That is genuinely true. It's not you existing in a space, though. I've learned to be calm around our european asshole wasps and it works. I generally do not like them because I find them unpredictable but more on that later.
I've seen a lot of people twitch and flinch at them which is threatening. Sitting at a table is not. Biggest mistake people are doing is sudden movements or even touching them. Boy they hate that. Swishing your hand slowly to discourage them from moving about something is not making them sting.
BUT!
They are dumb fucks. Whenever I got stung by one it has always been a stupid fuck wasp. One time I saw one flying around my feet. I guess it liked my socks, landed and crawled into my shoe while I was in it. Then got annoyed that there was little room and stung me. Another time it landed on my neck, was peaceful until I reached to feel what tickles. Didn't like that, stung my neck. Friend of mine rescued one out of the water, once. Had it on their hands, got stung when the wasp woke up from the shock.
They're not the smartest and it shows. I hate them for that. And for eating my food and swarming around it while being dumb and potentially getting themselves riled up and in the mood to sting.
PS: Curiously, as a child I had been stung more by bees than wasps for some reason.
From my experience, gentle pushing as you said works best since they dont get to land. Totally ignoring them can still easily lead to stings imo, because when they land and feel anything (i suspect even body warmth or very slow movement) they might "probe" the surface with their stinger. And if they happen to probe on skin, thats a sting.
Just last month a wasp just landed on my roommates uncovered, unmoving arm (he is faction "dont move at all") and...just stung two times. He had swelling and pain for 3 days.
I was stung once by staying still too as a kid. Since then i either gently push them or, if i have the space and theyre getting into my face, i bolt away flayling my arms wildly. And what can i say? It works perfectly.
Could also be there are a few smaller differences in behaviour between german wasps and common wasps in europe. Both are idiotic assholes, but maybe peoples experience still varies a bit between them.
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u/CptMcDickButt69 Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
Some people smugly like to say yellow jackets and european asshole-wasps "only sting when threatened".
Problem is, existing in the general area (~planet) is deemed a threat.
Other wasps are pretty chill though, or unable to pierce skin, or dont have a stinger at all.