That probably is the difference. Something like Nipplegate isn't likely to happen here. The common sense is way more liberal here when it comes to sexuality. But you will find that there a lots of people around still that point you to the "right way" like that guy that insisted on you to sit on your towel.

Which does not make any more sense than "Nipplegate". But it is what it is: people running around thinking they have the clue for the one and only right way to do things. Not that "we germans" don't like rules. Sometimes it seems we invented them.

You will be living in Baden-Wuerttemberg. You will sooner than later learn about the "Kehrwoche". People over there are very picky about neighbors doing their duty to keep things clean and proper. Although it is special for that region in Germany it may serve as an example how Germans impose rules on their neighbors. You will be living in an area where people clean their cars prior to giving them to inspection or repair rather than getting them cleaned back.

But I can garantuee you one thing: you won't be endangered by criminality as much here as it seems to be common in the USA. Especially you won't be threatened that much by armed people as we have a lot less of them here in Germany due to gun laws. And we won't never get it what it is all about over there in the USA. Guns in the USA kill three times more people every year than 9/11. And you can't get rid of them.