User talk:Inquisitor Sasha/German woo

This looks like another article we really don't need. Щєазєюіδ^{Methinks it is a Weasel} 07:06, 19 September 2013 (UTC)

It's not "woo" just because you don't like it. And i'm deleting this if you put it in mainspace. 13:19, 23 October 2013 (UTC)

Not if I get there first. PowderSmokeAndLeather: Say something once, why say it again?. 13:19, 23 October 2013 (UTC)

I am a jew who buys Becks four packs and has driven Mercedes and Audis for 20 years. Woo! 13:43, 23 October 2013 (UTC)

Some concerns: Do you realize that Becks is actually owned by a Belgian company? While Warsteiner is a German beer, Warsteiner produces some beer, that is exclusively exported to America. Many food and beverage companies, that operate internationally, try to accomodate specific national markets taste buds. So Warsteiner might taste like every other american beer, because that is exactly what Warsteiner was going for. As to Volkswagen: At least in the German speaking parts of Europe, Volkswagen is not synominous with high quality, but with good value. If you want good engineering, you'd usually go for Mercedes. As for the ignoring of bad parts of Germans history: Is that not the case with pretty much every nation?Th. Bernhard_{Das Leben ist ein Prozeß, den man verliert, was man auch tut und wer man auch ist.} 15:44, 23 October 2013 (UTC)

I think your example about Becks is actually a good point about German woo; it's not even German but people think it is. Belgian beer is usually good. Warsteiner doesn't taste like regular American beer, but it's nothing like distinctly German beer. I also have friends who remember it being sold in Germany who said that it was super cheap in cheap stores, like Steel Reserve 40s. Volkswagen definitely isn't high quality, but it isn't good value either. Their cars lack longevity that Toyotas and Hondas have. If you take a look around a parking lot, you can find many more old Toyotas than Volkswagens. I keep trying to write "Volkswagon." I realize everyone tries to whitewash history, but the way that German Empire wooists glamorize the Second Reich seems particularly silly. They're completely ignorant of the facts and context of the period. Unification and nationalism was the result of French occupation and modernization of Europe. –Aleksandr Ehrenstein ЯR 01:52, 24 October 2013 (UTC)

There's no such thing as German woo. Stop misusing the word. I'm going to delete anything you add to mainspace that even contains the word "woo" because you abuse it so badly.

Becks and Warsteiner are both mainstream German lager beers. Becks is a German brewery owned by a Belgian conglomerate. It's still German beer. It tastes like pilsner. It's not great, but it's not piss. Warsteiner is tremendously popular in Germany. They're not overrated. There's nothing like whatever you think "woo" is here. Volkswagens are known for their durability. There are bad years. They are good cars. You are insane. What is wrong with your brain? 03:09, 24 October 2013 (UTC)

Why are you guys even engaging with this nonsense? The whole premise that people are wrong to like German cars or beers is pretty stupid, regardless of the merits of individual examples. Wëäŝëïöïď^{Methinks it is a Weasel} 07:38, 24 October 2013 (UTC)

Let's check the definition of "woo", shall we?

From our own article on it, woo is:

1. A simple idea that purports to be the one answer to many problems (often including diseases) – Nobody's claiming this about German cars or beers.
2. A "scientific-sounding" reason for how it works, but little to no actual science behind it; for example, quote mines of studies that if bent enough could be described in such a way to support it, outright misapplication of studies, or words that sound scientific but make no sense in the context they are used in – Maybe on the cars one, definitely not on the beer. Let's call this a half point.
3. It involves the supernatural and paranormal (not necessarily) – Nope, although this is optional after all.
4. A claim of persecution, usually perpetrated by the government or the pharmaceutical, medical, or scientific community – Nope.
5. An invocation of a scientific authority – Not really. I suppose there's something vaguely like this in the invocation of "power of German engineering" but that seems like a stretch to me.
6. Prefers to use abundant testimonials over actual scientific research – I see no testimonials here.
7. A claim that scientists are blind to the discovery, despite attempts to alert them – Not only is this not present, it isn't even applicable.
8. A disdain for objective, randomized experimental controls, especially double-blind testing (which are kind of what makes epidemiology actually, y'know, work) – Again, inapplicable.
9. And, usually, an offer to share the knowledge for a price. – Well, duh, they're selling stuff, of course it's for a price!

Based on this it strikes me as ridiculous to use the term "woo" here. Wehpudicabok [話] [変] 07:51, 24 October 2013 (UTC)