If you are from France please answer?

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Cabal

Thank you, kind sir, we do our best. But isn't it a case of the pot calling the kettle black?
Arrogance calls for arrogance, and we won't let idiots treat us like dog poop in our own country, thank you. It's a lucky thing that with idiots come also tourists which are people we would love to know better and chat with, to make us realise that all Americans are not arrogant boors who think that the whole world should bow to them and should change their own way of living to avoid offending the all mighty Tourist.
I live in Paris, I work in Paris, I am not a tourist guide and I don't see why I should be grabbed by the arm, called 'hey you' or miss my train to go to work because a gaggle of tourists stand in the doorway blocking everyone while they try to decide which way to go. This might be their vacation but this is my work day. I also have gone out of my way to help tourists who asked politely, called an ambulance for an old lady who fell and broke her wrist and helped her distressed family to go with her, and very much enjoyed chatting with tourists who were walking around having fun and directing them to unusual sights or good little restaurants hidden in dark corners. Which reply you'll get from me depends on how polite you are to me.
*gallic shrug*

omegaman

I'm an ex-pat british guy living in france !,and over here life is good!...but Parisians are like new york cab drivers?,out of the big cities you are welcomed opened armed(if you make the minimum effort to say a few words in french).sorry to defend the best country on earth!!!

Graham I

France is a very polite country. When you go into a store or meet someone you MUST say "Bonjour Monsieur/Bonjour Madame" (Hello sir/Hello Madam) before saying anything else. It is very rude to launch straight into a question or request without saying hello. It is also very arrogant to make the assumption that the person you are speaking to will understand you if you use a foreign language. So every time an American tourist goes up to someone and says in English "Can you tell me how to get to the Louvre?" they are actually being very impolite, and shouldn't be surprised if the person is unhelpful.

In cafes and restaurants, some servers are friendlier than others. They do not expect a big tip, so they don't waste their time pretending to be polite when they really couldn't care less, like servers in the US often do. To an American, this might seem rude, but in general they will treat everybody the same, although of course a French person might know them because they're a regular, or might share a joke, whereas it's much harder to do so if you're not speaking French.

Finally, French people don't smile at strangers in the street unless they're mad or flirting with them, so don't assume people are being intentionally cold if they don't smile at you.

1) No I am not from France, and neither affiliated to France in any way.
2) You are biased and an idiot.

rugratshd

Probably because you were arrogant and rude yourself. Plus you probably (like a lot of Americans) made no effort to speak French, rely on on talking loudly to try and make yourself understood.
I live in France and 99% of French people are very friendly and helpful

odone

omg you people drive me crazy. Here is why French people are "rude" to Americans: it's a reaction to YOU!

Americans are notorious for being "proud Americans" and go to other Countries and start talking in English regardless that in other Countries they have their own language and in France the language is French. By you going to France and not having any respect whatsoever to even make an effort to say something in French, you will get treated the same way you are treating the French: rudely.

Let me put it in simple terms you can relate to: If a French person came to you and you worked as a waiter in a restaurant, and this tourist sat down and started talking to you in French and ordering in French, do you think you would not be offended that they didn't even bother to say Hi in English or anything? It's a 2 way street: you receive as much as you give. So next time, be more courteous when traveling to other Countries and people won't be rude to you.

Lastly if you hate France so much then stop going there! There are plenty of other Americans that have had great experiences there and that go back regularly.

YOUR attitude is the reason French are rude to YOU - not Americans in general.

qriste

no details as usual...

ValGal

If you go there and make no effort to speak French, you won't make a lot of friends. However, even the tiniest bit of effort is much appreciated. Try it.

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