I can't help it, but to me, "average" carries a negative connotation.

May 03, 2008 14:58

Spiegel, one of the major German newspapers, has posted a series on the "average German" online, on their English site ( Read more... )

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Comments 29

tootsiemuppet May 3 2008, 13:28:58 UTC
*so tempted to start at Part 5* XD

I'd actually love to read something similar about Belgium, just to laugh at.

Statistics are terribly funny.

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des_pudels_kern May 4 2008, 18:20:19 UTC
*g* Why am I not surprised?

Yes, but. Don't we have enough problems with stereotypes already without presenting them on a sliver platter?

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tootsiemuppet May 4 2008, 19:22:48 UTC
Oh sure, but even stereotypes are fun! ;)

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tabaqui May 3 2008, 15:38:32 UTC
Heeeeee!
I love that you bridle at 'average' and then - go out with your fellow Germans to jog!
*smishes you*

I think they're trying to reassure the 'average' person how normal they are, so that they'll read this and say 'oh, just like me!' and feel all cuddly and inclusive.

Funny, the first thing in the first article is how much *fruit* this random couple ate. A US article like that wouldn't even care. It'd be how much junk food.

*pets you*
You're not average, m'dear.
*had Kraut solidarity*

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des_pudels_kern May 4 2008, 21:02:25 UTC
Which is where the cartwheeling comes into play! You don't see much of that from the (average) sensible jogger.

Yes, but that works both ways - inclusion and exclusion. Instead of counting the ways in which I am not normal, I'd like to be told that not being normal is fine, as long as it works for me.

Well, about 1 kilo per week. That's not that much, I probably get that with only one apple a day. Add to that other fruit, salads, vegetables... during strawberry season, when they are grown regionally and cheap, I often buy a pack (1/2 kilo) of strawberries and eat them in one day.

Solidarity? How come?

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tabaqui May 4 2008, 21:22:26 UTC
Ah, i see. I... Well, i haven't been 'normal' pretty much most of my life, but i also haven't ever needed or cared about anyone - or group - telling me it's okay. I'm basically 'this is me, fuck all of y'all'. Heh.

My mom's family is German, so i am half German, and we all have our 'German' side, and our family jokes about 'it's the German in me' and such, so - Kraut Solidarity!
:)

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des_pudels_kern May 4 2008, 21:51:44 UTC
Where are they from? Do you know some German words? And is your inner German good for anything besides beer and soccer? (Why yes, I do make good use of my clichés, despite complaining about them all the time.)

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esteven May 3 2008, 16:38:19 UTC
I read the articles and found them quite funny while realizing that I am in some parts your usual everyday German. In others I am not. *shrugs shoulders* Anyway, what do I care. I am me...not some other person, average or not. I just don't get het up over this. ;D

People like to be as individual as possible (thus already being average). I am sure there are similar statistics in and about other countries. After all, they seem to help business. *'nother shrug*

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des_pudels_kern May 4 2008, 21:11:26 UTC
It's just this promoting of stereotypes that vexes me. Business, fine. Of course, "the Germans" as a people have tendencies to do xy, when for example "the British" may do qr. But this promoting of stereotypes on their international site, I just don't like it.

At least it's good entertainment value.

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esteven May 4 2008, 21:20:18 UTC
I sympathize with your feelings and with what you object to.

For myself, I just do not care what other, to me unknown people think about me and will do xq when I feel like it.

*snugs*
See you soon

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des_pudels_kern May 4 2008, 21:48:19 UTC
One and a half month, right? Mh, I really should bring a tent I guess.

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grace_poppy May 3 2008, 18:45:33 UTC
I understand you. I don't like reading about "average" Americans either, because it makes me feel like other nationalities will read that and assume it means ALL Americans, and I hate it when people stereotype an entire group of people (especially based on articles they've read, news on TV, or just one or two people they've known from that group. That makes me very angry.)

Don't call yourself Kraut! That pains me on your behalf! *cringe* As Hamlet says, "I would not hear your enemy say so."

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grace_poppy May 3 2008, 18:53:45 UTC
Haha, how weird that the company actually built a typical German sitting room in their offices! Wish we had that at my workplace instead of our stuffy, hot conference room with uncomfortable chairs.

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des_pudels_kern May 4 2008, 21:21:35 UTC
Well, they can rebuild rooms as much as they want, as long as they don't cast a typical family and make them live in it!

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grace_poppy May 5 2008, 03:29:32 UTC
Haha, for a reality TV show. The Otto Normalverbraucher Show.

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