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I live in Germany and I claim that Austria (Germany's neighbouring country) has a title fetish. Austria's title fetish is said to be a relict from Austro-Hungar

by wolfgke 14y ago

I live in Germany and I claim that Austria (Germany's neighbouring country) has a title fetish. Austria's title fetish is said to be a relict from Austro-Hungarian Monarchy times that has preserved there until today (although it is declining slowly). To give an example: on many tombstones on Austrian graveyards the official titles the person had are written; even more strange: for women even the title of their men is implied in the title on their tomb stones (for example: "Oberamtsratsgattin" (I really find this word funny) - a word that cannot really expressed in English for a lack of words for official titles; I'd translate it clumsily with "wife of a man that was a public official with the official title "Oberamtsrat" [a rather respected official title]") So if you claim Germans have a title fetish, go to Austria. When you come back, you'll consider Germany a really-not-title-obsessed contry.

wnesensohn 14y ago
While your observations are definitely true for the "older" generations (the ones for which many tombstones had to be carved), I'd say that title fetish is fortunately declining quite rapidly. For example, not so long ago it was common to call wifes of doctors "Frau Doktor", but I've never in my life heard a person < 60 years saying that to the wife of a doctor. Granted, there are still some strange titles floating around which do not mean much, but they're also fading away quickly. And even though many people may hold a title, my personal observation is that they're shown only very rarely. So while Austrians had a strong title fetish, I wouldn't say that's neccessarily true anymore. Especially not for the upcoming generations. So don't expect too much title fetish in Austria, you might be disappointed. But be sure to visit the "Zentralfriedhof" in Vienna, it's one of the largest cemeteries in the world and walking through it is a wonderful journey through the past, packed with a plethora of stories.

by wolfgke 14y ago

wnesensohn 14y ago

While your observations are definitely true for the "older" generations (the ones for which many tombstones had to be carved), I'd say that title fetish is fortunately declining quite rapidly. For example, not so long ago it was common to call wifes of doctors "Frau Doktor", but I've never in my life heard a person < 60 years saying that to the wife of a doctor. Granted, there are still some strange titles floating around which do not mean much, but they're also fading away quickly. And even though many people may hold a title, my personal observation is that they're shown only very rarely. So while Austrians had a strong title fetish, I wouldn't say that's neccessarily true anymore. Especially not for the upcoming generations. So don't expect too much title fetish in Austria, you might be disappointed. But be sure to visit the "Zentralfriedhof" in Vienna, it's one of the largest cemeteries in the world and walking through it is a wonderful journey through the past, packed with a plethora of stories.