RULES OF THE STREET: No Blood, No Entschuldigung

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Walking in Germany is a contact sport. So why don't Germans say "excuse me"? They do, at least if blood is drawn.

Check the language section of most travel guides to Germany and one of the first words to be learned, after ein Bier bitte of course, is Entschuldigung. The word means "excuse me"; you'd think it might be useful. One doesn't want to draw attention to oneself in a foreign country by acting impolite.

Having struggled to master the four-syllable locution, it's may come as a shock that -- in real life -- some Germans seem to avoid the word completely.

Not that Germans are intrinsically rude. No, mostly they've just learned to come to terms with more day-to-day physical contact that many of us. Walking down the street can often feel like a rugby scrum. In a crowd, many Germans will plow grimly ahead like Arctic ice-breaking ships. Boarding a subway, some Germans like to pretend no one else is there. The guy who tromps on your foot will look surprised -- as if you should be somewhere else. Occasionally Germans go looking for physical contact. This writer was jabbed decisively in the ribs by a bitter old lady wanting to clear space for her grandson to watch a parade. (No Entschuldigung was forthcoming.)

If someone draws blood, of course, the magic word might be uttered. And don't jump to the conclusion that all Germans are immune to what passes for politeness in the rest of the world. Young men will still give up a hard-won subway seat if an elderly person shuffles on to the train. Then again, this may be a symptom of fear. After a lifetime of battling it out on the German streets, it would surprise no one were the old grandma to cane someone off the bench.

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[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Sounds like New York!

[Mirorgate 0]

Yeah, while travelling there years ago.. one could always tell the tourists from the locals... locals plowed through crowds to get where they wanted to be... tourists... always had to say "Excuse me" "Pardon me" "MY FOOT!"

Happened in Austria too..not so much Switzerland though.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I never noticed how cold and rude a place Germany was until after I first returned there following a two year stretch in the US. It was very, very odd to walk the streets of Berlin after having gotten used to the streets of Nashville...

[Jasman0717 9]

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

[Fischkoepfin 1]

I never noticed how cold and rude a place Germany was until after I first returned there following a two year stretch in the US. It was very, very odd to walk the streets of Berlin after having gotten used to the streets of Nashville...

That's what I thought until I spent the summer in Krefeld, Germany. Talking about rudeness... Compared to Krefeld, New York is a fuzzy and warm place and spending a few days in Berlin felt more pleasant than ever before.

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

Et tu, rch??

[Satisfaction 1]

I travelled to Germany years ago and can't remember much of it now. I stilll travel often to Switzerland though (Basel or Zurich) where folks sort of resemble the Germans (well, to my point of view at lleast ). I think politeness is a matter of culture. The Swiss are sometimes very reserved people, especially toward strangers, and need to be coaxed out of their ‘shells’. Perhaps the same is true of Germans?

One thing that I wouldn’t advise to do is (my mistake ) to offer to be on a first name basis too quickly, as I know this is common in the US and English-speaking countries and fits with the culture in those countries. However, in Switzerland as well as in Austria or Germany, this is not something that sets well with native folks.

Something that I find funny when in Switzerland is when I ask a Swiss: "How are you"? He or she wants to answer it in a medical way...

[Jasman0717 9]

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

[RaspberrySwirl 20]

Oh oh, can I play??

[almaty 19]

i was in frankfurt germany..the only place i can attest too..the folks definitley lacked the southern friendliness....