when I visited Germany, granted this was in the 80's, I found that if I was polite and pleasant, so was everyone else I came into contact with.

>
>agreed that this particular incident is below belt and that similar might occur in other countries.
>But it is also true that rudeness will be perceived as rampant over here by americans -
>if I were to describe it, I might term it that germans are less apt to be polite just as a "service".
>Knowing a doorman is *paid* to a large part just to be "friendly" makes germans feel cheated on
>or to be on the receiving end of a lie/swindle for money/biz matters.
>
>Not that we might put on some of our rough charm if lots of money are on the table,
>but to pour it on as a matter of biz anywhere we are is not seen as a desirable trait.
>
>Hard to decide where education/good manners end, but the stream of nonsensical pleasantries/small talk
>encountered on the US side feels somewhere between noise needing to be suppressed and dishonesty
>from over here. Action speaks louder than words for my taste to show who your friends are IAC.
>And yes, I am stereotyping a lot in the above ;-)