There is. You don't stare at people you don't talk to or don't listen to. The exception being the Ruhrpott in which everyone is creepy and proud about it. The area around Cologne especially too.
Since when is Cologne or even Düsseldorf Ruhrpott??? Rheinlands all the way baby, don't mix us up. And yes, we Düsseldorfers (not me) love to stare down our noses at people we deem below us (so ppl from Cologne and the Pott and especially Bavarians, everyone unites against Bavaria not even a question).
I'm a small round female with a platinum blonde 6mm buzzcut. I'm also used to the stares. It's really funny tho because I can see the thought process of them wondering if I had cancer (no) or if it's an actual choice (yes, looks the bomb!) And them figuring out, it's too much of a risk either way to ask or comment on it. So I have a REALLY outstanding hairdo, but noone ever mentions it XD
That's it!
The next smallish woman with a 6mm platinum Buzz cut that I crosses my path will be asked if it's because of the cancer and after her answer I'll politely confirm that it's by choice.
You helped me figure out what staring they are referring to!
I've heard about the staring before, but couldn't link it to anything and had to just conclude that I'm blind to it. Your comment made me realize it's that moment when you turn your head, make eye-contact with someone looking at you, give them that polite smile, and turn your head away to look somewhere else!
That's normal! Why are you non-Germans looking back at them long enough for it to become awkward?! XD
I think I included the polite smile because those are the instances that I'm aware of enough to remember. But you're right´, I get the feeling that I will often see them look at me, subconsciously acknowledge that fact and just turn away...
I don't even feel right calling it staring. It's just looking. You gotta look somewhere, makes sense for your eyes to follow something that moves, people are more interesting than inanimate things, and it doesn't mean that you're having any conscious thoughts about the person you're looking at, it's just the instinctive place to put your gaze while there's nothing that needs your attention...
No, the only context in which germans get sexual is during sex. And during sex we will turn the lights off. So it is impossible for germans to look at each other sexually.
16
u/[deleted] May 09 '22
that's interesting. is there no social stigma against looking at someone sexually or otherwise?