sugarcoating, not coding ;-)

[@vladtheinhaler3793]

People in the Ruhrgebiet are as direct as Berliners. No BS in the Ruhrpott.

[@Ben-bb8mo]

Berliner Schnauze does not exist anymore in the areas expats/foreigners live. It's mostly people from the South of Germany. The "police" mentality described in the video - mostly Swabians.

[@Maria.Ortega55]

I live in Dresden in Germany and I have realized that I am also very direct. I am from Latin America but I grew up in a very “honest” family (no filters) 😅 so I was very used to directness. Sometimes I have the feeling that I am way more direct than the Germans I have met 😅.

[@sonjagatto9981]

Good for you...enjoy your life in Dresden Maria. 💝

[@whitepouch0904]

It’s like that in the Philippines too we talk directly or sometimes rude/ brutally honest to family members but not to non- relative. We are polite and friendly. Which was kind of confusing to me growing up. Also, we were direct to friends and other people when we were children/ teenagers until college and had a culture shock during my first few years as an adult. Working with adult people felt like I need to act and it felt like they’re faking their friendliness and politeness

[@linajurgensen4698]

I mean Berliners are considered direct and rude even for German standards. When will easy German ever do a survey outside of Berlin? It doesn’t represent Germany at all.

[@teckyify]

Do they always make their videos in Berlin? Wtf, it's like taking Alabama as a representative for the US 😂

[@rcrinsea]

Where in Germany are people not as blunt as in Berlin? I lived in Rheinland Pfalz in the 70's and they were hella blunt!

[@EasyGerman]

We actually produce videos outside Berlin regularly, but we aren't journalists and our goal is not to find accurate representation for every question we ask. Our goal is to provide useful language learning content. :) But even if we tried to find accurate representation for the German speaking world, Berlin is still a good place to conduct interviews. We often ask the people we interview where they are from and they are from all over Germany and even Switzerland and Austria. You can check out our video on this topic and will see that most people we interviewed aren't actually from Berlin. They speak about how they had a culture shock with Berlin directness themselves.

[@BETOETE]

true, I'he heard comments of Germans in Berlin after coming back from sugary Latin American speech that they fee reprimanded in the street for their behavior!

[@linajurgensen4698]

@@EasyGerman it doesn’t matter if you think it’s not for representation, if you like it or not, foreigners will take the things people say and do in your videos seriously and about 90% of your videos are from Berlin. You’re also cooperating with a person that does representative content which is not regarded to language learning purposes.

[@clow6539]

American living in Germany here… the intense staring, the bureaucracy, point-blankness (to name a few) I joke is why Germans made good bad guys in WW2. BUT I am not complaining, just a connection there. Also there’s the systemic generational/cultural stuff still around-and that will fade out over time. I absolutely love living here and the area I’m in there are very wonderful and welcoming Germans (even the Germans say this is a special place). Whereas my husband’s area has not very friendly Germans, like outright mean/rude. It depends on the regions. What most folks don’t realize is how much quality of life they have compared to Americans, there’s always a fest going on, a sharing of tables, and wonderful conversations with strangers. It’s socially ideal here. But as they say, Germans are coconuts, hard on the outside but soft in the inside, once you’re in -your a friend for life. Americans are peaches, soft, friendly & welcoming on the outside, but hard (stone) in the inside. You can view all countries as coconuts or peaches… Japanese are peaches etc etc.

[@SchnuppenSchnappe]

As a German I hate when people just do what they want, although EVERYBODY else is respecting the rules. I feel like they think Germans are stupid. And if I am saying anything, they asking me: „who are you and what have I do with you?“… With other words: „you have to accept MY rules. As long you don’t know me personally, look away AND DONT CARE AS WE DO IN OUR COUNTRY“. And yes. For me this is just a very sad answer. I have been in their countries (turkey, North Africa) and how they don’t care about anything besides themselves is just sad and I don’t want this for my country.

[@marioarguello6989]

You are a good bootlicking slave, good for you.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

Fine, but be polite.

[@SchnuppenSchnappe]

@@GUITARTIME2024 of course, because I also fear some people. But I have the feeling, mostly they take it as criticism and veeeery persona and they start to insult me.

[@ricardocima]

@@SchnuppenSchnappe it's fine to be obssessed by rules if that's the culture in your own country, but like the guys said, some people think they can shout at others.

[@SchnuppenSchnappe]

@@ricardocima who is Talking about „shouting“? I Never mentioned it

[@Atilla-m9i]

Smiling is not for every culture. Some cultures view smilers as idiots. Germans look stoic but generally good people once you get to know them.

[@mickimicki]

So the Iranian guy wants to ride his bicycle on the sidewalk, endangering pedestrians, but he can't deal with people having a snack on public transport. How ironic!

[@armin911.]

he is just kidding, you don't get that !?

[@SA-gu3ed]

In all other countries where people are more indirect, people will say one thing to your face but do another, plus they will talk shit behind your back. In Germany at least they say it like it is.

[@Oderoderuchte]

Jenau hier fühle ich mich nich ,,betrogen‘ ansonsten hab ich gar nicht oder zu spät bemerkt(in Polen zB) dass jemand böse Absicht hat das liegt leider an mir:(

[@val-schaeffer1117]

Directless is bullying if it is ONLY Germans spewing "diectness". Try being direct with Germans. E.g. in ICE Ruhebereich when Germans are loud, try telling it on their face.

[@gulliverthegullible6667]

I have been living amongst British and Australian people for more than a decade and only recently realised that I don t understand them at all. Their coded language is something that needs special instructions. It is supposed to be polite, but does nothing positve for me. 😢

[@SA-gu3ed]

@@gulliverthegullible6667 Brits are master manipulators. Don’t listen to what they say but observe more or less what they actually do. Let me give you an example: 100 years ago they filled up ancestors of Australians on ships and left them in the shores of Gallipoli to fight a war that Australians has nothing to do with. Imagine the travel time on a ship from Australia to Turkiye under the conditions of 1900s. And now imagine what images Brits must have painted to manipulate Australians. Always keep this in mind when you are interacting with British people.

[@val-schaeffer1117]

@@gulliverthegullible6667 Widely off topic. German "directness" is only partially meant to dispel misunderstandings. Unless Germans accept others being direct to them, it is basically ways to assert dominance in MY COUNTRY.

[@ello7222]

Hello, this is a German. I am a big fan of clear words. I hate it when people only speak in a roundabout way. If something is good, then you say so. If something is bad, the same applies. That prevents misunderstandings. Why should I sugarcoat someone's beard when I don't agree with something? You'll say it later anyway. By the way, Berlin is not dirty, it‘s very dirty.

[@sonjagatto9981]

I agree with all❣😉

[@GUITARTIME2024]

There's a middle ground. That's what Germans and Dutch don't get. I suspect autism is rampant.

[@yossarianmcnulty7979]

Ya I guess the Germans were too direct with the Jews. With their precision and efficiency they almost exterminated Jews. German people need to chill a bit. 😂

[@ricardocima]

What about shouting? What's your opinion on that?

[@yossarianmcnulty7979]

@@ello7222 yes Germans are very precise in saying so. They didn't like Jewish people in the 1930s and they said so. There was all clarity and no misunderstanding there. Final Solution meant final solution 🙏

[@Royalbob123]

That Indian kid who said Germans stare but don’t smile back, and he acts as if looking at his phone . Funny 😂 I am from India who worked with Germans for a long time and felt their directness was so refreshing and I quickly adopted it. They are very nice people once you know ( 🍻) them. ✌️😊

[@JhilmilBasu]

Totally the opposite for me. I'm also indian but had some of the worst experiences. Experiences differ across people. Good for you that things worked great

[@Royalbob123]

@@JhilmilBasu oh really, can you share your experiences?

[@kamakita8698]

Also, no one gets more stared at than a white person in India 😂

[@kamakita8698]

​@@JhilmilBasuworse experiences than in India? Impossible!

[@Pratim-z7l]

​@kamakita8698 why not? Have you lived in Germany 🇩🇪?

[@jewblin5305]

I was once in germany and my gf asked a waiter in restaurant: „Where’s the toilet?” And that direct german person replied: „We say here - excuse me where’s the toilet, please?” In german of course, despite being asked in english. More like rude and whiny than direct and honest 😂 We were tourists in summer, in a touristy place in Travemunde. At least the place is beautiful 😘

[@sezwo5774]

So why did you not preempt your question with an attention evoking "Excuse me?" It is polite and good practice. Do you live in the Colonies among oafs, for example Americans. I have lived for decades in the USA where no one pre-empts their questions with anything, Colonist just spit questions as they go. I am a bit hard of hearing and English is not my first tongue so I am almost always surprised by the question and usually must ask for it to be repeated. This never ever happens in Europe! I frequently decide to ignore the question, ...but oafs can get angry fast. Civilisation is something to cherish and cultivate! America is basically a land of the uncultured, ...a colony that just like other colonies, former colonies, cannot compare to civilized locations/societies.

[@jewblin5305]

@ By the german habit of being direct.

[@edl6398]

There is a difference between being honest and being a rude jerk.

[@juicyfruit4378]

Germans think it's being honest and direct SO LONG as it's them doing it. When you do it them, then it's considered rude and being a jerk.

[@edl6398]

@ interesting

[@juicyfruit4378]

@@edl6398 Very much so and very accurate as well.

[@foljs5858]

Think of the latter when you think of Germany

[@windows95_de]

@@juicyfruit4378sometimes we love to give each other shit 😂 and yes it can endup in arguments

[@Splidtter]

I can totaly relate to the guy telling the Iranian "You can't ride here!" - I do that too 😂 But only because i had several accidents because of "Ghost Riders/Drivers" (Actually a trem in Germany for Riders/Drivers moving in oncoming traffic)

[@alfonsjones5798]

2:55 is this guy serious? You are blocking the door, no wonder trains are always late with people like him..

[@tsunami8248]

Me as a half german half somali,growing up in Germany. I wasn't even aware I'm direct,but my somali family despises me for it. I don't like the laziness and chaotic vibe of others. The bus drivers are right lmao. People are standing in between the doors,instead of moving INTO the bus lmao..like where's your logic? The bus driver can't take us anywhere when you stand in between the doors. So 😋

[@moestavernee]

Genau so ist es 😅

[@jaichhabra6458]

Being honest & straight forward is a bad trait ! When

[@MariaO22]

Japanese girl’s description at 6:19 is extremely cute but accurate unfortunately 😂 I usually don’t comment on things but whoever you are bless your heart really

[@ursulasmith6402]

Girls are not puppies! No respect for females! 💯😡

[@roz6573]

@@MariaO22 This is a great point. Japan is also a society predicated on strict adherence to rules and social norms. Even more so than Germany. Yet the people were very polite and helpful. This breaks down any German argument about superior culture and following of rules etc. And yes I've been to both countries.

[@MariaO22]

@roz6573 I’m from Germany and can tell you it’s literally the opposite. People who visit Germany often consider Germans having traits that would be considered autistic in other societies. And not autistic in a positive genius kind of way but rather asocial and unreasonable without the ability to think. Thinking is a big problem here, since everyone is taught to only follow rules blindly.. as seen in our nonsense bureaucratic system. That is also why Germany is light years behind in many sectors.. there is just no innovation or out-of-the-box-thinking because everyone has the same character.

[@daylightmoon7285]

"If you have a German friend, you have a true friend." This is very true.

[@val-schaeffer1117]

The word "if" is the catch. I know second generations born and raised in Germany with hardly any German friend. Germans hardly make any friendship with non Germans, especially across racial lines. Even their friendship otherwise, are entirely transactional. I help you with dog sitting, you help me with relocation.

[@sternleiche]

@@val-schaeffer1117 It is rather the other way around, from my experience.

[@val-schaeffer1117]

@@sternleiche What could be the "other way around" in this case? I do not know many Germans growing up in NIgeria and India, and struggling to socialise with the locals. Eh?

[@val-schaeffer1117]

@@sternleiche Elaborate your bonker comment with specific examples, including ethnicity and social stand of the people involved. E.g. "Accepting" a blonde Hungarian does not carry same weight as Sri Lankan. Innit?

[@sternleiche]

@@val-schaeffer1117 From my experience Germans are very open to a mixed racial or cultural friendship but the non-Germans rather staying deliberatly within their own groups.

[@deepblue188]

Do Germans stare??? Oh, are they??? Really??? It’s unbelievable!!! I've been three times to Germany but nobody stared at me when I was walking. I found Germans cold and aloof but respectful.

[@miri-dz9oy]

As a German, I agree. We usually don't stare and would usually consider it to be rude. I wouldn't say we are cold. Most of us just need some time to warm up to a stranger and it doesn't matter if that stranger is a German or someone from another country. I've noticed that to be true the further north you travel in Europe actually. And there is also quite a difference between large cities and small towns or rural areas I would say.

[@Piden-l4b]

I saw you from the corner! But you didn’t see me !

[@miri-dz9oy]

@RichardRunnar 💕💕🥰🤗🤗 Blessings to you and your family! Thank you for your words!❤

[@melrosepark4463]

Some people do stare but it’s more like a blank stare because when you smile at them they will not smile back or recognise you.

[@Arripa-777]

@@melrosepark4463 Villagers

[@rozaucja8612]

Sounds amazing. Just a civilized society. Regards from Poland

[@olivermeineke9707]

Well, as hardly nobody learns and respects the norms of the Germans in their country, some directness is absolutely suitable if not even needed. Finally most people, who come to Germany want to benefit from a civilised system, that makes living together beneficial. So you have to follow the rules.

[@toomuchinformation]

Don't they? In what way?

[@EverythingEuro]

Being direct is considered rude, which goes against the principles of being civilized. It's important not to equate a country's economic success with the quality of its entire culture, as this is not necessarily true. Being blunt and straightforward is not something to take pride in.

[@olivermeineke9707]

@@EverythingEuro a shy or insecure person might think that way but being straight forward is a more effective way to communicate. As long as there is respect for each other, this is superior to whobbeling around. Civilisation means durably transforming the enery and motivation of the libido into culurally wishful behaviour and productivity by norms and institutions. Being straight forward just means to be sure, that most persons in your country don't feel insulted easily - which is definitely a sign of civilisation.

[@Exgrmbl]

@@EverythingEuro Silly talk. Different people have different norms, get used to it.

[@sonjagatto9981]

@@EverythingEuro Your Opinion...and I don't care! I do not think you understand civilized. Aber Du hast recht und ich meine Ruhe. Dein Kommentar ist mir zu dumm.

[@SlowfingerJC]

You don't have to be ultra polite in Germany because it's unlikely that the person wants to rob you or kill you. In America you have to tell your life story before having a conversation and in the UK it's always please, please, please to convince them that you are not going to rob them. I love not having to mess about with ultra politeness. You just have to accept the cultural difference.

[@surabaya5927]

Agree. Politeness is good, I like it. But I also like ice cream. Doesn't mean I have to stuff myself with it 😊

[@KRW3321]

Where I live in the US, being polite and being helpful is the norm. I think people genuinely enjoy it, but there’s also that understanding that you don’t know who you’re dealing with so it’s best to be polite. It helps people think twice before acting up. I appreciate it.

[@Nilzby]

iranian dude sounds like morty with an accent😂

[@mariokrings]

He's kinda cute, because his problem is not the German directness, but that he doesn't want to go by the rules and people here do care about rules.

[@sonjagatto9981]

@@mariokrings 👍Yes, I find him cute too. I have known a few people from Iran and found them very nice and caring. Women and Men. He just does not like our rules. 🤨🤨LOL

[@mariokrings]

@@sonjagatto9981 he better get used to it, otherwise germany might not be his place....

[@virality9000]

Haha I find his voice so funny. His voice gets high when he's excited

[@andhw9187]

It's a good trait of Germans. Greetings from Poland

[@Flitzer696M]

blocking doors on trains is the most annoying thing you can do. If others are late on a late train, they deserve to wait for the next one.

[@Daniel-gj2cd]

Bro from Iran had a lot on his heart 😂

[@virality9000]

His voice is so funny... Like Mickey mouse

[@elzian4975]

It's great that he learned the word "hobbylos", I approve a lot

[@WamuyuGatheru]

He's the most stressed by the culture! Hehe he

[@captainchaoscow]

Guy had to flee the mullah regime for being a feminist. I hope he can find happiness in Germany.

[@SonnyDarvish]

@@captainchaoscow everyone runs aways from mullahs. I came here as a skilled worker and haven't visited Iran in 7 years.

[@ccnomad]

Okay, I have a problem with the term 'direct' in this context. 'Direct' means getting straight to the point, being concise. This is not the same as asserting opinions that could just as well be left...un-asserted lol (Esp., given the topic of this video, when doing so would be presumptuous, invasive, or risk offense/insult). I'd love it if you guys would define your terms

[@yannickingermany]

The problem with this video is Definition. What is German, who is german. Easy German did a video a while back asking Germans what does it mean to be German and it was clear that people found it easier to explain what it meant to be from XYZ region or what it meant to be European but found it really difficult to explain what it meant to be German. I live in Freiburg and i don't experience none of the things in this video on regular occurrence. No one stares at me in public transportation. Once in a blue moon you see people eat in regional train but never in trams or buses. And one pedestrian has yelled "das hier ist kein Fahrradweg" at me in 3 years. Point being maybe the video should be directness in Berlin?

[@mariokrings]

Those _mexican_ kids who lived in the US have a complete other problem. If you _stare_ at someone in the US they'll take it as a provocation or people would just feel uncomfortable. And now these kids don't know what to do when someone randomly looks at them and makes eye contact. It might be awkward for them, but they have to admit that that's because of things happening in their heads.

[@melrosepark4463]

You are lucky then congratulations.

[@dnadns8453]

@@melrosepark4463 you are unlucky then, sry

[@melrosepark4463]

@@dnadns8453 ja unfortunately.

[@pako1724]

Quite interesting to see an Iranian in Germany criticizing Germans. I wonder what would happen if I criticized Iranians in Iran in front of a camera...

[@dualfluidreactor]

Iran is a shithole

[@julez8053]

It just shows why these people have problems with integration, because they don't care how things are done elsewhere - they just do things like they are used to.

[@sonjagatto9981]

Genau! 🙄🤣

[@julez8053]

Thank you, for providing me with notifications of further comments, while not accepting my own - makes perfectly sense 🤯

[@HungryForHeaven]

You should be more open for criticism and focus your arguments about what he said, not where he comes from.

[@KlugscheisserDan]

Respect our culture dudes! Stop complaining.

[@samchan1031]

but "complaining" is part of the culture

[@melrosepark4463]

@@samchan1031😂

[@bluesun2001]

Tone of voice is very important. Also, honesty and rudeness are two different things.

[@damirzanne]

I’m from Croatia, and lived in Germany for about 5 years , had lots of German friends, great people , and wonderful country , I don’t know about direct , but Germans are pretty much straight forward, no nonsense people , they’ll say what’s on their minds, no bs …

[@hoenesjuh2144]

There are rules to eating a banana in public and they are the same in every country (I guess)... while eating: -avoid eye contact -only take small bites -avoid making noises -don't talk while eating. The same goes for sausages.

[@alice-elizabeth]

I quite like the directness, but there is a fine line between being direct and just being rude. When I lived in Germany, sometimes I found what Germans said to me to be downright rude. But other times when they just say things how it is, I liked that. But the staring I found rude too, as a Brit staring is rude in our culture. I never understood why I was getting stared at so much in public, like at cafes or on the bus - am I that ugly? 😆I usually just smile or look at them before looking away, but then I still feel their eyes on me and I'm just sat there thinking 👀 ma'am... what's the problem? 😆

[@yourtruebrit]

How‘s life in England, I saw on your channel your job searching has been hard. How’s it going now ? 🙂

[@alice-elizabeth]

@@yourtruebritWell... not exactly going to plan at the moment. 😅 I'm wondering if I should've just stayed in Germany. 🙃

[@yourtruebrit]

you can still come back right on a job seeker visa right? :) @@alice-elizabeth

[@alice-elizabeth]

@@yourtruebritI kind of wish I applied for the job I saw on LinkedIn for yourtruebrit now 🙃 But I saw it when I had already moved back to the UK.

[@yourtruebrit]

But your highly skilled right. I think austria would be a great place for you and the work you do in mountains :) @@alice-elizabeth

[@ForkRat]

"Do Germans even know they are direct?" "Lets go." Turns around and starts walking

[@boudewyn]

Dutch living in Berlin for 10 years, could talk for days about this. I have a ever growing list of shops I don't go to anymore because I got treated like I was a nuisance. Like many people mentioned here, there is a difference between being direct and being rude and a lot of Berliners don't know this difference.

[@whitepouch0904]

Aren’t you Dutches direct like them?

[@Cat-r8d]

- I am from Mexico, and when I went to visit the Frankfurt area I was only a young, slender, female student in Britain when met an elderly German guy in the outskirts of Frankfurt who fought for Germany in WWII; the first thing he said to me was that “ I looked like an indigenous/native Mexican“. This directness is many a times, direct racism and is not a curiosity anymore.

[@shtm42]

直接的言い方でないと正直ではないという意見に驚いた。直接的でなくとも正直な気持ちを伝えることはできるのに。

[@temurumarov4515]

I watched EasyGerman video first, and now yours. OMG, it is such a huge difference in answers ahahah

[@albertteitsson9359]

I have never noticed that German directness but the Dutch definitely have it.

[@surabaya5927]

If you would say you haven't noticed the Dutch directness I would have to ask 'how the hell did you miss that' 😆😆

[@mariokrings]

@@albertteitsson9359 potato potato

[@nebelland8355]

Funny enough: as a German I only learned from KZbin that Dutch people are supposed to be extremely direct. Maybe it’s because I am from the Rhein-Ruhr-area (we have a reputation for directness), but to me Dutch people always appear to be a bit nicer and relaxed than we are, as long as you don’t step on the bikelane.

[@antebaric3021]

Come to balkan ,and you will realize what means to be direct

[@Semperkras]

@@nebelland8355you are mixing directness and rudeness. Germans are more rude compared to Dutch but Dutch are more direct compared to Germans.

[@KK-rj7ij]

2:40 You are not supposed to hold train doors open, because it messes up the schedule, esp u-bahn doors. People don't get it, if everyone on every station keeps the doors open for a minute, it's going to cause massive delays and issues with the flow of the traffic. Just wait a couple of minutes and take the next one.

[@ClaraM-lr5kh]

The situation on the tube is not described in a realistic way. Germans are very tolerant concerning other cultures. Some cultures are just ignorant concerning what is appropriate in our country. When you FaceTime with your family in Peru it’s just not appropriate to do it on the tube. We might stare for a moment until you get it. Some don’t have the politeness to accept what is inappropriate in Germany. I constantly smile at foreigners from southern countries and they give me a cold stare (in my own country). It’s not kind and I am sick of being too polite.

[@curlyhairdudeify]

It's probably everyone from Latin America that treats video chats as some novelty technology... I live in the USA, and by USA customs we text. Rarely talk, or video chat. I just roll my eyes when I see them video chatting.

[@sonjagatto9981]

OMG you stared and smiled at them. 🤨🤣We can't get it right...no matter what we do. In some countries you cannot smile at a child. I am Bavarian and I understand that life but the world has become very difficult for us all. Different culture...different expactations. Jedem Menschen recht getan...ist eine Kunst die Niemand kann. 🌍🌳 Altes Sprichwort❣

[@ClaraM-lr5kh]

@@sonjagatto9981 Genau. Meine oben geschilderten Erfahrungen haben sich vorwiegend in München angespielt. Ich habe Kinder und wenn ich an Haltestellen stand oder in der U-Bahn, dann habe ich manchmal andere Mütter angelächelt (aus bestimmten Kulturen). Nur Kälte und Überheblichkeit. Sogar wenn ich mit meiner herzlichen Art bei Obsthändlern auf dem Markt eingekauft habe. Nur Kälte. Ich habe mich so fremd gefühlt. In der Straßenbahn FaceTiming auf Bulgarisch, Spanisch etc. Kein Lächeln. Nur Egoismus. Und was ist mit unserer Kultur? I mog nimmer! 😀 Lasst‘s mi in Rua 🫶🏻

[@toomuchinformation]

I think you've got it the wrong way round. Why stare at people "until they get it". Why not say something instead? They can't read your minds. And smiling at people who haven't smiled or looked at you would also be weird to me.

[@windows95_de]

When a berlin person is rude to you just respond with following sentence: "dit is mir doch Banane du Pflaume"

[@MillicentOums]

For the bus driver being is logic,because to repair those doors when brocken is very expensive and germans like long lasting things.

[@LogitechXibanga]

unless its a blitzkrieg

[@TheSwissChalet]

As an American, I think rules are optional. We're not all sheep that will blindly follow "the rules", hell no.

[@maxrollwage161]

The "Are you hobbylos?" by the Iran guy killed me 😂

[@AlexKomnenos]

As an America I’ve been to Germany multiple times. Yet I don’t complain about German culture while I’m visiting THEIR country. I don’t prefer their style of communication but when I’m there that’s the way things are and it doesn’t matter if I don’t like it. Germans can be as direct as they want to in their homeland. If I were to move to Germany I would have to get over myself and assimilate to German culture.

[@ShroomsieHead]

I'm Albanian and soon will move to Germany. Common things between our cultures is the staring and saying hello to neighbors (since these were a few of the things mentioned in the video). So I guess I'm already used to these things 😅 One thing that I personally like is followings rules. Even though I come from a pretty laid back country, the lack of order annoys me and I think I'll adapt well to German order rules, because I find it helpful. One thing that I worry about tho' is finding friends. Idk how it is like in Germany, because you can't generalize circa 84 million people, but I hope that I find real friends and build non-transactional relations, just like the ones I have with my friends in my home country. We'll see 😊

[@moestavernee]

If you are female and open minded you will have friends very soon in most parts of the country, maybe not in rural areas. If you are male it is more complicated i think. Maybe other albanian or immigrants will be your friends, germans maybe not. Depends a little bit of how educated you are.

[@andreasrademacher5715]

1. Learn the language. 2. mix with locals. Don't go to your people in the sub culture. Real locals. Not left wing social justice warrior city people. Look out for a "Verein" that has at core a subject of your liking, be it sports, or gardening, etc. 3. Hardcore German: Join the voluntary fire brigade or Schützenverein.

[@melrosepark4463]

My experience in Germany is not easy to make friends if you don’t speak German and not into Verein. I am out going so it’s kind of easy for me. I joined few Vereins and also willing to do volunteering in my community that’s how I feel at home. Germans are very social though mostly within a group. I have more social life than my German husband.😂

[@zhongsheng-yuan5277]

As an asian I recognize the Japanese hand shake accompanied by a slight bow immediately, its so cute!

[@michaeluhlenbruck5593]

Leider wird vieles Missverstanden, ich gebe mal ein Beispiel : Als ich vor einigen Jahren mal wieder im Ruhrgebiet war (wo Ich Geboren bin) ging ich zu einem Friseur um mir die Haare schneiden zu lassen. Ich kam ins Geschäft und die Friseuse fragte mich, was sie für mich tun könnte, meine Antwort. Können sie an diesem Kopf noch etwas retten (mit einem Lächeln9, Ihre Antwort. die haare können wir Ihnen schneiden, mit dem Gesicht müssen sie leben (ebenfalls mit einem Lächeln9. Mann könnte das jetzt als "Rude "oder aber als "Ehrlich" empfinden und beleidigt sein, oder aber man versteht den Scherz bzw Humor dahinter ! Oft sind es kleine Scherze über die man Lachen sollte. Wer allerdings Regeln nicht einhält bzw nicht wirklich Willens ist, diese zu verstehen und ein zu halten, der sollte sich nicht wundern, wenn Menschen Ihn/Sie zurechtweisen, auch im Harschen Ton, wenn man schon Öfters darauf hingewiesen wurde !

[@sonjagatto9981]

Ja genau...auch ich liebe solche Scherze. Leider blickt da nicht jeder durch...nur die "Einheimischen". 😘

[@surabaya5927]

Good example!

[@RodebertX]

Ooof xd

[@Antonnick]

Etwas ähnlich erlebt beim Frisör. Vor einige Jahre habe ich im Laden nachgefragt ob ich einen 5mm Haarschnitt haben könnte? Die Frisörin hat beantwortet, dass es ihr Leid tut, sie hat lediglich einen Abstandstück für den Rasierer entweder in 4 oder 6mm. Tja! Was tun? 😄

[@turnoff7572]

"Im from Switzerland"😂😂 sure buddy

[@NorthPoleSun]

so true. Who does he think he's fooling?

[@Pratim-z7l]

His parents might have settled there since decades, I once met a Bangladeshi origin lady in Italy 🇮🇹

[@tawharanui5011]

Oh my goodness, pleasantries pleasantries pleasantries blah, blah blah, blah blah blah. I love the directness of German people.

[@wilhelmschwurtzel2384]

Dude from Iran is on helium

[@alexspata]

I lived in Nürnberg for a year and now for 6 months I moved to Hamburg, my experience it's not at all like described by these individuals.. especially if you struggle a bit to learn German, so maybe that's like a Berlin thing. Oh, and I also find the Spanish people annoying when talking loud all the time and "expressing" their feelings, that's rude, not a "cultural" thing... I feel like the majority of expats forget that they're in an other civilized country and are not thankful at all for the good things they got here, they don't want to integrate, and others suffer from a perceived inexistent feeling of being discriminated (I forgot the exact word)

[@toomuchinformation]

"They don't want to integrate", but foreigners (and some Germans) say that it's hard to make German friends. Shouldn't it be a two way thing?

[@MrSheduur]

@@toomuchinformation it is always very subjective and no two stories are alike. for example, I have been friends with a former US military guy for a long time, he used to date my sister when we were younger and he is also a black guy, which ofc can be an issue when it comes to finding friends in a mainly caucasian society, but he was also very willing to adjust to german life and the rules of society and he never ran into integration issues, because he was outgoing and made friends with many germans, including my own peer group. But we also have friends from south korea, who are here since around six years now and barely speak any german, because they tend to stay in a south korean bubble here in germany where they have their own church and stick to themselves, apart from when we invite them to spend christmas or birthdays with us. They are both well adjusted persons and willing to mingle, but from what I can see, they are not exactly willing to integrate when they still can barely communicate. They are very nice people, but at the same time I also have to say they are ignorant in the way they handle a very real problem when it comes to integrate into society. It feels like cherrypicking to me. They like germany for what it is, but still want to stick to just looking from the sidelines in a sort of korean island inside of germany...

[@toomuchinformation]

@@MrSheduur I think it depends on where you're from. Someone from the Anglosphere (UK, US, Canada, Australia and NZ) even if they're of African or Asian descent will find it easier to mix. The US Military guy being from the US AND the Military will probably get a better reception from Germans as well; others have been there before him. There's still a language barrier but less so. People from Europe generally and esp the surrounding countries will obviously find it easier to integrate. The further away you get from that the harder it is for both foreigners to integrate and Germans to accept them. There's also the context of if they came on their own or if they came with their compatriots. If they're on their own then the motivation to make friends is much greater. If they're in a couple of with a group, then it's less so, especially when their own culture differs so much from Germany's. So I don't think it is subjective. I think that there are clear indicators which point towards whether someone is more likely to integrate or not and how much easier it'll be for them to be accepted.

[@Jwd33]

As a German I think that at first we have a lot of elders who grew up with much less foreigners then today, so they keep the rules and want others to keep it too. In this time now we have people from all over the world here and each of them grew up in a different culture and it's nearly impossible that everybody lived their culture the same way like in their homeland. Example, in some cultures is it ok when the children play in summertime outside up to 12:00 at night, 100% a german naighbor will shout out of the window or call the police because of the noise. For some cultures is ok to make a barbecue on a balkony with 8 people ect. German culture can be hard for strangers. Me too, I like to look at other people on a bus stop or on the street and from there I always come in contact with people, having a smalltalk or even just smile. To stare is not always a negative sign! Not like inna subway of New York, where nobody have the courage to look at each other to avoid trouble.

[@plerpplerp5599]

The English are too polite to be honest. The Germans are too honest to be polite. 😂

[@val-schaeffer1117]

Try being honest with Germans. Here is a dose of honesty: Germans are rude, racist bullies, who use language (and their stout stature) for the purpose of exclusion and arm twisting.

[@saba1030]

​@@val-schaeffer1117 Are you talking about yourself?!!

[@val-schaeffer1117]

@@saba1030 I am neither German nor British nor Australian.

[@saba1030]

@@val-schaeffer1117 And? Still doing German bashing on virtuell every comment here? The attributes you're spouting about Germans rather fit yourself...whatever nationality you might have...

[@val-schaeffer1117]

@@saba1030 Germans are not exactly a lovely cuddly fluffy bunch. Are they?

[@shanefromsydney2025]

As an Australian (Sydney "City Boy") I think Germans are just very smart people. Their rational people & very friendly as travellers. That's why no one really gets Germans. I mean look at Brits 🤒

[@warrent1490]

As an American 5 years in Germany, I have definitely had issues with the "German bluntness " but what I am finding out is that it only works in certain situations, for example a grocery store line, Germans will not form 1 line, drives me crazy, and once a German has said something to you, they can't handle any type of rebuttal or even someone telling them to mind their own business. I have learned this weeknes and I do all the time now, and 99% of the time I laugh after they walk away.

[@Westpark16]

❤🇺🇸Understand completely. IN america we really do mind our business We are not going to correct someone who is jaywalking or not recycling properly or walking in bike lane Certainly if you cut in front of someone in line someone may say something but being a general KAREN and calling out or reporting minor "rule" violations is definitely not looked upon favorably .

[@NON_biodegradable]

Hell yeah aMURICA

[@ricardocima]

Exactly. You need to talk back. Works in Italy too.

[@sparty1928]

Mate, you got it! Even as a German I had to learn this from my mom: "Das geht Sie gar nichts an!" or shouting back at the angry old man.

[@KRW3321]

I’ve definitely had to tell people to mind their own business. I understand being politely corrected in certain situations, but being in people’s business for no reason is quite annoying. I was standing outside waiting for my ride with my crying toddler when a German woman walking by stopped, stared and rudely declared, “The child is crying”. I told her to keep walking. She wasn’t too happy with me, but in truth, she didn’t have to stop and listen to my toddler crying.

[@timoreiswolf3313]

Probably, Berlin is not exactly the right spot to jugde Germany. It has been split and surrounded, if you remember.

[@mariokrings]

And that explains? Right.... Nothing 😂😂

[@checkcommentsfirst3335]

@@mariokringsBerliners are really their own kind. The term „Berliner Schnauze“ highlights that ;)

[@gonzalezsantelices6203]

I think the way Germans are being direct. Some times they dont think really well cause they just want to say it out loud. I have learned that let your words be few. As a Filipino living in Germany for almost a decade. I combined the two cultures in a good way. Being direct with politeness is the best thing to do. Germans are so direct. But if u do the same to them. They are the ones who gets offended as well. I have nothing against being direct and I like it but... It should be must in the right time saying those words and right person. Cause if Germans will be in other country. They will get punch from other people that who are not used to that kind of gesture.

[@Arripa-777]

They have a lack of diplomacy. To be direct in some occasions is good but not always. Sometimes to be too direct, is disrespecting the boundaries of others.

[@maureenmckenna5220]

We are taught, as we grow up, to be careful about what we say and how we say it. If you grow up with people just always being blunt and straight about everything, then that’s how you treat others when you grow up. It can be both good and bad. Tough to take, but honest.

[@myriamgraff6073]

Soy de Argentina y estoy tratando de aprender alemán. Conozco algunos alemanes y creo que la mayoría es directa, dicen lo que piensan ( acá diríamos sin filtro o sin anestesia jajaja). Le guste o no a su interlocutor. Eso a veces no cae muy simpático y a los latinos no nos gusta mucho ese trato. Pero reconozco que muchas cosas serian mas simples si fuesemos mas directos...Muy buenos los videos de Easy German! Cary und Janush sind serh sympatish: Danke!!!🤩

[@EasyGerman]

Muchas gracias 😍

[@grummelmonster-in6254]

@@myriamgraff6073 Es gracioso, cuando era joven pasé un año de intercambio en un país latinoamericano. Y hasta entonces nunca me consideraba la típica alemana, no era muy organizada ni muy directa o muy puntual y al contrario me veia muy espontánea. Y tenía la idea que no se podía generalizar una cultura. Sin embargo llegué a puntos que incluso para mi ha sido un reto vivir con la espontaneidad en la vida diaria. No me podia imaginar que no no hubo horarios fijos para autobuses u otros medios de transporte y al principio siempre me preocubaba que la gente con los que quedè no iban a venir a buscarme porque pasaban por mi casa con una hora de “retrazo” (des de mi punto de vista). También el concepto de lo que era buen educado y lo que era más de eso (quiero decir congraciarse) era muy interesante para mi. Quiero decir que muchas veces la gente decía cosas que para mi ya era más que amable, me parecían ya babosos. Pero con los meses que pasaban logrè más y más de entender ese tipo de ser y tambien podia adaptarme a ello. Hoy en día creo que soy una mezcla entre las dos y me gusta tener esos dos lados en mí! :)

[@ricardocima]

There's a reason why Charles V talked to his horse in german.

[@lnzifr]

I'm American, live in the US, and have German roots... I wonder how much of this directness is hardwired in our genes and how much of it is cultural - everyone in my family on the "German side" has always been extremely direct with others and we are often labeled as abrasive or rude but also direct and honest.... I feel like spending in time in Berlin the next time I travel to DE could be really refreshing!

[@linajurgensen4698]

I’ve met Americans that claim to be of German decent and they are all as American as one can get and they would probably consider 50% of customs in Germany weird or old fashioned in some way. I do think it’s more about with what you grew up with. And if I was you I would consider a different place/city when visiting Germany bc the city itself is quite ugly and the people are considered rude even for German standards.😅 Anyway let me know when your plans are finalized, I‘d love to make some suggestions for places to visit.😊

[@Richard-xu8to]

Naw not really. I was raised in the Midwest, from places with lots of German heritage. But people were never on the level of directness/rudeness of Germans. Nope, never saw that anywhere. Now a few people i knew were cheap/frugal though.

[@Elmirgtr]

I have lived in Germany for 6 years. Germans can be direct but also extremely passive-aggressive and beating around the bush. Their directness is sometimes hidden in complicated language and you gotta figure it out

[@luvjourdan]

“Asking foreigners if Germans are direct” and the dude just goes and interviews non-white germans 💀💀💀

[@val-schaeffer1117]

I spotted only a single Black German who was adopted by German couple as a child. Rest of them appear to be all first gen foreigners.

[@NorthPoleSun]

Germans are white by definition. What are you yapping about?

[@sparty1928]

Thought the same thing about the 'Ghanean' guy: "he sounds pretty German!" - because he is

[@dareo_larix]

As a german I dislike people talking around things it's inefficient and wasting time and that's more rude than being (brutally) honest

[@baskinsmichael]

Based on my professional experience, I've always felt that German directness starts as a mix of anxiety and narcissism/arrogance that is pervasive. Germans tend to always think they are the smartest person in the room and the have the most correct interpretation of a situation in all cases. It's not fun to work with and negotiate with Germans due to this behavior and thats why business partnerships between German and nonGerman companies tend to end disastrously. This type of arrogance is not unique to Germans but much more pervasive and obvious in German culture.

[@Blekzmeet]

I work in Germany for japanese company, siting in the office with both germans and japanese😂

[@weizenobstmusli8232]

At work, this behaviour goes down to every level and job. Even as the boss, you have to argue your case towards your employees. You have to convince everybody, otherwise they will do their job badly. That is a good thing, since that forces the boss to make rational decissions.

[@toomuchinformation]

​@@BlekzmeetWell that sounds like fun. Is the OP correct?

[@anthill1510]

Seldom heard such an arrogant statement as yours.

[@vornamenachname1069]

I as a German living in Japan feel like we Germans do that because to us it seems normal to just say "This is wrong" instead of "I might be wrong but I think this is wrong". Everybody in Germany knows that the speaker is just telling what he thinks is right and that he might be wrong. In other cultures omitting the "I think" part is rude as it sounds like you are 100% sure and think that you yourself know better. On the flipside, people in Germany won't be pissed if you stated something wrong. Ever seen two Germans discuss something? They can discuss for half an hour on whose opinion might be more correct and then they proceed and do their ways as if nothing happened and they did not have a 30 min debate on something. In other countries, people get frustrating by just the thought of having to debate something.

[@Urufu-san]

We love rules, and we get personally offended if people don’t adhere to them - if you are foreign, naturalized Citizen or 24 generations German. Or Gen Z, for that matter. A lot of these rules are there for a good reason. Not riding your bike on the side walk has to do with pedestrian safety. From experience, this guy would be the first to find a dozen excuses if he ran his bike into an old lady and she were injured - or simply flee the scene. Not an isolated event, happens dozens of times every day in any major German city. The precise reason why we tend to get MORE offended recently…

[@TJ-hs1qm]

It's the opposite with the Brits. You'll never know what they think, until you hear their heart felt apologies for being put at gun point 🤣

[@anonymousandauthentic8704]

I don't need to know what you think cause I can see what you feel. Especially when it's a hairless giant with a chelsea tattoo on his back sitting at the hotel pool bar to drink all the german beer that we exported mainly for ourselves - because I accidentaly did cast a glance on his daughter in the pool😋 But not sure if it wasn't an expression of curiosity. Maybe he would be happy about it cause he keeps to many guys at a distance. lmao

[@amandad6782]

I live in Portland Oregon USA and took German in college. We had a foreign exchange student help with tutoring. I noticed he was very direct. He said what are you wearing a hat for inside and pulled my hat off my head in front of everyone. I was shocked and embarrassed cause I deal with alopecia. He never apologized but I could tell he knew he shouldn't do that. I kept my hat on anyways but definitely took from space from him after that. I always wondered if it was a cultural thing of women not wearing hats indoors or something. It was very strange and unsettling.

[@pattygucci7]

Description.😂 man, you need to take a bath😂

[@yourtruebrit]

😆🤣

[@binni61]

That was interesting for me to hear as a real German lady how foreigners experience us. Wow 😮