In France are the people still rude beyond belief, or has things changed?

Question

I was there 13 years ago, and couldn't stand the people, but i have friends that have been there recently, and say the French are really nice!

Answer 1

I think Cabal's answer is the best for your question

Answer 2

Only if they think you are a dumb yank.

If you manage to place just one or two words of French (for hello, goodbye, please, thank you) they will think you are an exceptionally bright yank who didn't vote Bush and be nice to you.

Answer 3

If you make the effort to be nice to them and to speak their language a little- they will be nice to you.  You will occasionally find someone rude- but you find them everywhere.

Answer 4

Ppl in smaller towns and older ppl taking a walk after supper tend to be less harried and more polite.  But even in Paris, I found ppl to be helpful and some ppl even answered my questions (asked in French) with answers in English.  It really does help to speak some French.

Answer 5

Just had 2 weeks holiday in the south - delightful people.

Answer 6

It's really the people that live in Paris that have the bad manners reputation. But if you try a little bit of French, they tend to turn really nice and helpful.

French outside Paris are really nice but again simply make an effort with their language, try say a few words.

Answer 7

Just try to say some french words, even if you say them in the wrong way. We appreciate that very much, it's true !

And an english accent is very, very s**y ^^

Answer 8

Cabal is right. Often times, the people who return from France feeling that the French are rude had preconceptions prior to going there, are rude themselves, and never once stop to ask themselves if perhaps THEY could possibly be in need of some attitude adjustment and improved people skills. It's all a matter of point of view in the end.

Answer 9

Depends. When some dumb tourist hollers "Hey, you" or just wave their map and speak slowly and loudly to the idiot French without even a 'please' or 'excuse me', speak so loudly they can be heard at the end of the street, and make rude remarks in the belief that the stupid French won't understand - not counting their constant complaints that things are not like home and why won't the French change their ways - they might come back horrified by how rude the French were back to them.

Don't laugh, I've seen it all.

On the other hand the fierce rude French can be tamed by such words as please and thank you, excuse me, and other French-taming words.

There's always idiots of course, but as a rule of thumb if you are polite to the French they are polite right back. Of course, Paris is a bit different. Parisians are as friendly, open, smiling and welcoming as New Yorkers.

Answer 10

French people as a rule are charming ,well mannered and hospitable.However,they expect the same from you.It is important to know a little French .Bon jour Merci Si l vous Plait and Auvoir go a long Way to oil the wheels of a warm welcome in France(EVEN IN PARIS)