Some people (read: Americans) see this as rudeness, but i wonder what their reaction would be if somebody was asking them something in French in their country.
They would probably pull out their gun and shoot you in the face then throw hamburger greasy papers at your dead body.
On January 22 2012 07:20 Fatalize wrote: About the fact that French people are very hostile to tourists :
If you try to speak french, even if it's broken, they will be a lot less hostile, and will try to speak with you. if you try to speak english with them, the vast majority of people wont even try to understand what you want to say.
Some people (read: Americans) see this as rudeness, but i wonder what their reaction would be if somebody was asking them something in French in their country.
French people are hostile to everyone that isn't French. As evidenced by your post.
They're hostile to everyone that doesnt even attempt to speak french in France.
Most americans dont understand this concept. Since 99% of them couldnt even make a basic sentence in any non-english language.
So if I'm going on vacation to Europe and plan to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and and Italy then I should learn five different languages before travelling? Funny how the French are the only ones that think we should learn their language before travelling to their country for a short vacation. That's what's called arrogance.
Not learn deeply, but atleast try to say a few words in it.
But native english speakers dont get it. They still think everybody in the world is supposed to speak english, and that they dont have to learn a foreign language even partially.
On January 22 2012 07:20 Fatalize wrote: About the fact that French people are very hostile to tourists :
If you try to speak french, even if it's broken, they will be a lot less hostile, and will try to speak with you. if you try to speak english with them, the vast majority of people wont even try to understand what you want to say.
Some people (read: Americans) see this as rudeness, but i wonder what their reaction would be if somebody was asking them something in French in their country.
French people are hostile to everyone that isn't French. As evidenced by your post.
They're hostile to everyone that doesnt even attempt to speak french in France.
Most americans dont understand this concept. Since 99% of them couldnt even make a basic sentence in any non-english language.
So if I'm going on vacation to Europe and plan to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and and Italy then I should learn five different languages before travelling? Funny how the French are the only ones that think we should learn their language before travelling to their country for a short vacation. That's what's called arrogance.
Not learn deeply, but atleast try to say a few words in it.
But native english speakers dont get it. They still think everybody in the world is supposed to speak english, and that they dont have to learn a foreign language even partially.
What if I'm latin, asian or russian? You honestly think it's bad to not know french? Like for real?
This thread is still going on? I think its halarious how BOTH sides are taking this so harshly. I make fun of the French personally because they take a light-hearted joke as an offense, they have national pride (news flash: Its not a bad thing). I don't bash on them though. Americans and Europeans are equally as ignorant of each other, if you disagree with this you are case and point (me and my UK friend have discussed this numerous times; he even went as far as one European country is blind to its neighboring country(-ies), I however can say nothing about that and only take it at face value).
This thread shouldn't have made it past page one, and my posting doesn't help it disappear, but it needs to be said. Its turning into a giant trollfest and resulting in all the meaningless hate to show itself (a good majority of the people on both sides are only giving a reason why THEIR country should be bashed which is counter productive to their reason for posting).
Feel free to bash America saying we are ignorant, and I'll agree with you, but in return, I hope your bnot blind to your own countries ignorance as well. No one is perfect, get over it.
On January 21 2012 21:35 Euronyme wrote: Americans envy the French in every way possible, the English have them as rivals. There are also some irritation left as the French practically didn't fight in WW2, even though they practically caused it.
Trust me when I say that having spoken with and interacted with the French, I personally do not envy them. Things making fun of the French for World War II is merely a joke that perhaps is in poor taste in the same way that a racist or sexist joke is in poor taste. They're pretty funny, but they're certainly not something to be taken to heart (at least most of the time, there are some people who might actually be insane).
On January 22 2012 07:20 Fatalize wrote: About the fact that French people are very hostile to tourists :
If you try to speak french, even if it's broken, they will be a lot less hostile, and will try to speak with you. if you try to speak english with them, the vast majority of people wont even try to understand what you want to say.
Some people (read: Americans) see this as rudeness, but i wonder what their reaction would be if somebody was asking them something in French in their country.
French people are hostile to everyone that isn't French. As evidenced by your post.
They're hostile to everyone that doesnt even attempt to speak french in France.
Most americans dont understand this concept. Since 99% of them couldnt even make a basic sentence in any non-english language.
But you seems to miss the point that there's a much more likely chance that the tourist asking you for help know english instead of french. It's not reasonable to expect a tourist to know french, however it's more reasonable to expect the tourist to at least know some english. Comparing using English asking for help in France and using French asking for help in english speaking country (e.g. USA) is just silly. So it's either french people (according to you) are extremely ignorant or they are hostile to every English speaker for no reason, your choice. Edit: Also as other have pointed out, they're very well maybe arrogance as well
Nothing against france, but sorry this is ridicously rude. Everyone knows english, how the fuck is someone supposed to know french? When I see tourists I don't care what language they speak, I'm always nice to them and give them directions, even if I have to use hand signals.
Also it's not the same to ask for directions in french on usa than on english in france, though I understand your point. Difference is anyone from latin america and most likely asia will have english as the common language with french.
So if I'm going on vacation to Europe and plan to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and and Italy then I should learn five different languages before travelling? Funny how the French are the only ones that think we should learn their language before travelling to their country for a short vacation. That's what's called arrogance.
For the love of god don't blindly believe everything you are reading here -_-
Also, how would you react if a foreign person came to you in your home country talking to you in a language you don't understand ? Most french people speak only french, simply because they don't have a need to ever speak english.
On January 22 2012 07:20 Fatalize wrote: About the fact that French people are very hostile to tourists :
If you try to speak french, even if it's broken, they will be a lot less hostile, and will try to speak with you. if you try to speak english with them, the vast majority of people wont even try to understand what you want to say.
Some people (read: Americans) see this as rudeness, but i wonder what their reaction would be if somebody was asking them something in French in their country.
French people are hostile to everyone that isn't French. As evidenced by your post.
They're hostile to everyone that doesnt even attempt to speak french in France.
Most americans dont understand this concept. Since 99% of them couldnt even make a basic sentence in any non-english language.
So if I'm going on vacation to Europe and plan to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and and Italy then I should learn five different languages before travelling? Funny how the French are the only ones that think we should learn their language before travelling to their country for a short vacation. That's what's called arrogance.
Not learn deeply, but atleast try to say a few words in it.
But native english speakers dont get it. They still think everybody in the world is supposed to speak english, and that they dont have to learn a foreign language even partially.
What good would a few words do? It wouldn't be enough to effectively communicate anything worthwhile. And it's not that everyone is supposed to speak English, however it is the most commonly understood language across Europe. So why learn a few words in 5+ different languages that won't actually help you communicate at all when most likely the people of that country will understand more English then you would be able to learn of their language, especially when having to learn multiple languages just for a few days stay in a certain country?
Nothing against france, but sorry this is ridicously rude. Everyone knows english, how the fuck is someone supposed to know french? When I see tourists I don't care what language they speak, I'm always nice to them and give them directions, even if I have to use hand signals.
Also it's not the same to ask for directions in french on usa than on english in france, though I understand your point. Difference is anyone from latin america and most likely asia will have english as the common language with french.
So if I'm going on vacation to Europe and plan to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and and Italy then I should learn five different languages before travelling? Funny how the French are the only ones that think we should learn their language before travelling to their country for a short vacation. That's what's called arrogance.
For the love of god don't blindly believe everything you are reading here -_-
Also, how would you react if a foreign person came to you in your home country talking to you in a language you don't understand ? Most french people speak only french, simply because they don't have a need to ever speak english.
I would be nice to them, they come from another country because they thought mine was nice; I said that above. If I don't speak their langueage I'll try to understand, use hand signals, or try to differ them to someone/somewhere who does -_-. Never be rude :p
Edit: I came in this thread for the lulz, but I'm completely amazed there is actually people who think its okay to be rude to someone who attempts to communicate in english instead of french.
Nothing against france, but sorry this is ridicously rude. Everyone knows english, how the fuck is someone supposed to know french? When I see tourists I don't care what language they speak, I'm always nice to them and give them directions, even if I have to use hand signals.
Also it's not the same to ask for directions in french on usa than on english in france, though I understand your point. Difference is anyone from latin america and most likely asia will have english as the common language with french.
So if I'm going on vacation to Europe and plan to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and and Italy then I should learn five different languages before travelling? Funny how the French are the only ones that think we should learn their language before travelling to their country for a short vacation. That's what's called arrogance.
For the love of god don't blindly believe everything you are reading here -_-
Also, how would you react if a foreign person came to you in your home country talking to you in a language you don't understand ? Most french people speak only french, simply because they don't have a need to ever speak english.
I would be nice to them, they come from another country because they thought mine was nice; I said that above. If I don't speak their langueage I'll try to understand, use hand signals, or try to differ them to someone/somewhere who does -_-. Never be rude :p
Edit: I came in this thread for the lulz, but I'm completely amazed there is actually people who think its okay to be rude to someone who attempts to communicate in english instead of french.
I don't think it's okay to be rude, but I think that the % of americans being rude to someone speaking chinese (for instance) to them is not lower than the % of french people being rude to someone speaking english to them...
Nothing against france, but sorry this is ridicously rude. Everyone knows english, how the fuck is someone supposed to know french? When I see tourists I don't care what language they speak, I'm always nice to them and give them directions, even if I have to use hand signals.
Also it's not the same to ask for directions in french on usa than on english in france, though I understand your point. Difference is anyone from latin america and most likely asia will have english as the common language with french.
So if I'm going on vacation to Europe and plan to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and and Italy then I should learn five different languages before travelling? Funny how the French are the only ones that think we should learn their language before travelling to their country for a short vacation. That's what's called arrogance.
For the love of god don't blindly believe everything you are reading here -_-
Also, how would you react if a foreign person came to you in your home country talking to you in a language you don't understand ? Most french people speak only french, simply because they don't have a need to ever speak english.
I would be nice to them, they come from another country because they thought mine was nice; I said that above. If I don't speak their langueage I'll try to understand, use hand signals, or try to differ them to someone/somewhere who does -_-. Never be rude :p
Edit: I came in this thread for the lulz, but I'm completely amazed there is actually people who think its okay to be rude to someone who attempts to communicate in english instead of french.
I don't think it's okay to be rude, but I think that the % of americans being rude to someone speaking chinese (for instance) to them is not lower than the % of french people being rude to someone speaking english to them...
wtf? how is this even related? Edit: The point is it is most reasonable to expect a person to be able to speak English instead of something else (or Chinese if ur Asian) but being rude to someone because they don't speak French is just stupid. Ofc it would be stupid if someone trying to use Chinese to non-Asian American but who would do that lol?
On January 22 2012 07:52 Thurken wrote: Don't emphasize what Fatalize said. Most people will speak with you even if you don't know a word in French... Or they'll try it at least
Both in Paris and Quebec City I faced pretty extreme prejudice for being an American youth. Store clerks would go as far as to sometimes even ignore me as if my business was completely unwanted. Not being able to speak French was a huge problem as most people wouldn't even try to communicate in English.
On January 22 2012 07:51 Newbistic wrote: French bashing is really just done because the French are easy to make fun of. You have to be a prude to take it that seriously.
Nothing against france, but sorry this is ridicously rude. Everyone knows english, how the fuck is someone supposed to know french? When I see tourists I don't care what language they speak, I'm always nice to them and give them directions, even if I have to use hand signals.
Also it's not the same to ask for directions in french on usa than on english in france, though I understand your point. Difference is anyone from latin america and most likely asia will have english as the common language with french.
So if I'm going on vacation to Europe and plan to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and and Italy then I should learn five different languages before travelling? Funny how the French are the only ones that think we should learn their language before travelling to their country for a short vacation. That's what's called arrogance.
For the love of god don't blindly believe everything you are reading here -_-
Also, how would you react if a foreign person came to you in your home country talking to you in a language you don't understand ? Most french people speak only french, simply because they don't have a need to ever speak english.
It's not blindly believing everything I read. I have personally experienced it. The French (Parisians) were by far the most rude, arrogant, untrustworthy people I met throughout my travels of 6 different European countries. Literally, the only people that tried to "help" or even speak a little English were scammers that were trying to steal my money, which even included the metro police or just your general scumbags (not much difference imo). They would not just simply ignore me, they would go out of their way to mislead me. It was the only city that I actually disliked visiting on my vacation. I could not wait to get out of there. Every city I visited I would rate 8-10 as far as the amount of pleasure I had while visiting. I would rate Paris a 0, which was solely based on the attitude of the locals towards me simply because I was an American. It seemed like a fine city other than the people that inhabited it.
Oh, and the way I would react to a foreigner that didn't speak English would be to help with hand gestures and if that didn't work I would put my hands up in a Day[9] shrug, say sorry and move along. I would most certainly not try to take advantage of them.
Nothing against france, but sorry this is ridicously rude. Everyone knows english, how the fuck is someone supposed to know french? When I see tourists I don't care what language they speak, I'm always nice to them and give them directions, even if I have to use hand signals.
Also it's not the same to ask for directions in french on usa than on english in france, though I understand your point. Difference is anyone from latin america and most likely asia will have english as the common language with french.
So if I'm going on vacation to Europe and plan to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and and Italy then I should learn five different languages before travelling? Funny how the French are the only ones that think we should learn their language before travelling to their country for a short vacation. That's what's called arrogance.
For the love of god don't blindly believe everything you are reading here -_-
Also, how would you react if a foreign person came to you in your home country talking to you in a language you don't understand ? Most french people speak only french, simply because they don't have a need to ever speak english.
It's not blindly believing everything I read. I have personally experienced it. The French (Parisians) were by far the most rude, arrogant, untrustworthy people I met throughout my travels of 6 different European countries. Literally, the only people that tried to "help" or even speak a little English were scammers that were trying to steal my money, which even included the metro police or just your general scumbags (not much difference imo). They would not just simply ignore me, they would go out of their way to mislead me. It was the only city that I actually disliked visiting on my vacation. I could not wait to get out of there. Every city I visited I would rate 8-10 as far as the amount of pleasure I had while visiting. I would rate Paris a 0, which was solely based on the attitude of the locals towards me simply because I was an American. It seemed like a fine city other than the people that inhabited it.
Seems like i need to cross out France in my list to do in the future. But do we have any Asian here on TL that went to France? I'm not sure how they treat Asian cause i'm one)
Nothing against france, but sorry this is ridicously rude. Everyone knows english, how the fuck is someone supposed to know french? When I see tourists I don't care what language they speak, I'm always nice to them and give them directions, even if I have to use hand signals.
Also it's not the same to ask for directions in french on usa than on english in france, though I understand your point. Difference is anyone from latin america and most likely asia will have english as the common language with french.
So if I'm going on vacation to Europe and plan to visit the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, and and Italy then I should learn five different languages before travelling? Funny how the French are the only ones that think we should learn their language before travelling to their country for a short vacation. That's what's called arrogance.
For the love of god don't blindly believe everything you are reading here -_-
Also, how would you react if a foreign person came to you in your home country talking to you in a language you don't understand ? Most french people speak only french, simply because they don't have a need to ever speak english.
It's not blindly believing everything I read. I have personally experienced it. The French (Parisians) were by far the most rude, arrogant, untrustworthy people I met throughout my travels of 6 different European countries. Literally, the only people that tried to "help" or even speak a little English were scammers that were trying to steal my money, which even included the metro police or just your general scumbags (not much difference imo). They would not just simply ignore me, they would go out of their way to mislead me. It was the only city that I actually disliked visiting on my vacation. I could not wait to get out of there. Every city I visited I would rate 8-10 as far as the amount of pleasure I had while visiting. I would rate Paris a 0, which was solely based on the attitude of the locals towards me simply because I was an American. It seemed like a fine city other than the people that inhabited it.
Seems like i need to cross out France in my list to do in the future. But do we have any Asian here on TL that went to France? I'm not sure how they treat Asian cause i'm one)
My experience is only representative of Paris. I've heard much better things about pretty much every other part of France, but can't speak from experience.