I come from the UK and have also heard from other people that they have had a culture shock coming to Germany also because of the staring. Are there reasons exactly why Germans stare? Do they stare at everyone for the same amount of time or do they only stare or stare longer when they think someone looks different? I need to know if it personal or not and what the nuances are! As a POC it’s obviously getting to me because I’m not sure what the intent is of doing something I (and most of the world) would consider to be rude with NO SHAME
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It’s a thing here. Nothing racist. Just a weird trait they have. You get used to it after a while.
I also have autism so that’s perhaps why it’s the worst for me! I’ve been here for over 20 years now and it makes me feel really insecure 😓
Idk it bothered me at first but now I like it too, to me it kind of feels like a self-confidence people here have—they’re curious about people and not afraid to show it, vs my cultural upbringing which has us basically pretending other people don’t exist
I’m not going to lie, it makes me feel like I’m in a human zoo. ESPECIALLY considering many German’s stance when it comes to xenophobia, racism and other people’s cultures…
I'm visibly mixed and I stare at people all the time. I just found that out after expats told me
So…you just live with getting stared at and doing the staring? I guess it’s really from me having lived in the UK where we’re told it’s rude. Which is at least very considerate of all the people who are shy or reserved or on the spectrum/neurodivergent, who want to exist in peace, something I feel I can’t have when I’m outside here.
Idk I don't really feel that I get stared at tbh. For me personally it's really a non issue.
Actually, you are in a human zoo. :)
It's just a cultural thing, especially old people do it. There is a Wikipedia article about it. Just google it. Here is an article from 2016 https://www.spiegel.de/international/the-germanic-stare-down-watcha-lookin-at-granny-a-418068.html
No way! What’s the article called? Perhaps German Staring?
Don't know right now. But Google German stare and there will be a lot of stuff
Thank you very much 👍🏽
It is because everything we do, we do it carefully ;-)
Staring is not careful. It’s scrutiny.
It seems we Germans don't have any Gorilla genes in us.
https://www.greatadventuresafaris.com/why-shouldnt-you-look-a-gorilla-in-the-eyes/
It says they are shy creatures who feel discomfort from being stared at. It’s not gorilla specific although we ALL evolved from apes but yeah. Staring can make many people feel very uncomfortable, and I don’t see a benefit for the person doing the staring nor the person getting stared at…
I don’t know if that’s what you mean but speaking for myself I’m simply interested in people and like to watch/observe what’s happening around me and how people act. Nothing specific about single persons but e.g. on the train I prefer to watch people instead of my smart phone
You can only be bothered by it if by default you suggest ill intent (which says a lot about most societies today). Just don't, and problem solved :)
According to an article I just read, Germans stare because they had to police their own people. Watching to see if someone does something wrong. Isn’t then the staring culture in itself from ill intent?
Yea I think that's bullshit. People from western Germany also stare
There were other problems that would suggest that they would have staring culture but I think personally it’d be time to let that go. Many people don’t like the feeling of being stared at and it has no positive side to it…
I mean, I'm not sure Germans gonna stop staring just because you were socially conditioned otherwise... So, what's the solution here?