Do you find Parisians rude?
Jul 11th, 2007, 01:50 PM
#21
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When we were in Paris several years ago we met an elder (70 years or so) American woman that was joing up on a tour group but arrving solo, first time to Paris at our hotel.
Her taxi driver spit on the ground and threw her money on the street when she didn't have the proper change. That story really shocked me as the poor woman was dumbfounded but we told her things would be okay once she met up with her tour group. Don't know how the rest of her trip went... Nothing like that ever happened to us during 3 prior visits to France but it does exist. Likewise, you can run into a crazy cab driver in mostly any metro city.
Her taxi driver spit on the ground and threw her money on the street when she didn't have the proper change. That story really shocked me as the poor woman was dumbfounded but we told her things would be okay once she met up with her tour group. Don't know how the rest of her trip went... Nothing like that ever happened to us during 3 prior visits to France but it does exist. Likewise, you can run into a crazy cab driver in mostly any metro city.
Jul 11th, 2007, 01:54 PM
#22
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1996 was the first time I visited France or Europe for that matter. It was very intimidating to arrive at the train station from Germany and not have a clue as to what Metro to take, etc.
I had no French so everything was gibberish. A nice gentleman who saw I had a "stupid" look on my face asked politely if he could help and directed us to the Metro to take to the 5th.
On the metro itself my daughter and I were discussing where to get off and another nice woman, on her way to see a friend and had a few moments, actually got off the metro and took us to the front door of our hotel.
Now how nice and polite is that?
I had no French so everything was gibberish. A nice gentleman who saw I had a "stupid" look on my face asked politely if he could help and directed us to the Metro to take to the 5th.
On the metro itself my daughter and I were discussing where to get off and another nice woman, on her way to see a friend and had a few moments, actually got off the metro and took us to the front door of our hotel.
Now how nice and polite is that?
Jul 11th, 2007, 02:39 PM
#23
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The more you travel the more you may run across any type of person. Of course there are rude people in Paris and pleasant ones too.
On the whole, I find the Parisians reserved but friendly enough. They don't beat me about the head with canes, so far.
On the whole, I find the Parisians reserved but friendly enough. They don't beat me about the head with canes, so far.
Jul 11th, 2007, 03:53 PM
#24
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just like anywhere else, you get what you give.
My French is admittedly poor, but people seemed very patient with me and were really helpful when I tried to speak French.
The same can be said of any major city- anywhere in the world.
For all of you francophiles out there- let people think that the Parisians are rude. Maybe it will ease the crowds a bit!
My French is admittedly poor, but people seemed very patient with me and were really helpful when I tried to speak French.
The same can be said of any major city- anywhere in the world.
For all of you francophiles out there- let people think that the Parisians are rude. Maybe it will ease the crowds a bit!
Jul 11th, 2007, 04:21 PM
#25
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LOL - SeaUrchin's comment is the best so far.
We have a Parisian exchange student living at our house right now and it's quite fascinating. We try to get him to divulge what Parisians REALLY think of Americans. (Fast Food. Fat. Eat Ketchup. The usual.)
We love his manners. My son reported that for breakfast this morning our new young man made himself toast, put out a placemat, a napkin, set up a lovely assortment of jams and butter and then ate his piece of toast.
More formal, lovely manners, speak quietly. In Paris I've been amazed at the manners and there's always someone who's helped when needed.
We have a Parisian exchange student living at our house right now and it's quite fascinating. We try to get him to divulge what Parisians REALLY think of Americans. (Fast Food. Fat. Eat Ketchup. The usual.)
We love his manners. My son reported that for breakfast this morning our new young man made himself toast, put out a placemat, a napkin, set up a lovely assortment of jams and butter and then ate his piece of toast.
More formal, lovely manners, speak quietly. In Paris I've been amazed at the manners and there's always someone who's helped when needed.
Jul 11th, 2007, 06:44 PM
#27
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Funny about that whole stereotype.. our family just returned from a 4 wk trip in France (incl Paris), Italy and Switzerland - and I definitely can tell you where I was and when I ran into obnoxious, rude people - but doesn't seem to have any correlation to geography. Some did have to do with people who didn't really like kids - which was a problem since we had 3 small ones with us!
It ranged from ------rude BeeShuttle driver in Paris who was aggravated we didn't recognize him at CDG (no sign) and delayed our trip to first apt by over 1.5 hrs! ---------to the rude shopkeeper next to our apt in Muerren at Chalet Fontana who sneered every time our kids came within 10 ft of his shop or goods displayed outside ----------to the rude Clerk who checked us in at our Montreux Hostel who was mad bc they had made a mistake and doublebooked the rooms with private baths and he had to honor my reservation since i had confirming email with me --------to the crazy, rude lady sitting in front of us on the plane home to ATL. She promptly turned around five minutes into the flight and told my very quiet 5 yo DD who accidently bumped her seat - "Your Daughter MAY NOT kick my seat on this plane!" -- the ride home from hell -- for her anyway - bc after her turning around numerous times about nothing - I left my seat and put my 9yo son (who can't sit still for one minute and fidgets constantly) in my seat to replace me.. and i moved back 5 rows and watched.
It ranged from ------rude BeeShuttle driver in Paris who was aggravated we didn't recognize him at CDG (no sign) and delayed our trip to first apt by over 1.5 hrs! ---------to the rude shopkeeper next to our apt in Muerren at Chalet Fontana who sneered every time our kids came within 10 ft of his shop or goods displayed outside ----------to the rude Clerk who checked us in at our Montreux Hostel who was mad bc they had made a mistake and doublebooked the rooms with private baths and he had to honor my reservation since i had confirming email with me --------to the crazy, rude lady sitting in front of us on the plane home to ATL. She promptly turned around five minutes into the flight and told my very quiet 5 yo DD who accidently bumped her seat - "Your Daughter MAY NOT kick my seat on this plane!" -- the ride home from hell -- for her anyway - bc after her turning around numerous times about nothing - I left my seat and put my 9yo son (who can't sit still for one minute and fidgets constantly) in my seat to replace me.. and i moved back 5 rows and watched.
Jul 11th, 2007, 07:38 PM
#28
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My French aunt said "The French, they are (h)orrible people!!!
Went into a lingerie store with my 19 year old niece 20 years ago, a tiny store. Saleslady wouldn't even look at us! We finally left.
Hope things have chagned.
Went into a lingerie store with my 19 year old niece 20 years ago, a tiny store. Saleslady wouldn't even look at us! We finally left.
Hope things have chagned.
Jul 11th, 2007, 08:27 PM
#30
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"It's a question of personal space for me. If you are standing in a empty room in a museum, train quai etc; invariably the one person going by will bump into you or brush against you."
Frottage my arse. It's a ruse for pickpocketers. Did this poster check his/her pockets?
Frottage my arse. It's a ruse for pickpocketers. Did this poster check his/her pockets?
Jul 11th, 2007, 09:15 PM
#31
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes. Also charming, funny, dour, skinny, fat, attractive, slovenly, and all the rest of the panoply.
The worst I've personally received in Paris was indifference - I've dealt with open hostility on a few American streets - even the town of 5000 where I went to high school (small towns can be a pain sometimes), so it was no big deal to me.
The worst I've personally received in Paris was indifference - I've dealt with open hostility on a few American streets - even the town of 5000 where I went to high school (small towns can be a pain sometimes), so it was no big deal to me.
Jul 11th, 2007, 11:24 PM
#32
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, I do think that Parisians can be quite rude. Though I know loads of nice, friendly Parisians and have had lots of pleasant encounters, I'd still say I have encountered more rude/grumpy behaviour there than anywhere else I've lived. After a while you just take it for granted, and certainly shouldn't take it personally. And I don't just think you encounter rude behaviour only if you yourself are rude. I found that Parisians would get quite frustrated with my overly polite British ways (apologising for every little thing, smiling too much, etc.) - it doesn't always translate well into French.
Incidentally, my (Parisian) husband agrees with me on this one - when we moved away from Paris he couldn't stop commenting on how nice and friendly people were elsewhere! He also insists that to get good customer service in Paris you have to get angry, because that's the only way you'll be respected!
Incidentally, my (Parisian) husband agrees with me on this one - when we moved away from Paris he couldn't stop commenting on how nice and friendly people were elsewhere! He also insists that to get good customer service in Paris you have to get angry, because that's the only way you'll be respected!
Jul 12th, 2007, 03:58 AM
#35
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"We were verbally abused by a waitress in a restaurant in the Marais because we took to long to decide which dessert to have....we got our own back though by slipping out the back without paying!!"
Nice going! That's not revenge. It is stealing, not from the waitress but from the owner.
Nice going! That's not revenge. It is stealing, not from the waitress but from the owner.
Jul 12th, 2007, 07:59 AM
#38
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<It is stealing, not from the waitress but from the owner.>>
I'm not sure, Toupary. Laura was probably stealing from the waitress: when I was a waiter in my squandered youth, if a customer walked we were responsible for the check.
But I'm sure it was justified, as now that waitress probably treats her customers with more respect ...
By the way, there was a short segment at the end of NIGHTLINE last evening about rudeness in Paris (and France) - the opinion of the experts: the French are just as "rude" to one another. And at that it's not so much a quesiton of manners, but manner. Don't take it personally (difficult instructions for Americans, we take most things as personal affronts or affirmations.)
An American friend of mine who lives in Madrid recently told me, "The Spanish are not as friendly as the Italians, and not nearly as friendly as Americans." Most cultures are not as "ebullient" and "familiar" as we are. When people behave in their national character, it is wise not to take it as a reflection on US!
In the USA most people will be able to identify regions, states, cities and even neighborhoods they think are friendlier/colder, more welcoming/snobbish. Yet many people go into shock over Paris ... I tend to think that city dwellers seque to the Parisian mode a bit more easily. We're used to a little aloofness, brusqueness, people in a hurry, etc. It doesn't bother us, for good reason.
I'm not sure, Toupary. Laura was probably stealing from the waitress: when I was a waiter in my squandered youth, if a customer walked we were responsible for the check.
But I'm sure it was justified, as now that waitress probably treats her customers with more respect ...
By the way, there was a short segment at the end of NIGHTLINE last evening about rudeness in Paris (and France) - the opinion of the experts: the French are just as "rude" to one another. And at that it's not so much a quesiton of manners, but manner. Don't take it personally (difficult instructions for Americans, we take most things as personal affronts or affirmations.)
An American friend of mine who lives in Madrid recently told me, "The Spanish are not as friendly as the Italians, and not nearly as friendly as Americans." Most cultures are not as "ebullient" and "familiar" as we are. When people behave in their national character, it is wise not to take it as a reflection on US!
In the USA most people will be able to identify regions, states, cities and even neighborhoods they think are friendlier/colder, more welcoming/snobbish. Yet many people go into shock over Paris ... I tend to think that city dwellers seque to the Parisian mode a bit more easily. We're used to a little aloofness, brusqueness, people in a hurry, etc. It doesn't bother us, for good reason.
Jul 12th, 2007, 08:10 AM
#39
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have to disagree with Tom. It is not the general pattern in Europe to make staff liable if customers "do a runner". A minority of establishments do it, probably a tiny minority.
I think, and hope, that your remark about how that waitress now treats her customers was tongue-in-cheek. Bilking is not the best method of staff training.
I think, and hope, that your remark about how that waitress now treats her customers was tongue-in-cheek. Bilking is not the best method of staff training.
Jul 12th, 2007, 08:15 AM
#40
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<the opinion of the experts: the French are just as "rude" to one another. And at that it's not so much a quesiton of manners, but manner. Don't take it personally>
this is exactly what several members of my ex in-laws and French son always says - so don't take it personally is the best advice. Why should they treat foreigners any different than their fellow country folk?
this is exactly what several members of my ex in-laws and French son always says - so don't take it personally is the best advice. Why should they treat foreigners any different than their fellow country folk?
