Weird thing Germans do on public transport that freaks Aussies out
From their sausages to their beer drinking festivals, Germany is great. But there's one weird thing Germans do that's simply the wurst...
Lifestyle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Forget visiting the Berlin Wall or those sexy sex clubs: if there's one thing that will blow your mind in Germany it's public transport etiquette.
As a German guy pointed out in a recent viral video, Germans have different staring standards than most mere mortals.
In a clip posted to Instagram, he showed why German public transport is not for the weak.
See also: 16 dumb mistakes Aussie tourists make in Europe
Why? Because if you step on board a bus or train in Germany, you will be subjected to a weird staring ritual that - if you're not used to it - is incredibly creepy.
That's right: though it's common decency in most parts of the world to avert your eyes if you accidentally lock retinas with a stranger, in Germany it's seen as an excuse to stare into each others souls.
"Normal people avoiding eye contact on public transport," Jannick wrote, before imitating how most people will quickly dart their eyes away if they make eye contact. But when it comes to his impression of "Germans", he looks straight down the camera barrel, awkwardly, and for too long.
The video sparked mirth, with many Instagram users asking why Germans did this (and others saying they had mistaken it for flirting).
"Can someone please explain this," one tourist in Germany wrote. "I have tried every tactic and they just continue."
In answer to why Germans do this, many theories have been floated.
Some say it's a way of asserting psychological dominance. Others blame generational trauma. Yet others say it's to prepare themselves for smalltalk ("We over analyze you in every possible detail so we’re able to chime in for a witty small talk").
Another theory was that this habit is straight out judgement ("In 99 per cent [of cases] they want to judge you and mostly in bad way," one Instagram user wrote).
It may not be that deep though. As a few Germans pointed out, mostly it's just the result of people zoning out.
See also: No.1 rule for avoiding embarrassment on Spanish beaches
"Mostly one is unaware of or unbothered by how it looks," one Instagram user wrote. "Some people also actually aren't *looking* at the persons they just have to place their gaze somewhere when thinking about stuff."
"This is usually me, I 'stare off into the distance' and oftentimes don't realise I'm basically staring at someone."
If this has piqued your interest in weird things Germans do, here are seven more quirks Aussies will find baffling.
7 weird German habits that baffle the rest of the world
1. Hanging blankets outside all the time to dry
A tick passed down by the generations, this habit shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. Fun fact: Germans are also obsessed with opening their windows at least once a day, for ten to fifteen minutes, to prevent mould.
2. Peeing sitting down
As many expats have learned the hard way in Germany (after being scolded by their housemates), peeing while sitting down is an expectation of men in Germany, leading one blogger to quip: "I’m pretty sure German males will one day lose their ability to piss and stand, just like whales lost their legs."
3. Only ever eating spinach with eggs and boiled potatoes
Another German quirk is being rigid in their thinking around food. As one Brit recounts: " I have a German colleague who told me she 'didn't know you could have spinach with anything except eggs and boiled potatoes'. I said 'you can have spinach with Nutella if you want to! There are no rules!' Not because I eat spinach with Nutella, but because I believe that even thinking about this, is a good mental exercise for German people."
4. Never crossing when there's a red light
Even in the middle of the night, with clear visibility both ways, with no-one around.
5. Leaving bottles in the street
This is another quirk of Germany, and it's done so that people who need the money can collect them and take them to be recycled, where they earn a small commission.
6. Sleeping on the floor
Another thing that is quite popular in Germany, is sleeping on a mattress on the floor without a bed base. It's almost as common as drinking in public (and being naked in public)...
More Coverage
Originally published as Weird thing Germans do on public transport that freaks Aussies out
Secrets of flight reward seats: How to land business class on points
More Aussies than ever are chasing elusive business class reward seats on flights. But while finding one is half the battle, experts have dished the secrets to scoring that long haul lie-flat bed.
Model breaks silence on baby with Justin Hemmes
As Madeline Holtznagel prepares to welcome her first child with hospitality billionaire Justin Hemmes, the model speaks for the first time about her pregnancy and relationship with the hotelier.