Where did it go wrong for you guys?

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Rillifane

It developed because witless American tourists, steadfastly believing that the "American Way" is the only way and suffering from a vast deficit in education relative to the French, took umbrage at the fact that the French don't speak English but some other language (unknown and unfathomable to Americans), eat food other than burgers, and refuse to chatter on endlessly with complete strangers about the cost of their underwear and the state of their love lives.

It happened because the Americans, having suffered 205,690 casualites in World War I and 418,500 in World War II couldn't understand why the French, who suffered 4,266,000 casualties in WWI and 567,600 in WWII, didn't devote a significant part of their lives thanking America for its help and meekly obeying American orders.

It happened because the dimwitted Bush regime couldn't understand why the French said that invading Iraq was stupid idea that would involve the West in an ugly war that the USA would eventually be forced to flee with little to show for it except thousands of rotting corpses and its reputation in tatters.

Cabal

Jealousy. :DDDD

No, really, we have the problem of having a code of greeting way different from the US. Not smiling. How rude. That makes it difficult from someone who has the ingrained instinct of smiling to strangers to see the genuine politeness behind the non-smile. Both come out of those meeting with the genuine belief that the other one had been rude. I saw it more than once here in Paris.

We also have the problem of being proud of our country and not appreciating much being told how bad it is because we are not crawling on our bellies or swallowing insults without lashing back.

We also have an independant streak that makes us stand on our position, that irritates some.

And lastly we have been the victim of vicious propaganda from a government for the last eight years and the lies spewed by people like Cheney and co took a life of their own. Cowardly, cheese eating surrender monkeys who never won a war in 2000 years (still laughing about that one), back stabbing stinking cheese eaters who forgot the American deaths in WWII to save them (we still have yearly ceremonies about those deads 70 years later but what is a lie between friends...), stinking people who don't shave (eh?) and don't wash (???) and will back stab old trusting ally by refusing to follow (and pay) wherever that ally is leading like Iraq (but no mention of French troupes under US command in Afghanistan at the same time and money given for the Afghan campaign).

Last but not least, many tourists go to Paris only. I assure you that Parisians are as welcoming, smiling and polite as New Yorkers.

magidge

Was unaware they had a reputation for being rude and snobby!

Have travelled through France many times by car, stopping off en route in small towns and villages and always came across helpful and pleasant French people.
They do appreciate foreigners making an effort with their language.

*la gringa*

and how did the american develop the reputation for being so ignorant and superficial?

qriste

well I read a question here from a girl who said that the French are awfully rude because a salesman refused to put some chocolate ships on her ice cream!...make your own conclusions....and what should we say when we get insulted by "f... the French!" or when people ask very seriously "is it true that the French stink?"

chateau cat

I've lived in France for nearly two years now and find the French extremely courteous and charming - such a breath of fresh air after years of living in London. People you've never met say Bonjour as they pass you in the street. It's true they tend to think you're insane if you smile too much, but that's because they're just a little more reserved than the British and Americans. My family and I are an exotic bunch of multinational foreigners around here, and everyone has made us feel very welcome in a friendly but non-intrusive way.
It's also true people in big cities - be that Paris or London - tend to appear rude to tourists - but then that's partly because these tourists clog up the road, walk slowly and stop them getting from where they want to go - and let's not tar all city folk with the same brush. My, I've cursed tourists myself when late for work and trying to speed along Oxford Street... now I feel like I've been chucked into a viper's nest every time I arrive at Stansted airport.
SO no... the French are no ruder than anyone else. And hell, what if they were... the language sounds so lovely, they even sound elegant when they're swearing. Bonne soiree a tous!

indianboy11192

i believe its more the british peeps but its just a sterotype

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