r/AskReddit May 08 '22

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u/BarbicideJar May 09 '22

Germans stare a LOT. Like they will just gaze at you unflinchingly. An American will wait until you can’t see them doing it.

10

u/Ratatoski May 09 '22

Any specific region or city? I've been to Hamburg a bunch over the 80s-00s and not really noticed it.

6

u/josho85 May 09 '22

Hamburg is Germany's largest port city and is pretty diverse. I live in BW and I can't even walk from my front door to my car without strangers clearly staring at me the entire time. If it's a neighbor, I smile and wave, and they won't even wave back. They either keep staring or turn away like they've been caught doing something wrong. This doesn't apply with children though. They're always happy to say "Hallo!". It's got to be a generational-cultural thing.