# I hate the Germans... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 4, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821 "2009-09-04T03:36:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/21 "2009-09-04T19:27:03Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > Next you’ll be telling me French’s Mustard isn’t made in France either. Or French dressing for that matter. How in the hell did that concoction get associated with France? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/22 "2009-09-04T19:30:51Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Which is actually named after a guy with the last name “German,” not the country. Party pooper. There’s still beer and bratwurst. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/23 "2009-09-04T19:31:55Z")
It was the closest thing anybody here had seen to a vinaigrette, which was the default dressing in France. Sort of like how rice + anything = Chinese food. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/24 "2009-09-04T19:43:00Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > It was the closest thing anybody here had seen to a vinaigrette, which was the default dressing in France. Sort of like how rice + anything = Chinese food. Are you thinking of Italian dressing, per chance? That one I can understand being called “French” dressing. But French dressing in America is basically ketchup (not exactly, but it sure seems like it) and oil, which has no resemblance to vinaigrette that I can see, other than the fact that it contains an acid component, and an oil component, which pretty much all dressing contain. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/25 "2009-09-04T19:47:06Z")
Don’t expect to understand food culture of the 50s. Yes, Italian dressing is more of a pure vinaigrette, but French dressing has vinegar (as does ketchup and basically everything else in the universe), and they had to call it _something_. Just be glad it’s not all called European dressing. Like continental breakfasts. “Ah, how international, we’re eating breakfast like they do in… continents.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/26 "2009-09-04T20:39:07Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > Don’t expect to understand food culture of the 50s. Yes, Italian dressing is more of a pure vinaigrette, but French dressing has vinegar (as does ketchup and basically everything else in the universe), and they had to call it _something_. Just be glad it’s not all called European dressing. > > Like continental breakfasts. “Ah, how international, we’re eating breakfast like they do in… continents.” Hungary had an interesting concoction called _francia saláta_ (“French salad.”) It consisted basically of peas, carrots, and potatoes (often from one of those precut freezer packs) [slathered in mayonnaise and/or sour cream](http://www.nosalty.hu/files/recept_kepek/francia.jpg). What the hell this abomination has to do with France, I will never know? Perhaps the mayonnaise? edit: Continental breakfast makes some sense to me. It’s “Continental” vs. “British.” Not that the European Continent is one homogeneous chunk of gastronomical culture, but with the British disctinction of British European vs. Continental European, it doesn’t seem that odd to me as a way to distinguish it from an English breakfast (which is significantly heavier). Of course, the term has outgrown its British heritage. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/27 "2009-09-05T09:51:46Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Hungary had an interesting concoction called _francia saláta_ (“French salad.”) It consisted basically of peas, carrots, and potatoes (often from one of those precut freezer packs) [slathered in mayonnaise and/or sour cream](http://www.nosalty.hu/files/recept_kepek/francia.jpg). What the hell this abomination has to do with France, I will never know? Perhaps the mayonnaise? Here in Troll Country you can get “Italian salad”, which is basically mayonnaise-based cole slaw with extra mayonnaise. Also frozen vegetables labelled “American mix”, which contains peas, carrots, and corn… a specific mixture I’ve never seen in the States, where mixed vegetables always seem to contain green beans as well. I suppose it’s the corn that makes the vegetable mixture American, but the gods alone know what Italian salad has to do with Italy. Oh, yeah, and the Italian salad is meant to be put on an open-faced sandwich, not eaten as a side dish. As far as German engineering goes, I’m personally of the opinion that anything engineered in Germany is 95% well-done plus 5% that will drive you to drink. ---
**Author:** ![PrettyVacant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/49beb7/32.png) [@PrettyVacant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrettyVacant)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/28 "2009-09-05T10:09:04Z")
Largest exporter in the world - not per capita, just plain numbers. On an 80 million population, without any military or software base. Got to be doing something right. > **[List of countries by exports](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_exports)** > > The following article lists different countries and territories by their exports according to data from the World Bank. Included are merchandise exports and service exports. Merchandise exports are goods that are produced in one country and sold to another country. Service exports refer to the cross-border sale or supply of services by residents of one country to residents of another country. ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/29 "2009-09-05T13:07:03Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > Party pooper. > > There’s still beer and bratwurst. And a kick-ass word for taking delight in the misfortune of others. What’s not to love? They’re so _cuddly!_ ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/30 "2009-09-05T13:54:23Z")
Cue, Mr Coward! > [@](#): > > Don’t let’s be beastly to the Germans > When our victory is ultimately won, > It was just those nasty Nazis who persuaded them to fight > And their Beethoven and Bach are really far worse than their bite > Let’s be meek to them- > And turn the other cheek to them > And try to bring out their latent sense of fun. > Let’s give them full air parity- > And treat the rats with charity, > But don’t let’s be beastly to the Hun. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/31 "2009-09-05T13:57:21Z")
Well I hate the Germans as well, they bombed our chippie in 1941, the bastards ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/32 "2009-09-06T00:26:24Z")
Just what are you doing to the poor VW cars in the US that they behave badly? Are you feeding them the wrong type of gasoline? Shooting them? What? Because we’re not intentionally shipping all our Monday cars to the US (Export is a big part of the business), and the Passat is one of the most-sold cars in Germany, because it’s good, reliable and affordable as family and company car. The ADAC (german AA) does a “Pannenstatistik” (list of failures) each year, because the Yellow Angels (the AA professionals who help downed car drivers) repair some 1.5 mill. cars each year. The cause of breakdown, the model and year of car are all tallied and converted from total number to a rate per thousand cars registered, and the German cars are usually top of the list, that is, have the lowest rate of failure. (German language version of this list from 2008 [here](http://www1.adac.de/Auto_Motorrad/pannenstatistik_maengelforum/pannenstatistik_2008/default.asp?ComponentID=249543&SourcePageID=9989#)) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/33 "2009-09-06T00:47:45Z")
[Homer descending to hell] Ooh, potato salad. AAAH! It’s GERMAN! ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/34 "2009-09-06T03:07:52Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > Just what are you doing to the poor VW cars in the US that they behave badly? Are you feeding them the wrong type of gasoline? Shooting them? What? Changing the fucking tire. Is that abuse? ---
**Author:** ![Catfood\_Purrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/35 "2009-09-06T08:10:11Z")
My husband says he had the same trouble with changing VW tires, until his dad showed him the trick to it. I shall attempt to explain, because I think I get it…kinda. Basically, first, while the new tire is still on the ground, line up a hole on the wheel with a hole on the hub. Screw in a lug bolt, almost finger tight. Now, rotate the tire and the hub, and the tire will swing up into place, and the holes will align, and it’ll be easier to get the rest of the lug bolts in. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/36 "2009-09-06T18:03:29Z")
Thoughts: Yeh Yeh! Dat is Vomen’s Verk in Hamburg. \ In America, tell me why someone would own a BMW and not have membership in AAA? Lie in the snow to change a tire? The Spoken Word: Me: “I’m going to sit inside under these fur wraps and drink a little brandy while you change the tire on the Autobahn, my love. Let me know if you want me to come outside and sing that song to you about the evil little mermaids.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/37 "2009-09-07T01:27:41Z")
Seconding the hydraulic jack. My $15 hydraulic jack has served me through 4 cars. Jacks the car up in a minute flat. Goes back down in about 5 seconds. No sore fingers. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/38 "2009-09-09T04:38:18Z")
Oh, there’s a hydaulic jack in my dad’s garage, but I don’t carry it around with me in the car. I went to get the tire fixed, and the garage told me that: 1. The tire is too mangled to fix, I need a new one. 2. None of my tires match, at all. 3. The CV joint on the left front is shot to hell. 4. Both front, lower control arms in the front are shot to hell. The estimate was over $1400. That whole “area” of the car was looked at last fall (when the _other_ CV joint and the upper control arms were replaced,) and they were all fine (ok, obviously the tires were still mismatched, but I guess that mechanic didn’t think mismatched tires were a big deal.) I don’t beat up my car at all, and yet shit like this continues to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/39 "2009-09-09T07:10:45Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > Well I hate the Germans as well, they bombed our chippie in 1941, the bastards During the war the Germans blew up two hundred pubs in my home town. I’m quite happy with them blowing up hospitals,old peoples homes and orphanages but PUBS! They’re utter scum. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821/40 "2009-09-09T07:20:30Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > During the war the Germans blew up two hundred pubs in my home town. > I’m quite happy with them blowing up hospitals,old peoples homes and orphanages but PUBS! > They’re utter scum. Yeah bombing pubs just aint cricket. But in 1941 they also bombed The Cornbrook Brewery in Manchester. Now that is pure nastiness. Mind you on the same night they also bombed Mould Trafford so they at least had one redeeming feature [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-germans/508821.md?page=3)