There are attractive characteristics found in many Germans. They're hardworking, they're diverse in their abilities, they've got plenty of ingenuity, and they're serious (if you like that sort of thing). They make great Bier and Brot, and they know so many different ways to serve up pork sausage. They're fit and health-conscious for the most part, and they know how to plan and save money.
The German language can also sound almost lovely at times, depending on the speaker. Though harsher than English, to a German, it's not unpleasant.
However, though standardized manners and greetings (guten Morgen, guten Tag) and parting goodbyes (auf Wiedersehen) are German protocol, friendliness and courtesy aren't. Add to that a harsh-sounding word, and there is gnashing of the teeth.
At the grocery store, if a new cashier opens up, customers may dash into the new queue whether they were next up or not, forcing an elderly person or someone who has been waiting longer to continue waiting. That behavior is simply bad manners.
There are taped lines and signs on the floors of many banks, government offices and postal stations asking for Abstand, or distance, bitte. That's because some Germans will get right up your butt if they're not reminded to do otherwise. (Many also cannot seem to stay outside of your personal space in that grocery line either.)
There's an urgency in this country, although the pace of my life is much slower than it was in the States. Everyone seems to be in a big hurry. They race along the Autobahn, they drive over the speed limit on country highways, they push ahead of each other while waiting in line at the movies or while shopping. They also tend to get pushy with their words, especially Achtung.
When I studied German in high school, I learned that the proper way to say "excuse me" is Entschuldigung. That word covered a lot -- mistakes, sweeping by someone, accidentally bumping into them, or belching. However, in the last year or so, I've noticed more and more that Germans say Achtung when they need to get by.
Achtung is not a nice word. After the "ah," a guttural noise (German "ch") often reserved only for curse words comes from the back of the throat. This part of the body is what ruder teenage boys grind together when hacking up and then spitting out something their sinus passages created. More nicely stated but equally unpleasant, the German "ch" (pronounced "khhhh") is the sound a cat makes when hissing.
Then comes the "t" sound, which only emphasizes the "ch". Then comes the "ung" (pronounced "ooh-ng") at the end, which makes the recipient of the warning or command feel inferior. At least that's how it affects me.
By using Achtung, a German speaker is saying "watch out" instead of "excuse me." In other words, get out of the way. MOVE. In my tender opinion, that's simply not nice. It always gives me a little shock when someone behind me says Achtung. I wonder every time if it could have been avoided.
There is a better word for paying attention or being careful if you're about to be bumped into: That word is Vorsicht. It doesn't aggravate as much as the Achtung, because the sound of the word itself is gentler on the ears..
The best way to say "excuse me" is not to say "watch out" or "look out above", but simply "excuse me," or Entschuldigung. One doesn't have to scare a person to get them to make room.
Will I be able to convince any or all Germans not to use the Achtung command? No, but at least I can vent about it.
Wörterbuch / Dictionary
(der) Abstand - distance, space
Achtung! - Danger! or Attention!
bitte - please
Entschuldigung - excuse me; I'm sorry, pardon me
Vorsicht - attention, caution
