Know Germany better-part 2
Ordnung: Rules and Regulations''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The sense of Ordnung is not limited only to the Germans’
material domain, it also strongly influences their social world.
Germany is a society structured by a large number of explicit
rules and regulations. One of the first encounters foreign
residents have with the regulatory nature of German society
is the Einwohnermeldeamt (resident’s registration office). All
residents of Germany are required to register with their local
Einwohnermeldeamt and to notify that office whenever they
move or change their place of residence. German bureaucracy
can be irritating or confusing, if not downright intimidating,
especially when one is waiting in long lines, filling
out innumerable forms, or dealing with unfriendly civil servants.
The good news is that while it is time-consuming in
the beginning, at least it generally works fairly well. Don’t
forget that Germany is one of the more densely populated
countries in the world, and its bureaucracy helps keep everything
running smoothly.
Travel to German villages or small towns and you will be
struck by how picturesque they appear. All of the houses are of
a similar style and they present a pretty sight: roofs are covered
with similar tiles and the colors harmonize. This is generally
no coincidence but rather the result of a housing code that
goes into great detail about how a house may be designed,
painted, and equipped. While such detailed regulations often
seem too confining to most Americans, the Germans see it as
a way of ensuring a society that is concerned not only with
individual rights but also with the common good. As we will
see later, this notion of the common good and the social
contract is an important part of the German mindset.
The rules that regulate Germany extend far beyond the
many official laws and requirements. Unwritten codes of
manners and customs also structure German social life. Some
of these are detailed and quite explicit. Others are less so and
are simply things that “one doesn’t do.” For example, there is
even a protocol for hostess gifts. Because Germans are very protective of their homes and private lives, being invited
into someone’s home for dinner is an honor. But once invited,
there are many rules about how to behave.1 For instance,
it is customary to bring the hostess a bouquet of
flowers. Germans love flowers and florist shops are abundant.
But not just any flowers will do. Red roses symbolize romance,
so be careful to whom you give them. And white
chrysanthemums and carnations are generally reserved for
funerals. Also, it is proper to give bouquets consisting of an
odd number of flowers. No one seems to really know why this
custom is important. Some Germans say it’s an old superstition;
others justify the custom by claiming an odd number
makes for a more aesthetic arrangement.
Be that as it may, Germans feel comfortable with these
kinds of rules, which give them a feeling of security as well as
a strong sense of what is right and wrong. This sense of right
and wrong is often expressed openly and emotionally by
Germans, especially when they think someone has done something
wrong. This can seem overly judgmental or rude at
times, but Germans prefer structure to an ambiguous situation
where no one seems to know the correct way to proceed.
At times it appears Germans have a rule for everything—
and they do, almost! This is an aspect of what Germans call
Gründlichkeit, or thoroughness. Germans are great believers
in doing things thoroughly, and this has led to their reputation
as perfectionists. If they are going to do something, they
spare little expense or time in doing it well. And if they can’t
do it thoroughly, they are inclined not to do it at all. As a
German carpenter once told me, “If I don’t have the time to
do it right in the first place, when will I get the time to fix
it later?” It is this logic which underlies the reputation Germany
has for producing such high-quality automobiles and
other products. Gründlichkeit is also an important component
in the decision-making processes in traditional German
organizations.and is often a source of misunderstanding
in German and American joint ventures.
For Americans with their strong sense of individualism
and belief in personal freedom, the German devotion to order
can seem obsessive and highly constricting, even invasive,
but there is little getting around the varied laws and regulations,
because they are generally strictly enforced. At times
they irritate the Germans, too. I remember the indignation of
a German friend who had gotten a ticket for not locking her
car when she parked it. When she complained to the police,
she was told the rule was in place to discourage auto theft.
German rules can all be rationally justified, and German
officials will quickly do just that.
posted by Mohammad Reza Farzanegan @ 06:53
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