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117 Comments
- alanocu, on 07/06/2008, -13/+93The author, from Paris, is clearly annoyed that the French are ranked as the most obnoxious, next to the Chinese. You would have missed that point if you didn't read the article closely. The Japanese ranked as the least obnoxious. According to the author, only because they are timid and quiet, not because they are respectful, grateful and friendly. Americans were ranked the best with trying to speak local languages - the best, as is the Americans put forth a solid and sincere effort when traveling abroad. The author was "surprised" and suggested the Americans are "notoriously language-limited" and spent the next paragraph trying to convince us that this could not be possible. Throw in an Archie Bunker crack, and contrast America's demand for the "exceptional" service (read between the lines, "impossible") with the French demands for simple "quality," and you have the most obnoxious, cowardly, yet opinionated author in the world, who happens to be from France, home of the most obnoxious tourist. The author proves the question in his headline to be true, remarkably well.
- vsujohn2, on 07/06/2008, -7/+65Your comment is almost too good for digg. Its incredibly well-written, is substantively critical, and makes a very valid point. Are you sure you are at the right site?
- chispito, on 07/08/2008, -0/+28The best day I ever had working in Disneyland, some decrepit Japanese lady came in with a huge bag and handed to each employee she met a little handmade paper doll bookmark with a note that said it was a traditional gesture of friendship.
She must have spent hours upon hours making those things before she left. I don't care what country has the best tourists, but she was the single best tourist I have ever met. - p47plane, on 07/07/2008, -1/+24Japanese tourists rock! A whole tour van of them appeared when I was visiting Utah, and they all wanted to take a picture with me because of my tie-dye shirt. I wonder if I am on anyone's mantel, halfway around the world.
- patorama, on 07/08/2008, -1/+24Is it just me or does this statement not make any sense
"When they go abroad, French travelers demand the same quality they'd get at home," de Roux says. "Americans, by contrast, demand the same exceptional service they are used to at home, which is why they rank as the loudest, most inclined to complain and among the least polite."
The French demand the same service they are used to at home...while Americans demand ...the same service they are used to at home. How is that "by contrast"? - lsloany, on 07/08/2008, -2/+23"I fart in your general direction!"
- RoflcopterFUEL, on 07/08/2008, -5/+21As a waiter who works in a tourist town, I found that Asians are the best to wait on. Not just japanese, but koreans and southeast asians. They're nice and friendly and carefree.
Chinese are half n half. Some are nice, others are just difficult. "Would you like soup or salad?" They answer "Yes."
Danes and scandinavians are really decieving. They can disguise their accent and make it sound like they're americans, then boom, they don't leave you any tip. When i hear someones from sweden or denmark i just add the gratuity right away regardless.
Middleasterners are what I'd call obnoxious, especially Armenians and Persians. If you don't give them those napkins they asked for 20 seconds ago you're *****.
But I'd say Israelis get the prize. They're some of the worst tourists ever. They go in thinking they own the place, while being outright pissed for no apparent reason before even talking to them. "What do you mean we can't smoke here? who the hell do you think you are?" - lucy22, on 07/06/2008, -8/+23Sadly, I have been to France and I am sorry to say, the people were rude. We made every attempt to speak French and be friendly. It is like they don't want tourists. Nothing personal against french people, I just had an awful time. They need to work on being friendlier to tourists or no one will go there, except maybe for the Eiffel tower.
- Inuranic, on 07/06/2008, -2/+16Dugg for the odd photo accompanying the story.
- inactive, on 07/08/2008, -4/+17clicheou really all that stupid ? The author is NOT French. I'm still stunned by the global acceptance of french racism among educated Americans. I acknowledge the French (I'm French) are generally awful tourists. But most people here don't know what they're talking about and are just jumping on the occasion for some gratuitous French-hating. Paris does not equal France, and the fact that you traveled there doesn't make you any more wise about France.
Why are so many people always so hungry for generalization ? "Oh yes THEY are like this", speaking of any nationality other than your own. So people could say that this is very "American" of you.
*****, I spent most of my Internet time browsing in English on American sites, enjoying the great humor, getting some different perspective from my place. I check Digg a lot because the folks on it are supposed to be mostly knowledgeable "geeks" not so fast on the clichés. I'm always disappointed to see that if there's the smallest article that goes on something negative about the French (which I don't necessarily mind), instantly the comments will be flooded by people saying "Oh yes! I do agree!".
(sigh...) - LeRenard, on 07/07/2008, -1/+13You need to go outside Paris. In the countryside, the French are amazingly affable people. In Paris, people tend to be a bit more curt, but I don't believe that is different than any other city on the planet, and the Parisians have the unfortunate circumstance of being constantly inundated by petulant non-francophonic tourists. For every friendly, courteous tourist they've encountered many who are rude and arrogant. The only people I've ever heard judge the French as inhospitable were those who judged them solely on the people of Paris.
- bdbr, on 07/08/2008, -0/+12Its a cultural thing. In some parts of America, an ear-to-ear grin is expected when you enter an establishment. I've heard from Europeans who find that dishonest.
Count me as another one who has been to France multiple times and found everyone to be quite friendly...particularly in small-town France. - bionictrout, on 07/08/2008, -1/+13Just got back from Paris last week. Honestly I was shocked at how friendly and helpful everyone seemed to be. I was expecting the stereotypical rude French behavior we all hear so much about. Frankly, I believe the myth is overblown by some of us over-demanding, arrogant Americans who expect an entire country to conform to our cultural preferences instead of enjoying the unique aspects of traveling abroad. I heard several fellow Americans whining and hollering in restaurants and hotels, demanding and complaining. Here is one hint: in France, people enjoy spending a LONG time eating their meals. Don't go there expecting a waiter to hover around you and whisk away your courses immediately so you can move on to the next experience as soon as humanly possible.
- teruterubouzu, on 07/07/2008, -4/+15That's completely opposite my experiences during the two times I traveled there. I encountered no more rudeness than you would in any large city. Most people were friendly and very helpful.
- EarlOfLade, on 07/08/2008, -4/+14If you are American, every other country will seem rude to you because of the shallow politeness you see in American businesses.
When I moved to USA I had problems with all these morons wishing me a great day all the time and clearly not meaning a single letter of it. I cringed every time I heard these platitudes and still do, a decade later. It's so artificial, so obviously fake that it becomes idiocy.
So, yes, if you are used to this stilted way of politeness, then every other country will seem rude to you. - SlapAyoda, on 07/08/2008, -0/+9The article title states the French are the most obnoxious in the world, and then in a small note within the article mention that the Indians and Chinese ranked as more obnoxious than the French. WTF?
- falcon1, on 07/08/2008, -1/+9Because in America waiters make a very low wage and rely on tips to survive. It's a customary thing...unless it is just absolute terrible service, you always leave at least some tip. Should always check these things out before traveling anyway.
- Meursault, on 07/08/2008, -3/+11Just because he's writing from Paris doesn't mean he's French. His Linkedin profile shows he was educated @ USC, and he's writing for an American publication.
- nedzeve, on 07/08/2008, -0/+7HANK: So, are you Chinese or Japanese?
KAHN: I live in California last twenty years, but first couple, Laos.
HANK: Huh?
KAHN: Laos. We Laotian.
BILL: The ocean? What ocean?
KAHN: We are Laotian. From Laos, stupid! It's a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It's between Vietnam and Thailand, okay? Population 4.7 million.
HANK: So, are you Chinese or Japanese? - inactive, on 07/08/2008, -1/+7As a scandinavian, if you go on vacations in the US you should at least get some information on the local customs there. The "tip" IS mandatory in the US.
- DNABeast, on 07/08/2008, -0/+6I think what they're saying is that the French prefer their food to be tasty and the Americans prefer their food to be delivered by good natured people.
- inactive, on 07/08/2008, -0/+6I suggest you all read a book called "French or Foe". It will go along Bionictrout's point. And you'll understand, as the book says, why it's super wrong for American people to carefully learn all different bending angles before traveling to Japan but just taking a few good restaurants addresses before leaving for France, assuming every thing is the same because it's an occidental country.
It's not. The differences are subtle but many. And when they add-up, they can bring you to a lot of misunderstandings and frustrations. - EarlOfLade, on 07/08/2008, -2/+8As a Scandinavian, I must ask: Did you deserve a tip? In Scandinavia, employers PAY their employees and does not expect their guests to pay for the food and then add paying the wages for the waiter in addition to the printed price. All tips are for when you do something extra. If you just do your job, no tip, why should you get one?
- inactive, on 07/07/2008, -5/+11this is such BS* - these tourists are being judged based on hotel employee surveys taken near eiffel towers, great walls, statues of liberty, and taj mahals? i'd be willing to bet that those are the tourists no locals want around anyway, and their judgements are most likely skewed. talk to people at pubs, friends of families, backpackers, and those with actual gameplans. that would balance out this list depicting clueless landmark seekers with 2 megapixel cameras they bought from circuit city right before the trip.
surveys like this are part of the reason stereotypes never die.
*not that i really have much desire to defend obnoxious french people... - pak314, on 07/08/2008, -4/+10People seem to find every possible way to think negative of Americans these days.
- ricker2005, on 07/08/2008, -1/+7Except in many places the majority of the server's pay IS the tips he/she recieves. If they give you good service and you don't tip them, you're just screwing them over for no reason.
- Owned1Up, on 07/08/2008, -2/+8You must be French..
- ralphodog, on 07/08/2008, -3/+8This couldn't be further from the truth. I've spent a lot of time in France, having lived there until my most recent residency card expired. I had people switch to English when I was talking in French just because they could detect my accent; I've had full conversations while only speaking French and the French person only speaking English because they would insist on accommodating me even when not needed.
- artofficial, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5Silly English K-n-n-n-n-niggits
- pinguwin, on 07/08/2008, -2/+7I agree with those who say you need to get out of Paris. Most Parisians aren't rude, but most of the rude one were in Paris. Out of Paris, it was unusual to find an impolite one. Remember that quite frequently, people from outside the City of Lights, often seem to regard it as a foreign country and aren't particularly fond of them either.
- wphj, on 07/08/2008, -1/+6It's common courtesy to wish people a good day. I certainly mean it when I say it, and I feel sorry for you for being so depressed.
- Imascienceguy, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5Actually what drives me nuts about the article is the "average French employee gets 37 vacation days while the average American gets only 14, and doesn't take all of them" statement. I work for a European company, my boss is French, and he takes 3-4 week long vacations several times a year. must be nice. I can't take more than 3 days in a row off without the office calling me in.
- chispito, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5Self-fulfilling prophecy.
Show goodwill to the businessmen and they'll be genuine when they express goodwill to you. It's not their fault you're so jaded. - dalittle, on 07/08/2008, -2/+7All the more ironic to me, as I have been to Paris and I would never go back. In my tour of Europe it was bottom of the barrel as far as snooty people and lack of enjoyment. Loved Angers, but maybe it is because it is a smaller town with people not like the author.
- Meursault, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5It's pretty clear, actually. The French expect, say, the food to be as good as they're used to and will complain when it isn't (frequently). Americans are used to polite and efficient waitstaff...and will complain when they're met with rude, slothful, disdainful, etc waitpersons.
It's a matter of product vs product delivery. - filmbandit, on 07/08/2008, -1/+6i have several very close friends that are french (some ex-pats and some french-born) and for years -- bad experience after bad experience -- i've done my best not to be a french-hating american.
my last trip i gave up -- i've been several places on this earth and so far i've never randomly encountered so many arrogant and rude folks -- irrespective of whether they are parisians, or living in the country.
on the flipside of that, i've found the dutch and the irish hard to beat -- pretty charming folks on the whole
you want to call me a racist, go ahead -- you're incorrect in the application - soupdawg30, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5If I tell someone to have a nice day I mean it. If I don't like them I'll just say nothing.
- Meursault, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4Yes, it wasn't very clear, but they were 19th of 21 total and the most obnoxious among Europeans.
- RoflcopterFUEL, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4I've been working for several years, and this is what i've come to realize after all this time. I do regard my service as good. I don't see why not. I screw up a few times, just as all waiters do, and i'm not out to flame scandinavians, but after years of working and dealing different nationalities (who do leave tips), this is what i found out.
Also, other notices:
Japanese, Koreans leave tips. Chinese and southeast asians don't.
Mexicans and central americans don't. South americans (argentina/ chile) Do.
It's just that with scandinavians it's not so obvious they're foreigners. - ileftfark, on 07/08/2008, -3/+7I'm sure next year, they'll surrender the title to Germany.
- inactive, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4your boss can be an ass no matter where you work...
I don't know where all these stats come from, but the LEGAL number of annual vacations day in France is 25, and that's what most people get (you can't get any less). Bosses do as they please regardless of the legal amount anyway. - dha07030, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3I knew the 2nd comment was too good thanks for reminding me I am on Digg
- Haikuattack, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3 It does sort of sneak up on you. I've noticed in recent years American tourists have improved tons. I remember a few years ago one asked me about Bristol in England "is this town pre-war?"... "It's pre-America" was my reply. Now I find most of them tend to be considerate and less ethnocentric.
- patorama, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3I guess I didn't equate quality with food. I assumed quality was "quality of service", which is how it is used through most of the article.. So to me it read as the two groups expected the exact same thing, the level of service they are used to at home. That is why the "by contrast" line didn't make much sense.
- xomp, on 07/08/2008, -1/+4CHINA #1!
- bdbr, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3I've also heard that they'll refuse to speak English unless you ask in French! I never experienced either, though I did usually ask in French if they speak English. I think it at least shows a little respect to ask in the native language if they can speak yours.
- rz8472, on 07/08/2008, -4/+7I hear the French are unflinching in their insistence that they speak French. Perhaps even more that us with English.
- hmunkey, on 07/08/2008, -1/+4Those people who are surveyed are comparing different tourists though, and even if they do not want the tourists around, they still feel the Japanese are better than French. That has to count for something.
- VicTheKnife, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3All I know is that I can't stand fanny packs
- inactive, on 07/08/2008, -4/+7Paris is the most visited city in the world. The citizens get annoyed that tourists assume they can speak other languages, particularly if you just walk up to them and try to start a conversation in a language other than French. Rightfully so. How would you feel if someone came up to you on the side of the road and started blathering about some nonsense you can't understand in a foreign language? Probably pretty cross.
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