Why are the French (from France) so rude?

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rosbif

In part it's the national attitude, in part it's a function of their language. Whether one affected the development of the other is open to debate. The national attitude is "me first", and can be seen not only on a personal level but whenever France has dealings with her "allies" or "friends" from other countries. The French language is much more direct and aggressive than English too. Just because you use the polite form of address ("vous") in French, you are being respectful to someone no matter what you say. As we don't have a polite form of address in English we have to use other, more subtle and sophisticated means to show respect to someone. This is one of the most difficult things to learn in English and often accounts for why we find the French to be rude and arrogant, for a direct translation of how French people speak to each other often comes out as rude and arrogant in English, even though the French themselves don't even register it.

knowitallsaittout

I am french (from Paris) but I have been living in the USA for quite a while and I am starting to get it. The French seem rude to you because you are used to politeness and the lack of it is unsettling. French people are in fact very nice and genuine when you get to know them. If you are a stranger, they really do not give a merde (excuse my french) about you and therefore will not be so polite towards you because they really do not care. When I go back to France and deal with strangers, I feel now very vulnerable like my armor is gone. I never felt that way when I was living there because it was normal. Now that I am used to the american politeness of strangers, I have a very hard time handling the french rudeness. On the other hand, Americans are always so nice and polite that you do not see the difference between strangers and friends and it sometimes feel all fake. In France, if somebody is nice to you, you know that person genuinely likes you and is your friend.

Venice Girl

Again, we are stereoptyping and categorizing. There are many, many French people who are lovely people. But, if one considers the French rude, it is because they oppose foreigners coming to their country and not speaking their language in their country. If the foreigner spoke fluent French, you wouldn't find that type of opposition to foreigners. By the way, Americans are far more rude to foreigners on this same subject.

joyceeleann

They are not rude they just have a different style..every culture or society does.

alan

I have always found the French friendly and helpful

Princess Buttercup

Are they more rude than non-french posting generalized nationality insults on a public board? I think not.

EGGLY

In my opinion, I believe that French people are much more genuine than Americans. Americans tend to kiss up to people, and they often have a fake "Hi! How are you today!" kind of attitude. So yeah, French people might not exactly open up to you immediately, but when you get to know them, they're wonderful. Of course, I'm not saying that all French people are genuinely nice, but most of them are. It's a very different atmosphere in France. In fact, when my french relatives came to visit the U.S, they were shocked at how talkative strangers can be! It's quite funny!

mrry976

Majority of US tourists forget they are visiting another country.
Most US think that whereever they go, that area belongs to the
them. France because we saved them in WW1 or WW2.
I never saw a request from France to expel the Germans.
The request came from the Brits.
Try being friendly and not so pushy and impolite.

Ivor Wood

They are not. I am English and the English in large cities (such as Londoners in the rush hour) are far ruder.

If you smile, and attempt to speak to them - even a few words in French - you will find them in the main to be charming, polite, delightful and friendly.

There are exceptions in every country, however: perhaps you have been unfortunate.

Better luck in the future. Please persevere

geniphurb

They aren't! They're just people like we are here in America. If you piss them off or offend them, they're going to be rude. I was over there for a month studying abroad and the only time I had a "rude" experience was when this drunk idiot in our group flicked off the French guys. Of course they're going to be rude then!

Nurelhuda

Probably because we do not understand their culture .What is rude in one culture is acceptable in another.What you asked is a blanket statement and a generalization . It means you say all French people who live in France are rude. This is probably not true . It probably comes from meeting a few rude French peopleOf course not all generalizations are not true . You may for example say, All French people who live in France can understand French. Even this is not really true for there are probably babies and hearing impaired people , autistics etc who do not understand French even though they are French and live in France.

Captain Ron

Mostly in Paris, just like New York, otherwise quite nice.

strawberry_eiri

uhh.. the ppl I met were pretty friendly, but yes, then again , my whole family speaks French. And hey, at least they aren't racist. In some countries, ppl don't give you the time of the day just cos you're of a certain race!

Just say "Bonjour!" and maybe they'll warm up to you.

movie23

I'm French and i think that you mostly right, in france a lot of people are very selfish and very direspectful toward other people, i think it comes from the education ( i'm not like that because my parents raised me to open about other countries and culture all around the world). The French only think about themselves, they think they are the only country in the world, they don't want to learn english, they don't want american companies because they think that america is inferior to them because they think they have a better "culture" i'm not agree with the french this is why i say i'm agree with your statement

KÃŸ-zota

I'm French and i'm not rude ...
;-)

lilreveuse

They weren't very rude to me when I was there. I speak French though, and didn't patronize them when they didn't speak English. Treat people like you want to be treated yourself. Respect them enough to at least try to speak their language and know a little about their culture before you judge a whole country.

Hunter

Not all french people are rude, americans can be rude, germans can be rude, italians can be rude but not everyone is rude! Only some people, and I am a little bit french and french people are very nice, only some can be mean, but that is in everyone country, some people are nice, and some are rude.

skellyatsogang

I don't buy your premise. They aren't all rude. I've been to France 5 times and have received good service and been treated well consistently.

French people can be assertive, but that doesn't bother me. A lot of Americans are assertive and many are rude.

ursula!!!

well...they just have their own culture..and its different from everybody's....They like using only their language even though its antisocial...I have been in france and indeed they are a lil bit rude...but what can you say? there country is amazing! but of course that doesnt mean they have to be rude...but you know!

efrankbkkcam

not always true

Lemige

It's because you never met me (I'm french, but not a real one because i'm not rude)!!!

markos m

I had no such experience, but then I speak French!

Meeee

They are all skinny so must be stressed from being hungry all the time.

paris

Why are you, Americans, visit France, since the French people are so rude? There are a lot of countries where English is spoken, so....

violently_happy85

because frewnch people are so pissed that everyone does not speak french and most people speaks english hey even if someone does speaks english they would denie it

le_ffrench

You're right, the French can be terribly rude, plus they keep using odd insults like: "your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" or the more direct "I fart in your general direction". Occasionally, they will throw a cow at you.

Not very well educated indeed.

Slartibartfast

KG

Have you got any idea how rotten it is to be French?

No, really.
Just imagine a little baby being born in Paris.

To begin with he gurgles and burps but then he starts to grow and before you know it it's his first day at school.

Some other kid will say something to him in French and he understands it! That's when he realises the terrible truth.

"Bugger. I'm French."

Can you imagine what it's like for that kid, having to grow up knowing that he's French.

The looks from people in the street as they nudge each other and hold their noses.

No wonder they are so rude.
Poor people.

They need help - not scorn.
I mean, lets face it.

Have YOU seen France recently?
What a mess.

Joye M

cuz they r syuck up thats why they think they're better than everyone

Why are the French (from France) so rude? pic 1
Why are the French (from France) so rude? pic 2

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