What's With The French

[moi621 (imported)]

Reading this on another thread,

"I am tired of hearing francophones bad-mouthed."

Makes me want to reply, "then move to France"

And I remember my Russian wife puzzled at why Americans feel okay with the Germans and Japanese but not the French who were our allies.

My family was francophilic but I was the angliophile,

So before offering my opinion, I ask all of EA nation

What's with the French? And why do Americans tend not to like them.

Moi

I do like the cuisine.

[Riverwind (imported)]

I think it really started in WWII, when after months of planning Ike had the invasion plan for Europe all set in stone and here comes DeGaulle wanting to change it all because he did not like it. Then tack on that the French wont do business in any language but there own, even in Europe. They are not the friendliest group of people around and come off a bit high and mighty, not realizing of course that's our job.

And the French surrendered just to be on the safe side.

River

[Dave (imported)]

I think it started because Republican politics demands a scapegoat be blamed for unseen "things" happening to create fear in the minds of the electorate. It's nothing but a political thing.

It goes back to Charles de Gaulle resisiting some policy of the US under Eisenhower and the Republicans having at him and the French just to feel good and make cheap politcal points over de Gaulle.

We adore French food. We adore French fashion. We adore French wine. but we use France as a poltical punching bag because de Gaulle had the temerity to say NO to Eisenhower and not kiss the USA's ass for 50 years after WW2.

[Riverwind (imported)]

French food is not my fav, or even second place, as a matter of fact most of it I don't like, I would much rather have a good California wine as there much better, and as for fashion, give me a break.

But they did give us lady liberty.

River

[moi621 (imported)]

Guys, you forget those World War 1 loans, unpaid.

How about killing Wilson's plan for peace, setting up the need for WW2.

How about the occupation of Mexico during the American Civil War in violation of the Monroe Doctrine.

Algeria, Indo China, Renault can't they do anything right?

Hell

Police are German

Mechanics are French

Cooks are British

Bankers are Italian

Lovers are Swiss

Imagine Heaven and Whirred Peas too

Moi

[Misha999 (imported)]

After de Gaulle expelled Nato from France the Saturday Evening Post ran a cartoon. It showed de Gaulle standing in a cross filled cemetery in Normandy. The caption read Yankee go home. That had a big impact on me but my distain was for de Gaulle not the French. I've been to France often. I like the place and the people and they like me.

M

If the French were really intelligent, they'd speak English. ~ Winston Churchill

[JustAGuy (imported)]

I remember a few yrs ago when I was still in high school. I was a waiter just as a part-time job. A group of french people came in and I had the unfortunate pleasure of serving them. Between ordering a massive meal and being rude as hell, the jackasses only tipped me a buck between all of em. 5 or 6 of them was there and all I got for the trouble of their complaining and annoy attitude was a buck tip. If any one as ever been a waiter they know that a single dollar isn't really a tip. On the bright side an older guy did bust one of the french guys in the face for being rude to him, just goes to show respect your elders.

Now I'm a manager at the same restaurant as where that happened. When I see french ppl there I give the person who serves them I usually give the person a extra bit of cash from my own pocket.

[moi621 (imported)]

I remember a few yrs ago when I was still in high school. I was a waiter just as a part-time job. A group of french people came in and I had the unfortunate pleasure of serving them. Between ordering a massive meal and being rude as hell, the jackasses only tipped me a buck between all of em. 5 or 6 of them was there and all I got for the trouble of their complaining and annoy attitude was a buck tip. If any one as ever been a waiter they know that a single dollar isn't really a tip. On the bright side an older guy did bust one of the french guys in the face for being rude to him, just goes to show respect your elders.

Now I'm a manager at the same restaurant as where that happened. When I see french ppl there I give the person who serves them I usually give the person a extra bit of cash from my own pocket.

Just explain to the arrogant Frenchies the custom of adding a surcharge of 17% as a gratuity to the servers and explain you will, as manager, add it all up for them in their total bill.

Just like La France as I remember.

Moi

no one's going to complain about my ID name

[Dave (imported)]

...

all I got for the trouble of their complaining and annoy attitude was a buck tip...

I feel for you dude.

1) My mother was at a restaurant with her seniors groups and six of them left her and her roommate at a table with a 37 cent tip. That was the last time for that group getting one check.

2) I was a a lunch with 7 PHD chemists and five left including the one who didn't pay for a meal. Sid (the other fellow who got stuck) and I made up the difference. Years later I figured out who it was and he was notorious for sticking other people with the tab.

People don't need to be French to be cheap and obnoxious.

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

Is this a bad time for me to put in my objections to the custom of tipping? --FLO--