The 'Guten Tag' Solution

 This court case came up in the Frankfurt region.  

Some individual (not male or female) sued the Bahn folks (the railway folks) over their ticket-system, and how it lead to a particular question.

To buy tickets on-line....you need to provide your name.  And right before the name....you have a menu-selection....Herr (Mr) or Frau (Miss or Ms). Well....this individual felt it was very unfair and wanted the Bahn to be forced into submission....allowing for various solutions to appear for the ticket....addressing the forty-odd sexual situations.

The judges looked over this and came to two comments.

1.  The person could go and demand some particular form of address (not Herr or Frau).  That was within their lifestyle right.

2.  But then they went to a issue with this whole thing....do you really need to really address anyone today with Herr or Frau (Mr or Ms)?  

Basically no, you don't need to have this menu item existing.  In fact, they even suggested to dispense with Herr or Frau, and just have a third and fourth option....'Guten Tag' or 'nothing' (meaning it was just blank).

Lets be honest....if some conductor walks through to audit you.....he'll always start with 'Guten Tag' and Herr/Frau will likely never be introduced into the conversation.  

In simple terms, the court really didn't think this was much of an issue to drag out.  They even said this guy who sued....was not entitled to any damages because it just wasn't that type of mess for anyone to be damaged by.

The Bahn folks?  I would suggest within sixty days....a change will be made to their software program, and Herr/Frau will be either deleted or the term 'Guten Tag' will be inserted.  

A master solution to fit all situations like this?  Probably not....but occasionally you see some brilliant wisdom with German courts arrive, and this is probably one of those moments.