Do french natives really not care so much for Americans ?

Question

or is that just their attitude towards everyone?

Answer 1

Hey, we pick on them too. How many jokes have I heard in the last five years or so about how they don't ever fight, they just roll over and surrender to any threat.

And there's the ever present joke about exactly your question, their perceived arrogance and disgust with all foreigners.

I haven't been in  France in many years.  When I was, I found that, for the most part, people were not the warmest, but I found many people who were just wonderful.  The lady in the bakery down the street from where I stayed was simply lovely, and the one bartender who actually listened to me...I don't think I thanked him enough.

I understand that in recent years, the French have actually figured out that you CAN catch more flies (and earn more tourist dollars) with honey than vinegar, and have begun to warm up to foreigners somewhat, and after all, even though they claim to hate hearing their language bungled, most people are very charmed when you/we (especially Americans, with our reputation for not learning any other languages) make a genuine attempt at learning a few phrases of their language.  

Have to love the joke about Euro Disney, and why it was doing so poorly at first.  The French employees couldn't understand why they should smile and act happy every day at work.  Just didn't get the "Happiest Place on Earth" thing.  I don't know whether that was true, or just another joke at the expense of the French, but it was certainly funny the first time I heard it.

Answer 2

Sorry, but I haven´t heard before.

But sure if you are in France and you don´t try to speak French, and don´t try to integrate in their culture they were have difficult to accept you.

But even if French people don´t like to speak other languages, I think it is the same in any other country.

People like to know that you accept their culture and like it if you are in their country. To be like a "Chameleon" (to be able to take the color of what you are on).

Answer 3

Rillifane is always right on target! I could not have said it better myself although I could tell some really "ugly American" stories that I witnessed.... and I'm aTexan by birth!!

Answer 4

I have quite a few French friends who say that it is not that they don't like Americans specifically; it is that they don't like obnoxious people from any country.  Have you ever heard the phrase "ugly American"?  

Rillifane is correct -- too many people travel abroad expecting everything to be just like at home.  My thought is that if they want things to be like at home, they should stay home!  Traveling abroad is about opening your mind, learning that there are more ways to live than the way that is familiar, and realizing that other people have different viewpoints from your own (and that is just fine!).

Answer 5

It depends on who you speak of. Some preferably do not favour the government or those who run it. Some believe in different things other than what they say. Please don't judge them, though. We all have our opinions.

Answer 6

Rillifane and Sue nailed it.

And just to tell Sue, no it was not a joke about Euro Disney. The wide US smile is not part of the French culture, smiling to strangers is considered rude, false. Politeness calls for an open agreeable expression, not a smile.  And when French do smile to people - yes, we do know how to despite rumours that our faces break if we do ;) - it is far from the wide American grin which is considered childish and /or insulting in French culture (sorry).  

So the employees did smile, French way, and had to be told to grin. It took them some time to go against their cultural conditioning.

But the reason Disney did do badly at first was because it was overpriced and hugely expensive, the reasoning being that people should be honoured to pay whatever was needed to go have fun in a Disney park that was still missing half its attractions. When they cut the prices down people started coming in droves.

Answer 7

Not that I've noticed.

No doubt there are some Frenchmen who express general and unreasoned dislike of Americans but my observation is that there are more Americans who express a similarly irrational dislike of the French.

Does the term "Freedom fries" ring a familar note? Do you recall the phrase "cheese eating surrender monkeys?"

Neither France nor America has a monopoly on morons.

I frequently travel to France and have been doing so for almost 35 years. I was last in Paris in October.

I have seen relations between the USA and France go up and down over this period.

I speak French but I have no illusions that I sound like a native.

I make no secret of the fact that I am an American, come from Texas, and am generally very patriotic.

I have never had a problem with anyone and make new friends every time I visit.

I encounter people who have issues about American policy, culture and lifestyles who are rational, informed, sincere, and, even when passionate about their opinions, ready to engage in reasoned argument concerning those issues. I have had many lively and interesting discussions as a result. I have no problem with these and, in fact, enjoy them.

I have  noticed that Americans can be obnoxious tourists. Too many act as if everyone has a legal obligation to speak English, cannot fathom that not everyone does things just like they do them in the USA, and regard it as a sign of moral depravity if the French do not begin every conversation by thanking them personally for America's part in World War II.

I suspect that many of the negative comments you see from American tourists about being treated "rudely" are merely a reflection of the fact that the complainers are idiots who deserved to be treated rudely.

Answer 8

I think Rillifane gave a very good answer I do totally agree with him.