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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to advise anyone who is ever rude to stay out of Germany?

220 replies

Zebrasarecooler · 19/06/2026 19:34

I've just come across a German law which says that if you insult someone and they report you you'll be prosecuted. Punishment is up to one year in prison, or up to two years if you insulted the person in public or in a group setting. Or a fine.
In case people think that this only applies to really serious insults, here's some advice from a German law firm:

Examples of criminal insults:

VERBAL INSULTS:
Calling someone an ‘arsehole’, ‘idiot’, ‘slut’ or ‘scumbag’.
A member of the public calls a police officer on duty a ‘cop scum’.
An employee calls their line manager a ‘loser’ during a meeting.

GESTURES AND ACTIONS:
Giving the middle finger whilst driving.
Making an obscene gesture during an altercation.
Spitting at someone’s feet.

INSULTS ONLINE:
Defamatory comments on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Sharing defamatory memes or caricatures.
Insults in WhatsApp groups.

OP posts:
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6
Imisscoffee2021 · 20/06/2026 07:41

I've been a few times and have family living there and it's not something I've seen, however I've found Germans are very willing to pull people up on behaviours deemed 'wrong'. My brother in law got told off for crossing the road at a place without a crossing eg, was perplexed. I've seen a few people arguing in the street in Berlin, I'm sure calling eachother all sorts though they looked drunk.

Overall I found it a more social and chilled society vibe when I've been to Berlin, can't speak for anywhere else as its a big country with alot of different districts and people will be different.

Mylastusernamewasbetter · 20/06/2026 07:37

Can you imagine here someone calling the police "hello officer? I'd like to report someone called me an arsehole" 😂

AmazingGreatAunt · 20/06/2026 07:37

Beamtenbeleidigung - which is what you do if you swear at a member of the police force, or any public servant, is definitely a "thing" in Germany.

Igneococcus · 20/06/2026 07:36

Half of Germans, and most of Bavarians, would be permanently in prison if that law were actually followed through.

SomeGarlic · 20/06/2026 07:36

NetZeroZealot · 20/06/2026 07:18

Ok, so this is just a Germany bashing thread … Why pick Germany instead of, say, Russia?

Or China. Since you're interested, I'm intensely suspicious of government attempts to prohibit 'wrongthink'. There are lines to be drawn and I'm sure we'd all differ on where, exactly, they should be.

For me, making it a crime to call someone stupid is a large overstep. I also think it's terrible that some Chinese people aren't allowed to travel to other parts of the country because they're deemed uncooperative. I've lived in a country where everyone my age has scars and lost family members to political repression. It's not a door to be opened carelessly.

RubyPowderPuff · 20/06/2026 07:32

🤣

Ilovegermany · 20/06/2026 07:30

My DD was in student accommodation in Germany. Her next door neighbour was a noisy YouTuber.
She was studying and couldn’t hear herself think. So she knocked on his door and asked him to keep the noise down and as she left she called him an arschloch.
Two days later she had a charge of insult, even though there were no witnesses and he had been making a lot of noise after the quiet time. She had a lot of evidence of this from contacting the management company but it still took a 250€ lawyer letter to stop the charge.
And yes, I frequently have to stop myself from giving some drivers the middle finger.

Mylastusernamewasbetter · 20/06/2026 07:28

tilypu · 20/06/2026 06:45

I'm Scottish. Insults are a term of endearment here... 😬😆

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Irish. Same.

ithappenstootherfamilies · 20/06/2026 07:27

Anarchy99 · 20/06/2026 05:42

I get laws about assaulting people of course but rolling your eyes? I am AuDHD and my face shows any negative emotions immediately and very obviously.

That characteristic isn't just reserved for people with AuDHD........

tilypu · 20/06/2026 07:24

It does seem a little blinkered to comment on right wing resurgence in Germany in relation to a post saying that the people behave better than in this country, when we've got our own right wing resurgence going on here.

Sartre · 20/06/2026 07:22

Same in a few other European countries too, namely Austria and Switzerland. Can’t imagine getting upset enough over being called an arsehole I’d call the police, imagine being that soft.

NetZeroZealot · 20/06/2026 07:22

there is a wave of right-wing populism sweeping across Europe.
All the Germans I know are as appalled about the rise of AFD as I am about the rise of Reform.
Let’s not frame our views of one country around a minority group.

ALittleDropOfRain · 20/06/2026 07:21

It’s interesting how many casual swear words and insults are built into British English communication.

German doesn’t do that. If you use bugger, dickhead, etc, you mean it.

DH (German) loves how creative British swearing is. If you swear in German, it’s purpose is to hurt the other person.

Edit: Typo

NetZeroZealot · 20/06/2026 07:19

SomeGarlic · 20/06/2026 07:16

I take it you've also missed the Nazi resurgence, @NetZeroZealot?
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-cracks-down-on-neo-nazi-networks/a-77070868

Nazism is abhorrent obviously. But it’s a tiny minority. Probably less than the followers of Tommy Robinson here.

Araminta1003 · 20/06/2026 07:19

Gosh imagine if we had that here and a civil enforcer like all the traffic cameras - they would make a killing for the Council. The prisons are full, in Britain it would simply be a good way to make some extra dosh/another hidden tax!

NetZeroZealot · 20/06/2026 07:18

Ok, so this is just a Germany bashing thread … Why pick Germany instead of, say, Russia?

SomeGarlic · 20/06/2026 07:13

NetZeroZealot · 20/06/2026 07:09

In 30 years of travelling there I’ve never heard of this.

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You must wear some very effective blinkers!

NetZeroZealot · 20/06/2026 07:09

NeelyOHara · 20/06/2026 07:06

Even the warehouses that they call ‘mega brothels’? Where you pay a set price for an ‘all inclusive” so you can have sex with as many women as you can?

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In 30 years of travelling there I’ve never heard of this.

NeelyOHara · 20/06/2026 07:06

NetZeroZealot · 20/06/2026 06:48

I’ve spent a lot of time in Germany.

The culture is respectful & polite. It is a lovely place. Even in the beer festivals when people are drunk they behave better than in the UK

I’m not aware of these laws. There’s certainly no heavy handed policing.

Even the warehouses that they call ‘mega brothels’? Where you pay a set price for an ‘all inclusive” so you can have sex with as many women as you can?

Icanseeasquirrel · 20/06/2026 06:54

As PPs have said most countries have laws that might seem odd but the test is their application. Are German jails full of people who just moaned a bit once?

NetZeroZealot · 20/06/2026 06:48

I’ve spent a lot of time in Germany.

The culture is respectful & polite. It is a lovely place. Even in the beer festivals when people are drunk they behave better than in the UK

I’m not aware of these laws. There’s certainly no heavy handed policing.

IsThatAHedgehog · 20/06/2026 06:48

I was born in Germany and lived there until I was 7. I'd be absolutely fucked if I ever returned, apparently 😂

tilypu · 20/06/2026 06:45

slumdogminulet · 20/06/2026 05:40

I think it's pretty normal not to do any of these things, so no problem.

I'm Scottish. Insults are a term of endearment here... 😬😆

NeelyOHara · 20/06/2026 06:43

MegMortimer · 20/06/2026 06:30

I think it sounds like a pretty good idea. Too many people in some places seem to have lost their manners.

So bad manners should be a criminal offence? No thanks.