Involuntary movement
Last evening I was sat on the train on the way home from work. I happened to be sat in one of the seats near the sliding doors which separate the carriages. Sitting here is a royal pain in the arse, as you constantly have to shut the door after people who have just walked through the door and not shut it.
Most Germans sat in these seats get annoyed at having to shut the door but never say anything to the offender. I normally do not say anything either, but last evening a lad in his twenties walked through twice without shutting the door. Without thinking about it I poked him in the stomach, probably a bit harder than what I should’ve done. He looked shocked and said something to me sharply in German which I didn’t understand as I was listening to music on my MP3 player. I replied in English and in a firm tone, “Shut that door Please”. Immediately he shut the door, lowered his head, and then walked off. I naturally thanked him in English. A result.
At this point I realised that all the other German passengers were looking at me. Some in amusement I suspect, and hopefully some with respect, for challenging the mannerless lout. Of course it could have just been because I had shouted loudly as I was wearing headphones, and they thought they had an English nutter on the train.
Technorati Tags: Trains, Germany
Most Germans sat in these seats get annoyed at having to shut the door but never say anything to the offender. I normally do not say anything either, but last evening a lad in his twenties walked through twice without shutting the door. Without thinking about it I poked him in the stomach, probably a bit harder than what I should’ve done. He looked shocked and said something to me sharply in German which I didn’t understand as I was listening to music on my MP3 player. I replied in English and in a firm tone, “Shut that door Please”. Immediately he shut the door, lowered his head, and then walked off. I naturally thanked him in English. A result.
At this point I realised that all the other German passengers were looking at me. Some in amusement I suspect, and hopefully some with respect, for challenging the mannerless lout. Of course it could have just been because I had shouted loudly as I was wearing headphones, and they thought they had an English nutter on the train.
Technorati Tags: Trains, Germany
posted by Haddock at 5:32 PM
16 Comments:
Way to go! Thank goodness someone reacted in some other way than what I term as the terse German glare.
Good on you!
Everybody else was probably so thankful that someone wasn't just 'glaring' (to steal the phrase) but had the guts to say something.
I guess, as Germans we're so straight forward but when it comes to certain issues we just don't say anything, though our eyes're probably saying more than one can handle.
It great getting the 'outsider' perspective on one's own culture and mannerism ;-)
Yes you need to pat yourself on the back for that, something a lot of us 'think' about doing in a lot of situations but are to scared to really do.
Well done. you have more nerve than i do. I wouldn't even do that in England let alone in a foreign country.I am always being jostled and bumped into, no one evr says sorry or excuse me. wish i could just tell em what i think.
Another glorious victory Mr. Haddock! Personal experience leads me to go with the "English nutter" theory though....
Dixie - "The terse German stare" - I know exactly what you mean!
Franzie - I don't normally do this sort of thing. I was really tired. It was almost an automatic action.Thanks for stopping by :)
Leons Life - If I had thought about it I probably wouldn't have poked him in the stomach. It just sort of happened - Involuntary! :)
Lydia - People here do tend to jostle and bump into others (a lot) and never apologise. On occasion when someone does apologise its a pleasant surprise.
Neil - A glorious victory indeed! Whether due to the media or not, most nationalities seem to give English nutters (Island Monkeys) a wide berth.
There i s nothing worse than English nutters on a train except to be in England with a train full of them.
You're probably lucky not to have received an "Anzeige wegen Körperverletzung" you rowdy you ;-)
LOL... I think one of the biggest adjustments I'll have moving from the USA to Deutschland is availing myself of public transit. Here everyone drives big, fat SUV's and the worst we do when annoyed is flip other drivers off and then speed away.
Dr John - How true! :)
Bob - That should be in book called the "Commuters guide to survival"
Karen - I guess I was lucky not to have those big words spoken to me :)
Viernach - Welcome to Public Transport in Germany - It's fun isn't it! :)
Eurotrippen - Giving someone the finger whilst driving in Germany is illegal! - It took me a long time to get out of the habit (I still do it sometimes anyway) :)
It's against German LAW to flip somebody off whilst driving? This is the most outrageous thing I've ever heard. Out here, the middle finger might as well be the brake pedal, so often is it relied upon...
"English nutter." I'll be laughing about that the rest of the weekend.
If word gets around about this, you'll eventually have a whole compartment to yourself - " Vorsicht, der ist unberechenbar." :-)
I can just picture you poking him in the stomach.
Way to lay down the law, Haddock!
Way to go!!! I spoke up like that on Friday but it didn't have as much impact because it was with 7th graders. haha
I also find myself verbaly abusing Germans for their appaling behaviour in public. EG. They never look behind them after walking through doors. If you're driving in Germany & you slow down to let someone change lanes or enter the stream of traffic ahead of you, you never get a little wave of thanks, it drives me mad.
Germans are very good at formal politeness but absolutely terrible at real genuine politeness & respect for ones fellow man (or woman)
Mr Haddock, I think you've pulled.
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