This is a fun little article in the New York Times Magazine by Nicolas Kulish about the power of rules and conformity in Germany. The main thrust of the article is that Germany is generally very well run, and that Germans tend to deeply internalize and live their lives according to the law. If there was ever a society that best exemplified the rule of law, it would have to be Germany.
I like the central example Kulish used of the swimming pool, with a line demarcating the shoe and no shoe areas. That this line was treated with respect, despite any mechanism for enforcement, seemed to Kulish to exemplify how Germans approached rules and laws. This example also brings back my own similar, and happy, memories of swimming in Ribnitz-Damgarten, a beautiful pool just a bit outside of Rostock.
I have somewhat conflicted thoughts about this whole thing. Perhaps I just think too much, but literally every time I come to a dratted street crossing, I come face to face with this phenomenon. You will likely have a cluster of Germans patiently waiting for the light to change, and do I step into line and follow their lead, or do I follow my own instincts and just cross?
It seems to me that unthinkingly following all rules has some rather obvious downsides. But these particular rules just cover street crossings, are designed for safety, and are not particularly objectionable. They probably even save lives. Nonetheless, my usual pattern of behavior is to make sure it is safe to cross, then make sure there are no police around, and finally, follow my gut instinct and just cross the damn street.
Why do I have such a hard time following these basic German road rules? I am fully aware that I am a visitor and that this is not my country, and that I really ought to follow the German way of doing things. But given my Australian and American background, and a certain irreverence for authority, I just can't look at any empty street and wait patiently. It is not in my genes.
Before I moved to Germany (at age 17), my mom said to me: Remember, the Germans don't cross the street when the light is red. It's all different, you need to follow the rules.
ReplyDeleteHm, I thought. It took me about 2 months before I realized that, well, yes many do, and yes, plenty don't! Especially under a certain age. But they do love rules, no doubt about it!