Re: Why doesn't anyone like France?
Originally posted by Morgoths_Wrath
Seems to me like some people have issues with the French. How do YOU feel about French people?
i love the sound of the language...
Originally posted by Robtard
Anyone else think this is just a bit too contrived, even for a supposed moron like Jackie?
she seems really nice...
i don't want to sound mean, but i do not like the french culture, the language sounds nice, but i don't like it, nor would i want to speak it. i have zero interest in french food, attitude, or visiting french or speaking to french ppl; they are ppl just like anyone else, no need for me to think they are any special. i wasn't raised around french or french culture, i was raised American, and i am more comfortable around those who i was raised around, that doesn't mean i can't appreciate that it sounds nice, i just don't seek it, nor would i want to be bothered with it, sounds hickish, but it's true (and there is nothing wrong with hicks 🙂 )
sorry for adding more (pasted the 15 min mark);
if you were around french all of your life, that's who you would probably have an effinity for, even if it's not politically correct. i was around hicks most of my life, and that's who i feel comfortable with, even if it's looks odd or not politically correct, and no, hick doesn't mean the klan or something weird (no need to get big brother and mind control games)...if you were raised aroud germans, you are going to like them, if you were raised in the inner city, you are going to like them, even if you look differently, same as if you were raised around hicks, even if ppl try to control you otherwise...sorry about the rant.
Originally posted by inimalist
Nothing wrong with the people from francethose from Quebec on the other hand....
My boyfriend is French Canadian. His friends and fanily constantly evoke some weird ideas about English Canadians/Americans, not releasing that they do those same things.
Originally posted by debbiejo
They don't like to speak English in Montreal. We call it French land. Kinda like Disney world. 😑
Indeed, they don't like speaking English.
The city is really devided into English and French parts. Westmount is a rich ultra English place, and everything there is in English.
Mount Royal is more mixed, I find, but still prefer people to speak in French.
Quebec has this ''French/English'' rivalry, and they constantly evoke the idea that English stole their land. (just like they stole the land from Native Americans, but ok)
To be honest, French Canadians, in their habits are far closer to English or American then they are to French from France.
Re: Why doesn't anyone like France?
Originally posted by Morgoths_Wrath
Seems to me like some people have issues with the French. How do YOU feel about French people?
I don't really have too much of an opinion. They're okay, quite nice generally, so unlike many other Brits I know I think they're a good nation. Brilliant health service, too.
Actually there is no guarantee of acceptance if you try and speak French. A friend of mine trioed to live out in France but was driven away by hostility even though he took the time to learn the language and pretty mucb live as they did. The issue is worse in the rural areas, and his experience was that they mocked attempts to communicate in French that were not perfect, an attitude he found reflected in many regions he travelled to.
The French being so proud of their language is an attitude doing them no favours. Internationally it is dying (whilst, for example, German is growing) and the legislative protection that successive Governments seem convinced is a good idea to heap on it makes that prescriptive attitude a laughing stock.
Originally posted by Ushgarak
Actually there is no guarantee of acceptance if you try and speak French. A friend of mine trioed to live out in France but was driven away by hostility even though he took the time to learn the language and pretty mucb live as they did. The issue is worse in the rural areas, and his experience was that they mocked attempts to communicate in French that were not perfect, an attitude he found reflected in many regions he travelled to.The French being so proud of their language is an attitude doing them no favours. Internationally it is dying (whilst, for example, German is growing) and the legislative protection that successive Governments seem convinced is a good idea to heap on it makes that prescriptive attitude a laughing stock.
For sure, England has its fair share of xenophobes and idiots and, like most western countries, the never ending debate over immigration which fuels an anti-foreigner attitude. There's also a suspicion over those who do not learn English- though it really is a suspicion, and a dislike of self-isolating communities, whereas in France it seems to be more of an intellectual contempt. I guess the reason why does not matter though.
But frankly every country has its unfriendly edge. The UK is choc-a-block full of foreigners- its history is full of immigration and dependant on it- and most of them get on just fine and never have any problems.
For sure, the British are nowhere near as touchy about use of their language as the French are (possibly that's because so many Brits cannot use their language properly).
I think the issue for the French is exacerbated by the very defensive position French is in. As bardock notes above- why learn French as your second language? Even in the UK- where (I would hope) you can speak English so have the normal number one choice for second language removed, the incentives are not great. The only major reason to learn it is because France is next door, but that thinking is from the last millenium; distance is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
You need a very good reason, for example, not to choose Spanish instead.