What are your prejudices about French ?

Question

Sorry for my mistakes … I am French!

http://fr.answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20071212013245AAvIPBO

If I can reassure you, a lot of French like America … But media are against you !
As for the Irak question, the half of American, French, British … were for, and the other part were against. Again, media shows what they want. Chirac decided to be again, Bush and Blair for, and so media decided that all French were again, and all Americans and British were for.
I agree with you about the fact that you’re rude! But, for French people when you’re rude against someone is always because you consider him as someone rude too … sorry ! And in France, we have an opposition between Parisian and the others, because Parisian give the feeling to be superior, and the other French considers only them as rude people.
This is really interesting to listen you saying in the same time that we eats disgusting food and that we cook very good.
Me and the other French too, we don’t like motorway services! These rooms don’t give a good representation of French hygiene!

We laugh a lot of the British without his umbrella … that’s the reason why we’re obliged to have our umbrella with us …
Thank you for all your “ french women are beautiful », I’m really happy now !
I’m sorry to inform you that nobody wears beret (maybe a farmer ???) and nobody walks in the street with his bread! And now we don’t say "zut alors" but « putain de merde ! fais chier ! »
Yes, you eat a lots of cheese … and when we are eating cheese, we love watching tourists, they seems so scared! It’s only cheese! Cheese doesn’t stink but smell a lot!
Au revoir !
PS : personally, I’m not hairy … for French, Portuguese are hairy like spider.
PS 2 : sorry my mistakes! I hope you understood me!

Answer 1

I personally have none! but i suppose the English "stereotype" of a french person would be:

riding bikes with a beret and striped jumper and string of garlic round their necks, saying "zut alors", drinking red wine, eating snails and frogs legs, smoking to much, blockading roads and going on strike.

I am sure you are not like that at all!

Answer 2

Some are not so much about individual french people, more the psyche of the government and such. The french have been described as "cheese munching surrender monkeys", no doubt because of their penchant for fromage and their roll over and die mentality during the second world war. Interesting that the resistance was actually quite brave during that time.

Also, french motorway services smell of drains, and dont have toilets (just those squat pits).

Parisians seem to be rude.

French smoke excessively.

You all ride bikes and have strings of onions around your necks, just like all english wear bowler hats and carry a copy of the times and an umbrella.

There are loads.....

Answer 3

Just a little story that may help you with your dilemma.
Three men were walking along a beach together.
One was French the others were American and English.
They were chatting quietly together and the American was kicking up the sand as they walked.
Suddenly he stopped and cried out in pain as he caught his foot on a hard object concealed in the sand.
He bent down and saw that this was a Lamp like those in the tales of Aladdin so jokingly he said to his companions shall I rub it see if a Genie appears.
They all laughed as the American rubbed the lamp vigorously.
To their amazement a genie did appear and said.
Thank you for releasing me as is the age old custom he who releases me can have 3 wishes but as there are 3 of you may have one wish each.
The Genie turned to the American and said as you were the finder you may have the first wish.
The American thought then said.
America has always provided food for its people and my father and I have always been farmers I would like America to always be fertile.
The Genie replied it shall be so your wish is granted.
He then turned to the Frenchman and asked, what is your wish?
The Frenchman replied. We are always a little distant we dislike visitors to our country and we are seen as insular and rude on occasion so I would like France be allowed to remain insulated from the rest of the world by a huge wall surrounding us so we can control those that we allow entry.
The genie replied it shall be so your wish is granted.
The genie then turned to the Englishman and said, what is your wish.
The Englishman said could I ask a question first? the Genie replied certainly.
The Englishman said the wall you have constructed around France is it really tall and strong.
The Genie replied, why of course a huge wall capable of withstanding all wind weather and flood.
Thanks said the Englishman can I now have my wish.
The Genie said of course, what is your wish?
The Englishman replied after considerable thought.
Fill it with water!

Food great wine OK but unfortunately France is full of French people and that is its major failing.

Answer 4

I lived in France for years, and I love the country and the people, many good friends of mine are French. But you do have your little eccentricities and quirks (like I'm sure the British have too). I find the French do not really like to be told what to do, and they can be hilariously pompous. But so are the British.
The French and British are like brothers, fighting for attention and leadership, but loving each other all the same.

Answer 5

I just do not like the French. I do not like there humour. They call us arrogant and I think they should look in a mirror. I think they are untrustworthy , selfish and greedy.

I have now met a young French Lady who I like (I'm old enough to be her grandfather or almost her great grandfather) very much indeed. She is far more intelligent than me and her dress sense is superb and she has a knack of making something which is not very attractive look -- well look good.

Sadly I stand by what I have said above which will always exempt individuals.

I think a nation which has a statue which points to Perfidious Albion on the waterfront is not one that can be regarded as out best friend.

I'm am truly sad that I have such a blind spot with our nearest neighbours

Answer 6

Apparently, you have prejudices against French nationals.
I don't.
I've traveled in Europe through France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.
I found the French people to be pleasant, helpful and outgoing.
People are individuals and shouldn't be categorized by their nationality in a 'lump' group.
And when I traveled extensively in Canada, I met many marvelous persons with pure French ancestry.
I was never called an 'Ugly American,' and I wouldn't judge anyone by their nationality.

Answer 7

I have no prejudices about the French. I am half English and half French, anyway. The trains run on time! La politesse is not always perfect, but what I love about being in France is that one can talk about anything, there is not that 'narrowness' that exists in England. One petty example - in UK, you go to London and there are beggars, or people selling The Big Issue. They just ask you for money, that's all they do. If you try to converse with them they are just looking behind you for other customers. MAIS in Paris you get onto the Metro and people get on and tell everyone very eloquently about their situation. They recite poetry! I always give them money, and they always stop and talk to me for a few minutes. I also go to the banlieus and talk to young people who are trying to make it as rap stars. And to people who are in serious debt. And to people who are having their homes taken away. I also stay with wealthier friends and go to mass with them in Paris, and then I get a train and go to 'un bled' in the middle of nowhere to look after someone who is dying. In UK I work in care homes, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices etc and when I go to France I do the same. People are people, whever they live.

Answer 8

Well when I went to France, a couple of people I met were quite rude! Me and my family were sitting down and people kept hitting of me, and I spoke up, and one man said 'Oh you are so totally British'. But I guess you get people like that in every race, British, French whatever.

France is a beautiful country though.

Answer 9

I used to love the French, in fact I have French ancestry. My opinion of the French changed when I went to Disneyland Paris. There were loads of us were queuing for over half an hour to get in (we had our two small children with us), when all these French people just ducked under the barrier and pushed in front of everybody and went straight in. Rude.

Answer 10

none, although I am English I live in France, would not live anywhere else, Most Americans who do not like the French are just jealous of good food, culture, language, dress sense and beauty, have you seen any French person who weighs 300 kilo's and lives in a burger bar? Joyeux Noël à Normandie.