The Germans

Tancred

Did anyone see tonight's BBC2 programme about life in Nuremberg?

I actually find the Germans to be very endearing, almost quaint in a certain way. They take work extremely seriously but also have more personal time for their families, and women are financially encouraged to stay at home, which helps family life and also lessens competition for jobs (I now await the torrent of abuse from the resident feminists).
Kids are brought up to be well behaved and noise is not tolerated - the neighbours will call the police and you can be fined up to €2,500. Foreigners remain 'foreign' even if they are born in Germany unless they can show lots of evidence of full integration in German society.

It rather reminds me of the Britain of the 1950s - or even the 1930s. It's fascinating to see that while we have changed so much, their attitudes are in many ways still redolent of the first half of the 20th century. It also brings home how different we are from continental Europeans and how much closer we are to the Americans.

92203

I love Germany. Decent housing, amazing public transport, beautiful countryside.... oh and this too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PobBgnSgT40

If I had the language skills and youth on my side, I'd be there in a shot

TruckerT

Tancred wrote: »

Did anyone see tonight's BBC2 programme about life in Nuremberg?

I actually find the Germans to be very endearing, almost quaint in a certain way. They take work extremely seriously but also have more personal time for their families, and women are financially encouraged to stay at home, which helps family life and also lessens competition for jobs (I now await the torrent of abuse from the resident feminists).
Kids are brought up to be well behaved and noise is not tolerated - the neighbours will call the police and you can be fined up to €2,500. Foreigners remain 'foreign' even if they are born in Germany unless they can show lots of evidence of full integration in German society.

It rather reminds me of the Britain of the 1950s - or even the 1930s. It's fascinating to see that while we have changed so much, their attitudes are in many ways still redolent of the first half of the 20th century. It also brings home how different we are from continental Europeans and how much closer we are to the Americans.

It seems to me that what you are saying is that Germans 'know their place', just as Brits 'knew their place' before WW2 changed everything.

We've fought wars, we've tried socialism, and we've survived Thatcherism (just!) - what's next?

TruckerT

wotsthat

They were working in a pencil factory and managing to earn the German average wage and, generally, keep a subsidised wife and subsidised child at home.

They might have been really expensive pencils but I imagine just like here people on average wages are still net recipients of benefits.

Pretty impressed with the factories ability to compete with low cost producers though - just shows how important brands are to Europe.

N1AK

Tancred wrote: »

I actually find the Germans to be very endearing, almost quaint in a certain way. They take work extremely seriously but also have more personal time for their families, and women are financially encouraged to stay at home, which helps family life and also lessens competition for jobs (I now await the torrent of abuse from the resident feminists).
Kids are brought up to be well behaved and noise is not tolerated - the neighbours will call the police and you can be fined up to €2,500. Foreigners remain 'foreign' even if they are born in Germany unless they can show lots of evidence of full integration in German society.

I know and have worked with a lot of Germans. I think you'll find that Germany has more regional diversity than the UK. There are certainly some things that Germans, as a people, tend to share though.

Becoming a German citizen is nowhere near as difficult as someone might expect from your post (or from the programme if that's how it was made out).

I don't think I, or the imaginary resident feminists you apparently have to contend with, have any issue with the German system which gives families money if either parent stays at home with the children

movilogo

noise is not tolerated

May be an urban legend, but I heard in Switzerland, after certain time in night and till before morning, you can't even flush toilet as its sound may wake your neighbors up.

I'd still prefer Britain any day over Germany. All countries have pros and cons.

It also brings home how different we are from continental Europeans and how much closer we are to the Americans.

Very true. British culture is closer to English speaking world like USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and even India to a great extent.

ruggedtoast

I like Germany a lot. There are certainly far worse places to live.

That Gastarbeiter thing was a disaster though.

Tancred

TruckerT wrote: »

It seems to me that what you are saying is that Germans 'know their place', just as Brits 'knew their place' before WW2 changed everything.

We've fought wars, we've tried socialism, and we've survived Thatcherism (just!) - what's next?

TruckerT

It's not so much that they 'know their place', it's that they prefer a secure life with limited expectations to a high risk life with higher expectations.

Tancred

wotsthat wrote: »

They were working in a pencil factory and managing to earn the German average wage and, generally, keep a subsidised wife and subsidised child at home.

They might have been really expensive pencils but I imagine just like here people on average wages are still net recipients of benefits.

Pretty impressed with the factories ability to compete with low cost producers though - just shows how important brands are to Europe.

I believe that the system in Germany relies on tax breaks rather than handouts to support lower income families with a single wage earner. And the company is Faber-Castell, one of the world's biggest pencil manufacturers, who also make some very upmarket pens that sell for many £££. They are not short of money.

N1AK

Tancred wrote: »

It's not so much that they 'know their place', it's that they prefer a secure life with limited expectations to a high risk life with higher expectations.

A good way to describe it. I guess my only minor quibble would be that 'prefer' implies it is a conscious choice. They are brought up in a society that tells them they should work hard and be satisfied with reasonable reward. Americans are brought up with the 'American Dream'. Nothing wrong with either, but I'm inclined towards the view that a balance is better than blind adherence to either.

dryhat

Very modern, progressive and forward thinking people, the Germans...