Why do so many Americans hate French people? (train station, food)

[hello-world]

Originally Posted by Moth

helloworld, we are talking about crappy hamburgers and why people on both sides of the pond like them. I am not going to descend into an endless discussion of free enterprise, advertising and Iraq of all things. The bottom line is McDs does well in Europe because people like it. Nobody manipulated your taste and nobody is putting a gun to your head. I have not been in a McDs in quite some time. I cannot be bothered to patronize them or even to care. I wish you lot the same level of self control.




You are once again deviating. I am simply saying that any American ally has the choice to pursue a policy more akin to Sweden, Switzerland, Finland or any other neutral country. I respectfully submit that when faced with the indisputable fact that your country and others can chart their own destiny whether it be junk food or foreign policy, you change the subject to avoid it facing the obvious.

change the subject? guns to heads? americanization. dislike and distrust thereof. that is what part of this discussion's about. it is no secret that people are impressionable, be they american or not, be they administrative or not, and marketing/lobbying can and does take as much advantage of that as possible. corporate interests as well as other interests have a lot to do with americanization. it is an arm of something that is part of what people abroad can and do dislike about america, regardless of whether they're enjoying a hamburger from time to time or whether they currently - or will in the future - dislike some of the ramifications of the accessibility of something they may not have asked for, but got and to SOME extent maybe even utilized (while some others within the same society might appreciate some of the underhanded means of infiltration by american interests, e.g., and so complain about those). and so, in turn, in many quarters, americans can take that - the dislike of themselves by people abroad - as something to dislike in people abroad.

by the way, in case you hadn't noticed (it almost seems that you might not have), i am american, myself, but recognize some of the likelihoods out there (and have exposure to some foreign perspectives).

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by They would say that

BBC NEWS | Europe | French plea as cemetery defaced

Yeah, that stuff has happened (and continues to happen) to Jewish cemeteries right here in America.
That article, btw, is from 4 years ago, dated about one month after the USA invaded Iraq.
I was there tabout a week before the invasion, and had zero bad encounters with the French. (Admittedly, it was only for two weeks!)

MovingForward, did you ever hear of read the book Almost French by Sarah Turnbull?
I am going to quote the author (an Aussie) a bit here:
Of the struggle to adapt to her new home in the mid-1990s, the author writes, "I've discovered a million details that matter to me-details that define me as non-French" no matter how much she tries to assimilate, while over time she grows to appreciate some perplexing aspects of French culture, as "[e]veryday incidences elevate into moments of clarity simply because they would never, ever happen in your old home," from developing her confrontational side enough to defend herself (in French) from rude remarks to receiving advice from "a terribly chic blonde who advises me to use eye-makeup remover on Maddie's [Turnbull's dog's] leaky eyes."

One thing for sure, entering a new culture is definitely a Do As the Romans Do experience, and even then it can be a tough gig.

[Moth]

change the subject? guns to heads? americanization. dislike and distrust thereof. that is what part of this discussion's about. it is no secret that people are impressionable, be they american or not, be they administrative or not, and marketing/lobbying can and does take as much advantage of that as possible. corporate interests as well as other interests have a lot to do with americanization. it is an arm of something that is part of what people abroad can and do dislike about america, regardless of whether they're enjoying a hamburger from time to time or whether they currently - or will in the future - dislike some of the ramifications of the accessibility of something they may not have asked for, but got and to SOME extent maybe even utilized (while some others within the same society might appreciate some of the underhanded means of infiltration by american interests, e.g., and so complain about those). and so, in turn, in many quarters, americans can take that - the dislike of themselves by people abroad - as something to dislike in people abroad.

I think you are looking way too deep at something that is pretty basic. Sorry, but I cannot give McDonalds of all ridiculous things so much effort.

by the way, in case you hadn't noticed (it almost seems that you might not have), i am american, myself, but recognize some of the likelihoods out there (and have exposure to some foreign perspectives).

With the lack of capital letters and the rambling style, I thought English was anything but your native language.

[hello-world]

Originally Posted by Moth

I think you are looking way too deep at something that is pretty basic. Sorry, but I cannot give McDonalds of all ridiculous things so much effort.

to me, not about mcdonalds, but about something more basic and general.

With the lack of capital letters and the rambling style, I thought English was anything but your native language.

i don't recall attacking you, nor your style, personally. just a dialogue on a blog/forum, here, eh?

[Moth]

i don't recall attacking you, nor your style, personally. just a dialogue on a blog/forum, here, eh?

I am not attacking you. Your style led to believe you were from somewhere else. No worries. Communicating via text has its limitations.

[hello-world]

Originally Posted by Moth

I am not attacking you. Your style led to believe you were from somewhere else. No worries. Communicating via text has its limitations.

hm. maybe this is why americans and french can sometimes have a hard time with one another. communication breakdown.

[ron17571]

The french like americans are loved and hated everywhere.the french in canada can speak english and yet wont speak to you.your new president seems kind of american and the democrats running for president here seem kind of french!americans even joke about other americans in other states.i do recall a few times when the usa wanted to do something and the french kinda jammed us,or was that the spaniards?or russians?and im sure nobody says anything about americans!

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by cil

Wow, Carolinajack,for someone who has traveled, that sounds a bit xenophobic. Not everyone is going to slap you on the back and go on and on about how wonderful America is. I heard plenty of criticism during one of my first trips, back in the 70's.
Superpowers such as the USA are always going to be criticized, it's human nature to take potshots at them (and their foreign policies.)

I've been to France a bunch of times and had no trouble at all. As a matter of fact we met a French couple who actually *liked* President Bush.
Most often, the attitude I've encountered in Europe in general and France in particular is USA Oui, Bush Non.
But compared to us, the French do seem more reserved, less casual: that's the way the world works, different countries have different attitudes and customs. I guess some Americans find this difficult to deal with--Americans tend to want to be liked, and feel awkward if there is not a lot of smiling and small talk going on.

I agree.
Actually, I can definitely understand why some French freaked out when the first McDonald's came on the scene.
Xenophobia can be everywhere.
Probably a lot of French assume all of us Americans are fat cheeseburger-eating slobs driving pickups with American flag bumperstickers--who speak only English.

Mooseketeer, American History textbooks have improved quite a bit since you last saw them. The textbook I had as a child actually had quite a bit of Native American information, but these days there is also much more emphasis on Manifest Destiny.

when the first mcdonalds came to paris (bout 74?) i ate there 2x and got tomain poison both times. much better hamburger mary's near chatlette
or st michelle, american but better.
(and safer)

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by Bunky39

when the first mcdonalds came to paris (bout 74?) i ate there 2x and got tomain poison both times. much better hamburger mary's near chatlette
or st michelle, american but better.
(and safer)

heh
You got ptomaine and then went back to the same place?
I ate at the first Hard Rock Cafe (the one in London) the same year, 1974, but managed to stay healthy--and it was way better than a Wimpy Bar.
<Knock on wood> I've never gotten sick eating overseas.

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by cil

heh
You got ptomaine and then went back to the same place?
I ate at the first Hard Rock Cafe (the one in London) the same year, 1974, but managed to stay healthy--and it was way better than a Wimpy Bar.
<Knock on wood> I've never gotten sick eating overseas.

yes i did get ptomaine, 2x, since i was in france and it was a french place the food cannt be bad, obviously i was confused so i went back.
also if you are in france for 5 years stuff from usa gets to be very alluring.
stephen s
san diego ca