French are rudest, most boring people on earth: British poll

[Sirrich3]

LONDON (AFP) - The French have been voted the world's most unfriendly nation by a landslide in a new British poll published. They were also voted the most boring and most ungenerous.

A decisive 46 percent of the 6,000 people surveyed by travellers' website Where Are You Now (WAYN) said the French were the most unfriendly nation people on the planet, British newspapers reported.

The Germans have no to reason to celebrate the damning verdict. They came second on all three counts.

WAYN's French founder, Jerome Touze, told the papers he had been stunned by the thumping condemnation of his compatriots and sought to blame it on Gallic love-struck sulking.

"I had no idea that the French would emerge as such an unfriendly country," he said.

"I think our romantic 'moodiness' is misunderstood and I will be sure to pass on the message to my family and friends back in France to be a bit more cheerful to tourists in the future."

Italy was voted the world's most cultured nation with the best cuisine, while the United States was named the most unstylish with the worst food.

The British did not feature in the top 10 of any of the categories.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060520/ts_afp/afplifestylebritainfrancesocietyoffbeat;_ylt=Aqvc9OgWbhat8vkcAvd_poSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlY wM5NjQ-

[clutchy]

hehe, bummer. I tried to find the original poll data, but no luck.

[gear02]

About the US being the most unstylish and the worst food, well...yeah. We have no style really since our country is too young to have artistic masterpieces or classic architecture. Most of our cities are functional rather than stylish because we rather spend our municipal dollars on solid stuff rather than statues and fancy buildings (for the most part...there are many exceptions).

As far as food, can you name any American food other than hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. American food is made up of a lot of other cultures' food (i.e. italian, chinese, japanese, french). After all we're the melting pot.

Although I would gladly take a great hamburger over any french food.

[Butch]

Although I would gladly take a great hamburger over any french food.

filet mignon >> hamburger

Not even close ;)

[Houdini]

Yeah, the French have that reputation. It's mainly, in my experience, limited to Paris, though. Small towns, etc., are completely different. If you go to Normandy, as an American, you're treated like royalty.

We and the Brits have to understand the French mentality, though. For some reason, they feel superior to everyone. It's just an ingrained trait. They've been told for the last generation that America is a terrible place with terribly rude people, and they take ANY foreign policy stance we take as a personal insult. Older Parisians aren't like that, though., as they remember their history. Sure, they're appropriately proud of their nationalism, but they realize that most Americans don't hate them, and that we saved them from speaking German twice last century, and sacrificed a whole lot of our soldiers in the process. But anyway, French culture demands a degree of elitism. Just reading the front page of le Monde or other newspaper almost any day will tell you that. They're also ferociously proud of their language, and find no reason for any other language to exist. Sure, a big percentage of French citizens speak passable English, but due to their heritage and mandatory formality of speech (it took years for CD-ROM to become accepted by the language academy), it's something they would rather not do.

Also, if you walk into an American or British restaurant, it's loud. If you walk into an American coffee shop, it's loud. It's often hard to hear your dinner companion over the drone and yelling of the tables next to you or even across the room. In France, that's completely astonishingly opposite. 100 people could be in a small restaurant, having lively conversations, but you can't hear them. A genuine respect for the rights of others to speak and listen exists. As an American, you really have to make an effort to be QUIET. I hate noisy restaurants and rude yelling people who make me have to yell so the guy or girl next to me can hear me. Granted, I have one of those deep voices that sort of evaporates into the ambience of a room, so it's more of a problem for me. Still, the French culture of silence is a strange phenomenon, and one I wish we could adopt.

Even in Paris, though, if you play by their cultural rules (wear neutral clothing, don't smile and nod at everyone like we do here - in the US it's being friendly, in France, it's being loony - , be uber polite when addressing ANYONE when you enter their place of business - bonjour, etc., to prevent unintentional insults by not responding, and make an honest effort to speak French, even badly, whether you're in a grocery store, buying a newspaper, or buying train tickets) you have nothing to worry about. I've never taken a French class in my life, but using just a French phrasebook, and understanding of Spanish, and a sharp ear for languages, I never had any problems. Languages come pretty easy to me anyway, though. I can't speak a word of it now, but after a week or so, I can proabably get by just about anywhere in Europe, except for maybe Germany. Their signs scare me. "ACHTUNG! The Bathroom is that Way!" :)

Well, I did have some interesting conversations and ran into typical French elitism, though I was regarded as somewhat of a curiosity - an American w/o a NY Yankees hat, who spoke quietly while not pretending to be Canadian (this was a month or so before the war in Iraq started, and lots of US citizens were disavowing their citizenship while in France to avoid harassment. Wimps.), and who was dressed in grey/black and showed a genuine interest in their opinions without ramming mine down their throats, but still voicing, politely, mine - with high school kids from Normandy who didn't even know what happened in the 1940s right under their feet and on their beaches. All they knew of the US was that "Americans hate us," Bush is only a goofy charicature as pictured in daily propaganda in leMonde, and they enjoyed Marlboro cigarettes. When I explained D-Day to them, they had no freakin idea. It seems anti-Americanism has filtered down into their very educational systems, even in places like Bayeau or Caan, where German bunkers lie near Pont du Hoc 1/10 mile away. That's really sad. The 3 chain smoking HS students were on their way to Paris for the weekend, and after the train ride, I felt like they learned a lot about Americans' view of the French as a whole, and our dismay at their perceived aggression toward us, especially as we've been extremely strong allies for most of the US's history. Meeting a real American who didn't look or act like one of those anti-French people plastered all over TV and the tabloids was definitely a curiosity to them. After all, if all Americans hated France, WTF was I doing there? :)

The food in France is great. I've had ham and cheese sandwiches in some parts of France that were as good as some of the best dishes in small-town restaurants in Italy. And the TGV is one of the best transport systems in the world. Except for when it breaks down, as it did thrice on one trip south from Paris to the French Alps (Chamonix - if you ever go, check out the narrow train gauges at a train station. Normal tracks can't handle the mountains and you feel like you're going to fall off at any time.)

On my last trip there, I had no place to stay, no itinerary, no reservations, a backpack, a memorized phrase book, a map, and a migraine. And it was 25 degrees (coming from 70+ in NOLA, big change). An elderly French gentleman in a proper hat and long black coat, somewhere near the 11th arrondismont, I believe it was, asked me if I needed help/directions, in French. I must have really looked lost, though I wasn't dressed like a typical American. I told him in, at the time, very bad French (I learned the proper "r" pronunciation after a week or so) that I spoke no French. I asked in both French and English if he spoke English. He didn't. We kinda looked at each other and at the ground for a few seconds. Finally, his eyes lit up and he asked, "Espanol?" I quickly said, "Si!" He then told me exactly how to find the street for which I was looking in French-accented Spanish. I thanked him in my English/Spanish-accented French, and walked away with a much higher regard for Parisians. Most of the rude Parisians tend to work at cafes, where they can get away with being rude, or at train stations, where they take great joy in harassing Americans. Being able to order tickets and understand numbers, money, etc., goes a long way. It's fun frustrating the jerks when they're trying to be elitist about their strange language complex. By speaking French, they are disarmed. :) However, if they insist on speaking English, always thank them in French. A little goes a long way. I've gotten nice upgrades, better train cars, etc., by just being a friendly, culture-conscious American.

Two more positive words about France: Audrey Tautou. :)

[Jeffbx]

I agree - it ain't that bad. I'm in Paris at least once a year on business, and I very rarely see any rudeness, and I've never seen any anti-US sentiment.

Read carefully what Houdini says, because it goes a long way in understanding where they're coming from & what their attitudes are.

I only know a small handful of phrases that I remember from high school French lessons, and I've never had any trouble getting around or communicating. Any business transactions take place in English (it's considered the language of business in France), and in all large & even most smaller restaurants & hotels there will be at least one or two people that speak English.

I half agree on the food - I'm not one for a fancy dinner with exquisite presentation, which the French LOVE, but I've also eaten in some amazing restaurants over there. However, there are two areas where they cannot be beaten (sorry, California peeps) - wine & bread. You just can't go wrong.

[guiseppewv]

filet mignon >> hamburger

Not even close ;)

That is why the porterhouse >> filet mignon :P ;)


However, there are two areas where they cannot be beaten (sorry, California peeps) - wine & bread.

I'll take a true Italian bread or roll and some Italian wine over the French stuff any day.

[clutchy]

However, there are two areas where they cannot be beaten (sorry, California peeps) - wine & bread. You just can't go wrong.

new world california wines are way better than that old world dirt stuff they have in france...

although champagne is way better than california sparkling.

[Jeffbx]

It makes a big difference actually being there, too -

French bread from a bakery in France is waaay different than 90% of the stuff you find here in the states. Some places can duplicate it, but those are hard to find.

And the wine - there is a huge markup on French wine imported into the US. A €4 bottle of cheap wine in France will probably sell for $15 here. Compare a $15 bottle of French wine w/a $15 bottle of California wine (or even Australian), I'd go with California every time. Heck, I never buy French wine here in the states 'cuz it's out of my price range.

However, when you're in France and you spend €15 on a bottle at the grocery store (or €30 for the same bottle in a restaurant), you're getting the equivalent of a $50 bottle of California wine. So is one better than the other? Totally depends on your taste. However, the higher quality stuff is way more affordable in France.

[guiseppewv]

It makes a big difference actually being there, too -

French bread from a bakery in France is waaay different than 90% of the stuff you find here in the states. Some places can duplicate it, but those are hard to find.

And the wine - there is a huge markup on French wine imported into the US. A €4 bottle of cheap wine in France will probably sell for $15 here. Compare a $15 bottle of French wine w/a $15 bottle of California wine (or even Australian), I'd go with California every time. Heck, I never buy French wine here in the states 'cuz it's out of my price range.

However, when you're in France and you spend €15 on a bottle at the grocery store (or €30 for the same bottle in a restaurant), you're getting the equivalent of a $50 bottle of California wine. So is one better than the other? Totally depends on your taste. However, the higher quality stuff is way more affordable in France.

I know what you mean by not being able to find great authentic breads. I have a cousin in Ohio who owns and runs a little Italian Bakery (breads only, no pastries) so I was spoiled with great Italian bread when I was growing up. I did eat at an Italian restaurant in Cleveland Park (DC) this past weekend that had awesome Italian bread. The restaurant was very good but it was a little on the fu-fu side. FYI: The restaurant's name is Dino's. They have a great wine list too. But if you want an authentic Italian dinner at a great price and you are around Laurel, MD go to Pasta Plus on route 1.


Compare an $8 French wine with an $8 Italian wine and I'll take the Italian wine everyday. As a matter of fact I bought an $8 ($7.89 to be exact) yesterday that is a great wine. In case anyone is interested ---> 2003 A. Mano Puglia Primitivo.

[clutchy]

Compare an $8 French wine with an $8 Italian wine and I'll take the Italian wine everyday. As a matter of fact I bought an $8 ($7.89 to be exact) yesterday that is a great wine. In case anyone is interested ---> 2003 A. Mano Puglia Primitivo.


I didn't actually think anyone drank Italian wine...:hehehmm: I am not a fan.

[guiseppewv]

I didn't actually think anyone drank Italian wine...:hehehmm: I am not a fan.

It must be your unrefined palate. Nobody ever said you had good taste. :P ;) j/k :)

[clutchy]

It must be your unrefined palate. Nobody ever said you had good taste. :P ;) j/k :)

touche! :laugh:

[dougadam]

I disagree, I feel the people of korea are the rudest.

[ShawnLee]

I disagree, I feel the people of korea are the rudest.While I might be inclined to agree. I've seen enough rude people everywhere to suggest that people in general can be jerks, and will often live up to that if given the opportunity.

For as much as I love to French bash (and will continue to do so as much as is reasonable), I say for the most part that we live and let live.

Of course, posting in this thread is pointless if I don't say: "Damned dirty frog-eating cheese monkeys need to bathe!" ;)

[sourdough]

French bread from a bakery in France is waaay different than 90% of the stuff you find here in the states. Some places can duplicate it, but those are hard to find.


No matter how you slice it, I'm still better than french bread. ;)

[Houdini]

While I might be inclined to agree. I've seen enough rude people everywhere to suggest that people in general can be jerks, and will often live up to that if given the opportunity.

For as much as I love to French bash (and will continue to do so as much as is reasonable), I say for the most part that we live and let live.

Of course, posting in this thread is pointless if I don't say: "Damned dirty frog-eating cheese monkeys need to bathe!" ;)

Yeah, the need to bathe part is true. Especially on a crowded Metro in Paris. Hold your breath. The colognes and perfumes don't quite cover up good old BO.