I agree that Germans are blunt - but I think this is just by accident. So they say what they think, but not because they are being opinionated, it’s just normal to be forward.... They are not intentionally being direct, therefore they are not being impolite. My feeling is that they believe manners are important and therefore don’t want to overstep into an argument or confrontation. I hope that makes sense!! 😂
@@neevabee_ I've been German all my life. I'm from the North, but also have a Southern Family side. If I put this comment of you into account you could've run, from my experience, into one of two fallacies: -You don't know the rules or manners of a German discussion. This instantly can kill you as a viable opponent. For a couple of reasons, including unfair ones. But this goes way too far for a simple YT comment. -In a German debate there is usually a point where we "let it go". Even the most bigotted Germans I know do not discuss things to the bitter end, except when it was the point of a conversation in the first place. There is a point where we simply accept the opponents opinion and carry on. This usually happens if the discussion is past its point, by being too nuanced or you simply have given way more thought to the subject than your debate partner. Quick tip: When you feel your counterpart disconnects from a discussion, ask them to give it some thought and continue the discussion at a later point, if you're really interested in their take. But like I said, just my personal experience and literally two cents. You've probably given it more thought since you're in the position of experiencing the difference.
@@markuskoster2580 yes, actually one of my first thoughts. Maybe the discussion was just not „worth it“ and the German counter part let it go. Might be for language reason as well. Maybe the German felt he/she could not get the point across in English or gave some of the arguments a thought. Hard to tell if one was not there. At some diplomacy is probably a bit more common than just keep banging heads together
@@markuskoster2580 Very well stated. I'd ad that debating specific topics will disclose yourself to the oponent. I don't think we germans like to do that unless we are close friends. Exception: beer fests of any kind.
This is the first time I hear someone say that Germans are too polite to say what they think. In opposite most of the foreigners struggle with what is known as German directness because for most of them it seems to be rude. For me personally it depends on the topic. If I am bored by it I will try to get out of the conversation in a friendly way. Same if I do not know enough about something to talk about it. I never had Birkenstock but sandals. I am older than 60 and I wear my sandals with socks. But not because I am that old. I do that since the age of 15. I wear sandals when the weather is warm and sunny. I once had a heavy sunburn on my feet and had to put on my sandals on the way back home. It was not an enjoyable experience and I try to avoid to make it again. And if other people have nothing better to do than watch my feet: their problem. I think it is just stupid to do things because they are just fashion. On the other hand I cannot really understand why people are against socks and sandals. Feet tend to sweat when they have to walk and they start gliding in the shoes. Socks can help to prevent that.
I agree that Germans are blunt - but I think this is just by accident. So they say what they think, but not because they are being opinionated, it’s just normal to be forward.... They are not intentionally being direct, therefore they are not being impolite. My feeling is that they believe manners are important and therefore don’t want to overstep into an argument or confrontation. I hope that makes sense!!
Sparkling water is an abomination. Sure sparkling water is weirdly popular in Germany. But plenty of Germans prefer still water. Germans don't like to argue? Wait? What? That's crazytalk. ;-) I'll certainly argue that this is not true at all.
@@neevabee_ There's a moment in the discussion where you decide if you go on with the heated argument - no matter what - or let it go to save the relation with the other person. They probably didn't want to make a wrong impression to a foreigner or stranger
The cash vs card problem is the following: it costs the shop owner a fee, if you pay with card. So if they accept card at all, they might link it to a minimum consumption (no card under 10 EUR or smthg). And yes, it is so annoying and so 199x. But it is also caused by the fact that the internet has not yet reached all regions in Germany (or at least not with sufficient bandwidth…)
I didn't read tru all the comments perhaps someone mentioned it there. The cash thing is easy to explain: The shops not accepting credit card payment are mostly small, owner-managed and sell inexpensive goods. They simply don't like (and cannot afford) to pay the relatively high fees the card companies and banks charge them for the transactions. It simply makes no sense to sell for example a sandwich for 2,50€ when the bank wants 50ct for processing the payment transaction. Sometimes, especially in shops selling tabacco, there are signs cards are only accepted if the customer is willing to pay that fe, too. Tabacco has fixed prices printed on tax seals so the owner cannot hide the fee in the product price and profit is not very high, only about 35ct, so the owner literally loses money when only a single packets is bought and payed by card. This is the reason I was told by many shop owners I talked about this issue. This has changed due to Covid and more small shops accept cards and as it seems there are new payment processing companies with lower fees now.
with Birkenstock you are right. But on the other hand I can not remember when I saw a person with Birkenstocks in the past. I myself wear Birkenstock at home as hausschuhe but the clog version ( model Boston) and thes have to stay at home 😀.
I too much prefer tap water to bottled water here in Germany. Of course, there are places where it doesn't taste very good, but I think generally it's pretty high quality. I stopped wearing Birkenstocks with sandals when I got to be around 50 or 60 - I didn't want to be one of those typical old geezers. :-) I much prefer cash because then you don't leave a trail wherever you buy something. Nudism became popular in Germany back in the late nineteenth century. It was called "Freikörperkultur" or FKK and was thought to be more natural and better for your health. But Germans are not usually as prudish as most Americans are. I felt a bit strange the first time I was in a mixed sauna, but I got used to it.
Yes the water is pretty good (although I do think it tastes better in the pacific north west of the United States!! And very funny about the Birkenstocks 😂 I agree that Americans are much more prude about nudity! It’s so silly. Thanks for the interesting comment!!
I am German and regarding honest and polite conversation it behaves with me as follows: I love discussions, I love to give my honest opinion on topics, but only with people who can separate the factual from the emotional level. I have no problem telling a person that I think his opinion is absolutely wrong, but only if I don't have to fear that this statement will destroy my relationship with that person. With people with whom I am not sure that differences in the matter do not at the same time mean that no relationship is possible, I am more cautious with expressions of opinion. However, if something or someone completely upsets me, then I also give my honest opinion in these cases.
I mean, I think it's maybe not the worst thing for having a healthy conversation on important and devisive issues, if you're not too confrontational and immediately get the other person offended by being too blunt, but instead take it a bit slower and start with the less sensitive parts of a conversation, first establish some shared area of agreement (or where you already know where you just have a different opinion and know where you can't convince somebody, because it's just something they believe in), some shared framework of the debate and work your way to the touchy parts from there. Whenever I manage to achieve having a debate really structured like this, it feels like even when there are major disagreements, the conversation is much more constructive and doesn't get to a point where either side feels personally attacked or offended.
Regarding cash. Yes it is not so common in smaller shops. The owner does not want to give up to 2.5% or atleast 35 cent to the credit or debit card company. This is the main reason why you have to pay with cash on the fests like christmas market. I and support this by paying cash in smaller shops like local bakeries or butchers ..
Same for me. The water in Hamburg comes in most cases from a source in Niedersachsen and is very soft ( low in Calcium) and I do prefer it over many bottled variants ( sparkling or non-Sparkling). However a few month ago we got our water temporarily from a different source and I recognized it immediately.
Once upon a time, the water tubes were made out of lead. When water stands for a certain amount of time in these tubes, lead geht's into the water and contaminates it. The leaden tubes are gone now, but out of habit we still buy bottled water. Why it has to be sparkling water? Idk.. we're used to it. Nevertheless, I am too lazy to carry the bottles, so I drink tapwater
Germany is my place lmao I love sparkling water. I’ve stopped drinking alcohol as much and sparkling water is such a nice switch. Also didn’t realize I’ve been taken for granted free water at restaurants… hahah
If you prefer up front over politeness you should move to Berlin. I recently almost had an accident and the other person said something that sounded like "Are you alright", but she really said "Are you out of your mind". That is the difference between "Geht`s gut" and "Geht`s noch".
We pay in cash because we don't want our bank to know what we're buying and so the supermarket owner doesn't know who we are, which bank we are with and what we usually buy. This is called privacy.
A lot of us germans are stopping a depate if the we see the other person can need be convinced and the theme is not important. In this case it is better to change the theme and talk about other things.
I am german and hate sparkling water. I drink much and fast and that does not go well with sparkling water. So I drank and drink mostly tap water all my life even as a little child of 3 or 4 years. In my opinion it's the best when you are thirsty. My dad on the other hand drinks only sparkling water. My mom drinks both. My friends are 50/50. Restaurants: They usually have "Stilles Wasser". You just have to ask for it. If you say just "Wasser" they will bring most likely sparkling water.
I'm a German, and sparkling water disgusts me. Why so many people prefer it over tap water is beyond me, too, especially when you consider our tap water is (at least in most areas) actually healthier than bottled sparkling water that gets advertised as being healthy. It's a bit ridiculous, really.
I like smart people. Good Video! In Bavaria more people are rather polite, in the northern districts it may be totally different. But in most cases, people tend to be friendly.
Guilty as charged on the Birkenstocks, but mainly when I go to the office, because you cannot NOT wear socks in the office, whereas Birkenstocks are just fine. Fortunately, I've been "doing home-office" as the Germans say (even though I'm dutch, and I find that a funny expression), so socks or no socks is not an issue at the moment.
Regarding sparkling water: I always drink sparkling water when bottled (or in Restaurants). However at home I prefer to drink tap water. I just do not like bottled water without gas, the reduced gas variety („Medium“) I try to avoid too. Just German. 😉
I hope you didn't have this enormous heat in PNW when you were there. 1. I like flat water more 2. A painful truth is better than a lie (but not everyone can handle it) 3. I hate sandals since childhood 4. The positive side of paying cash is: You don't lose track of your finances. 5. No one forces others to go where there are naked people. At the kiosk you can see naked women on the front pages of magazines. Nobody cares. In the USA, the kiosk owner would be arrested - or not? Other countries other manners. 🙂
@@neevabee_ I didn't get you wrong! I don't necessarily think americans are prudes either. The USA = largest porn market in the world❗️I think the laws of media makes America "prudish" (everything must be censored by law - or does the media do it voluntarily?).
But we are very organized about being naked - FKK beaches have signs after all. :) Germans went nude for over a century. But I guess Fins did nude saunas long before that. Denmark has us beat though - they simply abolished any difference between nude and textile beaches in the 70s. We should follow that example and save money on signs.
Ich liebe Sprudelwasser. Angefangen in der Kindheit mit normaler Kohlensäure (Blauer Deckel). Zwischenzeitlich war ich bei reduzierter Kohlensäure (Grüner Deckel). Bin jetzt aber bei wenig Kohlensäure (Rosa Deckel). In Kanada Sprudelwasser zu finden war echt schwer. Zum Thema Bargeld: Hier möchte ich Dir das RUclips-Video von und mit David Kriesel "SpiegelMining" (33C3) empfehlen. Hier geht es zwar um "BigData", aber das kann genauso mit Kreditkarten oder Bonuskarten gemacht werden. Bargeld ist hier wirklich die Ausnahme. Ansonsten wieder ein tolles Video.
There was a (healthy) mistrust of water from unknown sources for centuries. In medieval times the drink of choice was wine. Albeit with a lower alcohol content as today. In late medieval times, beer was pushed by some rulers instead. More nutritious than wine and the peasants did thus not get drunk as fast (= higher productivity). Again this beer had a lower alcohol content then today. A kind of light beer. There were a number of mineral springs in Germany (and around) with natural sparkling water. E.g. at Niederselters (Hesse). A doctor from Worms (Jakob Theodor Tabernaemontanus) described in a book published in 1581 the healthy effects of this water from Niederselters. And soon after the sale of this water in stoneware mugs started. Albeit not in small numbers - still a luxury good. Other places with similar similar water followed. How it is possible to produce sparkling water artificially was discovered by Joseph Priestley in England around 1774. A man with many talents - but no businessman. A few years (1780) Jacob Schweppe (born in Hesse) discovered a different method. And founded in 1790 a company selling this "healthy" sparkling water product. And just 2 years later he founded a subsidiary in London. Which became later an independent company "J.Schweppe & Co.". And kept the name Schweppes even after Jacob Schweppe sold the majority of his shares in 1802 and returned to Geneva. With the option to produce sparkling water artificially it became more affordable over time for everyone, not only the rich ones. That sparkling water is still most popular at its birthplace as a healthy/fashionable drink is not really surprising.
In no particular order: I wouldn’t say that Germans are to polite In regards to that they don’t want to offend anyone. I think it’s more that they have a very open mind and respect that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, even if they do not agree with it. And with that in mind, will discuss a subject rather than argue about it. Fizzy water! Yes, coming from Scotland we drink from the tap and there ain’t no bubbles in it. I was completely amazed at the amount of bottled Water there was when I moved to Germany, and still think it’s a big con, I mean, what’s wrong with tap water? That said, if I ask for water in a restaurant, it will be fizzy I ask for now😬. I just prefer it. Cash only: less and less now, though it still does happen. Though paying by credit card rather than a regular EC Card can be difficult at times. I don’t need to go back to far to remember cashiers looking at me funny when I handed them my UK credit card for payment. FKK: Yup! They certainly do love it. Not everyone, but those that do do tend to get offended if you are in their space and not naked. Though I’ve only heard this from third parties. I believe they also strongly believe that you should be naked in the sauna, as it’s more hygienic😳🤔. How they work that out,I don’t know🤷. Birkenstock’s and socks: I’m 55 so kinda almost but I hope not in that category. Let’s just say that if I was to go out with that combination… I’d be going alone! My wife would disown me before taking a step outside with me whilst wearing socks with my Birkies. Enough said on that subject. Though I was surprised to see whilst on holiday in Florida how many young men there were with white sports socks and flip flops or “Latschen” (not sure of the English word, but you’d wear them to the beach or around the pool) to go shopping around the malls.
I think there is a difference between being honest and being confrontational. If I have the impression, that there is no use of an argument or a confrontation, I would avoid it. Maybe it‘s also a cultural thing. As a German, you maybe don‘t want to be perceived as confrontational (with all the history burden of WWII…) besides that: Birkenstock-Schlapfen in the office? Absolute no-go (unless you work for the local young socialist left-wing club…)?
I am probably one of those "non-confrontational" people that you describe. For me, it doesn't have anything to do with being nice/polite. I WILL say my opinion and stand by it, especially when it comes to issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia etc... But as I grew older and more mature (I am now in my mid 30s) I grew tired of lengthy debates that I realized were mostly pointless and led to nothing but arguments. So yes, voice your opinion, but no, don't try vehemently to "convert" others. Also, when you're younger you tend to have a never-ending self-convidence. you think that your opinion is right and, as a matter of fact, the only right answer there is. As you grow older you know that it isn't so. To make a long story short, today I usually don't debate any more. I position myself. "I don't see it that way. I think ... But hey, who knows maybe I'm wrong". I'm now 34 I have no more time to lose and waste on lengthy/pointless debates ;-)
Because water and especially to prepare fresh water is very expensive and restaurants in Europe make their extra money with drinks, food is only for the usual costs. Restaurants in the US don't like to pay the staff the right way, dollars 2,19 per hours is ridiculous against around €9,50 in Germany, so that's the job of the customers with their tip. So with low costs on staff and fresh water in the US around dollars 1,80 against €6,29 in Europe.
Well, the water - as far as I know it began after WW2. Everything was destroyed and it was just not safe to drink the tap water 🤷♀️ and that was in almost all of Europe. Every child was told, not to drink tap water!!! And if some generations are told so - at some point no one asks anymore... we all drink bottled water.
Water doesn't come out of the tap sparkling, so I buy mine bottled (preferably in glass bottles). I find it more refreshing and better to mix with juice. Discussion is what I do with dear friends, a little with work colleagues, absolutely very little with others due to manners. Live and let live... sort of! Working in a global (US headquarters) company I find mostly my US colleagues don't understand how to discuss. They insist on only their way and what I'd define as arguing. They're less focused on resolving things than about the right/wrong debate, which I find tiresome black and white. Most of the times there are arguments that work in favour of either side and are equally "right". This stupid: I argue with you for you to see my point is pointless to me. Birkenstocks are worn bare feet by all people I know, except some weird elderly people, who'd even wear socks on the beach... it's less about other footwear for them but they wear socks everywhere for no apparent reason. Cards thankfully become more common even in little stores and I really haven't been to the ATM in over a year. Normal debit cards (giro) don't have fees and taxes. For credit cards this differs. Nudity is something I don't even bat an eye on. As a German one just grows up with it, making it normal.
Okay I will agree sparkling water is good with juice! I just don’t enjoy it plain 😝 That’s such an interesting perspective about debating/confrontation! Thanks for the insightful comment :)
Viele kleine Läden, Geschäfte nehmen nur Bargeld da die Gebueren bei Kartenzahlungen so hoch sind, gerade bei den kleinen Summen, das sie Letztendlich draufzahlen müssten. Wenn die Gebüren niedriger waeren, waere das evlt. anders.
Hi. You can look up the difference between "Mineralwasser und Oberflächenwasser" Do you think, you behave like a modern Pippi Langstrumpf (Astrid Lindgren)? See sometimes, at the lake, you would be glad, if an old guy would have three socks. To cover ugly or things that better should not be shown public. Tschüss. And 💧 the 🎙
@@neevabee_ lol yes, I would drink the stuff if I was severely dehydrated and had nothing else to drink nearby, but voluntarily, no. And it is always a disappointment when you get provisions at work ... and the only two options for drinks are apfelschorle and sparkling water. Mind you, I'm not the only one there who doesn't like both of this options.
Nude areas. Why is it so important that each american expat speaks about this? You can live here in germany and see no nude people for years as long you do go not to a lake or to a to a beach.
Die moderne Nacktkultur ist ein enormer Angriff auf das Schamgefühl vieler gute erzogener Menschen und eines der vielen erschreckenden Zeichen sexueller Überreizung aller Lebensbereiche!
Germans being to polite to be honest is actually a new one. Every other youtuber from the US describes us the other way round🤔
Hahaha. Exactly - i know 100% what you mean....
I agree that Germans are blunt - but I think this is just by accident. So they say what they think, but not because they are being opinionated, it’s just normal to be forward.... They are not intentionally being direct, therefore they are not being impolite. My feeling is that they believe manners are important and therefore don’t want to overstep into an argument or confrontation. I hope that makes sense!! 😂
@@neevabee_ I've been German all my life. I'm from the North, but also have a Southern Family side. If I put this comment of you into account you could've run, from my experience, into one of two fallacies:
-You don't know the rules or manners of a German discussion. This instantly can kill you as a viable opponent. For a couple of reasons, including unfair ones. But this goes way too far for a simple YT comment.
-In a German debate there is usually a point where we "let it go". Even the most bigotted Germans I know do not discuss things to the bitter end, except when it was the point of a conversation in the first place. There is a point where we simply accept the opponents opinion and carry on. This usually happens if the discussion is past its point, by being too nuanced or you simply have given way more thought to the subject than your debate partner. Quick tip: When you feel your counterpart disconnects from a discussion, ask them to give it some thought and continue the discussion at a later point, if you're really interested in their take.
But like I said, just my personal experience and literally two cents. You've probably given it more thought since you're in the position of experiencing the difference.
@@markuskoster2580 yes, actually one of my first thoughts. Maybe the discussion was just not „worth it“ and the German counter part let it go. Might be for language reason as well. Maybe the German felt he/she could not get the point across in English or gave some of the arguments a thought. Hard to tell if one was not there. At some diplomacy is probably a bit more common than just keep banging heads together
@@markuskoster2580 Very well stated.
I'd ad that debating specific topics will disclose yourself to the oponent. I don't think we germans like to do that unless we are close friends.
Exception: beer fests of any kind.
Was für eine ulkige und liebenswerte junge Ehefrau, der mein einfach gerne zuhört!
This is the first time I hear someone say that Germans are too polite to say what they think. In opposite most of the foreigners struggle with what is known as German directness because for most of them it seems to be rude. For me personally it depends on the topic. If I am bored by it I will try to get out of the conversation in a friendly way. Same if I do not know enough about something to talk about it.
I never had Birkenstock but sandals. I am older than 60 and I wear my sandals with socks. But not because I am that old. I do that since the age of 15. I wear sandals when the weather is warm and sunny. I once had a heavy sunburn on my feet and had to put on my sandals on the way back home. It was not an enjoyable experience and I try to avoid to make it again. And if other people have nothing better to do than watch my feet: their problem. I think it is just stupid to do things because they are just fashion. On the other hand I cannot really understand why people are against socks and sandals. Feet tend to sweat when they have to walk and they start gliding in the shoes. Socks can help to prevent that.
I agree that Germans are blunt - but I think this is just by accident. So they say what they think, but not because they are being opinionated, it’s just normal to be forward.... They are not intentionally being direct, therefore they are not being impolite. My feeling is that they believe manners are important and therefore don’t want to overstep into an argument or confrontation. I hope that makes sense!!
Sparkling water is an abomination. Sure sparkling water is weirdly popular in Germany. But plenty of Germans prefer still water.
Germans don't like to argue? Wait? What? That's crazytalk. ;-) I'll certainly argue that this is not true at all.
Hahahah okay that’s good to know!! I haven’t met any Germans like that 😂
@@neevabee_ There's a moment in the discussion where you decide if you go on with the heated argument - no matter what - or let it go to save the relation with the other person. They probably didn't want to make a wrong impression to a foreigner or stranger
The cash vs card problem is the following: it costs the shop owner a fee, if you pay with card. So if they accept card at all, they might link it to a minimum consumption (no card under 10 EUR or smthg). And yes, it is so annoying and so 199x. But it is also caused by the fact that the internet has not yet reached all regions in Germany (or at least not with sufficient bandwidth…)
I didn't read tru all the comments perhaps someone mentioned it there.
The cash thing is easy to explain: The shops not accepting credit card payment are mostly small, owner-managed and sell inexpensive goods. They simply don't like (and cannot afford) to pay the relatively high fees the card companies and banks charge them for the transactions.
It simply makes no sense to sell for example a sandwich for 2,50€ when the bank wants 50ct for processing the payment transaction.
Sometimes, especially in shops selling tabacco, there are signs cards are only accepted if the customer is willing to pay that fe, too. Tabacco has fixed prices printed on tax seals so the owner cannot hide the fee in the product price and profit is not very high, only about 35ct, so the owner literally loses money when only a single packets is bought and payed by card.
This is the reason I was told by many shop owners I talked about this issue.
This has changed due to Covid and more small shops accept cards and as it seems there are new payment processing companies with lower fees now.
Sparkling water is so so so so much better!
😂 agree to disagree!!! Although I do like it mixed with juice :))
with Birkenstock you are right. But on the other hand I can not remember when I saw a person with Birkenstocks in the past. I myself wear Birkenstock at home as hausschuhe but the clog version ( model Boston) and thes have to stay at home 😀.
Sparkling water ist a popular thing especially in the South of Germany
I too much prefer tap water to bottled water here in Germany. Of course, there are places where it doesn't taste very good, but I think generally it's pretty high quality.
I stopped wearing Birkenstocks with sandals when I got to be around 50 or 60 - I didn't want to be one of those typical old geezers. :-)
I much prefer cash because then you don't leave a trail wherever you buy something.
Nudism became popular in Germany back in the late nineteenth century. It was called "Freikörperkultur" or FKK and was thought to be more natural and better for your health. But Germans are not usually as prudish as most Americans are. I felt a bit strange the first time I was in a mixed sauna, but I got used to it.
Yes the water is pretty good (although I do think it tastes better in the pacific north west of the United States!! And very funny about the Birkenstocks 😂 I agree that Americans are much more prude about nudity! It’s so silly. Thanks for the interesting comment!!
I am German and regarding honest and polite conversation it behaves with me as follows:
I love discussions, I love to give my honest opinion on topics, but only with people who can separate the factual from the emotional level. I have no problem telling a person that I think his opinion is absolutely wrong, but only if I don't have to fear that this statement will destroy my relationship with that person.
With people with whom I am not sure that differences in the matter do not at the same time mean that no relationship is possible, I am more cautious with expressions of opinion.
However, if something or someone completely upsets me, then I also give my honest opinion in these cases.
I mean, I think it's maybe not the worst thing for having a healthy conversation on important and devisive issues, if you're not too confrontational and immediately get the other person offended by being too blunt, but instead take it a bit slower and start with the less sensitive parts of a conversation, first establish some shared area of agreement (or where you already know where you just have a different opinion and know where you can't convince somebody, because it's just something they believe in), some shared framework of the debate and work your way to the touchy parts from there. Whenever I manage to achieve having a debate really structured like this, it feels like even when there are major disagreements, the conversation is much more constructive and doesn't get to a point where either side feels personally attacked or offended.
Sandalen mit Socken zu tragen ist viel angenehmer, als ohne Socken, weil sonst die Haut von dem Leder schnell wund gerieben wird.
Regarding cash. Yes it is not so common in smaller shops. The owner does not want to give up to 2.5% or atleast 35 cent to the credit or debit card company. This is the main reason why you have to pay with cash on the fests like christmas market. I and support this by paying cash in smaller shops like local bakeries or butchers ..
Love your hair now. Very cute.
Thank you!
@@neevabee_ Ja - sieht echt toll aus!
I'm from Hamburg and I hate sparkling water.Our local tap water can't be beat!
Same for me. The water in Hamburg comes in most cases from a source in Niedersachsen and is very soft ( low in Calcium) and I do prefer it over many bottled variants ( sparkling or non-Sparkling). However a few month ago we got our water temporarily from a different source and I recognized it immediately.
Once upon a time, the water tubes were made out of lead. When water stands for a certain amount of time in these tubes, lead geht's into the water and contaminates it. The leaden tubes are gone now, but out of habit we still buy bottled water. Why it has to be sparkling water? Idk.. we're used to it. Nevertheless, I am too lazy to carry the bottles, so I drink tapwater
Oh interesting!! Thanks for the information :)
Germany is my place lmao I love sparkling water. I’ve stopped drinking alcohol as much and sparkling water is such a nice switch.
Also didn’t realize I’ve been taken for granted free water at restaurants… hahah
😂 yessss Europe is weird about free water hahahah thanks for the comment 🥰
If you prefer up front over politeness you should move to Berlin. I recently almost had an accident and the other person said something that sounded like "Are you alright", but she really said "Are you out of your mind". That is the difference between "Geht`s gut" and "Geht`s noch".
If the water is flat you cannot drink it anymore, because then it is on the floor.
We all know what happens when you speak your mind in a job interview. ruclips.net/video/xrTFi8nV6hY/видео.html
We pay in cash because we don't want our bank to know what we're buying and so the supermarket owner doesn't know who we are, which bank we are with and what we usually buy. This is called privacy.
A lot of us germans are stopping a depate if the we see the other person can need be convinced and the theme is not important. In this case it is better to change the theme and talk about other things.
I am german and hate sparkling water. I drink much and fast and that does not go well with sparkling water. So I drank and drink mostly tap water all my life even as a little child of 3 or 4 years. In my opinion it's the best when you are thirsty. My dad on the other hand drinks only sparkling water. My mom drinks both. My friends are 50/50.
Restaurants: They usually have "Stilles Wasser". You just have to ask for it. If you say just "Wasser" they will bring most likely sparkling water.
I'm a German, and sparkling water disgusts me. Why so many people prefer it over tap water is beyond me, too, especially when you consider our tap water is (at least in most areas) actually healthier than bottled sparkling water that gets advertised as being healthy. It's a bit ridiculous, really.
The Cash thing is about control
You can control how much you spent so you spent less
And the Government/Bank can't track/control where you spent it
True!
I believe retail outlets pay a fee for credit transactions. Small shops may not like paying that fee.
I like smart people. Good Video! In Bavaria more people are rather polite, in the northern districts it may be totally different. But in most cases, people tend to be friendly.
Your curl is your third eye 👁!!!!! I love it
Thank you!
Guilty as charged on the Birkenstocks, but mainly when I go to the office, because you cannot NOT wear socks in the office, whereas Birkenstocks are just fine. Fortunately, I've been "doing home-office" as the Germans say (even though I'm dutch, and I find that a funny expression), so socks or no socks is not an issue at the moment.
That’s so funny!!! Yes, right now we can all wear whatever we want for work at home 😂
Nice and interesting video! :)
Thank you so much!
Regarding sparkling water: I always drink sparkling water when bottled (or in Restaurants). However at home I prefer to drink tap water. I just do not like bottled water without gas, the reduced gas variety („Medium“) I try to avoid too. Just German. 😉
That’s funny!! Good to know :)
Ich kann sehr gut disskutieren, auch wenn es die Gegenseite meistens nicht hören will!
I hope you didn't have this enormous heat in PNW when you were there.
1. I like flat water more 2. A painful truth is better than a lie (but not everyone can handle it)
3. I hate sandals since childhood 4. The positive side of paying cash is: You don't lose track of your finances. 5. No one forces others to go where there are naked people. At the kiosk you can see naked women on the front pages of magazines. Nobody cares. In the USA, the kiosk owner would be arrested - or not? Other countries other manners. 🙂
Hahahaha don’t get me wrong, I don’t have any problem with fkk! I think it’s great :) Americans are very prude...
@@neevabee_ I didn't get you wrong! I don't necessarily think americans are prudes either. The USA = largest porn market in the world❗️I think the laws of media makes America "prudish" (everything must be censored by law - or does the media do it voluntarily?).
But we are very organized about being naked - FKK beaches have signs after all. :)
Germans went nude for over a century. But I guess Fins did nude saunas long before that.
Denmark has us beat though - they simply abolished any difference between nude and textile beaches in the 70s. We should follow that example and save money on signs.
Hahahaha good idea!!!!
Ich liebe Sprudelwasser. Angefangen in der Kindheit mit normaler Kohlensäure (Blauer Deckel). Zwischenzeitlich war ich bei reduzierter Kohlensäure (Grüner Deckel). Bin jetzt aber bei wenig Kohlensäure (Rosa Deckel). In Kanada Sprudelwasser zu finden war echt schwer.
Zum Thema Bargeld: Hier möchte ich Dir das RUclips-Video von und mit David Kriesel "SpiegelMining" (33C3) empfehlen. Hier geht es zwar um "BigData", aber das kann genauso mit Kreditkarten oder Bonuskarten gemacht werden. Bargeld ist hier wirklich die Ausnahme.
Ansonsten wieder ein tolles Video.
Danke!! Gutes comment / info :)
Oja, auch alle andren David Kriesel video sind lehrreich und wahnsinnig unterhaltsam! Mehr unter: media.ccc.de !!!!
I prefer sparkling water probably because I'm used to it since I was a kid 😁 But I dont know who started it and why...
There was a (healthy) mistrust of water from unknown sources for centuries. In medieval times the drink of choice was wine. Albeit with a lower alcohol content as today. In late medieval times, beer was pushed by some rulers instead. More nutritious than wine and the peasants did thus not get drunk as fast (= higher productivity). Again this beer had a lower alcohol content then today. A kind of light beer.
There were a number of mineral springs in Germany (and around) with natural sparkling water. E.g. at Niederselters (Hesse). A doctor from Worms (Jakob Theodor Tabernaemontanus) described in a book published in 1581 the healthy effects of this water from Niederselters. And soon after the sale of this water in stoneware mugs started. Albeit not in small numbers - still a luxury good. Other places with similar similar water followed.
How it is possible to produce sparkling water artificially was discovered by Joseph Priestley in England around 1774. A man with many talents - but no businessman. A few years (1780) Jacob Schweppe (born in Hesse) discovered a different method. And founded in 1790 a company selling this "healthy" sparkling water product. And just 2 years later he founded a subsidiary in London. Which became later an independent company "J.Schweppe & Co.". And kept the name Schweppes even after Jacob Schweppe sold the majority of his shares in 1802 and returned to Geneva.
With the option to produce sparkling water artificially it became more affordable over time for everyone, not only the rich ones. That sparkling water is still most popular at its birthplace as a healthy/fashionable drink is not really surprising.
Tap water tastes boring, I always drink it with vitamin C or mineral effervescent tablets
I prefer regular, normal sparkling water 😉.
In no particular order:
I wouldn’t say that Germans are to polite In regards to that they don’t want to offend anyone. I think it’s more that they have a very open mind and respect that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, even if they do not agree with it. And with that in mind, will discuss a subject rather than argue about it.
Fizzy water! Yes, coming from Scotland we drink from the tap and there ain’t no bubbles in it. I was completely amazed at the amount of bottled Water there was when I moved to Germany, and still think it’s a big con, I mean, what’s wrong with tap water? That said, if I ask for water in a restaurant, it will be fizzy I ask for now😬. I just prefer it.
Cash only: less and less now, though it still does happen. Though paying by credit card rather than a regular EC Card can be difficult at times. I don’t need to go back to far to remember cashiers looking at me funny when I handed them my UK credit card for payment.
FKK: Yup! They certainly do love it. Not everyone, but those that do do tend to get offended if you are in their space and not naked. Though I’ve only heard this from third parties. I believe they also strongly believe that you should be naked in the sauna, as it’s more hygienic😳🤔. How they work that out,I don’t know🤷.
Birkenstock’s and socks: I’m 55 so kinda almost but I hope not in that category. Let’s just say that if I was to go out with that combination… I’d be going alone! My wife would disown me before taking a step outside with me whilst wearing socks with my Birkies. Enough said on that subject. Though I was surprised to see whilst on holiday in Florida how many young men there were with white sports socks and flip flops or “Latschen” (not sure of the English word, but you’d wear them to the beach or around the pool) to go shopping around the malls.
I’m laughing about your wife not letting you out with the Birkenstocks 😂 such a great comment thanks for the info :)))
I think there is a difference between being honest and being confrontational. If I have the impression, that there is no use of an argument or a confrontation, I would avoid it. Maybe it‘s also a cultural thing. As a German, you maybe don‘t want to be perceived as confrontational (with all the history burden of WWII…) besides that: Birkenstock-Schlapfen in the office? Absolute no-go (unless you work for the local young socialist left-wing club…)?
I am probably one of those "non-confrontational" people that you describe. For me, it doesn't have anything to do with being nice/polite. I WILL say my opinion and stand by it, especially when it comes to issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia etc... But as I grew older and more mature (I am now in my mid 30s) I grew tired of lengthy debates that I realized were mostly pointless and led to nothing but arguments. So yes, voice your opinion, but no, don't try vehemently to "convert" others. Also, when you're younger you tend to have a never-ending self-convidence. you think that your opinion is right and, as a matter of fact, the only right answer there is. As you grow older you know that it isn't so.
To make a long story short, today I usually don't debate any more. I position myself. "I don't see it that way. I think ... But hey, who knows maybe I'm wrong". I'm now 34 I have no more time to lose and waste on lengthy/pointless debates ;-)
Water in restaurants....why do we need to pay for water??
I know.... I have seen this all over Europe! No free water here!!
Because water and especially to prepare fresh water is very expensive and restaurants in Europe make their extra money with drinks, food is only for the usual costs.
Restaurants in the US don't like to pay the staff the right way, dollars 2,19 per hours is ridiculous against around €9,50 in Germany,
so that's the job of the customers with their tip.
So with low costs on staff and fresh water in the US around dollars 1,80 against €6,29 in Europe.
@@robertzander9723 👍🏻
Well, the water - as far as I know it began after WW2. Everything was destroyed and it was just not safe to drink the tap water 🤷♀️ and that was in almost all of Europe. Every child was told, not to drink tap water!!! And if some generations are told so - at some point no one asks anymore... we all drink bottled water.
Water doesn't come out of the tap sparkling, so I buy mine bottled (preferably in glass bottles). I find it more refreshing and better to mix with juice.
Discussion is what I do with dear friends, a little with work colleagues, absolutely very little with others due to manners. Live and let live... sort of! Working in a global (US headquarters) company I find mostly my US colleagues don't understand how to discuss. They insist on only their way and what I'd define as arguing. They're less focused on resolving things than about the right/wrong debate, which I find tiresome black and white. Most of the times there are arguments that work in favour of either side and are equally "right". This stupid: I argue with you for you to see my point is pointless to me.
Birkenstocks are worn bare feet by all people I know, except some weird elderly people, who'd even wear socks on the beach... it's less about other footwear for them but they wear socks everywhere for no apparent reason.
Cards thankfully become more common even in little stores and I really haven't been to the ATM in over a year. Normal debit cards (giro) don't have fees and taxes. For credit cards this differs.
Nudity is something I don't even bat an eye on. As a German one just grows up with it, making it normal.
Okay I will agree sparkling water is good with juice! I just don’t enjoy it plain 😝 That’s such an interesting perspective about debating/confrontation! Thanks for the insightful comment :)
Viele kleine Läden, Geschäfte nehmen nur Bargeld da die Gebueren bei Kartenzahlungen so hoch sind, gerade bei den kleinen Summen, das sie
Letztendlich draufzahlen müssten. Wenn die Gebüren niedriger waeren, waere das evlt. anders.
Ok danke für das Info!
Hi.
You can look up the difference between "Mineralwasser und Oberflächenwasser"
Do you think, you behave like a modern Pippi Langstrumpf (Astrid Lindgren)?
See sometimes, at the lake, you would be glad, if an old guy would have three socks. To cover ugly or things that better should not be shown public.
Tschüss. And 💧 the 🎙
I don't like sparkling water at all. I never could stand it. Unlike other family members, I always drank from the sink.
Yes! Finally someone who understands me 😂
@@neevabee_ lol yes, I would drink the stuff if I was severely dehydrated and had nothing else to drink nearby, but voluntarily, no. And it is always a disappointment when you get provisions at work ... and the only two options for drinks are apfelschorle and sparkling water. Mind you, I'm not the only one there who doesn't like both of this options.
Nude areas. Why is it so important that each american expat speaks about this? You can live here in germany and see no nude people for years as long you do go not to a lake or to a to a beach.
Die moderne Nacktkultur ist ein enormer Angriff auf das Schamgefühl vieler gute erzogener Menschen und eines der vielen erschreckenden Zeichen sexueller Überreizung aller Lebensbereiche!
I m radi💦