Engineers have a reputation for being overly precise when it comes to everyday matters. Ask them a question and they will answer it correctly while you remain clueless. German engineers take this to a whole other level.
Case in point— this conversation between my boss (German Engineer) and his boss (Deadeye Perry) a few years ago:
Deadeye Perry: Do you know the dates for the IPM meeting in Coburg?
German Engineer: Of course
Deadeye Perry: What are they?
German Engineer: They are the dates when all the project managers will meet in Germany.
Deadeye: I know that! What I want to know is which days would that be?
GE: You mean in March?
Deadeye: The IPM meeting is in March?
GE: Usually, but sometimes it’s in early April.
Deadeye: In 2004, will the meeting be in March?
GE: The IPM meeting?
Deadeye: Yes, the IPM meeting!
GE: Yes.
Deadeye: What days in March?
GE: Monday and Tuesday.
Deadeye Perry: Don’t move. I am almost finished loading my clip.