Why do so many Americans hate French people? (jobs, Germans, English)

[Delaneyland]

Originally Posted by spunky1

I love French fries!

I love french toast...with too much whipped cream and strawberries..

[wallstreet1986]

Originally Posted by carolinajack

i love Belgian Frites

Try moules frites à la marinière and a big Belgian beer at Léon de Bruxelles which you can find all around France and the autoroutes. The moules frites are à volonté (all you can eat ) Ah c'est trop bon!

[Crew Chief]

The BEST ham I think I've ever eaten was on the autoroute to Paris when we were on a bus trip from Germany, absoultely WONDERFUL!!!

[urbandeco]

There are millions of Americans who love France, French culture and such. I guess it is the politics thing and other factors that some Americans disdain about France. Plus Americans often hear about how much the French disdain Americans. Anyway, I love visiting France!

[tet tea]

Originally Posted by Mooseketeer

I have actually found myself defending Americans to the Brits who really DO have a very arrogant attitude to the US and do not like them very much at all. I have heard so many snide comments about Americans and some really snobby attitude to a country I am extremely fond of.
As for cleanliness , the Brits are far dirtier than the French any day. Believe me I have seen some true horrors in my time... I have been a member of a home exchange organisation for 18 years and British people are the worse.
I'm sure I have now opened up a can of worms but I would really like some input.

It all boils down to a lot of misconceptions often rooted in history. Plus a lot of it goes both ways. Are you sure the Brits "arrogance and snobby attitude" is not aimed at Americans but their countries policies, many of which a lot of Americans disagree with?
As for cleanliness, it's ashame you haven't visited the homes of my friends and family. Clean as a whistle, organized and warm.

BTW: If so many people hate America, why are so many of them trying to get into the country?

[Mooseketeer]

Living in Britain for 18 years , I have heard so many negative comments about Americans being stupid, uneducated and basically hamburger chomping slobs. I still hear those on a regular basis. I think a lot of people in the UK do think themselves vastly superior to Americans and it does really irritate me. "This could only happen in America" is always used as derogative way of saying "we're far too sensible here to do anything so silly" . A lot of Brits seems to think of Americans as spoilt children and it bugs me.
I am indeed sorry not to have been to your friends houses. I would say apart from Scotland where the standards of cleanliness and tidyiness have always really impressed me , pretty much everywhere we have been to has been pretty grotty. Obviously this is a gross over generalisation as I am not implying that 60 million Brits live in filfth , but I was quite shocked ( and still am on a regular basis) as to how people live.

As for the reason so many people want to live in the US, it's a beautiful, vast, fascinating country with friendly people and they have a fantastic publicity machine called Hollywood ! A lot of people still believe in the American dream and still a lot will succeed in making it happen. A lot of people won't but they will hardly have a voice. America is a land where you can re-invent yourself and it is a very attractive proposition. It does not mean it is perfect though and like all countries you should come with your eyes wide open.

[tet tea]

I agree, I think it is a gross over generalization.

Living in the U.K., America and central Europe I've heard quite a bit of trash talk about other nations , their culture and their people. Take it all with a pinch of salt and go find out for yourselves.

[wallstreet1986]

Originally Posted by Mooseketeer

Living in Britain for 18 years , I have heard so many negative comments about Americans being stupid, uneducated and basically hamburger chomping slobs. I still hear those on a regular basis. I think a lot of people in the UK do think themselves vastly superior to Americans and it does really irritate me. "This could only happen in America" is always used as derogative way of saying "we're far too sensible here to do anything so silly" . A lot of Brits seems to think of Americans as spoilt children and it bugs me.
I am indeed sorry not to have been to your friends houses. I would say apart from Scotland where the standards of cleanliness and tidyiness have always really impressed me , pretty much everywhere we have been to has been pretty grotty. Obviously this is a gross over generalisation as I am not implying that 60 million Brits live in filfth , but I was quite shocked ( and still am on a regular basis) as to how people live.

As for the reason so many people want to live in the US, it's a beautiful, vast, fascinating country with friendly people and they have a fantastic publicity machine called Hollywood ! A lot of people still believe in the American dream and still a lot will succeed in making it happen. A lot of people won't but they will hardly have a voice. America is a land where you can re-invent yourself and it is a very attractive proposition. It does not mean it is perfect though and like all countries you should come with your eyes wide open.

Yeah they think we are spoilt children because they are jealous that we have a higher standard of living and lower gas prices. A lot of Americans are like that with showing off and consumptive culture but so are Londoner brits.

[tet tea]

Originally Posted by wallstreet1986

Yeah they think we are spoilt children because they are jealous that we have a higher standard of living and lower gas prices. A lot of Americans are like that with showing off and consumptive culture but so are Londoner brits.

May I ask what you define as a higher standard of living? Thanks.

[Miss Blue]

Mooseketeer, I read your op. I didn't know we didn't like the French, Most of us have heard that the Frenchmen are better lovers. Hey if you want to talk about people of any nation as a whole, lets make it good