German vs British manners

[Bridie]

It's not that they don't have a sense of humor- rather, it's that their sense of humor is very direct. Also, I think Germans have a very clear cut distinction between appropriate behaviour for work and appropriate behavior for recreation, whereas with the English the borders seem to be more blurred.

I'll agree with that. I think Brits tend to inject humour into any situation really, whereas Germans tend to have defined moments of appropriateness. (Usually Germans won't make jokes if a matter is serious, whereas the more serious the matter is for Brits, usually the more humour they use.)

[The Lawspeaker]

I am not sure where the Dutch are in this --- situated as we are between Germany and Britain. The Dutch, like the Germans, are blunt: we say exactly what's on our mind and being frank is a virtue - it's basically considered polite. Don't like it ? Your problem. It's that kind of attitude.

But like the British we tend to mix humour into almost every situation. Dutch humour can either be very blunt of straight-forward or dry, ironic and dark (sometimes downright sarcastic and even cynical), making fun of a certain situation by using euphemisms although for what I have noticed, the straight-forwardness of Dutch humour and the fact that we say whatever we think would probably be considered rude by many British while we would laugh and shrug it off.

[Hess]

I'll agree with that. I think Brits tend to inject humour into any situation really, whereas Germans tend to have defined moments of appropriateness. (Usually Germans won't make jokes if a matter is serious, whereas the more serious the matter is for Brits, usually the more humour they use.)

I think a good combination of the two are the Baltic states, particularly Lithuania. They have a very dry, sarcastic sense of humor, but at the same time they're blunt as an axe.

[The Lawspeaker]

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A nice example of Dutch humour that both makes fun of Muslims and people that are terrified of it. It's the absurd image of gossiping women, the silly sheriff, the local burgomaster and the band: for short..the pleasant Dutch village life ala Dik Trom or the De Kameleon that never existed in the first place and that is now being brought forward to make fun of those that wish to "return to other days" without Islam.

It would probably make both a left- and a right-winger crack up and only immigrants that don't get the general picture would be offended.... which in turns leads to even more people making fun of them. If there is anything a nice characteristic of Dutch humour then yes: it's nagging people.