When I listened to Jeff Jarvis’s talk on Schlossblog- ein Geburtstag (a blog written by a non-conformist German who dares to blog!), I had to think back of all the encounters I had when I started blogging.

There were questions such as Why would you do that? and What do you get out of it? Forget the monetary aspect, I am in for the show. I like to report good things in town such as the Irish Pub in Oberursel as well as negative experiences such as Doctors’ Discontent in Medical Fees in Bad Homburg.

It was funny to hear Jeff talk about how Germans publicly exhibit their private parts, such as in a sauna or on the balcony, but strongly refuse the openness of the internet. He also pointed out that there are relatively few German bloggers.

Why would Germans be so open about showing off their private body parts but not their mindset? Jarvis believes it has nothing to do with the Stasi Zeit, but with the German culture. Keeping things to yourself is not about privacy, but a matter of control.

Personally, I have always wondered why the newly built townhouses in our neighborhood have such high fences for a relatively tiny yard. Well, without such a high fence, we passerby could be looking in and see what they are doing while they are striving for Ruhe und Ordnung. On the other hand, I have seen many homes in the U.S. where you would not want to block the view so as NOT to miss who is passing by.

Germans ask for transparency from firms, conglomerates (and the Vatican), but privately this is a different matter. Sharing knowledge via internet and helping others is uncool. They know knowledge has value and are therefore reluctant to share it on the net as writers could: lose face, cause envy, and seem pretentious.

I know many elderly Germans who go out of their way to help me get some information, but to do so via the net is unusual, especially by Germans in my age group, the baby boomers.

Just ask any of your German friends to leave a comment on your blog – this seems worse than going for a job interview.

I am glad somebody like Jeff Jarvis has finally put this whole enigma into words and ideas.

In the beginning, Jeff Jarvis apologized for not giving this talk in German (bear with the German introduction…) Nevertheless,  it will still take another generation of young Germans to adjust to the modern world. I have stated this before in my lectures I gave about reunification in Germany while living in Japan.

Germans are slow to change, and very habitual. Their way of going public might be word of mouth, gossip, and … showing private parts.

Listen to Jeff Jarvis’s talk on A German Paradox (scroll down a bit).