Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I simply disagree. Germany is very Americanized and language differences aside, a very large percentage of Americans would feel more comfortable and familiar in Germany than anywhere else in continental Europe. The average German mindset is not really much different than that of an average American. Even tastes in food, clothing, interests and hobbies are quite similar.
Have you lived in both places? I have. There are significant cultural differences between Germans and Americans.
Perhaps not as much as between, say, Italians and Americans, but there are still major differences.
I was born in Kaiserslautern Germany and return to Germany every summer for almost two decades, generally via Frankfurt. The past four years I have spent the entire summer in Germany, spending most of my time in Neukölin Berlin. Of course there are significant, obvious differences but I do think Germany is the most "Americanized" place in continental Europe. I mean where else would be... France? Holland? Austria? Switzerland? Poland? Nah. Even the UK I feel is only going to feel familiar to Americans from Boston, and even then, not so much. Although I am from the midwest, and probably people from California or Hawaii or the Southeast are not going to find Germany, or anywhere in Europe very America-like. I suppose in generalizing, I have made the mistake of assuming all Americans are like me. There's probably at least twelve different distinct "Americas."
It's mutual. I rarely meet a German that I like. I find them opinionated and superior.
But that's here in the US, among those with a German accent. It could be that the language doesn't translate well, so the words used come across as brusque.
I'm German. There are some truths in your observations. Germans are often very straightforward, that's often seen rude or brusque by many Americans or Brits. And Germans tend to correct and rebuke others when they think that others make something wrong or behave improperly. Germans tend to be never satisfied. They strive for perfectionism. When they think something could be improved, then they often say it directly. But it isn't mean evil or arrogant. It's meaned as a good advice to improve the situation.
This behaviour is rather normal among Germans. For me it's an important part of our society. When you don't keep your front yard neatly your neighbors will rebuke you for that
I think you have to live in Germany for quite a while to understand the German mindset.
I have the impression that this mindset is not uncommon among many Americans. It's strange, because Americans have the reputation for being patriotic. Patriots are normally interested in improving the own country. And therefore it's important to know what people around the world thinks about the own country. That doesn't mean that you have to implement things that people from other countries suggest. But it's always a good idea to hear various opinions and think about it.
As a German, I'm always interested what other people think about my home country.
Generally that's right. However, the patriotic Americans believe their country is already so superior to everybody else that they have nothing to learn from others. Just the other way around, people who suggest that Americans can learn something useful from other countries are viewed as "liberal", unpatriotic, as wanting to take away America's liberties and replace them with socialism.
And if you are interested in what other people think about Germany, I for one, love it. I love Hamburg, I love the small towns in Bavaria, I love the mountains and the sea, the mild climate, the language, the people, the classical music... I believe Germans are doing many things right. I am going back there in September, and I can hardly wait.
I'm German. There are some truths in your observations. Germans are often very straightforward, that's often seen rude or brusque by many Americans or Brits. And Germans tend to correct and rebuke others when they think that others make something wrong or behave improperly.
Yes. I've had an old German lady I shared a hostel room with rebuke me for keeping the water running while brushing my teeth. It was funny. That was several years ago, and I still remember to keep the water off
I have the impression that this mindset is not uncommon among many Americans. It's strange, because Americans have the reputation for being patriotic. Patriots are normally interested in improving the own country. And therefore it's important to know what people around the world thinks about the own country. That doesn't mean that you have to implement things that people from other countries suggest. But it's always a good idea to hear various opinions and think about it.
As a German, I'm always interested what other people think about my home country.
Do Germans have a positive view of Trump because of his German roots?
I simply disagree. Germany is very Americanized and language differences aside, a very large percentage of Americans would feel more comfortable and familiar in Germany than anywhere else in continental Europe. The average German mindset is not really much different than that of an average American. Even tastes in food, clothing, interests and hobbies are quite similar.
Maybe the differences between the U.S. and Germany are smaller than the differences between the U.S. and other continental European countries. But the differences are still huge.
Especially the mindsets seems so different to me. Americans seem to be more competitive, immodestly, indirect. Seems to have less community spirit. The parenting style is so different. Germans are less noisy, get not so easily offended.
Germans don't like that so many foodstuff taste so sweet. Germans normally wear athletic shoes for sport activities but not in their free time. Wearing sweat pants is still seen as inappropriate. German exchange students are mostly shocked when they see how their American peers dress. Clothing is mostly oversized and shorts with hoisted long white socks, that looks so terrible.
The differences between Germany and all other European countries are negligible when compared to the differences to the U.S.
But people vote for him, he is at least more popular than Ted Cruz.
No, people vote for him in Republican state primaries, which are a very small cohort of Americans.
To take yesterday's primaries- he absolutely dominated, with over 60% of the vote. But all these states have small Republican shares, and closed primaries, so this popularity cannot really translate to the larger population.
He is very unpopular overall, but has performed well among this relatively small group. He has no realistic chance to be President, and will be crushed by Clinton.
Outside the U.S., he is even less popular of course.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
