Well, first let me say this is no troll post. It's like, i don't like france, i think their language sounds slimy, and me and many of my friends are making fun about french people and mannerisms.
It's not that we are racist against them, i could be friends with a french person, no problem there, but still, they are the only nation i regularily make fun of.
Is that normal? Do the french have it coming on some karmic level or are my views way off?
It's not that we are racist against them, i could be friends with a french person, no problem there, but still, they are the only nation i regularily make fun of.
Is that normal? Do the french have it coming on some karmic level or are my views way off?
So I'd say normal. I have no personal experience with the country myself and have no idea if any of what they say is still true but I have a temper and it's just too risky for me =/
Vive la France! ;)
What are you?
I wanna imitate you and make fun of you!
And maybe i put that wrongly: I know it's a beautiful country, but often times, they seem to come of snobbish, at least to other europeans, and thats from personal experience: (refusing to speak english, even if you are just asking for directions with a heavy bag on your back...and not ONE, but almost a dozen people)
They are culturally rich, but put such a focus on it that it sometimes seems they are trying to make themselves believe thats what they want(for example the limitations in radio: half of the played songs HAVE to be french, no matter what the charts say).
Their movies, some admittedly are good to watch and artsy, but many seem to just be some directors fantasy of art-become-celluloid.
And then, of course, their self-importance in the european union, after second world war, etc. etc.
As said, it's a beautiful country and i am not stereotyping every single french person, i'll gladly get to know one and be friends with them. But regardless, they seem a prime target for cynic jokes. no offense meant ;)
I'll grant you that the French do come off as snobbish sometimes. As much as I love them, it's somewhat true. Personally, I've been annoyed by several of them in the beginning. Oddly enough, not because they wouldn't speak English, but because they wouldn't speak French. Since it was still difficult for me to speak it and they were in a hurry to get their job done, they'd immediately switch to English, which offended me to no end (mind you that I don't have an American accent speaking it for anyone to assume English would be the preferred language). There I was making an effort to communicate in their language, avoiding something they supposedly dislike and THEY do it! Unacceptable. So I'd always speak a third language back, as if saying it's either my French or my French. Merci.
But this type of thing has only happened to me in Paris and in the summer. During all the other seasons it's much calmer and the same people are much friendlier. I also lived for years in another very touristy city across the Atlantic and down south, and the same phenomena happens. Except in this city it's all year long, because it's the tropics, so people are used to the tourists and treat them better. If only they knew English to give directions. lol
The radio in this country works similarly to what you described, but I'm not sure about percentages. As much as you see that as something bad, I see it as a way of protecting and preserving the national culture. American culture, entertainment and media are so strong and overwhelming that it's terrifying to imagine that some peoples of the world could forget their own to just become consumers of something that is in reality foreign to them.
^.~
and yeah, I dislike the french too, lol. Lots of people do, and for good reason - not saying they're all bad, there's always some good to be found in all things... but I've been to france, it sucked, especially paris... very overrated
Apart from the Scandinavians. Everyone loves them.
but everybody else loves them, true-
and ya, you petty much hit the exact nature of things-
My top 6 national anthems ever are:
6) Greece
5) Japan
4) South Africa
3) Turkey
2) Peru
1) France
Worst ever is either Denmark or Canada :/
I'm not fond of French humour.
I'm not fond of French manners.
I like their attitudes towards sex.
I like négligé myself-
because Torte, and especially Schokoladentorte would be of german origin-
Don't stereotype a whole nation. Go to France and get to know one. I went there and they were some of the best people I've ever met. I'd gladly move there!
Long Live France!
Now technically it's not "racism" because you're basing it off of nationality and not race.
But it IS still discrimination.
I know you want to say that you're not doing this - that you're not discriminating against them but... when you openly admit to making fun of them because they're French - that's discrimination right there.
Furthermore, who supported the Americans in the War of Independence? The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World; French: La Liberté éclairant le monde.
It isn't true in the slightest for the majority, but people still stereotype that way. Same way people still stereotype the French as cowards.
Don't get on to me too much though, you have to realize that where I live the Jersey Shore going to Italy is the most cultural exposure some people get here!