Berlin German obsession with efficiency through the eyes of a comedian: With a YouTube video, a stand-up comedian enjoyed what he saw as a German specialty. “Germans Are Not Efficient” (translated: Germans are not proficient) is the name of a nearly two-minute clip by Daniel-Ryan Spaulding (35) of Canada.
In the article, the comedian addresses hesitation and exaggerated accuracy in solving problems, which he regards as typical of the country, which sometimes postpones problem-solving indefinitely.
Unlike Germany, for example, problems abroad are usually solved in this way, explains Spaulding, who has already made several guest appearances on Jan Böhmermann’s satirical program “ZDF Magazin Royale”: “There is a problem – You fix the problem – The problem is solved.
Meetings, Meetings, Meetings
In Germany, on the other hand, countless permits have to be obtained, meetings held, observers asked and the guilty parties asked for the problem, portraying the 35-year-old as a person-in-role. And if a long Mallorca weekend comes in between, the solution to the problem will have to wait until next week.
Despite his funny swipe, Spaulding, who claims he has lived in Europe for ten years and Berlin for three years, thinks the Germans are great, as he told the German press agency. Because even though Germans are not funny, they cannot at least give jokes about themselves. “Being able to laugh at yourself and your culture is so important because life is hard and you can’t take everything in life so seriously.”
Spaulding also sees the Germans’ love of order as typical of the country: they quickly become discouraged when rules are not followed or something does not work as it should. “Canadians are more relaxed and can behave better with a little mess,” Spalding says.
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