Is it at all acceptable to ascribe certain traits/characteristics to different nations - as in the old chestnut "Germans have no sense of humour"

[emkana]

What do you think?

Are there national traits or are there only individuals?

thats not fair hoochie

come on, spill..........

I have a German friend too who refers to other Germans as "very German".

I don't think that any sweeping generalisation is accurate but can, taken the right way, be a bit of lighthearted fun.

I love this clip from the film Auberge Espagnole

I think it's common sense really - it's unavoidable that certain generalisations are made, and some national cultural tendencies do apply. But if it's pejorative or negative, you should button it.

Clichees are there for a reason, non? Trick is to avoid applying national generalisations to every individual of said nation one comes across.

I'd never heard of the "towels on sunbeds" thing until I started going out with a Brit: never been on a package holiday in my entire (German) life .

Having said all that, let me think :
Italians - insane drivers
Franch - good lovers
Spaniards - smell of garlic
Germans - like order/no sense of humour (oh, I do hate that one, makes me lose my SOH )
Finnish - alcoholics
Russians - depressed alcoholics or New Mafia
etc
etc
etc

Sad, really. Here is one about the Brits: "Plain cooking, plain loving!" Said by v close, v dear family memeber

pacific - the sunbeds thingy does not come from a package holiday as i have never been on one either!

If I am in a resort and i am looking for the best beach, i follow the germans, they will always lead you to the best beaches, restaurants etc.

I have lots of Finnish friends ...........boy can they drink & drink & drink

I worked for a half English/German woman who told me that Germans always wear sensible shoes .