Actually, in France the stores have many american items (presumably because they sell well). Many teenagers wear USA this, USA that, etc.
The French (as told to me in France) simply don't care for the general american "Holier than thou" attitudes they see from americans in France. Just as in america, one is expected to learn at least enough of the language to get around - French people expect others to at least TRY in French.
The French seem disappointed in america for attempting to shove american values down other countries' throats.
The French are just as nationalistic as u.s. citizens, very proud to be French. They have no desire to emigrate to america, "where it is better". In fact, I think the French standard of living is higher than in the u.s. - well, ok, the French QUALITY of living is higher than in the u.s.
Housing is much less expensive. Yes, petrol is about double the price of gas in america, but the immense availability of public transportation makes this a virtual non-issue. Power is far cheaper, seems like there's a nuclear facility on every corner - (three mile island did away with the great promise of cheap power in America). The roads in France are exceptionally well maintained (far better than united states). No one has to suffer because they can't afford medical care, 35 hour work week, 5 weeks per year standard holiday. European vehicles in general are built better than in u.s., & much more powerful. The speed limits are much higher, undoubtedly because they drive so much better than americans. In their elections, there are candidates of every flavor, green, communist, socialist, as well as a number of levels of left & right wing candidates. I have no vote percentages for each type of candidate to share with for France, but in United States 80% or better is for only two political parties - yes this is because voters still don't fathom "another way" and will stick like glue to their party of choice no matter how many blowjobs their candidate gets from his employees or no matter how many countries their candidate unjustly invades.
Not that the voter's votes necessarily count for anything in america, with the electoral college system. There IS no technological or logical reason why a popular vote system could not be implemented in america before the 2k8 election. But, I digress.
America looks great on paper, but I wouldn't want to live there.
I'm sorry my post is not able to "prove your point" or "reaffirm American perception of France", for I AM an american; therefore this IS an american perception of France. I am simply one who has actually lived and spent time elsewhere, and have found better places than the u.s. (Not just France). And yes I was born and live in the u.s., for the time being.
Substantively, I believe the truth of the general perception in America toward France. I see it daily, almost inevitably from those who have experienced nowhere else. Unfortunately, it seems to stem from misplaced patriotic pridefulness and a general lack of multicultural knowledge.
Shef
****
u:how the yugoslavia liberation from lilosevic helped the US?
--
me:I heard we only got into this 1000 year old war after nuclear material was found in the hills.
****
u:can you tell me how sending food to russia and north korea helps us?
--
me:I suppose if we didn't send them food, they may find other ways to feed themselves, such as selling their military technology to 3rd world countries.
Clearly no american interests here! LOL
Shef
The French get their reputation of being rude from american tourists in France who boast of how 'great' (sic) usa is and expect the entire world to speak their mutilated american english, or how the "49ers" are the 'greatest' (sic) football team, etc. ad nauseum. Forget that most monocultural americans have never even been anywhere else to compare it to (yes, even when you count their "fishbowl" tours looking out a tourbus window). Forget that american pussy "football" has nothing 'foot' about it - they move it with their hands, stop playing every 10 seconds (presumably to catch their breath), only kick it for a measly extra point or when their team is getting it's ass kicked, and wear enough protective equipment to survive a military assault. What everyone else in the world calls football, they call soccer. Give me real football over american "football" any day. Give me France over America any day. How can americans hold it against the French for becoming a little nationalistic in the face of such insults? How can you hold anything against a country whose citizens prefer to make love with their faces:) - I hear in France they now refer to american cheese as "idiot" cheese - Bravo! *** "Be a dick to everyone you ever meet//French" -- The French are the nicest, most hospitable people I've met (In fact, I've found all Europeans generally far "nicer" people than the average american counterpart)- example: where here it's "5 bux on #2"+"Thanks"(If you're lucky... Let's not get into the u.s. cashier's inability to even comprehend more than the simplest of transactions), in France it's more akin to "Good Day, how are you?"+"Fine, thank you. May I please purchase 40 litres of Premium?"+"Why Certainly; Thank you very much! Have a good day!" ******* "Yes, America has so much to learn from France, like how to surrender as quickly as Poland. " -- OR, how americans need to learn to count to 24. They can only comprehend dual time, and even become upset (presumably at their own inability to add twelve). OR, how americans need to learn the difference between real & dual time. americans refer to real time as "military" time, when the military simply uses the time format of the rest of the world - americans don't even get it when explained to them. OR, how americans need to learn to manufacture buildings, so they won't be inclined to spend taxpayer dollars transforming a decrepit 100 year old house into a "place of historical interest" - when in Europe you can easily find sturdy 3-400 year old houses. OR, how americans need to learn to socialize medicine instead of dumping unnecessary billions into the military industrial complex. OR, how americans need to learn to follow it's own basic tenets with regard to the will of the (world's) people instead of considering themselves sovereignly immune from anyone's interests other than their own. ******* Shef (AKA probably "Flamebait" to the tunnel-visioned americans)
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, in France the stores have many american items (presumably because they sell well). Many teenagers wear USA this, USA that, etc. The French (as told to me in France) simply don't care for the general american "Holier than thou" attitudes they see from americans in France. Just as in america, one is expected to learn at least enough of the language to get around - French people expect others to at least TRY in French. The French seem disappointed in america for attempting to shove american values down other countries' throats. The French are just as nationalistic as u.s. citizens, very proud to be French. They have no desire to emigrate to america, "where it is better". In fact, I think the French standard of living is higher than in the u.s. - well, ok, the French QUALITY of living is higher than in the u.s. Housing is much less expensive. Yes, petrol is about double the price of gas in america, but the immense availability of public transportation makes this a virtual non-issue. Power is far cheaper, seems like there's a nuclear facility on every corner - (three mile island did away with the great promise of cheap power in America). The roads in France are exceptionally well maintained (far better than united states). No one has to suffer because they can't afford medical care, 35 hour work week, 5 weeks per year standard holiday. European vehicles in general are built better than in u.s., & much more powerful. The speed limits are much higher, undoubtedly because they drive so much better than americans. In their elections, there are candidates of every flavor, green, communist, socialist, as well as a number of levels of left & right wing candidates. I have no vote percentages for each type of candidate to share with for France, but in United States 80% or better is for only two political parties - yes this is because voters still don't fathom "another way" and will stick like glue to their party of choice no matter how many blowjobs their candidate gets from his employees or no matter how many countries their candidate unjustly invades. Not that the voter's votes necessarily count for anything in america, with the electoral college system. There IS no technological or logical reason why a popular vote system could not be implemented in america before the 2k8 election. But, I digress. America looks great on paper, but I wouldn't want to live there. I'm sorry my post is not able to "prove your point" or "reaffirm American perception of France", for I AM an american; therefore this IS an american perception of France. I am simply one who has actually lived and spent time elsewhere, and have found better places than the u.s. (Not just France). And yes I was born and live in the u.s., for the time being. Substantively, I believe the truth of the general perception in America toward France. I see it daily, almost inevitably from those who have experienced nowhere else. Unfortunately, it seems to stem from misplaced patriotic pridefulness and a general lack of multicultural knowledge. Shef
**** u:how the yugoslavia liberation from lilosevic helped the US? -- me:I heard we only got into this 1000 year old war after nuclear material was found in the hills. **** u:can you tell me how sending food to russia and north korea helps us? -- me:I suppose if we didn't send them food, they may find other ways to feed themselves, such as selling their military technology to 3rd world countries. Clearly no american interests here! LOL Shef
The French get their reputation of being rude from american tourists in France who boast of how 'great' (sic) usa is and expect the entire world to speak their mutilated american english, or how the "49ers" are the 'greatest' (sic) football team, etc. ad nauseum. Forget that most monocultural americans have never even been anywhere else to compare it to (yes, even when you count their "fishbowl" tours looking out a tourbus window). Forget that american pussy "football" has nothing 'foot' about it - they move it with their hands, stop playing every 10 seconds (presumably to catch their breath), only kick it for a measly extra point or when their team is getting it's ass kicked, and wear enough protective equipment to survive a military assault. What everyone else in the world calls football, they call soccer. Give me real football over american "football" any day. Give me France over America any day. How can americans hold it against the French for becoming a little nationalistic in the face of such insults? How can you hold anything against a country whose citizens prefer to make love with their faces :) - I hear in France they now refer to american cheese as "idiot" cheese - Bravo! //French"
***
"Be a dick to everyone you ever meet
--
The French are the nicest, most hospitable people I've met (In fact, I've found all Europeans generally far "nicer" people than the average american counterpart)- example: where here it's "5 bux on #2"+"Thanks"(If you're lucky... Let's not get into the u.s. cashier's inability to even comprehend more than the simplest of transactions), in France it's more akin to "Good Day, how are you?"+"Fine, thank you. May I please purchase 40 litres of Premium?"+"Why Certainly; Thank you very much! Have a good day!"
*******
"Yes, America has so much to learn from France, like how to surrender as quickly as Poland. "
--
OR, how americans need to learn to count to 24. They can only comprehend dual time, and even become upset (presumably at their own inability to add twelve). OR, how americans need to learn the difference between real & dual time. americans refer to real time as "military" time, when the military simply uses the time format of the rest of the world - americans don't even get it when explained to them.
OR, how americans need to learn to manufacture buildings, so they won't be inclined to spend taxpayer dollars transforming a decrepit 100 year old house into a "place of historical interest" - when in Europe you can easily find sturdy 3-400 year old houses.
OR, how americans need to learn to socialize medicine instead of dumping unnecessary billions into the military industrial complex.
OR, how americans need to learn to follow it's own basic tenets with regard to the will of the (world's) people instead of considering themselves sovereignly immune from anyone's interests other than their own.
*******
Shef (AKA probably "Flamebait" to the tunnel-visioned americans)