In response to missnikid's "German Tosser Qusetion" ("why are German people downright rude and ignorant...?"), it might be equally worth asking why the English people (from the German perspective) are obsessed with 1966 and WW2 ("we won the war", forgetting the Russians and Americans of course), and are prone to violent and drunken bouts of hooliganism...
Actually another ridiculous question of course - yet another national stereotype!
Isn't it closer to the truth that the Germans and the English are rather more similar than most of us would care to admit? which some of us find difficult to accept?
I write as an Englishman with half English, half German background.
2006-08-13 20:42:28 · 13 answers · asked by grpr1964 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I'm very impressed with the answers so far! Especially the point (which I did'nt make) about the English being too lazy to learn other languages. Sadly, despite being half-german, my fluency in the German language is pretty poor, so in this case I seem to be conforming to the stereotype!!!
2006-08-13 21:17:23 · update #1
to "Eflatsharp" re: the American entry into WW2 - Better late than never!
2006-08-13 21:18:50 · update #2
Well said!!!
2006-08-13 20:44:10 · answer #1 · answered by Iain T 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hey guy's WHAT'S on here.....I know the answer to this question so here goes........Every single race in this world has it's fault's NOT just the English and the Germans as has been said up to now....ANYONE from any background can be RUDE or HELPFUL so why pick on one race, I English through and through BUT can't remember being a hooligan at any stage in my life, mind you I don't support football, is that may I ask the reason why!!!!!!! if there is anything to blame here it's our upbringing and the tiny minds of racists.
2006-08-13 20:57:35 · answer #2 · answered by Denise W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agreed.
But It is a just stereotype. I find it hard to worked up over it anymore.I think a lot of peoples views were changed for the better by the world cup.
They really can be the most warm and welcoming people you will ever meet. More so than the bloody French surrender monkeys (oops)
2006-08-13 20:56:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My brother married a German girl , unfortunately there marriage did not last. When I visited Germany I found the people warm and friendly . I have no issues with the German people except Hitler and he is dead and gone thank god, along with most of the crackpots that followed him. You cannot penalise the German people now nor any people for their country's past and to my 2 nephews still living in Germany Hello Jonathan, Hello Dennis xxx
2006-08-15 09:22:28 · answer #4 · answered by Lyn I 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm British and I must say that every German I've ever met has been friendly, warm and very open to conversation. If anything, it's us that are arrogant. we don't even make an attempt generally at learning their language but in my experience they all speak excellent English.
I was ashamed when I saw how some of our so called 'fans' behaved in Germany in the summer.
2006-08-13 21:07:25 · answer #5 · answered by SilentRunning 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I always find the German people to be far more polite and helpful than the English.
Ask an englisg bus driver for directions and then ask a german one.
And the German bus drivers speak better english
2006-08-13 20:45:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Therein lies the answer.
Because they're actually quite similar, they have to point out and exaggerate differences to make themselves feel better that they're not like the others.
This of course doesn't mean that all English and all Germans are like this. Just the minority that maintain the stereotype.
2006-08-13 20:46:09 · answer #7 · answered by k² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are not worth bothering about for they are the vocal minority whose opinions do not count.
No-one will ever vote for them and they will never address a room full of people and influence young minds.
For they are the little englanders and everything they say is contemptible rubbish.
They infest this site but at large, they are few in number.
For they are the little englanders and in their minds Winston Churchill is scoring a hat-trick at Wembley to beat the dastardly Germans to win the World Cup for Her Majesty.
They are the little englanders and we should be laughing at them.
2006-08-13 20:50:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont care about the past - which is exatcly what it is.
People who use it as an excuse to 'hate' a nation are sad individuals with nothing else better to do with their lives. I'd rather eat worms than rant on about WW2 etc. It's 2006!!!!
2006-08-13 20:45:48 · answer #9 · answered by Mum-Ra 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
seeing as the germans have started not one world war but two .and lost them both.. and what 2nd langauage would you think we should learn ..im not sure where german comes on the language scale .but i bet its below french and spanish..also i think the germans where sober when they devastated europe..they followed a leader who hated jews ..he wasnt even german himself .and there was a strong possibly that he had jewish grandparents...hated cruelty to animals ' but killed millions
2006-08-17 11:05:47 · answer #10 · answered by battleleader12 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are both extremely similar. It's only down to our past (World wars) that we don't want to accept this.
2006-08-13 20:51:44 · answer #11 · answered by stdaveuk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋