What do you English people think about us German today?

Question

I just want to know what do you think about the Germans, our land and our goverment. ;-)

edit: Sorry, i mean the whole UK not just England, for me it's the same. ;-)

Answer 1

well nothing, just arrogant people

Answer 2

I am Scottish and have lived in Germany for 16 years. The people are great, the country has so much to offer and your government needs to give itself a shake.
Like any large country the people from different areas have, in general, different personalities. The Berliners are in your face and you can have a great time in Berlin. The people in the Ruhrgebeit take time getting to know you but once they do they make great friends. I sometimes feel that the Germans come across as stuckup or arrogant when they speak English but I am positive that this is the way they use the Englis language. You should be proud that many Germans speak English and are willing to use it.
I think the new young generation are showing how friendly they are during the world cup. It is the coolest place to be. Berlin is so much fun. Gelsenkirchen is the tops.
I could write for hours about places to go and visit, there are just so many nice places. I live in the Ruhrgebeit and find it a great place to live. It has so much to offer.
Your government is trying hard to resolve many problems facing it. Its not made easy with a grand coalition. However, the Government needs to make decisions faster and avoid comprimises.
One area of life that is a little worrying is the dislike of foreigners in certain quarters. Its not only a problem in Germany. there are similiar problems in the UK, France, Holland and Belgium. Germany needs million of foreigners to ensure its economy remains successful in the future. The Germans must make major efforts to make German an attractive palce to live. Not enough is being done.

Answer 3

It's probably obvious to say this, but I think the young English/British people are pretty neutral toward Germany now (except when the football is on...;oP ) I think the fact that we are both big beer drinking nations helps! XD
All the Germans I have met have been quite serious, but nice people.

Whereas our grandparents (All about 80 years old now) are still quite defiant and outspoken. My grandparents were all in the army. I guess it depends on the age of the people and how much they remember!

But this is only one attitude of many. I know someone who was only a child in London when it was being heavily bombed, and he grew up and married a German lady.

And then there's me - I studied the German language for 7 years, (Found it very difficult but liked it) I am a big Rammstein fan also. I would love to go to Germany some day. The towns look very pretty and you are hosting a brilliant World Cup! XD

*cough* And I can get addicted to Pfeffernusse - it's a good job they are hard to find in this country! XD

Answer 4

I'm from Bristol in England and what do I think? Good beer and good sausages, not too sure about laderhosen though! Feel rivalry with the Germans when it comes to football, but in a friendly way!
A majority of the Germans I have met have been very nice (having been to Germany) and seem to be friendlier than the British, (especially friendlier than the Scottish haha! (no offence intended if your Scottish and nice)) when in Germany, however when meeting them in other parts of Europe as tourists sometimes the come across as a little cold, but maybe I'm getting the wrong end of the stick!
The land is very nice, most of what I have seen is beautiful and clean. The government I think is OK however I'm not generally too keen on the contemporary German leadership, but then again I don't like many governments!
But all together when I think of Germany I think positive thoughts.....What do you think of England and the United Kingdom?

Answer 5

I have worked with German people , the stories I had heard about them having no sense of humour are not true,
I in fact broke my leg at the time and they all laughed!!
(If you are a German reading this, then that was a joke)!!
As a true Scot I think any people on earth are preferable to the English ! and all I can say to those that cant understand the reason for that is look more closely at the English history.
We will forget WW1 and WW2 long before we forget the English history !!
You must have realised what sort of answers you would get before submitting this question, and I think you were very brave to submit it!
As some one has already said "the old school are dying out now " The EU are taking over they have far more important things to debate! Such as 'all bananas should be straight'!!
It is no longer 'politically correct' to mention the fact that a German once bombed my old Grannies fish and chip shop in Glasgow!
All these things can be put behind us , there is no reason why we cant all get on together, if you stop stealing our deck chairs in Spain, and you stop referring to us as English!!
As for your Government , no comment, you voted them in, live with it, if you don't like them get rid!!

Answer 6

I just can't get over that all the Scottish, Welsh and Irish folk are so disturbed that the question stated "English". Hell, I am a New Zealander but I consider myself English because that is the language I speak. Get over the whole... who is English, ask me, ask me crap.

In response to your question. I think that Germans are wonderful. I have lived in Switzerland for 3 years recently and feel more at home in German speaking lands than in English countries. I think the German language make infinitely more sense than English, and I am a big fan of the order and consistency that is present throughout German speaking Europe.

Some of the most beautiful places I have ever travelled are in Germany, and I have never met a German that I couldn't accept for who they are.

I think anyone that has an issue with Germans is either ignorant and has bothered to learn the German language, or is just upset because the Germans in Mallorca got the best loungers by the pool. On that note... if the whining Brits that get annoyed at the Germans for placing towels in their loungers at early hours of the morning would just stop partying so hard, drink in moderation, and go to bed at a decent hour... then you would have nothing to complain about.

Germans... I love them. Meine Frau ist auch eine Schweizerin.

Answer 7

Well, having spent a year in Hamburg and sampled a lot of what Germans are about, I'm a huge fan of the country and its people, and despite what even the Germans say, the Hamburgers aren't 'kuehl' and reserved, but wholeheartedly warm and welcoming. However, most of the people I know haven't actually experienced anything of the country or its people first hand and so unfortunately some of the stereotypes still reign supreme.

- Organisation Sensations
- Good cars (Vorsprung durch Technik an' all that)
- Bad sense of humour (whereas I would just say different sense of humour)
-Sun-lounger hoggers

As to what we make of curent day politics:

-Frau Merkel: strange hair, shame about the swans, perhaps Maggie Thatcher on valium with a post-modernist twist (if you follow that at all!)

-You don't want to be a car mechanic/labourer working in Germany right now. To put it simply, if you are going to break down, do it near the dole office, there'll be plenty of people at hand who know a bit about cars.

But to international football fans, right now you can only be seen as a Mecca!

Answer 8

There could well be different answers to that question issuing from generation to generation, however the majority of folk are becoming more tolerant; and less afraid of foreign people, accepting that we all have ‘life’ in common, regardless of colour creed or religious persuasion , the only difference is the way we speak? Most German speaking people I’ve met were and are, ordinary souls, like our selves.
From a political stand point our country has lots to be embarrassed about and are still culpable for much of the worlds troubles, so there can be no pointing of fingers about the past when we are perhaps guilty of equal if not worst evils. Moreover, still perpetrating them. We have a lot in common.

Answer 9

Is it possible to form such a generalised view about the whole of a country. After all, it is made up of individuals. I suppose that you can form an opinion about a country's government,but that is somewhat different.
I have no problem with Germany today. I recently enjoyed driving a porsche 911 around the Black Forest region. The people and everything else was fine.

The only critisism I would make of your government is the same one that I would level at any other European country that has joined the EU. Why did you do it, why throw your nation to a bunch of autocratic leftists? Doesn't make sense.

Answer 10

well I came across you question, I live in the USA and I am Mexican. I am learning german because I like it and I think Germany is a morally awesome country where you can wear speedos at the beach with out anyone accusing you of being a perverted animal among other things.
However, one thing I dislike is how I see the german people let the english language take over the culture. I can't practice german with anyone now because everyone seems to only want to speak english.

Answer 11

I actually really like you all, and speak fluent German. I lived for 6 months in Saarbrucken though, and it was the only area I really wasn't quite sure about. Their dialect was so weird it made Swiss German seem easy to understand, and the whole time I was there I got the impression that they didn't even like other Germans, let alone us poor foreigners who were only there to try and learn more about their language and culture. Apart from Saarbrucken and the locals, I really like Germans, I find you to be polite and friendly, and I think that the English could learn a lot about reliable transport and engineering. It is really impressive to see that everything runs on time, and I love the Strassenbahn, and the U-Bahns are also really easy to understand compared to the London Underground.