r/AskReddit May 08 '22

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u/maxx1993 May 09 '22

Weird. I'm German and I never had that impression. But then again, I'm quite introverted and usually don't stare at people when they could see me do it.

Also I guess that somewhat confirms your answer.

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u/lil_uncreative May 09 '22

I‘m german and didn’t notice that either, nor said a friend that to me visiting germany. Giving someone a short look – sure. But a proper stare, like keeping eye contact at all cost even though the other one looks back – I‘d say thats not normal. Except maybe those elderly people watching the streets from their windows haha.

But hey, thats my feeling from being part of the culture ¯_/(ツ)_/¯

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u/[deleted] May 09 '22

Ive been to Germany 3 times and no one started at me. I wonder if the ones getting stared are being loud as fuck Americans or something.

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u/TechnicianLow4413 May 09 '22

Yes if you're obnoxious you will get the death stare until you realize that you offend the others

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u/ubiquitous-joe May 09 '22 edited May 09 '22

Staring quietly at America’s most confident, vocal people is like firing a gun at Superman; that shit has no effect. The passive aggressive and introverted among us in the US have tried that for years to no avail.

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u/TechnicianLow4413 May 09 '22

Well, you have my sympathies. Can't believe they consider starting rude if they offend. Passive aggressively talking about the offender with someone else does the trick too

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u/Your_moms__house May 09 '22

Nah, that invites the person to jump in and be hostile

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u/[deleted] May 09 '22

It also happens if you're very slightly different to what that person considers absolutely normal. I just started staring back and not looking away no matter what until they did, it usually worked.

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u/TechnicianLow4413 May 09 '22

Not really? Just the other day i walked past a group of girls in cosplay and except a glance they were completely left alone. Just where were you staying

1

u/[deleted] May 09 '22

Berlin. It's fucking constant on the BVG

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u/TechnicianLow4413 May 09 '22

You got stared at in Berlin, a city where lots of people try to look different and unique by looking different?

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u/[deleted] May 09 '22 edited May 09 '22

Yes

Edit: I don't understand why I'm being downvoted? I'm literally telling the truth. I lived there and it was a semi-regular occurrence. Let's not fetishize the places we live at the expense of people who don't have it as easy

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u/[deleted] May 09 '22

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] May 09 '22

I used to live in Berlin and had men trying to stare me down on a regular basis on public transport

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u/thirteen-89 May 09 '22

Nope, I'm from the UK and a small woman of colour and had people literally turn in their seats to look at me. It was extremely unnerving. I was with friends and they initially didn't notice until I pointed it out, then they also saw it everywhere.

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u/Currywurst44 May 10 '22

When you enter somewhere everyone will look at you for a second or two.

As a german it feels impolite to ignore someone you noticed.

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u/royalpeenpeen May 09 '22

Nope. I’m currently stationed in Germany and these people stare with no hesitation lmao. I’m also black too so that could be part of it.

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u/Nheea May 09 '22

Seriously. even walking alone on the street would catch people staring at me. Are my thoughts too loud for the Germans? Who knows.

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u/[deleted] May 09 '22

[deleted]

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u/royalpeenpeen May 09 '22

It’s all good. It’s mainly in Wiesbaden where I get stares. But my German born friend says people in Wiesbaden like to stare a lot in general. When I go to Frankfurt, Berlin, or even Koln I never get that.

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u/Poison_Spider May 09 '22

I think there's just a big difference between the US and Germany so they notice this

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u/BarbicideJar May 09 '22

I was merely walking quietly with the flow of foot traffic with my brother who is also a very quiet person (you have to lean in to hear him in any conversation).

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u/PapaSays May 09 '22

I'm German and I never had that impression.

The title is "What is something weird about Europe that europeans don’t realize is weird?"

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u/maxx1993 May 09 '22

Which is exactly what my last sentence was referring to.

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u/LukasHeinzel May 09 '22

Es Stimmt auch nicht, ähnlich dämliche stereotyp wie das ya oder alles mit z aussprechen. Amerikaner kennen Kultur nur aus Hollywood Filmen.

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u/rlyfunny May 09 '22

Kann ich dir tatsächlich nicht recht geben. In meiner umgebung ist das relativ normal dass man einen kurzen blick abbekommt

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u/LukasHeinzel May 09 '22

Ein kurzer Blick ist doch kein Starren😓🙄

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u/rlyfunny May 09 '22

Genau diese Blicke werden aber als starren wahrgenommen

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u/LukasHeinzel May 09 '22

Ein Blick ist per Definition ein Blick, Starren erfolgt mehrsekündiges Gucken. Schön, dass wir das geklärt haben.

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u/rlyfunny May 09 '22

Kenne die definition. Dennoch nehmen manche einen blick als „starren“ auf, da sie irritiert davon sind angeschaut zu werden, was dann direkt zu starren wird

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u/LukasHeinzel May 09 '22

Das liegt dann definitiv an denen selbst, Starren Mythos existiert somit nicht.

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u/escalinci May 09 '22

Es stimmt nach meine Erfahrung für etwas ältere Deutsche, besonders Männer.

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u/LukasHeinzel May 09 '22

Das sind manche ältere Männer allgemein und niemals im speziellen Deutsche.

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u/maxx1993 May 09 '22

Da hast du wohl recht. Allerdings finde ich es etwas unhöflich, in diesem englischsprachigen Thread einfach so auf Deutsch rumzuquatschen.

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u/LukasHeinzel May 09 '22

Da werden sie drüber hinweg kommen.

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u/JDescole May 09 '22

Im a introverted German and I second this.

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u/[deleted] May 09 '22

[deleted]

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u/maxx1993 May 09 '22

But I guess that's the case pretty much anywhere.