10 reasons why you shouldn't argue with Italians

Anyone who regularly comes to or lives in Italy for work or vacation, and who also speaks the language, knows that things can get pretty heated when Italians discuss politics or the economic crisis together (Jeroen Dijsselbloem can talk about it).

Do not do it!

These discussions can go on indefinitely. As a Dutch or Flemish person, are you inclined to enter into such a discussion? In this article we give you 10 reasons NOT to do this. Although this is not always easy.

It is also sometimes nice to analyze what inspiration comes to an Italian, if he seriously wants to make his point.

With friends or with strangers

First a bit of personal background. When I'm with friends in Italy, I also regularly get involved in an animated discussion about the Italian politics or the crisis (nowadays with Angela Merkel in the lead role, because according to many Italians she is the main cause of the economic malaise in il bel paese).

By the way, you might as well get into a discussion about these topics with strangers, next to whom you happen to be at the bar, enjoying a relaxed cappuccino.

They involve you in a devious way

Every time I resolve not to get involved, but Italians still have a 'devious' way to lure you out of the tent. They are going to compare Italy with the Netherlands or say plainly that Germany and the Netherlands are the cause of the crisis in Europe.

Well… Then the bear is loose of course. In other words open up heaven. You must make an effort to defend your country.

Also realize that if you discuss these topics with an Italian, you will have to spend a lot of time for this. All kinds of arguments will pass and an Italian will not rest until you have said 'sì, certo è proprio come dici tu' - 'yes, of course, it's exactly as you say'.

10 reasons not to argue with an Italian

For the sake of simplicity I will refer to the Italian below as 'he', but it will be clear that this could just as well be a 'she'. Italian ladies are in no way inferior to the gentlemen in these discussions. The tone is only slightly higher and probably the volume as well.

Well, here they come.

1. An Italian by definition assumes that he is right.
2. He hardly listens to the arguments of his interlocutor, after all he is busy collecting his own convincing arguments in his head and expressing them directly, before he gets confused himself.
3. He talks loudly and gesticulatingly right through his interlocutor or partners, giving you the feeling that you are talking in a vacuum (which in fact is the case).
4. He takes on a somewhat arrogant and hostile demeanor and sits on the edge of his seat or stands by to back up his words.
5. He starts talking and gesturing louder and louder. Think of the gestures associated with mom vaffanculo (bitch up) with the arm slightly bent bent upwards and shoots backwards.
6. He doesn't care at all that you are in a public place and that everyone can listen in. While you don't dare to utter a word with the Dutch shame on your jaws and look around you anxiously to see what the reactions are.
7. Between the swear words and the throwing of arguments, he will safely order a drink en passant, also for you. He gets thirsty from intense discussions of course
8. If he smokes, he will also light a cigarette during the discussion (probably to clear his mind) and you inhale its vapors. This is only possible if you are outside somewhere because of the smoking ban in public areas.
9. He will continue to try with all his might to convince you that he is right, even if it has to be done with hands and feet. You feel that all the energy is slowly being sucked out of you and all your counterarguments dissolve like snow in the sun.
10. If he feels that the discussion (actually we are talking about a monologue) is over and he has used all his arguments and is convinced that he is right, he will easily return to business as usual. Leaving you in amazement and exhausted.

The difference between Italians and Dutch

But what is the big difference between Italians and Dutch in this area? Once the discussion is closed, the Italian will let it all slide off his back and never keep looking angry at you. He will simply drink an aperitif with you at the bar again and pay for it for you too. Beautiful people!

Here's another great example of a heated, typical Italian discussion on TV, complete with insults back and forth. And of course we'd love to hear from you: have you ever 'won' a discussion with an Italian?