The page below is one of the most amazing and interesting resources I have ever found on the Web.

http://www-math.uni-paderborn.de/~axel/us-d.html

A German guy who has been living in the US decided to make a comprehensive, well-thought-out list comparing Germany and the US, in such areas as politics, culture, business, TV/media, laws, etc.

It's quite well organized but extremely long, so if you don't have the time right now, here are some interesting excerpts, and you can follow up when you get a free moment -

Did you know, for instance, that...

quote:

Body-building is generally considered ridiculous in Germany, and exercise is not as common. Privacy is not a big issue in the US, but Germany has extremely strict privacy laws. Punishment for crimes is in general much harsher in the US than in Germany. Young German teenagers spend their weekend nights dancing in discos, while most comparable clubs in the US are off limits to those under 21 Cell phone technologies in the US have always lagged behind Europe's The US banking system seems archaic, compared to Germany's: e.g. It is not possible to instruct your bank to pay your rent every month directly into the landlord's account (the usual method in Germany). Powerlines in US are mostly overhead, which is cheap, ugly and makes them vulnerable to storms. (In Germany, everything is under the ground) There is a single daily train connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles. There are about 17 daily connections between Hamburg and Munich (roughly the same distance). Air conditioning is almost unheard of in Germany. Many Germans work only 35 hours a week, others 37.5, all take long vacations A police officer in the US gets about 6 months of training at a police academy, while the same job in Germany is preceded by a three year schooling and training period. In the US, every product you buy can be returned even if opened, and you get your money back. In Germany, normally only defective products can be returned, and most of the time you can't get cash back. In Germany, possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use is not prosecuted. In Germany, it's rare to find students studying in public (e.g. coffee shops, library) Germans donate much more money to charitable causes than Americans. Americans have a much higher tolerance for violence in the media, but a much lower tolerance for sex/nudity, than Germans. In the US, people actually go to church every Sunday, something mostly reserved for lonely elderly women in Germany. In Germany, the Catholic Church is generally more conservative than the Protestant church; the situation in the US is the opposite. Americans distrust big government, but they trust big corporations; Germans (and Europeans) distrust big corporations, but they trust big government. The word "rape" is used in a much broader sense in the US than in Germany. In the US, "rape" is often used in the sense of "an unpleasant sexual experience that was later regretted by one party". This usage never occurs in Germany. Sperm banks which sell sperm don't exist in Germany. In summer, German women sometimes don't wear a bra, which is much less common in the US. Graffiti is of higher quality and more colorful in Germany. Abortion regulations are more liberal in the US than in Germany [surprise]. In Germany, saunas are "co-ed", women subnathe topless, and public nudity is common

___________________
"The favorite American pastime is not baseball, it's moral crusades."

Last edited by HardTranceProd on Apr-19-2006 at 18:05

Interesting, some of that I think is commen knowledge, although the part about rent/mortgage payments is wrong, mine is automatically deducted from my account every month. Good read none the less

Which country has more money and a better economy? U.S
Which country has a better millitary? U.S


Why dont you cover things that Americans are harder workers and later in thier lifetime they will propobly become wealthy, while lazy ass germans go partying all thier lifes and are basicly broke most of the time? Your an idiot Hardprod, you are a brainwashed liberal who cares more about things that arent so important and you always want to let America down by the little negativity. I cant bealive no one tells you how shitty your threads are.

___________________
Vernato

Its not only that Americans are harder workers, they also don't know how to have fun. Oh, and this American doesn't go to church every sunday, I have never gone.

Kapedon you took this too far

quote:

Originally posted by Kapedan Which country has more money and a better economy? U.S Which country has a better millitary? U.S Why dont you cover things that Americans are harder workers and later in thier lifetime they will propobly become wealthy, while lazy ass germans go partying all thier lifes and are basicly broke most of the time? Your an idiot Hardprod, you are a brainwashed liberal who cares more about things that arent so important and you always want to let America down by the little negativity. I cant bealive no one tells you how shitty your threads are.

ohhh a better miliatary, wow!


Your stupid.

___________________
Liverpool Champions of Europe 2005!


TA's NFL survival League winner 2006!

quote:

Originally posted by Kapedan and later in thier lifetime

You wanna talk about what happens "later in thier lifetime?"

Why, sure, let's talk about "later in thier lifetime"

"Later in thier lifetime," Americans start having more health problems, more blood pressure diseases, and heart attacks, than Europeans. They become obese and unhealthy.

"Later in thier lifetime," Americans suddenly discover that they've reached their 50s and all their life has been like one blink of an eye, due to constant work, stresses, and a total lack of memorable experiences, like the guy HERE.

"Later in thier lifetime," they discover that they haven't traveled anywhere, and don't know anything about the world...

___________________
"The favorite American pastime is not baseball, it's moral crusades."

quote:

Originally posted by Kapedan Which country has more money and a better economy? U.S Which country has a better millitary? U.S Why dont you cover things that Americans are harder workers and later in thier lifetime they will propobly become wealthy, while lazy ass germans go partying all thier lifes and are basicly broke most of the time? Your an idiot Hardprod, you are a brainwashed liberal who cares more about things that arent so important and you always want to let America down by the little negativity. I cant bealive no one tells you how shitty your threads are.

Hahahaha defensive arn't we?

Well you take one side of the story, and a negative side of the story. Propobly more Americans than Germans or any other country for that matter, when they reach thier 60s will have a nice house and a nice car...now your telling me that they never traveled, blah blah blah, because you care so much about the world. I mean why do you expect everyone to know so much about the world, its not like all of them are gonna be historians or geography teachers. Why dont you work harder and read something that will get you high in the American society, rather then bitch about it and travel all over the world hardprod. Maybe you were raised in a rich family that gave you everything and you dont know what its like to work your ass off and get paid, so you spend all your money on traveling to all these countries because thats gonna make you a better American. Fuckin idiots.

___________________
Vernato

quote:

Originally posted by Kapedan I mean why do you expect everyone to know so much about the world, its not like all of them are gonna be historians or geography teachers.

Because it's nice to know about the people we're about to go to war with and constantly arguing with. Don't you think that the public should be informed about other cultures and societies, as a means of understanding our differences. We vote for politicians who have to conduct foreign policy and it's as much our responsibility to learn about them as it is to learn about the people and conditions that they'll be up against. That way, we pick the best man or woman to handle the tasks.

I've not travelled nearly as much as I'd like, and a lot of that stems from work pressures. It'd be a lot nicer to take longer vacations. If we had a healthcare system like a lot of European nations, we wouldn't have to slave away 60-80 hours a week in order to save for our medical bills that will come when we retire.

Lastly, I don't think everything in his list was in favor of Germany over the US. The return policy issue sucks in Germany, as does their lack of AC, if both of those aspects were accurate.

___________________
"Go back to bed america your government is in control
Here's American Gladiators, here is 56 channels of it,
Watch these picturary retards bang their fuckin' skulls together and congratulate you on living in the land of freedom,
Here you go America you are free to do as we tell you
We want your soul
Your cash, your house, your phone, your cash, your house, your life" -Adam Freeland - We Want Your Soul

quote:

Originally posted by Groundhog Boy Because it's nice to know about the people we're about to go to war with and constantly arguing with. Don't you think that the public should be informed about other cultures and societies, as a means of understanding our differences. We vote for politicians who have to conduct foreign policy and it's as much our responsibility to learn about them as it is to learn about the people and conditions that they'll be up against. That way, we pick the best man or woman to handle the tasks. I've not travelled nearly as much as I'd like, and a lot of that stems from work pressures. It'd be a lot nicer to take longer vacations. If we had a healthcare system like a lot of European nations, we wouldn't have to slave away 60-80 hours a week in order to save for our medical bills that will come when we retire. Lastly, I don't think everything in his list was in favor of Germany over the US. The return policy issue sucks in Germany, as does their lack of AC, if both of those aspects were accurate.

Right..sure..your right in some cases, but alot of people seem to make that most Americans dont know much about the world and they are clueless, I mean look at all Ameriacns here, very well educated and know what happends in the world..well most of them time. The Healthcare issue is another debate, because most of these European nations can do that because all America's economy pays off all the research for new medicine..etc etc, so these countries dont have to worry. I know the European mentallity, all men want to do there is sit at a cafe and argue politics all day, whereas in America, most of them have to work in order to keep thier family. I have great respect for Germany, I have a good friend from there, although I might disgree with his views, but I still love the German culture, kind of simmilar to Americas in some sense.

PS: I hate Germany soccer though boring!!

___________________
Vernato

quote:

Originally posted by Kapedan Right..sure..your right in some cases, but alot of people seem to make that most Americans dont know much about the world and they are clueless, I mean look at all Ameriacns here, very well educated and know what happends in the world..well most of them time. The Healthcare issue is another debate, because most of these European nations can do that because all America's economy pays off all the research for new medicine..etc etc

Surely its the drug compaines that pay for all the research into new medicine?

quote:

Originally posted by Kapedan I know the European mentallity, all men want to do there is sit at a cafe and argue politics all day, whereas in America, most of them have to work in order to keep thier family. I have great respect for Germany, I have a good friend from there, although I might disgree with his views, but I still love the German culture, kind of simmilar to Americas in some sense.

So us europeans get to sit in a cafe and chat all day and never do any work, but we can still manage to pay for things like houses, food, clothes cars etc?! ffs, why hasnt someone told me this?!

___________________
Liverpool Champions of Europe 2005!


TA's NFL survival League winner 2006!

quote:

In summer, German women sometimes don't wear a bra, which is much less common in the US.

well there it is right there. end of discussion