Unfair stereotypes of Germans

[Orla_inka 4,637]

Yuck, I know what you mean. But, why are they called wifebeaters?

 

I was reminded of offering someone in my bridge club, who had won a golfer's hat, an Irish hat in exchange for it. (meaning the knotted handkerchief kind). I just googled a picture and found this - I think he is wearing a "wifebeater" (will holes do instead of rib?)

 

Oh and I am punctual - probably too much so, I am always waiting for people

[PezMom3 2,101]

I have a drawer full of wifebeaters. Lazy comfort.

[dessa_dangerous 13,315]

@ carm: I baffle you? that is just about the nicest thing anybody has said to me all day and here I thought I was one of the simpler people on TT.

 

@ orla: a beater's got to have the ribs, holes won't do!

[Kay 4,137]

 

why are they called wifebeaters?

From A-shirt (Wikipedia):

 

 

The slang term "wife beater" originates from the popularity of the shirt among post-war working class men, who are stereotypically imagined as violent or abusive. The term appears to have originated with law enforcement as a slang term. (...)

[Allershausen 6,414]

This thing with the draughts. I've never, in over 20 years of living in Germany come across this! The first thing people do in every office I've worked in is open the windows and let in the fresh air. In fact sometimes I complain that it's too cold with the windows open!

Another stereotype that just isn't true is that the Germans are too serious. I've lived in several countries and this is the one that will use any excuse to have a party! It's the anniversary of something or other?, get the tables and the beer barrel out and let's enjoy ourselves.

I've also never noticed the staring thing, I sometimes wonder if it's you lot that are doing the staring!

[gaberlunzi 814]

 

those tank-top type-ribbed t-shirts seen on men who live in trailor parks.

 

and i agree, german's are not punctual. at least not at work they are not.

To many Auslanders maskerading as Germans.

[Orla_inka 4,637]

Thanks for the explanations re wifebeaters.

 

 

I've also never noticed the staring thing, I sometimes wonder if it's you lot that are doing the staring!

Sometimes I find myself having a longer look at someone and then think: "I hope nobody from TT sees me". (Maybe a plus for not living in Munich .) Most of what is complained written about The Germans is bull; I have always thought. :angry:

[perdido 6,083]

 

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Another stereotype that just isn't true is that the Germans are too serious. I've lived in several countries and this is the one that will use any excuse to have a party! It's the anniversary of something or other?, get the tables and the beer barrel out and let's enjoy ourselves.

I've also never noticed the staring thing, I sometimes wonder if it's you lot that are doing the staring!

Well I think they usually are more reserved when it come to something outside of their circle of influence. Yet acclimate just as good as the rest of us in most occasions. Now I must say though that Germans I meet while traveling* are more adept at this than Germans that stay locally when vacationing.

 

As for the staring try being non-german and you will see. I mean this also in the context with addition to Germans of Turkish decent. I get stared at by both. Although this staring thing has already been discussed... too much.

 

_{* The one thing that I do hate though is the germifcation of items. Sour cream in guacamloe, those horrible impersonation of Spanish songs etc Majorca has been off my travel list for quite some time sadly. Not a decent plate of Paella on the island unless you stay in the main city and avoid the beach.}

[dessa_dangerous 13,315]

 

This thing with the draughts. I've never, in over 20 years of living in Germany come across this! The first thing people do in every office I've worked in is open the windows and let in the fresh air. In fact sometimes I complain that it's too cold with the windows open!

Another stereotype that just isn't true is that the Germans are too serious. I've lived in several countries and this is the one that will use any excuse to have a party! It's the anniversary of something or other?, get the tables and the beer barrel out and let's enjoy ourselves.

I've also never noticed the staring thing, I sometimes wonder if it's you lot that are doing the staring!

my boyfriend wants the window open 12 months a year, 24 hours a day. If this place didn't have mosquitoes the size of a baby's fist I might not mind, but the windows have to be closed in the summer nights... I know, stupid, right? But I'm the one who becomes skeeter food, not him.

 

fo sho the germans throw a party for any damn thing. And they are all experts at it! Beer, food, music, dancing. I should share the video I have of some older people line dancing at Alex, celebrating God knows what but there was beer food and music so the dancing naturally came with it.

 

and as for the last bit, hahahahahahahaha you're nuts!!! NO WAY DUDE THE KRAUTS STARE END OF STORY for reals. LOL!!! I mean it. I won't give up on this one!!! they stare like it's going out of style, they stare like they breathe, they stare in their sleep, they stare when they're dead. German staring is real, more real than aliens or bigfoot or 9/11 conspiracies and I believe in all of those too :ph34r:

[gaberlunzi 814]

"they stare in their sleep"

 

aren't you getting just a wee little bit paranoid? Maybe they just look at your carefully enclosed reizvollen Busen. There is no charge for it?

[TaniMew 1]

 

WOW. I've seen people nearly stabbed at Schöneweide and no one wanted to step in and tell those guys to cut it out... but to be sure, if there is anyone within a five-block radius of where you've fallen off your bike, they will all help you up and ask if you're OK.

Woah what is this Schöneweide? Sounds like an interesting backstory.

 

- That Germans are ultra hard working, efficient machines?

 

Maybe it's because I effectively work with civil servants, but they are all into work/life balance and usually leave at 5 on the dot, if not hours earlier. Lucky for me I suppose, was worried about being overworked or something.

[eurovol 126]

 

I have a drawer full of wifebeaters. Lazy comfort.

Dudette seriously! I can't wear pink or wife beaters cause of various stigmata. I look good in pink and wife beaters are damn comfy. Hell, give me a pink wife beater and I would be Brad Pitt crossed with Johnny Depp!

 

 

- That Germans are ultra hard working, efficient machines?

Yeah, arbeit macht frei. :ph34r:

[nina_glyndwr 4,748]

I went out with the walking group last Sunday. That day, it was in the high 20s and very, very, very humid.

 

So.. we go into the pizzeria and the balcony outside is full up so we get a few tables inside.

 

"Open the windows," I call out to one woman sitting next to them.

 

"What? And let all the heat in?" was the response.

 

Why do they bother with windows? In winter, there's a draught and in the summer there's the heat.

 

Germans and punctuality... not with all. Especially not the younger ones. If my Nachhilfeschuelerin is only ten minutes late, I keel over with shock. Week after week. And always an excuse.

[sparkling 132]

 

- That Germans are ultra hard working, efficient machines?

No way. They only pretend. :)

[Steven192 272]

 

I went out with the walking group last Sunday. That day, it was in the high 20s and very, very, very humid.

 

So.. we go into the pizzeria and the balcony outside is full up so we get a few tables inside.

 

"Open the windows," I call out to one woman sitting next to them.

 

"What? And let all the heat in?" was the response.

 

Why do they bother with windows? In winter, there's a draught and in the summer there's the heat.

 

Germans and punctuality... not with all. Especially not the younger ones. If my Nachhilfeschuelerin is only ten minutes late, I keel over with shock. Week after week. And always an excuse.

You will be amazed at how many people, non Germans included, who don't understand that the windows need to be kept shut if the air con is to work properly. <_<

[nina_glyndwr 4,748]

There was no air-con in the restaurant and the door to the balcony was wide open. And we were next to that.

 

i thought we could get a nice... ah... draught going. A breeze wafting through to cool us down.

 

Strangely, some of us ended up in the shady back garden of one of the walker's home and we had some cake and no-one complained about the heat. Just how nice and shady it was.

 

Weird.

[TaniMew 1]

Oh thought of another one, that Germans have a terrible sense of style, the old sock-n-sandal look.

 

It's probably because I'm in Düss the 'fashion capital', but I find most people here, especially younger women really well dressed! I suppose it's not overly feminine, as noted by others, but there's a clean sort of aesthetic I really like about it.

[Steven192 272]

I guessed there was no aircon hence the smiley.

 

I have the opposite problem and people insist on opening the windows despite us spending a couple of thousand euros to get an HVAC system fitted.

 

No fear of draughts here but lack of understanding abounds :)

[hams 1,387]

Talking about style - what is it with mullets, women with dyed red hair, nasty leather jackets, and the denim tuxedo look that all went out many many many years ago... :huh:

[Clapoti 65]

and you're in Munich... when I visited Munich I thought people were well dressed and all... at least compare to Berlin :P