french....?

Question

i have never met anyone from france but i've been told that people from paris are exceedingly snobby and hate americans with a passion... which isnt fair since they've never met ALL the americans in america!!!! is this true? a rumor?

Answer 1

Sunshine,

As with all things, it's partly truth and partly fiction. There is genuine bad feelings for Americans in Paris; but let me tell you why. You have to understand, the French define themselves by their culture; and when people disrespect it, it's the same as a foreigner in America going up and urinating on the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence. If people from a particular country did this repeatedly, how do you think Americans would feel about them?

It's easy to say that we shouldn't generalize, and that we should treat each person we meet as an individual without the baggage of stereotypes; but you and I both know that's not how the world is.

I can't tell you the number of times I've seen Americans behaving badly in Paris. All of these incidents I personally witnessed, and verified that the people were Americans.

I saw Americans Urinating on the Church of Notre Dame (Not near it, but "ON" it).

Shouting (Literally SHOUTING) in fine restaurants for a bottle of ketchup, and laughing about it.

Attempting to violate the dress code at the Sacre Coeur, by going in to church wearning a skimpy tube-top, and cut-off shorts about the size of a bikini bottom. And when they were told that they had to dress appropriately, they shouted that they were Americans, and that nobody could tell them what to do (and disrupting the people praying in the church). I could go on; but I think you get my point.

Please understand, when you've seen this as many times as I have (and I only live in Paris part of the year), you begin to resent it. And then along comes another American. Is it fair to prejudge this person? Of course it isn't. But that's human nature; and it would take superhuman abilities to see all that I've seen, and not begin to stereotype.

I've known Americans in their own homeland; and I know them to be gracious and generous people (in my opinion the most generous on earth). But when Americans travel abroad, they tend to forget themselves, and all too often behave like crashing boars. I wish it were otherwise; but that's the way I see it.

Hope this answer helps. Cheers.

Answer 2

It's a stereotype. I've met some GREAT people from Paris!!!

Answer 3

you also didn't meet all people from paris, so where the confedence from that they hate americans with pasion ?

i would suggest that you meet some and you'll find out that allof you've been told is just B.S.
people are people wherever they are