I'm just wondering - why do so many folks from US of A seem to hate France? I don't get it. Especially since one of the symbols that Americans like to identify with, is essentially French in origin.

It's not really a hate (from what i understand it as), but more of a joke that we like to tell now and then.

Not saying we're any better on this side of the Atlantic, but we generally involve countries, uh, in closer proximity...

We make fun of all countries, not just France.
French, Italians, British, Canadians, Mexicans, Iraqis, Chinese, Japanese, the list goes on and on

America is a country of small-towns. Small-towns are full of bigots.

Since France was damaged and "losing" in the world wars where America accomplished their highest glory, they come across as weak. Weakness invites disdain.

They fear canada we are too big for them!!!

I've really got not problem with France except that they're disdainful and rather, well, French.

This is a little odd... you think French people in general are rather disdainful. How many have you met. or are you just going on people you see in movies and on TV.

They are very culturally disdainful towards English speakers.

English friends of mine with experience there say that a lot of them find English as a language somewhat uncouth and they don't like the way it steals up on it. They, like most countries, consider their own culture far superior and it comes across. A great many French people can actually speak fluent English and simply refuse to speak it to tourists who don't speak French, but I imagine that's like the way Australians tell foreigners that you have to kick kangaroos out of taxis in the city rather than something more serious.

See i have never had any problems with disdain with french speaking populace... whether it be Quebec or people from France.

The majority of disdain is from rednecks... Largest Populace in Canada has to be northern ontario.

But as far as Ego from a Country i find Americans generally have the largest i find. Whether you call it Ego or pride Americans tend to feel superior.

Every country feels superior. It just expresses differently.

Australians, for example, believe our superiority is so native and obvious we don't consider anyone else to be a social threat. It's why we're so friendly to everyone. It's like the compassion you show to people who are a bit slow in the head and losers to boot.

What is this Word COMPASSION it is alien to me! Besides there is nothing i like more then freedom toast in the morning to get the blood pumping.

*snigger*

I hate France on a moral basis because five different people yelled at me when I asked them if they spoke spanish, seriously.






Because a population largely descended from dangerous criminals that England sent as far away as physically possible to avoid contamination of their gene pool is certainly entitled to automatic superiority.

I don't mind the French. Nice and the southern region are nice. Those stinking Parisians suck though and not in the good way. Some of the rudest people and they don't like to admit they speak english or help someone with not so good French.

France does not support us in our war efforts and even in peaceful goals. So some Americans dislike the french cause mainly, they won't pal up. That's kinda why I don't go to Target cause knowing that the french won't help me out, I won't help them.

An eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind
Ghandi

Also: 7:40


Parles-tu français?
...
They must have been doing something right if they got their own continent.

Ju ne parl pa francais

I know how to get the general sound of I don't speak, in most languages lol.

This isn't anything special really. I'm pretty sure Verbose covered it already, countries make fun of other countries and vice versa. I'm sure there's some French that think Americans are arogant, among other things. It's going to happen when you have cultural clashes where people alienate or demean something they don't fully understand or choose not to understand.

I spent every summer until I was 21 in Europe with my cousins. I've experienced the whole, "I'm better than you" attitude almost every French person seems to have. And yet, we've bailed them out from total occupation like, what? Twice? And yes, I do know they helped us in the Revolutionary War. But I believe we have more then payed back any debt we might have owed them.

My bad that I don't pick up languages very easily and have problems speaking in languages I didn't study. I should still be able to go to a cafe and not be looked down on just because I don't speak fluent French. I started avoiding France after the summer I was 17, because I have problems with people who look down on me just because of where I'm from.

I dislike the government not the people, sort of hard to explain my meaning but I am saying that they're governemnt doesn't support us. The people themselves are a whole different subject itself.

If they were in the states asking you for a coffee in french what would u do? Even if you can understand there majorly butchered english, you would still get awfully frustrated. Its not the French who are disdainful it is the cafe workers and retail workers. We are an angry lot after dealing with peoples bullshit day in and day out.

Think about what you said next time someone comes up asking you for something in french, because if you forget Canada is bilingual so they have every right to assume you speak french as you do to think they understand english. They are bordered with an english speaking country you are bordered by a french one.

Dont catagorize people so easily it just shows a lack of respect.

But it's so fun...


Seriously though, I french-bash as a running joke, not really because I hate them, and if anyone's offended by it, they should remember that I bash myself as many times as I bash anyone else (read the jokes thread).

Jokes are cool I love watching ma country get bashed in shows like south park family guy, futurama and what not.

Have you googled french victory yet?

Based on what you're saying, I should stop going to the US. Just because I'm from Canada and speak French to boot, I get looked down on and get asked stuff like "You guys should just join the US" or "You're already americans except in name" and comments about the metric system. To be fair, the worse I've gotten from anyone was from americans. They just seem to think that we should just be like them because it's OH! so much better.

See what I just did? It's a generalisation based on a few experiences. I know that you're not all like that. But, in every culture, there'll be assholes. It's all aobut how you chose to see things. The French are arrogant, true. But, so are you americans.

Zoran : Their government doesn't support you because they see the current american administration's tactics and disagree with them. To be honnest, so do I. You can't blindly follow somebody else just because they pulled your ass out of the fire, it's not the way the world works.

Im Canadian and im a snob at work!!! And retail so thats not good Trust me if you want to meet the biggest asses of any culture go to a retail store getting paid minimum wage... So much shit we deal with... I spend at least 45 mins a day getting yelled at because a customer broke a game and want me to pay them for it...

Do not judge a group just because of an experience you had with a couple people from the group... specially if those people are retail

My theory is just that well everyone wants someone to "hate" I'd say for the most part france is known for things that are opposite of what america is known for? Or something like that.

I make french jokes, and british jokes, and german jokes, and canadian jokes, and australian jokes, and american jokes, and clown jokes.

However, I myself don't hate any of them, I envy Canada's socialized medicine, the ancient beautiful cities in France, and vast country and wilderness of Australia, and etc. Okay so made i don't envy England, I mean come on who does?

The more ignorant a person, the easier they hate for the sake of hating, mostly cause they are frustrated with their own lives and need an external vent.

Je pouvre regarde!


We have the right to be arrogant!

After all, we are better.


They've probably had a different government for each of those times they didn't support us.

Also, chances are that part of the reason the French supported us in the revolutionary war was because they hate the British more than they dislike us.


I speak enough French so that it would probably only be necessary for me to ask you to please repeat it slower.

I have more mexican jokes than any other type of jokes, so nobody can truly get angry at me when I make a joke that's more specific towards them.

If MAD taught us anything, it's that you need to make as much fun of yourself as you do others.

My point was that you are in there country speaking a language that they should not be expected to know... even if they do you are making there job more difficult... making someones job more difficult gennerally does not put people in a happy mood

Ok, Canada and France. Different countries. Opposite sides of an Ocean. My family is originally from Scotland, Ireland, and England, but I don't get all pissed when people make fun of those countries. You guys are Canadian citizens, not Dual Citizens. I have no problems with people who speak French, eat French cuisine, drive French Vehicles, or are descendants of the French. I'm pretty positive that I have some French in me somewhere.

I moonlight as a waiter in a tourist town, so I get people of all different nationalities, including those who speak not a word of English. I treat them the same as I do all of my customers. I understand that they're on vacation in a place that they are not native too, and attempt to help them if I able.

I'm sorry you catch shit from Americans. We're all immigrants, or descended from immigrants. But that doesn't mean I get all mad when somebody disses a country that I'm descended from. And I'm talking about actual France. Not Canada. The actual French are disdainful and arrogant, and treat me like a lower citizen just because I speak in an American accent. I don't get treated like that when I go to Canada by the average person on the street.

Please don't call me ignorant, racist, or anything like that. I speak from experience and belief. I am proud of my heritage too, so please don't act like I don't know where I'm coming from

You generalized!!! You had a couple people be snotty too you! Like i said im snotty as hell somedays... I would not like you calling Canadians snotty just because i was bitchy to you... Im bitchy not my fellow Canadians I am not calling you ignorant.. i am saying its an ignorant comment.

Okay. I know I participated in this but this all took a wrong turn somewhere. I wasn't calling anyone racist or ignorant. I was just stating that generalisations just tend to not be completely accurate.

Nontheless, I'm pulling the plug on this one, it can't end well.

G!