Comments on: Not yelled at is praise enough http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/ German Quirks from an American Perspective Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:16:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Florian http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-13662 Florian Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:27:52 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-13662 Ed gschempft isch globd gnuag Nicht geschimpft ist genug gelobt not being yelled at is enough praise LOL Ed gschempft isch globd gnuag
Nicht geschimpft ist genug gelobt
not being yelled at is enough praise
LOL

]]> By: just passing by http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-8193 just passing by Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:32:24 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-8193 yeah... until some years ago, bike-lights were powered by dynamos (little generators powered by your own cycling effort) so if you had your dynamo switched on, cycling would be much harder and you would have been glad to be reminded of that :-) but what am i doing, i'm becoming an "explainer" lol^^ yeah… until some years ago, bike-lights were powered by dynamos (little generators powered by your own cycling effort) so if you had your dynamo switched on, cycling would be much harder and you would have been glad to be reminded of that :-)
but what am i doing, i’m becoming an “explainer” lol^^

]]> By: Lisa http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-5145 Lisa Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:46:06 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-5145 Piet is completely right! I (as a German) would be happy if someone pointed out to me that my bike headlight was still switched on during daytime. That would save me from running out of battery and cycling back home at night without light. And from being then honked at by some caring fellow German whose way it is for saying "Girl, I almost killed you, you'd better switch you headlights on before some else hits you because he doesn't notice you in the dark." Piet is completely right! I (as a German) would be happy if someone pointed out to me that my bike headlight was still switched on during daytime. That would save me from running out of battery and cycling back home at night without light. And from being then honked at by some caring fellow German whose way it is for saying “Girl, I almost killed you, you’d better switch you headlights on before some else hits you because he doesn’t notice you in the dark.”

]]> By: Piet http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-4383 Piet Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:13:02 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-4383 Hi all, I as a German agree with your observations. But the case of headlights on during daytime is different: some years ago people usually didn't drive with their lights on by day. So if you spotted someone with lights on, he obviously had forgotten to turn it off. And he surely will forget to turn it off when he leaves the car (German cars had no buzzers or dingelings to remind you to do so). The consequence: His battery will run down and he can't get home without calling the ADAC. So if a German reminds you of having your lights on, it's pure friendliness! No kidding! Nichts für ungut, Piet Hi all,

I as a German agree with your observations.

But the case of headlights on during daytime is different:
some years ago people usually didn’t drive with their lights on by day. So if you spotted someone with lights on, he obviously had forgotten to turn it off. And he surely will forget to turn it off when he leaves the car (German cars had no buzzers or dingelings to remind you to do so). The consequence: His battery will run down and he can’t get home without calling the ADAC.

So if a German reminds you of having your lights on, it’s pure friendliness! No kidding!

Nichts für ungut,
Piet

]]> By: nii http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-2861 nii Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:17:45 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-2861 How very true. It also happens with flatmates for example. you are always told what you did wrong but never when it was good.. How very true. It also happens with flatmates for example. you are always told what you did wrong but never when it was good..

]]> By: Simon http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-1778 Simon Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:31:51 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-1778 Cologne seems to be pretty much different. But it always depends on the German region you live in. Cologne seems to be pretty much different. But it always depends on the German region you live in.

]]> By: Native Swabian http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-1407 Native Swabian Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:50:43 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-1407 I am a German living south of Stuttgart and I know 2 different versions of this saying: Nothing said is praise enough (nix gsagt isch globt gnug) and Not complained is praise enough (net gschimpft isch globt gnug). Hey, and do you now the highest praise for a swabian housewife? One can eat it (mr kos essa). I am a German living south of Stuttgart and I know 2 different versions of this saying:
Nothing said is praise enough (nix gsagt isch globt gnug) and
Not complained is praise enough (net gschimpft isch globt gnug).
Hey, and do you now the highest praise for a swabian housewife?
One can eat it (mr kos essa).

]]> By: Germaican in New York http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-1187 Germaican in New York Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:13:34 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-1187 I agree with JC; it really does grow on you. I feel 84% safer with the knowledge that my every move will be scrutinized by my peers, even if 58% my peers are old ladies with mustaches and 72.56% of my moves involve crossing the street when the Ampelmännchen is red. I agree with JC; it really does grow on you. I feel 84% safer with the knowledge that my every move will be scrutinized by my peers, even if 58% my peers are old ladies with mustaches and 72.56% of my moves involve crossing the street when the Ampelmännchen is red.

]]> By: JC http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-1185 JC Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:38:25 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-1185 Actually, I think I kind of like it. Growing up in a Catholic/Korean household, I've grown accustomed to (even needy of?) criticism, so the random German who corrects me on stuff doesn't bother me, unless I get the feeling it's to satisfy their sense of superiority. I love seeing the old ladies that yell at people that cross the street on a red light (they're setting a bad example for the kids!), or when people honk at me when I've got a taillight out (you're going to get yourself killed!). My theory is that culturally, there's almost a interdependence or implied assumption among Germans that people follow the rules. Not having to second guess if your neighbor is doing the right thing makes for more communal or agreeable living. Maybe it stemmed from necessity from trying to combine 16 states (and arguably 38+ city-states before that) into one nation. Anyway, it's grown on me to the point where nowadays I'm really, really perturbed when some inconsiderate Radfahrer DOESN'T ring his bell when he's coming up behind me. Grrr... :P Actually, I think I kind of like it. Growing up in a Catholic/Korean household, I’ve grown accustomed to (even needy of?) criticism, so the random German who corrects me on stuff doesn’t bother me, unless I get the feeling it’s to satisfy their sense of superiority. I love seeing the old ladies that yell at people that cross the street on a red light (they’re setting a bad example for the kids!), or when people honk at me when I’ve got a taillight out (you’re going to get yourself killed!).

My theory is that culturally, there’s almost a interdependence or implied assumption among Germans that people follow the rules. Not having to second guess if your neighbor is doing the right thing makes for more communal or agreeable living. Maybe it stemmed from necessity from trying to combine 16 states (and arguably 38+ city-states before that) into one nation. Anyway, it’s grown on me to the point where nowadays I’m really, really perturbed when some inconsiderate Radfahrer DOESN’T ring his bell when he’s coming up behind me. Grrr… :P

]]> By: Starstuff http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-1181 Starstuff Wed, 11 Jun 2008 07:40:07 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/10/not-yelled-at-is-praise-enough/#comment-1181 @Henrik: LOL, I get your point ... the best part probably is when they point out to you that there's still this very last ray of sunshine (only visible to them) and that they actually preserve energy or improve their battery life by not using the headlights. If I had a penny for every time I was told that ... ;) @Silvian: That's a very Garibaldi-like answer, kudos :) (as in B5, »Matters of Honor«) @Henrik: LOL, I get your point … the best part probably is when they point out to you that there’s still this very last ray of sunshine (only visible to them) and that they actually preserve energy or improve their battery life by not using the headlights. If I had a penny for every time I was told that … ;)

@Silvian: That’s a very Garibaldi-like answer, kudos :) (as in B5, »Matters of Honor«)

]]>