Comment by tpush
4 years ago
Germans have a cultural fetish for displaying (and being subservient to) authority expressed by titles, signs and such.
"Wenn diese Deutschen einen Bahnhof stürmen wollen, kaufen die sich erst eine Bahnsteigkarte!" - Lenin (probably not really though.)
If you find this a strong feature in Germany, Austrians take it to the next level
Or as my coworker put it: the Japanese follow rules and hierarchy because they have been indoctrinated and they know the will be punished if they don't; the Germans, Austrians as Swiss do it because it makes them horny.
(Disclaimer: we live in Japan and he lived in Switzerland before)