On January 22 2012 06:15 Caller wrote:
The problem with France is how inept they were in foreign policy after Napoleon.

On a related note, voulez vous couchiez avec moi?

It is "couchez"! And you should maybe add "ce soir" since you usually don't want to wait too long.

Now on a serious note:
I am german, i went to france several times and everything went awesome. Why? because i could speak a little bit french. If you can only speak english you are completely dumped as really NO ONE speaks it with joy. I mean yes, maybe, some people CAN speak english but they won't do it.
But the direct "racism" from the american politics buggers me quite hard. And why there is ALWAYS the euro vs us thing going on, not only here on TL but also in the HoN and DotA community...

fuzzy_panda

New Zealand1681 Posts

January 21 2012 21:22 GMT

#403

I was under the assumption that most of the English-speaking world (UK, US, Australia, NZ) make fun of the French, but most of the time just as a joke. Like when we had the France vs Japan Rugby world cup game in NZ a few months ago, one of my mates went to 'support' the french by dressing up as a mime and holding a white flag (for surrendering). I didn't even realize Americans were so serious about it lol...at least for us in New Zealand its just a bit of good-natured fun

NeonFox

2373 Posts

January 21 2012 21:26 GMT

#404

On January 22 2012 06:10 Millitron wrote:

Show nested quote +

People were bashing France for "surrendering" way before the war in Iraq. They surrendered pretty swiftly to Nazi Germany (google Vichy France, they didn't just surrender, they outright aided the Nazis), they surrendered to the North Vietnamese in the 50's, and I'm sure I'm forgetting other instances too.

I agree that all the France-bashing leading up to the war in Iraq was BS though.

Google WW2 and read the full story.
I don't care if people make jokes about surrendering since I don't give a crap about nationality and how you could be proud of living in a certain country is a mystery to me.
But I don't like when people state facts backed only by their own ignorance.

Edit : spelling

Maxquatre

France493 Posts

January 21 2012 21:26 GMT

#405

On January 22 2012 06:10 Millitron wrote:

Show nested quote +

Like it's already been said in this topic, it's easy not to surrender to the nazis when you don't have a common border with them. Even the mighty USSR won thanks to their number and the fact, the weather was shitty as hell.

If the US had to deal with what France had to deal when we got invaded, they would have done the same, surrender. Why ? Because the power was too great, because the country was unprepared for what was coming. To be honest, even the USSR would have been owned fighting the whole nazi army.

As for Viet Nam, it's easy to tease us, what should have we done when we were outnumbered ? 1 guy against 4 isn't a way to win a war. Should i remember you that the US intervention turned to be a disaster as well ?

riddi

United Kingdom118 Posts

January 21 2012 21:30 GMT

#406

Just gunna say in my personal opinion, dont take anything Bush says seriously, from past experience he doesnt know what hes talking about/doesnt have half a braincell.

AA.spoon

Belgium331 Posts

January 21 2012 21:31 GMT

#407

On January 22 2012 06:10 Millitron wrote:

People were bashing France for "surrendering" way before the war in Iraq. They surrendered pretty swiftly to Nazi Germany (google Vichy France, they didn't just surrender, they outright aided the Nazis), they surrendered to the North Vietnamese in the 50's, and I'm sure I'm forgetting other instances too.

I agree that all the France-bashing leading up to the war in Iraq was BS though.

Look up USA vs Vietnam war.

hitthat

Poland2340 Posts

January 21 2012 21:34 GMT

#408

On January 22 2012 06:31 AA.spoon wrote:

Show nested quote +

Look up USA vs Vietnam war.

To the hell with US intervention. They stoped the chineese forces as well!

Navane

Netherlands2751 Posts

January 21 2012 21:36 GMT

#409

A famous quote from a dutch politician: "France is a beautiful country. To bad there are french people living there."

Slaughter

United States20254 Posts

January 21 2012 21:40 GMT

#410

Do people really bash France that much? Seriously there may be a few jokes thrown around from time to time but what country doesn't have jokes about other countries? Besides that whole "Freedom Fries" thing that some idiot proposed (everyone thought it was stupid) there really isn't any overly aggressive or continual bashing of the French.

jupidar

United States229 Posts

January 21 2012 21:46 GMT

#411

Isn't french bashing more popular in Europe than in the United States? People in USA bash french people, but mostly only the french Canadians and it is mostly silly/harmless jokes that no one takes serious. I've never really heard many people even talk about France, let alone bash them.

I've heard WAY more of my European friends bash France compared to my American friends.

Devolved

United States2753 Posts

January 21 2012 21:47 GMT

#412

On January 21 2012 21:48 Nightshake wrote:
Im french and I live in France. And this country has a lot of dumb people. Education and political system suck hard, and a lot of people are just unsociable and always unhappy. Not to mention, the arrogance of French (well this is characteristic and not that bad as every country has people with a main default).

But it's a beautiful country, and you can meet great people. And there is a reason why French culture is so well-known.

The thing is that Americans think that French are cowards who didn't take part in the WWII. Well, we got attacked by a huge ass army with a crazy dictator. Pétain, the Maréchal at this time (the commander of the army), decided to cooperate with the nazis. And that's why people don't like French. I'd like to say that after WW2, Pétain got executed for cooperating with the nazis.

Edit : found btw : http://aproposfrance-usa.blogspot.com/

I don't really think it stems from WWII, at least not from an American perspective. If it did, then wouldn't the bashing be against Germany or Italy instead of France? The French people had nothing to do with the mass killings and genocide that went on in Europe, whereas the German people openly supported it. You can see video from WWII where millions of people come out in support of Hitler during Nazi rallies or read texts from Germans during the era and how they supported the Nazi agenda and even killing Jews. If Americans were going to hate people for WWII it would be the Germans and not the French.

I think it has more to do with the general attitude and arrogance of the French, mainly the people of Paris. I've been to Paris, and every single person I met treated me like trash and/or tried to steal from me, including the metro police. I dunno, maybe it's the same if you go to NYC and you're French. Contrary to the French, when I was in Germany everyone seemed amicable and welcoming. In Italy it was a mixture, but the people seemed genuine and not overly aggressive/arrogant like the French towards Americans.

isleyofthenorth

Austria894 Posts

January 21 2012 21:48 GMT

#413

french bashing is very common in germany in fact. But US Americans are very nationalistic in general, i dont think they particularly bash on france

Diizzy

United States828 Posts

January 21 2012 21:55 GMT

#414

well i never really heard us bashing the french. i dont even know any particular stereotype of french except maybe they surrender or something like that. but i heard it from a french guy saying usa say the french surrender so... -_- all i know is paris is the city of love. thats about it.

Lightwip

United States5497 Posts

January 21 2012 21:57 GMT

#415

This thread seems to make this depiction of France accurate.
+ Show Spoiler +

Surrendering in WWII was honestly not a bad thing. They were abandoned by Britain and invaded by Germany and Italy. There was no chance of victory. The Free French did still fight on.

attwell

United States220 Posts

January 21 2012 22:00 GMT

#416

How many french soldiers does out take to defend Paris?

I dunno, its never been done successfully.

that's the extent of the joking I'll do but it makes a point, people bag on the French for being wussies, I find people in Paris to be dicks sometimes but aside from that everyone was perfectly nice and most of it its just joking around.

brachester

Australia1786 Posts

January 21 2012 22:00 GMT

#417

I think i have read a poll somewhere where French tourists are listed as the most terrible tourist in the world (dirty, bad mannered, noisy, etc.) with Japanese tourist are the most mannered tourists in the world (not surpised there), maybe that's why there are some stereotyping going when people makes fun of them? I have never met a french in my life so i can't really say anything

dUTtrOACh

Canada2339 Posts

January 21 2012 22:01 GMT

#418

I thought ripping on France was as old as the English. Anywhere the English have been, they have created resentment for France. Look at Americans' lack of love for France, even though they helped them a little against the British. Look at how many Anglophone Ontarians shit-talk Quebecois while they worship Georges St-Pierre. Just a solid old rivalry, IMO. No harm intended, I'm sure.

ManTrain

Denmark126 Posts

January 21 2012 22:02 GMT

#419

Am i the only one who does not find those french jokes funny? Not a single one of them made me laugh. They are mostly just stupid. Wtf..

-Zoda-

France3578 Posts

January 21 2012 22:08 GMT

#420

What surprises me the most is the fact that american can seriously bash us based on events that happened at least 70 years ago. Or does this means they still think germans are nazis ?