Sat 20 Jan 2007
(Oberlehrer = Chief Teacher (Upper teacher? – I have a problem with correct translation), „oberlehrerhaft“ means somthing close to „knowing everything better then others“)
Where does this prejudice come from? At least we even had it as a comment according this blog. So some deep truth in it?
Germany has had a long tradition of „better not tell what you think – the Authority (Lord, King, Führer) will know it better and might punish you for your opinion”. In the same time there is a big tradition of scientists, writers, philosophers who where born, raised and worked in Germany and its predecessors. For a long time our Country was called „The country of the poets and philosopher“. So maybe people had to tell something.
But „oberlehrerhaft“ doesn’t describe, that you have to tell something. It describes the way you are telling it: To lift the finger and to announce the only truth! So it means, that Germans do not respect others opinions, because they „own“ the only truth? What if we do? Maybe we are better educated, maybe we are ahead in discussion, maybe we know the best way?
Pointing on german historie, you’ll find a 1000 years period (from 1933-1945), while Germany knew the truth, but didn’t argue. A bit later Germany got new rules and laws from people who knew better.
In Germany „Lehrer“ (teacher) are civil servants. Germans own prejudice against those officials: They duck and hide themselves, as soon as an authority apears - or simply someone argues better - or just louder … just do not leave them the last word. We should have done it this way more often …
April 10th, 2007 at 12:43 am
germans are not all rude my family is german and they are not rude at all
May 10th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Germans are rude, period. They are self serving, superficial and have no idea what is going on around them. clueless little trolls who whine and bitch, but dont have the gumption to do anything about it.
May 19th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
NO THERE R NOT RUDE
May 21st, 2007 at 3:15 am
the man is an idiot he shouldn’t be bitching on how Germans are rude Germans aren’t rude at all and i think out of the three of the posters he has the the least sense.
June 21st, 2007 at 2:06 pm
i am german. i suppose “oberlehrerhaft” would be “bossy”. in think that germans are more direct in their behavior. if a german family eats dinner and somebody is asked wether he likes it, he would (in a nice way) say that it not really his favorite meal. i think english would alway lie and say that the meal is lovely. so in a way the germans are more honest andsometimes prefer the truth to harmony. in other culture people think that’s very rude…
June 26th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Rude? Are you crazy?! The Germans are cool, smarts, and cultural rich. They are polite. And know about the world… very different of americans, that lieves looking to their own belly!
June 27th, 2007 at 1:37 am
“the man” is a complete idiot.And how dare he say such nonscence.if any one is rude and bitchy i’d say its him. my parents both came from germany to the u.s. and neather of them is rude in any way except the time me and my dad had a burping contast but that only happend one time.to tell the truth I’m happy this blog was put up because i’ve had to listen and deal continuslly to german steriotypes.like tell me do you think germans are scary,or strict beond all consent,or just skinny because it’s in our genes.when we were learning about the world wars the whole class including the teacher turned and looked at me after almost every sentance.and there were many more.
August 9th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I just met a VERY nice German man here in the U.S. When we met he had only been in the states for a week. He has been extremely polite and forward with me. He is also very knowledgeable of other cultures and what is going on in the world. He has been teaching me and even though his English is not great it is amazing how when I piece together his words I find that what he is communicating is extremely intelligent and well thought out.. I now WISH to meet more German Men.. It doesn’t hurt that he is gorgeous too!! I can’t wait to go to Germany now..
October 5th, 2007 at 9:43 am
I think in Germany it’s the same than in every country. Some people are very nice, polite and open-minded, others are rude, bossy etc. You just can’t stereotype an entire nation..
By the way I’m german and I’ve lived in the US before.
November 3rd, 2007 at 5:59 am
i have known and worked with various germans over the years. while i don’t find them to be rude, i have noticed that they can be quite loud and opinionated at times.
some of you might not like to hear it but many people consider germans to be the americans of europe.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Hello I am German and I lived in America for half a year with an American hostfamily. I rather figured out American girls can be mean and rude, but not Germans! ;)
December 24th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Germans are very rude, especially when in a group and with English speaking people, they always revert to German. VERY RUDE PEOPLE.
December 26th, 2007 at 2:55 am
I’ve lived in Germany for a long time now. I’ve had a lot of time to experience many different people. My overall opinion of Germans is that they are very blunt and for some reason can not help but to point out when someone does something wrong. Even for the smallest infraction you will always at least get a dirty look. Additionally, when working with Germans, they will always tell you that you are doing something the wrong way if they think that their way is better.
To the German people, this all seems quite normal, but to the outsider, who may be used to a more polite environment, it can definitely seem quite rude.
Most Germans I know are aware of this particular personality trait, and even poke fun at themselves, but, continue to do it anyway. Such is life.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:50 am
Like people everywhere… some Germans are rude, some are not. In the US its the same way… some regions there may be a higher tendency towards rudeness than others (such as the Northeast or California versus perhaps the Midwest) but overall it will be a mixed bag everywhere.
I think if there are any perceived gaps its mainly cultural norms, not genuine rudeness. I know many Germans that find Americans tendency to greet someone by asking them how they are as shallow b/c they really aren’t asking the question, its just courtesy. In Germany by contrast, if the question is asked it is truly meant, but if a German doesn’t care how you are you won’t hear anything at all. Again, its not necessarily rudeness, just a cultural norm.
I enjoyed traveling in Germany very much and found Germans to be accommodating of my (near total) inability to speak German. Germans I know in America are slow to open up, but a friend for life once they do.
Frankly, its just 2 different ways of handling people.
April 20th, 2008 at 5:59 am
I’ve only been to Germany once. If Germans like the blunt truth, then here it is:
they were all, indeed, overweight and grouchy. A lot of Americans are also overweight, so I can’t point fingers, but the grouchiness factor was unpleasant. Everyone looked miserable. Maybe I was in a depressed area. I don’t know. They weren’t obnoxious so much as appearing bitter.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Well Well well, very abysmal discussion.
But.. ehehe very interessting
Iam German-Austrian and live in Vienna and as far as i can say the Vienese people are very rude i mean very rude. there is no dirt on the streets nearly no poverty but ..
In an cafe (coffebar) you probably will get your coffee thrown on your table. Evil faces and anger are underneath a big group of Austrians. We have one of the best health care systems in the world are one of the socialy richest countries in the world but you will get beaten up by a fucking business man if you behave stupid and of course everyone is going to tell you that youre absolutely incompetent and even if youre one of the best in your field somebody is gonna tell you how fucking bad you are.
Well yes all that might produce a very high standard and quality in everything Austria (exept politics :D) creates but coldness as well.
May 1st, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I’m an American who has lived in Germany 10 years. The majority of Germans will help their friends and family to lengths a majority of Americans won’t. This I really do admire. BUT in everyday life, Germans are unfriendly to people they don’t know and are unwilling to help even their fellow countryman. It’s one of the few countries I know where you can be fined if you don’t help someone in an emergency. Why have such a law, because most will keep on walking or driving by if you are lying in a ditch. It’s the “not my job” syndrome. Even in the neighbouring Netherlands people there will stop to ask if you need help. Here, forget it!
Over time I had to develop a very thick skin and have had to turn a bit cold hearted just to keep my blood pressure from raising and flipping out daily. If you are kind and give someone the right away in front of you, you can be sure someone behind you willing be screaming obscenities at you for slowing them down. I know Germans like to say they have very deep friendships, true, probably because they aren’t very good and making new ones. Go to a bar here alone, and you can be sure you’ll spend the day by yourself, as no one will talk to you. Germans have a saying, they call it “Typisch Deutsch” and it means being ridged, cold, rude, not helping, unfriendly, uncompromising. Any German who post here and says how friendly they are, is full of crap, they know they way it is here and why so many people are leaving. A lot of Germans themselves can’t deal with the mentality anymore and leave for either Switzerland or the USA. It’s a shame really. But there are nice people and rude people in every country. What sets Germany apart is the daily interaction with a larger number of people who exhibit unfriendly behaviour.
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:59 am
Germans need to be managed. Lithuanians are maangers of Germans, historically. We held off the Teutonic Knights, probably screwed them later, because we realize we had met an admirable contestant.
Germans are like blenders. You just have to know which buttons to push to get the performance you want. Frappe, blend, mince…
They are some of the highest performers on earth. They deliver, as long as you know the right buttons to push.
I consider their standards the highest, their devotion can be the best, their dedication based on super human stamina -
but they still need to be managed to be human.
As a American-Lithuanian woman married to a German man, I manage one every day. Some days require more strength than others, but the return is worth it. They are ultimately concerned with performance - a quality I wish many more cultures could claim.
T Becker
May 18th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I am often asked this by Germans and I always give the diplomatic answer: “No, of course, Germans aren’t rude. How can you generalize? I have had good experiences here. Really.”.
This isn’t the truth though. This is my “nice” answer. The answer I give to appear friendly, positive and not a complete idiot for working here.
The truth is that the Germans I have encountered and life in Germany is not so nice. People here are rude, slam doors in your face, ignore you when you greet them, have no concept of customer service and are authoritarian to no end. When I first visited Germany I would sometimes be puzzled how WWII could ever have happened and how so many people could have supported such a corrupt leader. Reported their neighbours. Watched while their neigbours were shipped off and persecuted. After spending some time here(years), I have become able to understand how and why (well, to some extent).
I am eager to return home to the US soon, where people know how to treat other people. Culture aside, I think there are some basic human courtesies that we cannot ever think are too much to expect and sadly, I think the Germans have a lot to learn about how to treat your fellow human being. Sure, theirs is a different culture, but it isn’t a welcoming, friendly culture and as an American with a Canadian husband living in Germany, we have been disappointed here a lot.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I just received a call from my husband-who is in Germany for business-to tell me how rude people are over there. I am not saying they are all like that, he also found very nice people, but he was upset by the lack of common courtesy shown especially because he is in a well known city for their trade expo and fair exhibitions. Tourists and business people are around a lot.
While trying to figure out how to take public transport, the man started to yell at him like a maniac because he put the coins in the wrong slot. He knows german so he apologize as he was not from there but that didnt stop the man. So he decided to turn his back, ignore his screams and take a cab, he could have definately punch him for such an ignorant attitude towards a foreign. No need for the drama and all the insults my poor hubby received. There is no excuse, even if he is sick to deal with foreigns all the time.
Also, there is no English or any other language guide around the city signs so it is very hard when no one wants to help you find your way. I was pissed I could not go with him but now I am just relieved.
To the rest of Germans, just accept it, unless you all one by one start to make some attitude changes, be ready take the “rude stereotype” It wouldn’t be true if it wasnt perceived for more than one.
June 5th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I am shocked at all these negative comments. I am a German, and I lived the last five years in the United Kingdom. Contrary to prevailing stereotypes, the British are rude and ignorant. They think they are polite, but being constantly ignored and ignoring the people around you isn’t polite. Queuing is a great thing, it doesn’t exist in Germany, but at least German people don’t pretend to be something they aren’t. German people don’t walk around with a fake posh accent. German people don’t try to trick fellow citizen and sell them rubbish all the time. To give an example, in Germany, a plumber will be on time, do his or her work, and charge an appropriate price. In England, a plumber will pretend to have no availability for the next two weeks, arrive six hours too late on the agreed date, not apologise, but still charge triple the price.
Although I can understand that Germans are perceived as being rude, nobody on this ridulous form actually tries to understand the cultural differences before making these superficial, negative comments.
German people are like cats. You have to earn their respect, but once you did, you have reliable friends for life who would risk their lives for you. If you prefer superficial “see you around” sort of wannabe-friends, search somewhere else. But don’t just make judgements if you have no idea what’s going on. Always playing the WWII card won’t improve relationsships between countries. Germany, like no other country on the planet, is self-critical with regard to its history. In fact, we still feel guilty 65 years later, and rightly so. So don’t call us Nazis because we actually try to learn from history.
June 20th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I think that it is ridiculous that someone could say such things. I have lived in the USA for 4 years now. I moved here from Germany when I was 17. I go to college here, and I nearly lost my accent. I am sure that I know the main differences between Germans and Americans, since I have very good friends on both sides. I think that the average German is not rude at all, but an American could consider statement made by a German as offensive or rood, because Germans are more direct and clear in what they say. For example, The average German will tell you whether he likes your ’shoes’ or not (if you ask him). The average American will tell you ‘I love your shoes’ without you even asking (even if they don’t like them). If an American would ask a German that question, and the German would answers with ‘I don’t like them’, the American would most likely consider that rude, maybe even take it personal. On the other side, a German might think that the American answer sounds ‘fake’. Overall, I have met really nice and friendly people in Germany and the United States, but you will find rude people in EVERY country. Many people have only met a hand full of natives from a certain country. You can’t just base your opinion on a whole nation on that. I think that you have to live in a country to understand the people and their culture, and to build a reasonable opinion.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I am married to a German native. When we traveled to his very small hometown 2 years ago, I was brought to tears by how rude the people were! I speak some German, so it wasn’t lack of knowledge of the language. I seemed to be the only redhead in town, and this caused people to rudely stare as if I had just landed from the Moon. I have never had more people frown at me in response to a smile. If I never go there again, it will be too soon!
July 15th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Cheryl is right - Germans never have seen red haired people before. We have heard legends about some red haired warriors somewhere in the north, coming over the ocean on boats like dragons. So I guess, the people she met where not unfriendly but just scared like hell because of the invasion, asking themselves if they have to change their church to a palace of Odin or so.
July 20th, 2008 at 4:09 am
I have concluded that the chief difference between Germans from Germany and French folks from France is that the French will treat you rudely when you visit France, while Germans will treat you rudely when they visit America.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Germans just don’t like to lie.
What is more rude, say the truth or fake someone and lie? Lies are seen almost like betraying someone in Germany
August 8th, 2008 at 6:02 am
everyone was blond headed or had blue eyes or was both i was walking down the street in harislee with my cousin who is the perfect aryan and stands 6′5″ me my self am 6′6″ but have moderatlt tan skin and am green-hazel eyed and everyone stared we werent much taller than most people but it was as if darker people arent suposed to be that tall and as if they where makein comparison while in the states i barely draw attention
August 24th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I live in Germany and I agree 90% of Germans are not only rude but also boring people. German people don’t like foreigners, they especially don’t like British people who they blame for bombing their cities 60 years ago. They never ask themselves why this happened. The East of Germany is poor and full of neo nazi thugs who are mostly ignored by the police. The service in shops is generally terrible, the atmosphere in every German town apart from Berlin and maybe Frankfurt is provincial, gossipy, stuffy and uptight and newcomers and outsiders are treated with suspicion and socially shunned, especially foreign newcomers. The only nice Germans I have ever met are the ones who have been civilized by spending time abroad and by travelling outside Germany and this isn’t many because most Germans.
August 24th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I live in Germany and I agree 90% of Germans are not only rude but also boring people. German people don’t like foreigners, they especially don’t like British people who they blame for bombing their cities 60 years ago. They never ask themselves why this happened. The East of Germany is poor and full of neo nazi thugs who are mostly ignored by the police. The service in shops is generally terrible, the atmosphere in every German town apart from Berlin and maybe Frankfurt is provincial, gossipy, stuffy and uptight and newcomers and outsiders are treated with suspicion and socially shunned, especially foreign newcomers. Most German people treat others like they have no feelings. The only nice Germans I have ever met are the ones who have been civilized by spending time abroad and by travelling outside Germany - which since most of them hate travelling and foreigners, isn’t many Germans.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Well I’m an unabashed Germanophile and proud of it! I find Germans for the most part to be very polite and friendly. Sure they are some rude ones but for the most part they are good people!
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
@Matt Says
Its true what you say, i live in germany for 10 years, and what you say is correct.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Again most people count superficial chit chat to be kindness. A majority of Americans could care less about you or your feelings. They simply follow protocol.
We like things orderly and rules followed. What is galling is people travel and live in foreign countries and scream loudly when a lifestyle is different and does not conform to theirs.
Perhaps you should take more time to observe and assimilate instead of trying to strike a moral pose. Ignorance is most apparent in people who do not travel much outside of their country. America is indeed a great country but the world is made up of many cultures and they look at you much the same way you look at them.
We are all people and if someone seems rude perhaps you should look inward instead of outward all of the time.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Germans have a complex. They dont mind rule-breaking as long as their the ones that get to break it. If anyone else does…well that person should run for their life. They are consumer robots whose goal in life is to buy a great big mercedes so they can hate on everyone who doesnt have one. Oh yea…and why be nice at the supermarket if there is no rule telling them that they have to be nice to other human beings? They can be cool, but it seems the majority of them need to take a major chill-pill and try to enjoy life a little bit. They take themselves too seriously
September 20th, 2008 at 1:37 am
You obviously have not met many German people. We need order and stability not a Mercedes which is inane. Your corner of the world is not the only one.
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:33 am
I’ve been to Germany and I found the people to be very nice there. Sure there are a few rude ones but that happens in all countries.
I’m quite proud to say that I’m a unabashed Germanophile too!:-)
October 21st, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I find that while Germans set great store by superficial, formal manners, there is little real warmth and kindness. They are keen to see everyone else obey the rules, but are opportunistic themselves (see Germany’s recent behaviour in the EU). In the end, despite their love of order and rules, they are untrustworthy friends and allies.
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I agreed with the above saying, I lived in Germany for ten years and I agreed 95% of Germans are indeed rude, boring, mechanized barbarism, overused logics above common sense and angry people. Not only they don’t like foreigners they also don’t like themselves, they are fake for being friendly in between conversation to each other. Customer services are definitely the worst I have even seen, terrible yet horrible, Agreed with Matt, the only nice Germans are those who have been civilized by spending time abroad and by traveling outside Germany. Most Europeans hates them, Germans think they are infinitely superior to all foreigners, regardless of the IQ of the German concerned. America and Asia got rich utilizing the skills and intelligence. Current Germany on the contrary drives out every skilled foreigner, preferring only to keep those willing to work as waiters, cleaners or street sweepers.
Germans become consumed with envy and jealousy if they see a foreigner with more skills or assets than themselves.
They drive out foreigners not with laws but with coldness, mercilessness, hardheartedness and prejudice.
My advice to all foreigners in Germany: leave for a friendlier emigration country; last one out lock the door and leave the Germans to destroy each other with their petty jealousies and cold hearted hatred. (Its in their DNA)
October 24th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
i may be just a a teenager but i sure do have a view on the germans …. after reading all the posts i took a survey and noticed that the there were more people who said that the germans are not rude (11) and people who said the germans were rude were a number of 7….and people who were not quite sure a number of 10.. i think it all depends on the person … majority of the people on here say that germans rather tell the truth than lie and many people(even people i know) find that rude …. its beacuase they would rather have nice things said about them or other things than what is really true…. i hate people who lie soo i guess i would love to meet some german people …
again it depends on the person …eg: a foreigner goes up to a local and asks for help on where to go to or something like that … they either say they busy and walk off or they would gladly help and show/tell you what you want to know …. i like german people and hope i learn in the future what they are really like … … i would also like to point out their history (WWll) ALOT of the germans then were either brainwashed or forced or had to support hitler because if not they would of been killed or sent to concentration camps…you dont know their backgrounds . my overall is expereince it for your self.you are going to find rude people all over the globe ….they are not only in germany , but also in usa and africa….germans ay also be rude to some foreigners because of where the foreigners come from considering the countries who fought in WWll :usa,london,japan,france,russia,italy,poland,yugoslavia and so on ….. they take things like that seriously….your being rude yourself by saying germans are rude …. you speaking of yourself then … i dont know germans my self , im saying wat i think … dont rash on me because of this ….
November 20th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I totally agree with you. Enough about World War II. The Germans have paid for what they did so lets try to be fair with them.
Lets have an end to German bashing!
November 21st, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I have lived in Germany for 7 months now, and every day, I wonder why I have come here.
They are rude. Sure, there are rude people all of the globe, but the ratio and sheer density of rude people (Berlin) is astonishing to me. (No I am not American).
I have just came back from Paris, and was shocked at how warm and lovely the people were there. So much so, I didn’t want to return to Germany.
German behaviour is alike to kindergarten children seen the world over.
Push in front of others to get a sweet (or in an adult Germans case a shop queue)..Don’t ever hold the door open for anyone, and make sure you race ahead if anyone is going to get on the bus through the door before you .. the cold hard bewildered stares they give to foreigners on the train.. One woman even stood right in front of me in an art gallery her shoulder about 0.5cm away from my chin. (And yes she saw me standing in front of the painting but to her my presence was not worth acknowledging).I was so embarasssed for her. Children get away with this kind of behaviour in other countries, but for Germans, it seems it is okay to continue on that way into adulthood.
All I can feel is deep embarassment for them.
90% of Germans.. not all, some are lovely.. but in general…
Opportunists? Yes.
Greedy? For sure.
Happiness and creativity? - they have never heard of it.
Cringe-worthy nation of sheer walking-talking embarrasment - for sure.