Every time you go on facebook lately you will find at least one post that features a list about something you don’t really need to know, most of the times not even particularly interesting, but you gonna read it anyway. Because it’s fun, it’s diverting, it’s distracting and sometimes even news. You can learn insignificant facts about foreign cultures. You can read about “How to piss off an Alaskan” or about something essential like “53 things you’re doing that totally annoy the bartender”.
I can’t even tell how many lists I have seen about Germany or Germans in the last six months. Here are some examples:
10 things you should know about Germans
19 signs you learned to drink in Germany
5 ways to parent like a German
11 things that will happen to you when you move to Germany
Many of these lists are published on the website “matador network” where everyone can publish articles like that and from what I understand “matador network” will make them somehow into a list and pay you $ 40 for the article.
I only found one list about Germany that I like or I should better say that I LOVE!! It’s from the Australian writer Liv Hambrett who’s been living in different places in Germany for quiet some time now. She wrote this list “101 things I know about Germans” which went viral 2012 for the first time and got published by Ueberlin. By now I saw she extended the list up to 154 points.
I totally agree with no. 9 and 11 and I miss the german breakfast so much (no. 38). The facts of no. 59 and 60 already got me and sometimes are still getting me into trouble with the average American. But some of my friends seem to like me because of my outspokenness. I’m not sure about 61 but I absolutely agree with 62. I fu..ing love no. 49 and I strongly disagree with No. 79. I don’t love Dackel but I do love celebrating (no. 106).
As I said, I love that list and I think it reflects our people so well. Liv Hambrett inspired me to write a list about all the things I know about Californians.
I’m working on it, so stay tuned.
