Am I the only one who doesn't have a negative view of French people?

[KostasKouvalis]

I've interacted with quite a few French people in my life, in France, in the U. S., in other countries and online and I've yet to run into any of these bigoted French assholes that allegedly exist.

I was in Italy recently and German people you could say "excuse me" to and they would just stand there, and Italians would push you and drive right in front of your feet/face, even a cop almost ran us over. But the French tourists there were so polite. We offered one lady our seat so she could sit with her husband, and she was like, "No, no. It's okay, it's okay." They always seemed so happy and in a good mood and were overall very pleasant and polite people. When I was in France, the drivers were so polite and would stop to let you cross. And when I looked confused over something, French people even who didn't speak English would approach me on their own to try to help me. And genuinely help me, not just pretend to be helpful so they could steal my metro pass (yes, I'm looking at YOU Italians). I also didn't encounter any of this refusal to speak English that everyone is always complaining about. Even when I was watching The Amazing Race recently one team drove their car into a ditch and some villagers ran over and French guy said, "I will call my neighbor who has a tractor." She came over in 5 minutes and pulled out their car and didn't demand anything in return. Then in Toulouse one team needed to make a left turn and the road was blocked, so she pressed the button on the call box and told the guy in English to lower the barriers so they could get through, and he DID.

And I never hear French people boasting about how awesome they are!

Updates

1 y

I also read another story recently from an Indian vlogger who applied for an EU visa through Switzerland and got rejected. She then applied through the French embassy and unfortunately, they had to reject her because Switzerland did, but the French got back to her so fast and told her, "If you would've applied through France, we would have given it to you because you have a very strong application. Next time apply through France."

Updates

1 y

I genuinely don't understand how people are having these bad experiences with the French. I've been to around 30 countries, over a dozen of them in Europe and the French are some of the most humble, honest, courteous, generous, kindest, polite well-mannered people I've ever met.

[NamerOfStars]

Not at all. My only beef with France is one that they share with a depressingly large portion of Europe; that their flag is PROFOUNDLY uncreative. I mean, come on- you're FRANCE. You've got TONS of interesting things in your history and culture, but no, you just take the Dutch flag and turn it sideways. I mean, even ITALY, the former champion of flag laziness ("Let's take the Mexican flag and get rid of the only interesting part!") did SOMETHING to change it.

And I think you'll agree, "your national flag is kinda boring" is hardly a scathing indictment of a country, much less its people, almost none of whom had anything to do with that.

[Chazmatazz269]

I’ve only encountered one person in real life that had a problem with the French. It was hilarious, actually.
I’m sitting in a bar that’s new to me and trying to decide what they have that i might want. Meanwhile, as i’m pondering another guy orders a Tito’s and soda. The bartender tells him Grey Goose is on special and he’d save two bucks to go with that. Customer says, “Fuck Grey Goose!”. Hahaha! I ask him if he had a bad experience with the spirit and he says, “It’s made in France. Fuck the French!”. Ell oh ell!
Never before and never since.

[irifebeck]

I'm half French and I love being French. People often have a lot of misconceptions on French people like being rude etc, but that's really not the case, it's just bandwagon mentality (obviously there are some people who are rude for no reason but that's just like anywhere else). French people will never boast because they know their country is not perfect.

[KostasKouvalis]

Unlike the Italians who's ego is bigger than Kanye's
The sad thing is, most of the people saying these things have never even been to France and are simply repeating what they've heard

[annabananna]

I’ve never had a bad experience with French people OR New Yorkers. I have not been to France but every French person I have met in person or online has been lovely. When I was in New York people were more friendly to me than here in the south and also came up to me to ask if I needed help in the subway. There’s some stereotypes that I don’t understand.

[Herbologist]

Europeans in general tend to be pretty shitty people, since the end of WW2
Snobby, Dishonest, compulsive, and they dont even value their own nations or traditions. Shows you everything you need to know about them. Their grandfathers died in the millions, so that they could enjoy not building upon their sacrifices and throwing away their traditions.

French have a reputation for being snobs, but its all of western Europe in my opinion.

I am of Italian ancestry, and have visited italy over 10 times for extended periods of time. I love my family, but not the people.

[KostasKouvalis]

I somewhat agree with you. Having spent quite a bit of time in Europe, the only decent Europeans I've met were Greeks, French and British. I also heard good things about the Irish, Portuguese and Austrians, though I haven't been to those countries so I can't say.
Honestly, I don't think it was WWII, but the end of the Cold War. My parents, and in fact most people who grew up during that time will tell you the people were much friendlier and happy with what they had, now everyone is an individualist and complain that they never have enough, yet they also think they're better than everyone else. At the same time, they would steal the shoes off a dead man.

I just spent two weeks in Italy and you're the first Italian I've heard criticize Italy. I have to agree with you. The country is beautiful and interesting, but the people completely ruin it. Italians are liars, robbers and lousy cooks, yet their egos are bigger than Kanye West's.

I feel the same about Poland. My family is there and I've visited 5 times over a course of 30 years, and in total have spent over 9 months in the country. If you only go for a week or two as a tourist with no connection to the country, it's fine. But if you go there for an extended period of time and have to run errands, especially if you live abroad, they will not consider you a "Prawdziwy Polak", and will make your life miserable out of pure jealousy.
Sometimes if come across one, I will talk to them. The ones who live abroad aren't bad, but as far as a friendship or relationship, no thanks. Keep those people away from me. I'm not even exaggerating, everytime I come across one on social media, I want to vomit. I've started to dislike Slavic people in general. I love Slavic music and culture and am very proud of Polish history, but I can't stand the people and their shitty attitude/mentality.

[KostasKouvalis]

I used to have a lot of respect and admiration for Europe and its people, until I realized how stupid and egotistical most of them are. And they pride themselves on tourism, yet they can't even build proper hotels.

[KostasKouvalis]

The continent has a lot to offer, but the people who live there completely ruin it.

[Herbologist]

Glad I am not the only person of European descent who feels this way. You live in the USA now or in Europe?

[KostasKouvalis]

USA.

[Herbologist]

All Europe has become is some giant tourist destination, its gross. Tourist economies are sad, inviting foreigners in to take their money instead of producing actual value.
Also not to mention the crime increases in western Europe. I have seen vandalism, robbery, violent conflicts go way up in the city where my father lived in italy. They blame the migrants, but its really the culture allowing the migrants to get away with it and then men not doing the right thing.

[Herbologist]

Same I am living in NY, when I was younger dreamed of moving to italy, not so much anymore

[KostasKouvalis]

That last part is kind of true. And yeah, there's barely an inch that isn't covered with grafitee. We were entering Rome from the airport thinking, "What is wrong with these people?" And along the train tracks EVERYWHERE! And along the train tracks, it was in places where you actually had to walk a significant distance. We were looking at that saying, "Are these people stupid? They have have nothing better to do then walk 2 miles to spray some words on a wall?"

[KostasKouvalis]

But you're right, people don't just come into your country and start walking all over you. The same thing happened with the Liberals in the U. S. We didn't put them in their place from the beginning, we gave them too much power and submitted to all their demands instead of standing firm, now they are out of control

[Herbologist]

The Graffiti is the biggest insult.
They dont realize how hard their ancestors worked to build the nation. Italy only unified 170 years ago. A lot of my ancestors fought and died for their country. So I feel more patriotic than the actual italians do. I had an italian girlfriend who was "Budhist" and hated italian culture (Besides the food) I was only with her for the looks. We got into arguments about italy+culture, and she always said I wasn't a real italian and that I had a false idea of italy.

100% agree about USA and liberals just taking over and ruining things.

[KostasKouvalis]

The food is shit, except their meats and the foods in Venice
LMAO! She's a Buddhist and had the nerve to lecture you on what a real Italian is

[Herbologist]

She only dated me because I was "American" to piss off her parents. this is the mentality, these people have now.
I think the food is overrated, and people over saturated themselves with italian cuisine, so its really not special anymore. Lmao, my family gets furious when i say this XD Food is the only thing Italians have left at this point.

[KostasKouvalis]

Sounds about right

[nolabels]

I've heard the stories that people tell about the French and figured that I'd withhold judgement.

I'm a mutt of western European descent with a bit of French thrown into my DNA, so I guess I have a bit of personal stake in regard to the subject.

I'm mostly German, too, though, with bits of other parts of western Europe thrown in.

Thanks for your tale of French hospitality.

[KostasKouvalis]

"I'm mostly German, too, though, with bits of other parts of western Europe thrown in."

Yeah, that's what happens when you invade half a continent :p

[nolabels]

I'm not quite sure how to take your response to me.
I'll choose to lol.
I'm happy being the breed of mutt that I am.
My ancestors emigrated from Europe long before all that 20th century invading stuff went down.
Different peoples have been invading each other's territories since the dawn of time.
Ultimately, we're all related to some degree.
Cheers!
👍

[KostasKouvalis]

Yeah, there's really no such thing as a pure-bred, except for some tribes in Africa

[annabananna]

I’m 75 percent german. That may be as pure bred as it gets lol

[Anonymous]

Yeah I used to live in Germany. They don’t understand the concept of “excuse me.” They won’t move or budge an inch to let you get past or move around them lol. It’s just this completely alien idea to them. I always thought it was really weird how if you are walking on a sidewalk and someone was coming from the opposite direction they will not move aside for you to pass. It’s like this weird game of chicken to see who moves first LOL.

[KostasKouvalis]

In Germany, really? I'm glad it wasn't just us then. Because it was both young and old people doing it. I was kinda surprised though because some Germans I've met were really cool.
But yeah, it was obvious to tell who was a Brit or a Frenchie vs. who was a German or an Italian.

[Opinion Owner]

I mean I don’t chalk this all up to Germans being rude, it’s just that they don’t have the same sort of cultural ideas about personal space as other cultures.

[KostasKouvalis]

Clearly. lol

[Opinion Owner]

I worked with several Germans also and they all were close talkers. They’d lean all up on you and be up in your bubble while talking. I mean they were just like anyone else, some cool, some friendly and funny, some indifferent etc. Just people but they’d be all up in your bubble.

[DermalPunch]

French people have a conformist mentality. You fit a mold they like.

The French are polite but I was marroed to one and spent time there.

They have some funny ways.

[DryGermanGuy]

Never had a problem with French people or in France and I visited the country at least a dozen times in 30 years.

[RyanEC]

I have always appreciated the French culture, French people, and French way of life.


As a right winger I am at odds with the mainstream socialist and leftist politics, but I’m at odd with my own country as well.

[alice55]

I think those who think badly of France Never went to France or are assholes themselves so obviously people are not gonna like them

[exitseven]

My father was a WW2 vet and always said the French were the best ally Hitler ever had. I personally do not know anyone from France so I try and keep an open mind.

[KostasKouvalis]

Yeah, no comment

[Hypermotard1916]

I have soft corner for French people. Although I don't understand French

[WhiteBoyChill]

I mean to be fair, I’ve only met French people online but I’ve largely had the same impression. They do appear to be kind and non-judgemental

[admles]

I went to France, they were all lovely.

[KostasKouvalis]

Which part?

[admles]

Mostly Paris, Marseille for a little bit.
I've learned when travelling, especially throughout Europe, that if people know you're NOT American, you become much better liked.
I also speak a little French, and tried to use it when I could, which always helps.

[Brokenodometer]

I like the French.

[KostasKouvalis]

Me too