French are the most rude people in the planet

[Pekka]

I mean they are one of the most polite people, at least in Europe. Just got back from Paris yesterday, spent a week there.

I got to tell you, it was nice. I have to also tell you, that at least people in Paris are very polite and helpful. All you have to do is make an effort. Say Bonjour, say Merci, and if you want something, it's not a bad idea to ask parlez-vous anglais? It is surprising how friendly and polite responses you get. It's not too much to ask to be polite enough to say thank you in their language. It's a big city. It's one of the most travelled places as well. If you live there, you don't want tourists bumping into you every other second, demanding help and not even bothering to say thank you. I have absolutely no difficulties believing that this approach would give a more rude response. But you see, it is the person demanding stuff who is being rude. And I agree with it, perfectly!

Other myths, the metro? Super easy, very very handy and a must thing. It is also safe. It is not confusing at all, unless first time in a subway to begin with. But as far as subway systems go, it is one of the most convinient ones I've ever been in. Trains? Same thing. Or the feared CDG airport? It's big, but it's simple. Of course if you go there and don't know where you're supposed to go, then it's difficult but that's the thing in every single airport. THat's why you have a gate in your boarding pass and terminal and other info on your ticket. Then... follow the magic signs. That's it.

French food? This you should look first before you go. THere's lots of corner restaurants, but they aren't of high quality. In fact they're very average, and drinks of all kinds are very expensive most of the times. You can pay 15 euros for a meal and an additional 9 euros for a pint. So do check the prices for drinks, even water can be super expensive. But other than that, Paris isn't very expensive, grocery stores have reasonable prices, museums have reasonable prices, transportation is cheap, you can find hotels from all price ranges.

My gf got sick and had to see a doctor, and even that was easy and convenient. We just went to a pharmacy and asked where we could find a doctor, we got a number and we just called the doctor. He saw my gf 4 hours after the first call, and we went, got nice service, even a bit posh, the doctor was a true pimp and a player, and it only cost us 40 euros, which we can take from insurance anyway. Very convenient.

So, uhmm... YES, their TV is dubbed, but I think we can live with it. You can go and see films without dubbing to a movie theater, titled original films or something like that.

[Pekka]

Also, avoid Starbucks, Pizza Hut, all these franchised thingies as much as possible. They have their local flavor, meaning that everything is a bit smaller, but at the same time, they're expensive. Medium cafe latte, or coffee with milk, goes for like 4 euros, which is almost $6. The only place that seemed to have a bit more normal prices and the original thing going on was KFC, but it's filled with black people, so you racists won't like it there.

Also, Paris is diverse, it is safe, but I would avoid Northern parts of Paris, you'll know what I mean if you take the RER train from the airport, ummm, if you think about the riots, me thinks it's mostly those areas. But the richer areas, where your white butts wander anyway, no problemos.

[Cort Haus]

wd Pekka.

It's a long time since I used to visit Paris regularly, but the price of beer was always very expensive. Sometimes a pint of wine would be cheaper.

[-Jrabbit]

Your experiences in finding Parisians friendly and helpful if you make an effort to speak a little French and be politely deferential -- exactly matches my experiences in France.

Sounds like you had a good time.
Need full trip report...with pix!

[Pekka]

Sure. I've got pics on my laptop, so I'll post some later on. But it was a great trip and I'd definitely go again.

[snoopy369]

Most NUDE people, not most rude people. Get it right.

Also, pics are good. Particularly ... err, no, i'm a staff member, so I can't say that, can I.

[ZEE]

[Fake Boris]

Parisians, polite?

[duke o' york]

Les Parisiens are unique, it is true. They are rude if you approach them in the wrong way, but if not then they are some of the most wonderful people I've ever met. Making a little effort costs very little and will be repaid immesurably.

(Although I have to admit to having been frustrated at having studyied their language to a pretty good level, ok, degree in French, but once they detected the slightest English accent then they'd reply in English, wanting to practise theirs. This didn't bother me, because I'd just keep rattling away in French, and they'd reply in English. Both sides fotw!)

I love the French, wherever they're from, although it cannot be denied that the rest of France hates the Parisiens. Ultimately, their loss...

[Pekka]

I don't know, to me the code of how to carry yourself suited very well. You don't have to be good at anything or know your way, just say sorry and thanks and try to smile when asking for help.

A lot of people think they're entitled to be helped just because they came as visitors. But they're guests only, so they should remember that and not act like they somehow deserve to be treated like kings. Least in a large city where you have to make some adjustments in order for everything to work. To me to be RUDE is to act like a king outside your own home, expect people to be happy to see you with your luggage, blocking everyone's day, and then refusing to even try but speak in some foreign language to them. To me that is rude. I know it's not meant to be rude, but to say people in Paris are rude is weird.

Of course they'll treat you like schmuck if you act like one, and sometimes you don't know when you're acting like one so it seems rude of them. But you probably did do something that was rude to begin with. Like for example going to a restaurant, and just sort of finding your on way and sitting in a table. That's just not the way to go about it. It's not even a French thing. Just wait until you're being directed, the table you just took might be reserved, or whatever, you don't just go and crash in like...

OK here is the difference IMO. In many places, people have the mantra that the customer is the king. And that sort of makes it "ok" for that customer to act like a douche. Well, at least in Paris they do it right, if the customer is a douche, he gets treated like one. When everyone is being nice, then everything goes nice. That's the way I like it. I hate douche customers who act like douches just because they can. They think they are special, somehow in this position where they are entitled to things by just sort of arriving there. You know what I mean? To me, this is rude.

So if we can't punch them in the face, I suggest treating them like douches and swearing them in your own native language so they don't get it is a proper way of dealing with it.

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by duke o' york


(Although I have to admit to having been frustrated at having studyied their language to a pretty good level, ok, degree in French, but once they detected the slightest English accent then they'd reply in English, wanting to practise theirs. This didn't bother me, because I'd just keep rattling away in French, and they'd reply in English. Both sides fotw!)

French peeps speaking English

the agony...

[dannubis]

guud meuning !

[DAVOUT]

I cant believe it ... Is it really the Pekka I knew who had only extremely bad opinions on us? Anyway congratulations, Pekka ;-))

[Pekka]

It doesn't mean that I have good opinion about the French. I don't think I ever bashed all that is France anyway. I still think your politicians are among the worst in the world, which isn't saying much, and that you ruin EU single handedly. That's not saying much either, because so would many other countries.

Your food is overrated. This is still true. HOWEVER, there are still good things about the place, mainly the culture. Not today's culture, but earlier, true European culture. It's long gone, DAVOUT, long gone. But we can see the ruins still, so it's pretty cool.

Not to mention when the summer comes, all the old people die, and then during other times, all the poor people in poorer areas have to riot in order to get attention to their problems. And you still like to lick frog legs. You know? But aside that, Paris is a cool city and people are friendly, especially considering that it is a big capital and a busy one.

I never disliked the whole of France. THere's lots of good things coming out of France, like its philosophy in the 20th century. Good writers, the only reason why I still consider learning a new language, so I can read them in the original language and not miss out so much.

And please DAVOUT, people in Nazi Germany were just like everyone else mostly, I bet they were nice people caught in the power of the situation. That, plus God hates France, and don't forget that if the world was run by the French, it would go bankrupt and unattended in 10 years.

France, and Paris, works, because there are other countries balancing it out. So when the Aliens come and say, "Pekka, what EU country we should destroy now that we have taken out Italy", and I will say see that ugly tower that has absolutely no function? TAKE THEM ALL OUT! NOW!!!

SO no, I won't be having mercy.

[DAVOUT]

I feel better, this is the Pekka I remember. Particularly when he observes the worls as it is : "if the world was run by the French, it would go bankrupt and unattended in 10 years."
We all know that the present rulers are trying hard to do the same, and nearly succeeding.