I have referred to this question before, and since it is considered very rude in other countries (perhaps even justifiably outlawed in some as well), I continue to grapple with it. It is meant as a serious question and if it even has an answer (I suspect so), perhaps Germans are in the best position to answer it.
Not only do people regularly..make that often..no, extremely often... blow their noses so LOUD at the table while eating in restaurants (I assume they do tat home too), they do so in a matter-of-fact manner that befuddles me and others. Just recently, one guy honked so loudly that a group of young Japanese tourist girls looked up startled, then started giggling. I assure you if they had been sitting within backblast range of that clown as I was, they wouldn't have been laughing!
And sometimes on the train (a more permissible venue I realize), it is like they have contests to see who can honk the loudest. It is positively grotesque, but WHY is it done and tolerated????
2007-01-21 02:41:09 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
For the same reason they wear sandals with socks - it's a cultural norm.
2007-01-21 02:45:28 · answer #1 · answered by Bad Kitty! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea why, and i am with you on this one. I CAN'T stand it when they do it in a frickin' restaurant where people eat! I don't even mention the train, it's like a norm there, every day, like an orchestra!!! I so have an urge to just say something, but then I realize that no one even blinks when they hear it, so I just keep quiet and think to myself about how darn uncultured the Germans are.
2016-02-09 02:22:22 · answer #2 · answered by YadoBabado 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, come on. Is it really like this? I am German and travel a lot. Nobody ever looked at me, when I blew my nose. But maybe I don't do it very loud... But yes, I have an American friend and she leaves the room, when she needs to blow her nose. She says "Excuse me" when she sneezes. In Germany, people start to do that as well, which I consider exagerated. You just try to sneeze not too loud andbut a handkerchief in front of your nose.
But usually in Germany you turn around when you cannot avoid to blow your nose in the presence of other people. And you try to be discret. But some don't know the Knigge (Etiquette). Sorry
2007-01-21 02:50:58 · answer #3 · answered by Reeka 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some of us can't help it. Allergies suck. However, there's a difference between discreetly giving a small blow and clearing the nasal passages and straight up fog-horn-ing it. And I'd rather one solid blow than an hour of loud sniffles.
2016-05-24 05:10:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never seen someone doing that but when I do I'll ask! Are you sure they were German? Maybe they are just trying to have a clean nostril, and blowing their noses that loud helps get all the substance out leaving them with a sanitary Nostril!
2007-01-21 02:47:08 · answer #5 · answered by Yvette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's better of dead...lol...;-)
There are a lot of people that do that. I think it goes deeper it depends how you are raised. A lot of people don't care what you think of them. They just do it. But why only Germans?
I know for a fact that a lot of people from different countries including US have no manners.....
2007-01-21 02:50:52 · answer #6 · answered by Doglover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It stems from a WW2 habitf warning of an air raid
2007-01-21 02:45:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Agreed. It is totally gross. They also break wind and burp at the table. As someone else said, it is a different view of bodily functions.
--That Cheeky Lad
2007-01-21 02:56:11 · answer #8 · answered by Charles-CeeJay_UK_ USA/CheekyLad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To give you something to post on Yahoo Answers!
2007-01-26 20:40:30 · answer #9 · answered by BigWashSr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have their own distinct views on functions of the human body
2007-01-21 02:45:06 · answer #10 · answered by Thankyou4givengmeaheadache 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋