Nor most Americans. We rightly see the law as something to be skirted, bent, or ignored if it makes no sense. My own example: I used to go to work very early in the morning, before traffic was out and about, and I invariably ran into a red light where I was just sitting there, with no one in any of the other lanes and no one out at all. So I began running that red light on a daily basis... it hurt no one, it was a stupid light at that hour of the morning, and it always gave me a little amount of glee as I ran it. I don't think that would happen in Germany.
I remember being in Germany in college.
It was late, no traffic, and I was about to walk across the street -- against the light.
An older German man told me not to do it.
It was so surprising to see this adherence to the "rules" when the context is not important.
Why not cross against the light when there is no traffic?
The French wouldn't act like that.
Nor most Americans. We rightly see the law as something to be skirted, bent, or ignored if it makes no sense. My own example: I used to go to work very early in the morning, before traffic was out and about, and I invariably ran into a red light where I was just sitting there, with no one in any of the other lanes and no one out at all. So I began running that red light on a daily basis... it hurt no one, it was a stupid light at that hour of the morning, and it always gave me a little amount of glee as I ran it. I don't think that would happen in Germany.