French People?

Question

Just wanted to know everyone's perceptions of French people after reading an article "Europe unites in hatred of the French" source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/05/17/wfran17.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/05/17/ixnewstop.html

Surely this is an innacurate depiction of the French? Are you french? have you lived there? Do you think this is an unfair perception?

Answer 1

When judging people, you must form your opinion on an individual bases. I am not French, I’m an American. I have been to France several times and visited many locations. The French people are just like people from all over the world. They are individuals with views and opinions that range from one side of the spectrum to the other. Some can come off as being cold and uncaring, whereas others are very warm and caring. You cannot judge a country, or its people, by the few who seem to make the news. The same as you would not want to be judged for the words and actions of people who make the news in your country.

Answer 2

I didn't know we were THAT impopular over Europe too !

I hate generalities, I think there are good and bad people everywhere around the world, not more in our country than in an other.
I'm really surprised with the words used by Dutch, German .... people, to discribe us. I still wonder if I'd like going on holidays that often in a country where people are that unpleasant.

I've been to the Netherlands quite often, and have never had to face up with this kind of reaction towards me as a French person.
But, on the other hand, I must admit that French people have the tendancy to be rather proud, and chauvins sometimes !

So, yes, I think it is an unfair perception, probably written by someone who really has a personnal problem with some French person maybe ?

Answer 3

I have lived in France and UK off and on for about 20 years. There are two important factors for you to consider. First consider your source. The Telegraph is a british journal that enjoys, along with the Sun the national sport of French bashing. Its the hobby and the taunting tradition that has always existed between France and the UK.
Second of all, go check it out for yourself. The french are different from the Parisians, just as New Yorkers are different from Midwesterners. Every capital has its quirks and codes of conduct, its for you to see if you enjoy the way life works in Paris or if you prefer secondary cities or the countryside.

Answer 4

I'm not European--I'm an American who has spent some time in France and other European countries. The French who we have met have been generally very nice. I agree with those who say consider the source of the negative comments.

Answer 5

Hi,
Well, this article is not very amazing from The Daily Telegraph... This article is really partial. Generalisation and prejudices... Honestly, I don't care of insults. People may think that they want. If they judge without knowing what they're talking about, it's not my problem.
The author forgot that there are 60 million French in France. There are stupid ones among them of course. But there are also people worth knowing, like in each country.

Answer 6

Funny because polls carried out in European countries shows that France is the country were most european would like to live in...even the Brits! (go to France and you'll see plenty of British that live here and enjoy the "french way of life")!

Answer 7

1) For the Germans the French are: "pretentious, offhand and frivolous"
2) For the Dutch they are : "agitated, talkative and shallow"
3) For the Spanish they are: "cold, distant, vain and impolite"
4) The Portuguese see them as: "preaching".
5) Italians look at them as: "snobs, arrogant, flesh-loving, righteous and self-obsessed"
6) Swedes consider them "disobedient, immoral, disorganised, neo-colonialist and dirty"

Can you see the contradiction in the description of the French? What does this tell you? Can the French be ALL of the above?

Answer 8

I am not French. I know these people rather well. Like any other population, one can not judge them as a whole. The one I know are nice, smart, logical, rational, respectful. They like culture, history and are proud of theirs. I think the article mentioned does not represent neither European nor British point of view.
Be objective, go and check by yourself.

Answer 9

i read the article .first of all ? i think it was very bad writing , and not accurate at all # and very bias #
do look at the immigration that happens from all the Easterns countries lately ........immigrating to France .........

not impressed with the writing at all and? did not even affect me .......and was not interesting

Answer 10

I have been to france several times myself and I can tell you from traveling all over the country that they arent nice the worse are the ones that live in paris