Went to Germany for work....my impressions

[pugilistico]

I'm not quite sure what setting you're working with them in, but passive aggresive I've noticed sometimes too when they can't confront you directly. My experience with Germans has mostly been that they are direct in the sense that they are very literal and don't care to beat around the bush, same as with the Dutch as I mentioned. Contrary to the Dutch though, they can be real asses about it and have little regard for pleasantries. I remember someone telling a story about asking a German guy on the street if he knew what time it was, when he looked at his watch, said yes, and then moved on. Classic way to depict German people.

With all that said, obviously people are individuals and I'm sure it's mostly a cultural thing. I mean, in Scandinavia we can seem pretty closed off as well initially, but we're way more polite about it for sure.

EDIT:
I think this video sums it up pretty well

Haha that story with the watch is so German. One of my German friends was so blunt that my other non-German friends always thought of him as an asshole, but that's just the way he is. One American guy tried to fight him and went, "You want to take this outside?" And my friend just looked at him and said, "No."

I've come to really appreciate their directness. With German women it can be quite confusing though because the more subtle cues and flirting that I've gotten used to doesn't apply to them. With women from almost anywhere else, I flirt and try to be "romantic" but with Germans you just have to direct. One of my German friends with benefits told me if I get to know a german woman, I should directly just ask her if she wants to have sex instead of being more indirect like with women from other cultures.