Why does everyone say the French are arrogant and rude?

Question

This is a serious question. Why is France's reputation so bad in the United States, Great Britain, and many other countries?

Answer 1

Well I am French to tell you the truth, people here and there are different in different ways. We have very different styles of living. French people arent rude, unless you go to Paris. Paris is where the most people are rude (experience).  Try visiting other parts of France and see the difference.

Answer 2

I think the opinion of most people about the French is frequently based on some experience with a Parisian.  And Parisians can seem arrogant and rude.  Its a big, fast paced metropolis and that can sometimes make its people seem very abrupt.  Not just Paris, of course.  New Yorkers often come across the same way.  And many foreigners probably base their opinions of Americans on experiences they have had in New York.

The good thing about Parisians (and New Yorkers, too) is that they are equally rude to everyone...including each other.

I should add that I've been to both cities, never had a problem with either, and loved both.

Answer 3

I'll give it a try. Those are wide generalities.

History : Early 20th century France was the only republic in Europe and surrounded by rather hostile countries whose kings and queens were all related to Victoria (England was an enemy too). The rule is : Never show fear to your enemies. So the French were as much in your face as they could, because to do else meant defeat. Come on! Try us! See how strong we are! (good for forging a nation from disparate political ideas too) The stereotype started then.

Cultural : Just as an example, as a rule, French people don't smile to strangers. I saw a perfectly polite lady at the tourist office answer an American family with a pleasant expression on her face and giving them all the help she could, and heard that family complain angrily how rude she had been when they left. She hadn't smiled once and the tourists had truly felt insulted, probably without even knowing how. French rules are not the same, if you come in expecting to navigate France by using your rules and have the French change their way to accommodate you, you will come to a rude awakening. The French will hit back, hard. It's their country, they will do as they like.  

Tourists : 40 millions tourists per year go through Paris (70 millions for France as a whole). That tend to make Parisians grouchy during peak season as they hide in the back streets. And many of those tourists come as if in conquered country. And they are loud! And by French standards incredibly impolite.  

Paris : is abrupt to the point of rudeness. Just like New York. A high speed metropolis where everyone is busy, busy, busy. You will certainly find easily some rude people, and like any bad experience you will remember it over the rest, especially if you are already prejudiced.

And to quote Polly Platt, whose book helped me years ago to take in stride all the 'wrongness' of my English and American colleagues (It explains France to them, but works as well the other way around) "Many people feel cheated, they come to France with expectations, and don't find the France of their assumptions." And they lash back.

If you are truly interested I recommend you this book to start with. It is fun too.

http://www.pollyplatt.com/pages/frenchfo...

Answer 4

A single definition, can not be

placed, on a whole group of people.

Generalizations, in general,

are wrong, most generally.

Answer 5

its not just france but the whole friggin word that chases its tail. france just does it more i guess

Answer 6

Well I hear a lot of stories that whenever tourists go to France, French people act like b*****s unless you know some french. Some tourists though... like my teacher and my friends... maybe it's only them. Everyone always has some sort of issue with foreigners.

Answer 7

Because it's not false. For example, they think they are at home in Brittany. But they are not exactly at home.

Answer 8

Because the French are rude and arrogant. Try visiting there some time and you will see for yourself.

Answer 9

you mean just like they think americans are fat and lazy? it's a stereotype, lol.