Are french people really that bad?

Question

My co-worker was going on about how he loved europe and was exited for me to go there. But when I mentioned france he was like "stay away from france man, everyone hates them and they're total a******s to americans, and it's a dangerous place" I think hes a total idiot, but (people that have actually been to france) please tell me what you thought about it.

Answer 1

i've never been to France but i heard from people who have gone there that Paris is dangerous, the only way to know is if you go there remember every experience is different, by the way french girls are hot

Answer 2

I just got back from France 2 weeks ago!

Anyways, I felt that the people of France were all together nice people, of course there were a few exceptions.

The Parisians were just like people from any other big city. So if you've ever been to New York, San Francisco, Chicago, etc., they act quite similar.

But as we travelled to smaller towns, where they barely spoke english, we met quite a few people taking walks along the roads, who would stop us just to say hello and have a quick chat (And i'm only in 2nd year high school french, so that was interesting!!). But you most likely won't find that in Paris.

I also felt the if you know some basic French, you will get an even better reaction from them.

I always said "Bonjour", "S'il vous plait", "Merci", and "Je voudrais", while shopping/ordering food...But sometimes they just start talking back to you in English.. haha

France was such a blast, and i hope to return ASAP!!

Answer 3

They are actually quite nice to Canadians.  I am not sure how they react towards Americans, or how they tell them apart from Canadians.  If you try your best to talk French, they probably will appreciate the effort, since a lot of them seem to wish that English was not spoken there at all.  If they see your passport at the border or at some other place that demands passports or identification, they often go "Ah!  Canada!", and they are pleasant.  They can also be quite helpful if you are looking for directions.

Some of them think Americans brag too much and are inclined to boast about how much better they find things at home in the United States.  It annoys them  a lot, even the ones who act like they can't speak or understand English.

Answer 4

yes and we eat little children!

Answer 5

if he has that kind of attitude it shows about his crappy education and sense of intelligence. France is so beautiful i loved it so much, The people are very friendly and very sophiscated. Your co worker is a moron idiotic fool next time you see him tell him to **** off. i hope you have a nice time.

Answer 6

As i m french, i tend to agree with the others answers,we re not so bad!!!!! luckily we re not all as idiot as your co workers,and apart from the idiots one, we have no problems with American or foreign people in general!!!As for the "dangerous place" thing, it s not more dangerous than going to any city in the US, I guess....I don t think you should worried! Have a nice trip

Answer 7

No, but don't expect the same friendliness you might find in parts of the US.  French people are a little more reserved and don't form instant friendships like we do.  If you do happen to meet someone who you feel is rude, don't take it personally -- just let it go with the thought that they are having a bad day or are a really unhappy person.  

Be polite, try to speak a little French even if it is only basic stuff, keep an open mind, and don't expect it to be like home.

Answer 8

I spent 2.5 years in France. I think like with any place in the world, you will also find differences between generations. The younger French are pretty open and cool, and when I was there, they were into American songs, blue jeans, t-shirts, etc. The older generations (like anywhere) tend to be set in their ways and can sometimes be vocal about it, but they're not mean or nasty to Americans. They do (and this is Europeans in general) have a problem with our foreign policy and wasteful ways (driving gas guzzlers and complaining of $4 gas, which is cheap for them), but they are not at all wrong about that! And there is a bit of country-bashing that goes on, but I find that in most European countries.

As for danger, just stay out of 'les banlieues' at night and you should have no problem.

Answer 9

You are correct. Your co-worker is a total idiot.

The notion that France is "a dangerous place" is laughable. There is very little violent crime in France and essentially none in any area a tourist is likely to have visited.

The French are less anti-American than Americans are anti-French.

Franky, the French have more justification for being anti-American than vice versa.

Consider just the last 7+ years of ham handed, inept blundering and blind stupidity by the present administration and you get the point. h**l, George Bush has managed to make most Americans into anti-Americans.Let's not even talk about such witless nonsense as "Freedom Fries."

Beyond politics, which generates anti-American feelings that are rarely directed at individuals, there is the personal behavior of individual American tourists.

I have seen a lot of American tourists, misbehaving over decades of travel.

Americans seem to want to travel around the world and visit exotic destinations where they then demand that everyone speak English, the accomodations look exactly like the Holiday Inn in Des Moines, the menus feature fried chicken and mashed potatoes, and, in general, everything is exactly as it is back home.

They are too often loud, pushy, and generally obnoxious and when anyone fails to kiss their posterior portions they launch into interminable raving about how America saved the world from Hitler.

I have observed this often enough that I am surprised that we are still permitted entry to any civilized country.

Answer 10

Good grief!  Don't listen to generalizations.  Don't listen to your co-worker (follow your instincts about him).

France is fabulous and very safe. Listen to emrose35 (she has it figured out, and she isn't even finished high school).  

The key is to go with an open mind, be positive, be polite and remember you are the "foreigner" over there.  Be a good ambassador for your country.  Americans a reputation everywhere they travel for being loud, demanding and brash.  Hopefully it will improve with your generation.

One piece of advice:  when you are there, if you hang out with other Americans, avoid the common pitfall of talking negatively about the country you are in.  Most Europeans have some knowledge of English and they understand what you're saying, even if they are not speaking English.