Why do Germans pretend to be the busiest people?

Hi everyone, .. well as the topic goes!! I find it more so that I cant make appointments or 'drop-of-the-hat' dates, due to work or my daughter. I will more times than not make another date straight away, hense the fulling up of dates in advance.
The germans are cool with that, .. I sound more german than them then

(oh if I dont make a date in advance, there is something about that person that bothers me ) only did that once...

Really?

Well then make that:

e) they just don't want to have social lives.

Rilana - Are you angry Maybe because I didn't invite you? I'm sure we can make a plan. Or is it because the "train of thoughts" escapes your . . . capacity???

if you asked me out Topogigio I'd likely say no, possible even pretend I was busy if you continued to pester me, and I'm not German, I'm English. would that therefore mean all/the most/many/the majority of English people are like that?

Neither. I just read from your comments that you consider yourself in a position in which you think you are able to pass judgement over others (something which you have just demonstrated again).

I'd like to say something but I have to do my laundry and some vacuuming.

Hey Moonboot, I'm South Arican . . . and we have a problem with the Rooinek English more than with anybody else But I don't bear a grudge. Wanna go out for a beer???

Well, well, well Rilana - you call me judgemental on the strength of what I said here??? Well, would it be easier for you if you could call me "Jesus"???

Jesus, 10 posts and already the toys are being thrown!

a couple of cards short of a full deck maybe

I am beginning to understand why Topogigolos work colleagues are always busy after work.

I merely said you seem to think of yourself as in a position to judge other people's behaviour as weird/not normal etc. I personally would never claim to even know what that is. If certain people are 'too busy' to go out with you then why would you want to go out with them? Has you ever considered the fact that they are perhaps busy? or that they perhaps don't have as much to discover here as they are from Germany and their situation is very different from yours, that you want to see everything while you're here and they have perhaps already done a lot of that and are at a different stage? Considered any of these before simply labeling them as 'not normal' because they don't fancy/have time to be going out with you?

anybody want some ice cream

No thanks I'm busy at the moment.

... doesnt matter I've eatten it all anyway

Chill, Topo.
I am from CapeTown and have lived here for nearly 17 years. It is more difficult to get Germans to do anything spontaneously in comparison to SA. I spoke to a Spanish and an Indian friend of mine and they complained about the same thing too. In Spain and in India it seems to be completely normal as well to just suddenly stand in the doorway of a friend t 10pm and want to be let in. Because we find in normal though doesn't mean that they find it normal and it also doesn't mean that there is something wrong with them. We all just have to adapt a bit. It is also a lot more difficult to make friends here than at home, but I think the Germans value friendship a lot and do not take it as lightly as many Saffers do. Calling somebody a good friend in Germany actually means something very deep or rather that has been my experience here.

possibly you do have a problem with 'Rooinek English' more than anyone else, fortunately my SA mates (who I often hook up with) don't feel that way.

Huh, nobody likes me . You're all very cruel and naughty. Tonight, when you get home, I want you all to go straight to your rooms . . . Without any washing of socks or TV and stay in your rooms until morning.

And then - et tu, Johnny - I thought you are my friend! Well, looks like I won't get any real answer to the actual question and I'll be stuck with my normal friends. Good, normal friends that is! Would it have been different if I had told you right from the beginning that people think I look like Robert Mugabe? I will probably never know now.

Oh, and by the way, watch out for a book, in the months to come, called "Bloss keine Deutsche". If this thread got your ire up, you'll love the book.

And what must I tell you, Bummer. A Capetonian spreading advice and admonition just like a good little German after 17 years of living there. You are missing the bring-your-own-fish-beach parties, right. My heart goes out to you and I'm crying heavy tears for your lost soul, boet.

So, let's recapitulate - Of 21 respondents 12 replied more than once and of those MonksTown was tops followed by Moonboot and Rilana at equal pace. I'm not going to draw any conclusion from this, because that wasn't the point of my question.

But I can't help but notice that there was palpable anger in some responses and in this context a desire to focus this anger on me personally. Did I touch something hidden inside those concerned?

Well, I leave you with your own conclusions.

Cheers,
Topogigolo (I wish)

I'm thinking zucchini gratin.

Plenty of BBQ parties in Germany, I get invited to loads.
Don't you?

What did you want to hear, boet? That all Germans are crap? I agree with you that it's difficult to get them to do anything spontaneously, but it's not as bad as you make it out to be.


You asked for advice. I do think I have learned a few things after 17 years in Germany, returning home on a yearly base and being able to compare both cultures.


Err, no?


?Qué? I must be particularly thick today, because I sure don't understand wat de fok you are trying to say. Neither will I waste anymore time on this.

Oh, and that will be sus to you.

my,my..how things turn into a Schlammschlacht around these parts... *taps shoes* there's no place like home

hey! I resemble that remark...what's so wrong with that?

I like a little pseudo-intellectual-bullshit-TT chat occassionally

Didn't say there was anything wrong with it.

Rilana - should'nt you be cooking? Dont let TT get in the way of good grub

I find this funny, when people say they are busy, I always presume that they have a higher priority for something else, rather than to go out with you. If you persist to ask and get the same response:

A: You are well below in prio and should just let it slide.
B: That person is a work-a-holic and dont get in the way of his/her work.

either way, just take the hint and stop, you cant force people to like you

Starting tomorrow afternoon...and won't be finishing until Sat morning! will take some photos as evidence, unless it's all a huge friggin mess in which case I'll never mention it again.

Sadly I'm booked up if you meant tonight*, but thanks for asking!

*arranged this morning, poots I'm leaving the home right now ok?

PS can someone tell me the Saffer term for that spot of milk in a cup of coffee? Something like "cat spit"? My future sister-in-law told me and it made me laugh but I can't remember it for love nor money. Cheers.