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Germany from an American's Perspective (self.germany)

uninan が 投稿

After a few weeks in Germany here are my thoughts:

Germany is a lot more conservative than I expected

Things that people take for granted back home are not legal here. I was totally shocked that you can't have a gay marriage here. Also Germans can learn a lot from our marijuana laws, I am quite shocked that marijuana is not legal here. Another thing I have to mention is free speech and gun laws. The first two amendments of the US Constitution are just a dream here.

Cost of living is very high and things are not as technologically advanced

It's pretty shocking to me how expensive things are relative to German salaries. I noticed people here live in much smaller houses, being able to buy cheap things on Amazon is not possible and many things are unavailable in this country. Whether it's videos on YouTube or apps in the app store, seeing "not available in your country" is really getting on my nerves. Google maps seems to be far behind the rest of the world here as well.

People are not as independent and do not have the same opportunities

There is an interesting herd mentality I've seen here and individual thought seems uncommon. Things are much stricter and if you want to go shopping you have to do it within a strict set of hours.

Now for some good things

I don't want to keep posting all the bad things so let's move onto the good things. The streets here are very clean and their seems to be less chaos in the center of cities. The public transportation is pretty nice and the architecture is beautiful. The English level is a lot higher than I imagined and people seem willing to help out if you ask for it. Another thing I like is that people aren't as loud here.

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[–]Hematophagian 19 ポイント20 ポイント  (7子コメント)

The first two amendments of the US Constitution are just a dream here.

Disqualified for any chance of discussion plus typical murica attitude unable to change perspective...

EDIT: After reviewing post history...complete murica-troll....

[–]uninan[S] -5 ポイント-4 ポイント  (6子コメント)

Yeah I am a Trump supporter and love America.... but is anything in this post factually incorrect? It's just my take on my time here in Germany. I am very open to criticism.

The fact the Germans don't care about free speech is understandable and I don't hold it against you especially considering the tendency toward racism germans have had in the past. I also respect your gun laws. But just because I respect these things doesn't mean I can't have differing opinions that can be open to discussion. But then again, see the point about the herd mentality and free speech in the OP post.

edit: the downvote is not a disagree button

[–]RidingRedHare 4 ポイント5 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Germans care a lot about free speech. However, Germans don't think that harassment, fraud, blatant lies, slander, or libel should be protected free speech.

[–]hellahellahelene 2 ポイント3 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Germans don't care about free speech

This is factually incorrect, source, source, source, source, source. That there is no absolute freedom of speech in Germany is not evidence of Germans caring about it or not (and by the way, it's not like there is absolute freedom of speech in your country either, if you count the multitude of consequences your speech can have)

[–]indigo-alien 2 ポイント3 ポイント  (0子コメント)

... is anything in this post factually incorrect?

You obviously know squat all about gun ownership here.

[–]77satellitesSachsen-Anhalt 2 ポイント3 ポイント  (0子コメント)

You are supporting Trump, a guy who would love to get rid of media outlets, that don't report in his favour, and now you complain about the alleged lack of free speech in Germany? Well that's a new one.

[–]ebikefolder 2 ポイント3 ポイント  (1子コメント)

is anything in this post factually incorrect?

  • Gay marriage is basically just called differntly.

  • I bought cheap things from Amazon frequently in the past. I'm not aware of a change.

  • YouTube "not available" is a thing of the past. App store? Never seen that happen.

  • Haven't notice any difference in Google Maps

As for your opinion on some of the few factually correct points, I beg to differ completely, but that's ok. I don't have to agree with everybody.

[–]uninan[S] [スコア非表示]  (0子コメント)

Gay marriage is basically just called differntly.

So it's not marriage.... I am still factually correct.

I bought cheap things from Amazon frequently in the past. I'm not aware of a change.

They might be cheap to you but all of the cheapest items I've seen do not ship to Europe.

YouTube "not available" is a thing of the past. App store? Never seen that happen.

i've had it happen on three apps already most recently robinhood

Haven't notice any difference in Google Maps

go to europe on google maps, drag the yellow guy and you'll see how far behind germany is from the rest of europe

[–]zappsg 6 ポイント7 ポイント  (8子コメント)

OP is a troll, or just seriously stupid.

[–]uninan[S] -5 ポイント-4 ポイント  (7子コメント)

If you want to dodge the points I've made in this thread to dive into some other post I've made, fine, let's go there. What's wrong with that thread? I am a troll for trying to help out?

[–]KuyaJohnnyBaden-Württemberg 2 ポイント3 ポイント  (6子コメント)

argentina is not a 3rd world country...

[–]uninan[S] -3 ポイント-2 ポイント  (5子コメント)

By what definition? Look at the map here. I promise i didn't edit that page.

The average salary in argentina is below the US poverty line

[–]KuyaJohnnyBaden-Württemberg [スコア非表示]  (1子コメント)

The "three worlds" of the Cold War era.

i highlighted the important part of the description.

[–]uninan[S] [スコア非表示]  (0子コメント)

thats literally what people mean when using the term third world

[–]77satellitesSachsen-Anhalt [スコア非表示]  (0子コメント)

Have you ever heard of a thing called "cost of living"? Doesn't seem so.

[–]hellahellahelene [スコア非表示]  (1子コメント)

The average salary in Argentina is below the US poverty line

Factor in living costs and you might have an argument. Back in the real world, Argentina gets a "Very Developed" rating in the UN's Human Development Index, and is only half a point beyond the USA. By the way, Germany is ahead of the USA SO SUCK ON THAT

[–]uninan[S] [スコア非表示]  (0子コメント)

Germany is 1 point ahead of the US on HDI. US is 107 points above Argentina.

Are you proud to be 1 point above the US? The entire south of our country lives in near 3rd world conditions? If you look at the HDI of my state it is ridiculously above Germany

[–]seewolfmdkEast Frisia 6 ポイント7 ポイント  (2子コメント)

You're a bad troll.

[–]uninan[S] -2 ポイント-1 ポイント  (1子コメント)

So anything negative about a country is considered trolling? Would you like me to edit the OP so you can only see the good parts?

[–]seewolfmdkEast Frisia 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Where in Germany have you been?

[–]theKalashHessen 5 ポイント6 ポイント  (5子コメント)

I was totally shocked that you can't have a gay marriage here.

Yes you can, it's just called differently. But yes there is room for improvements.

Also Germans can learn a lot from our marijuana laws, I am quite shocked that marijuana is not legal here.

Point taken. Though it's not that bad. Punishments are reasonable and you are usually not prosecuted for small amounts.

Another thing I have to mention is free speech and gun laws. The first two amendments of the US Constitution are just a dream here.

Free speech is fine here. Not sure what you mean.

Your gun laws are a dream though .. a nightmare to be specific.

Whether it's videos on YouTube

No longer the case ... and for everything else there is vpn/proxy

Google maps seems to be far behind the rest of the world here as well.

You mean streetview?

Things are much stricter and if you want to go shopping you have to do it within a strict set of hours.

Like between 8 am and 10 pm? Not exactly strict tbh.

[–]uninan[S] -2 ポイント-1 ポイント  (4子コメント)

I appreciate the rational response.

Yes you can, it's just called differently. But yes there is room for improvements.

Isn't the point of being able to have a gay marriage being equal members of society? If it's called something different then it isn't complete equality. I agree that things aren't horrible for gays in Germany like they are in Turkey for example, but I'd like to see the country be a little more liberal in this sense.

Point taken. Though it's not that bad. Punishments are reasonable and you are usually not prosecuted for small amounts.

Agreed, Germany is definitely moving in the right direction. I was just a little surprise because I've always heard that western europe is way far left of the US, yet on a lot of issues it isn't true.

Free speech is fine here. Not sure what you mean.

Your gun laws are a dream though .. a nightmare to be specific.

I think due to the racist past of the country many things considered free speech are illegal, this is understandable, but a bit shocking to an american where saying anything you want is guaranteed under law. We can agree to disagree about guns, don't think I can change anyone in this threads mind on that.

No longer the case ... and for everything else there is vpn/proxy

Agreed it isn't a serious issue but it would be nice to not have to use a VPN for so much.

You mean streetview?
Yeah what's the deal with that?

Like between 8 am and 10 pm? Not exactly strict tbh.

Yeah in the US you could do anything you want at any time of the day. I don't like just sitting in my room between 10 and 8

[–]hellahellahelene 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (3子コメント)

american where saying anything you want is guaranteed under law

Well you're obviously not studying law at Georgetown, so there's that question answered

[–]uninan[S] [スコア非表示]  (2子コメント)

Mind showing me a case where the first amendment was violated?

[–]hellahellahelene [スコア非表示]  (0子コメント)

Google can show you several thousand. The point is, Germany limits free speech more than the United States might, but not by very much. Neither are absolute, and neither protect from consequences.

[–]kabalen [スコア非表示]  (0子コメント)

Not just one

[–]MWO_StahlherzGermany 4 ポイント5 ポイント  (0子コメント)

'Muh freedumz! 'Muh ammenmends! 'Muh guns!

[–]hellahellahelene 3 ポイント4 ポイント  (3子コメント)

I'd be keen to hear your take in, say, 10 years

[–]uninan[S] -3 ポイント-2 ポイント  (2子コメント)

This is actually a valid point. I suspect Germany will be caught up to the US on social issues in 10 years. !RemindMe 10 years

[–]hellahellahelene 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Confirmed troll. Can't believe I missed this one. !RemindMe 10 years to see whether life expectancy in the US is increasing again or continuing to fall like it is now

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[–]xstreamRedditGermany 2 ポイント3 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Another thing I have to mention is free speech and gun laws. The first two amendments of the US Constitution are just a dream here.

More like a nightmare

[–]__what_the_fuck__Württemberg 3 ポイント4 ポイント  (1子コメント)

For a second i thought this is /r/ShitAmericansSay

[–]ocean_sunfish 5 ポイント6 ポイント  (0子コメント)

To be fair, it is shit an American said.

[–]hanshotfirst1899 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (1子コメント)

The marijuana thing is completely dependent on where in the US you are talking about. Compared to Washington or Colorado, Germany is old fashioned, but not compared to most states in the Deep South.

Gun laws are an entirely different subject though, I'm personally not at all a fan of gun politics in the US and therefore not bothered by the stricter regulations here in general.

I would agree that the US is more open culturally to entrepeneurship than Germany if that is what you mean by opportunity, but there is much less of a safety net to catch you if you crash and burn.

[–]indigo-alien 3 ポイント4 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Gun laws are an entirely different subject though, I'm personally not at all a fan of gun politics in the US and therefore not bothered by the stricter regulations here in general.

Gun ownership here isn't that much different than the USA or Canada. This troll hasn't got a clue what he's talking about.

[–]antijazz93 1 ポイント2 ポイント  (0子コメント)

Other countries would be so much better if they just would be like the US, wouldn't they...

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