To anybody who is French, lives in or is originally from France?

Question

Do you and/or the French people really hate America/Americans, or is it just another stereotype?

If yes, why do you feel this way?

When I was in Paris, it seemed that half the French people I met were extremely generous and nice but the other half were rude and condescending.

Answer 1

it is what YOU Americans think and it seems that you like to think we hate you, why don't you want to believe us when we say that we don't hate you?

I have had the Internet for a few months and I discovered here that Americans and English people are convinced that we don't like them, which amazed me a lot as I had never heard that before from anybody.

I noticed that it is always Americans or English who say that, and never French people.

When you say: "When I was in Paris, it seemed that half the French people I met were extremely generous and nice but the other half were rude and condescending."; well I felt exactly the same when I came to Paris; they are the same with French people!

Anyway how could people tell that you're American? we can't guess if you're American or not and we don't care where you're from.

So I'm glad that you've asked the question and that you don't listen to persistent rumours (which are mainly spread on the Internet by stupid people).

Answer 2

You have rude idiots (found in every country).

You have the fact that 30 millions tourists go through Paris in a year but if there's a big tourist industry most of the Parisians you will meet in the street are not working for it and are not interested in tourists, living their own life away from them.

You have people who don't speak English and are terrified to be grabbed by some tourist and hollered at (happens quite often), the French defense in that case is to be abrupt. Snap, bite, leave me alone! Works as well when trying to go to work.

You have people who are annoyed to be grabbed by some tourist and hollered at without even the minimum politeness (French way, which is to say good day and excuse me). This heinous crime is best answered by sarcasm and/or rudeness. Take about cultural misunderstanding, we don't recognise a smile as a good enough replacement.

You have people who are polite French way, and believe me we do this differently from Americans. We don't smile, to start with. It's always taken badly by Americans who do not know this. Someone who listens to you with a mild look on his or her face is not condescending, he or she is extremely polite... French way.

You have the small shops around the monuments living off the tourists and who see so many of them a day they just don't care - and are just as rude to the French.

You have people who smile more naturally or are used to different cultures and will recognise the politeness behind the different attitude, who speak English with no fear of the ridicule, have the time to help.

And then you have the natural arrogance of a capital city (try New York for arrogance, they are the US Parisians, I love that city). After all, we are the best aren't we? ;DDD

As to your first question, we don't hate of the Americans, even now we make the difference between the country and the president (him we hate) though after so many years the distinction is starting to blur. You will find annoyance sometimes and exasperation but you won't find French people ready to pour Coca Cola in the gutter or change the name of burgers to "sandwich a la viande" because those are US products.

Answer 3

well.. personaly i'm french and i've always lived in paris and i can tell you that we don't hate american people!!

i've been to the US almost 3 times and i can tell you that i love this country!!! of course we think some american are rude and think that US is the best country ever even if they had never travelled!

but of course we know (and i've experienced it!) that american people are really welcoming and nice...on top of that, during my trips in NYC, boston, washington, philadelphia or even the small towns!, when i said i was parisian, people ALWAYS told me " OMG! i love paris! i would love to go there!)

so... don't believe stereotypes, there are idiots everywhere!! :)

Answer 4

Here we go again...Amercians thinking they are more important than everybody else....LOL

The French (especially in Paris) generally dislike anybody who is not French... not just Americans

Answer 5

My french teacher said something about people usually say hi to everyone in france or something like that.

Answer 6

sincerely : you ask this question in the english yahoo answers. so there are:

- english or american people : they cant answer your question, they re not french, or they will tell wrong.

- english speaking french people (just like me). do you think french people in the english yahoo answer hate american people ? they wd stay in french y! Answers!

just a last word : i wdnt seem to be rude, but your question is nonsense or childish. all french people dont hate or love american people. some love, some hate, some like, some dislike and most DONT CARE !

Most watch american series, and american movies, drink cola, eat mcdo... and dont care abt american people, cause they never met and will never meet.

in conclusion, abt me :  i love america, i do.

Answer 7

Some welcome changes while other resistence from changes