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French Response to Google is Microsoft
efp writes "Mark Liberman posted over in the Language Log that, in considering alternatives to Google's library initiative in Europe, French President Jacques Chirac would consider a partnership with Microsoft 'since he has so many views in common with its president, Bill Gates'. This comes out of talks between the French president, the head of the French National Library and the Minister of Culture, in in part 'building an alter ego to the American project, before thinking of an eventual collaboration with Google, so as not to negotiate from a position of weakness' as they plan to digitize their cultural resources."
Come on! We're Americans! Do you think we *care* what everyone else thinks?
All joking aside, regardless of my feelings towards the French, which are pretty close to neutral, this does seem contrary to their nationlistic zeal to keep France French. I (like other posters) assumed that the government would come up with its own solution. It seems absurd that France would team up with that oh so American company Microsoft to thwart that other oh so American company Google.
P.S. The US was attacked by terrorists because of numerous things, but name calling is not one of them.
P.P.S. The rest of the world bashes the US. Don't you think we get tired of that?
Does someone realize that Chirac never actually talked about partnering with Microsoft??? Not even close?
This post relates to ANOTHER post which translates ANOTHER article in a French newspaper which says that some UNNAMED assistant to Chirac when asked about the possibility of partnering with Microsoft answered "why not?" (which does not seem like a terrible answer..., there is no reason to dismiss anybody before the project is launched...).
I have always had the impression that, when in France, French people are typically rude and snotty toward Americans.
However, all of the French people I've dealt with at work and otherwise (in person) have been extremely nice people. Then again, I've never found any group of people from any place in the world that, in general, struck me as stupid, stubborn, snobbish or anything else. There may have been an individual or two that did - but no more so than any general population.
I think most people adhere to this stereotype of French people simply because it's what they hear on Fox News, talk radio and other random people - with no experience of their own.
I would probably feel uncomfortable and out of place in France - but I have no doubt that I'd find the people themselves easy to deal with - just as I've found them easy to deal with when they visit my country.
They are both filthy stinkin rich, hate google, and dream of a new world order?
On one hand, the first item in that list is a documented fact. On the other hand, the comment is, as a whole, a troll. Curiously, most of the posts that follow are even less interested in the facts.
It is interesting how unapologetically ignorant so many my fellow US citizens are willing to be when they:
1. Didn't realize that the Slashdot summary misrepresented the nature of Chirac's comment, because they
2. Obviously didn't read the linked article, and
3. Have the opportunity to hurl invective at the most popular target of insecure American white trash.
American journalism, thy name is Slashdot.