Despite a good experience that some of you may have had with Parisians, we still have the reputation of often being short, rude, self absorbed... (don't say no, you heard it too!). And this, not only among the foreigners, but also among the French from the provinces and even among Parisians themselves! Up to a point that Le Parisien, the only local paper, uses this fact it in its advertisement. The one going on at the moment (that I photographed yesterday) says something like: "Le Parisien, the only Parisian you can count on this summer!" A few years ago, they also aired several commercials illustrating in a funny way the slogan: "Le Parisien, it's better to have him as a newspaper - (than for real)!" Watch this, you'll understand...
Fantastic Eric! I hadn't seen the videos before and they are excellent! So true, unfortunately...
ReplyDeleteLOLOLOL! I just re-watched the videos and had to laugh again. I love that this is made by the French about the French.
ReplyDeleteThis is weird! I've been checking in here since minuit Paris time and it was still yesterday's post up until about 2:30 am, but this says you posted at 2 minutes past midnight. I can stop worrying about you anyway.
ReplyDeleteSo let me check out these videos . . .
Yeah, that's pretty spot on! But is it true strictly of the Parisians? I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteIf it's any consolation, the first time I visited Paris in the late 80's, I did run into a two or three rude Parisiens. I also ran into those who were most helpful. The second time I visted around 2002, only one person was borderline rude. The last time I visited two years ago, I met the nicest people and service was always pleasant. Maybe it was because I knew my way around and didn't ask silly questions. I'd like to think that like most people, Parisien's like to be treated with respect and courtesy.
ReplyDeleteOK, OK, (warning: totally unrelated), but frustrating for someone trying to learn French...
ReplyDeleteOK, here we go...WHY oh WHY is the word for hiccups ("l'hoquet" pronounced "ok") PLURAL? Has anyone in their life EVER had one single hiccup??? OK I get it now, but "l'hoquet" should be singular, ok?! OK!
Confusionius say, "Always better to make fun of oneself than wait for others to do it for you..." Very funny ads ~ thank you, Eric!
ReplyDeleteHahaha!!! Great video! ;)
ReplyDeleteMy apologies. I scheduled the photo to appear @ 12:02 am but I left it in draft mode. When I realized this this morning I simply "undrafted" it, but the scheduled time remained... My fault.
ReplyDeleteI simply don't agree! While driving on the peripherique on my last trip to Paris, I found the parisian motorists so helpful - especially that taxi driver, who with a toot on his horn, gracefully gesticulated that I had missed him by a finger length - after I accidently drifted into his lane! Such manners, such courtesy and such accurate sign language!
ReplyDeleteDermo
Eric, glad it is just a technical delay. Was quite worried by your not posting as usual.
ReplyDeleteSay "Hello" to Paris. She is in my fondest thoughts, comme toujours.
Micheal - I had a similar thing with the collective when referring to a family in Spanish. In English we say "the Contadors went to town" and in Spanish it comes out actually mixed "los Contador" - "the Contador went to town" - and I thought, 'Well, it has to be one or the other'. But, no, mon ami! I think it has to do with the conventions and thinking of the goup as a single unit rather than as a bunch of units comprising the group. Same with los hiccup, je croix (and now thanks to you I've learned another word!) : )
ReplyDeleteEric - I can't make out what your photo is a picture of. Is it one of those large adverts that stand at the corner, man-size? It makes a cool looking photo. I loved the videos. No subtitles necessary for those!!! : )
ReplyDeleteShell - Confusionus - veru funny!
Dermo - am I correct in guessing which finger you missed him by? : )
*Michael*
ReplyDeleteCarrie. It's an "Abribus" ad, the ones you find inside bus stops that are lit at night.
ReplyDeleteI am back from vacation and drooling over the wonderful pics, Eric. Glad you are all well and that I am back in my rose garden!
ReplyDeleteAlexa, I am embarassed to say how many times I checked PDP last night. I thought Eric had an accident and I was worried!
ReplyDeleteMichael, "none" is singular, but we say "None of us are on the bus right now." Just TRY saying "is"!
The Brits use "company" as plural. We say "The company is working on it". UKLynn, wouldn't you say "The company are working on it"?.
Loved the video....I haven't seen a good fight between Parisians in years, but the ones I've seen have been doozies.
These videos are hilarious. I will remember never to give anyone my card nor to have a doormat outside my apartment!
ReplyDeleteThat said, I know a few Parisiens I can count on...
Ok, not to stir the pot, but I'm here in London (on business Rose!) and have found the people to be less friendly than I remember when living here. Taxi driver, hotel check-in clerk, and waiter were all unfriendly. So, I'm not sure it's a French thing, but individuals. I will say that I went to the bank this morning to deposit some 50GBP all in coins I've gathered through the years and the teller counted every single one! That would never happen in France without a few "pffffts" thrown in.
ReplyDeleteI always loved that people say the French are rude...and assumed they have never been to NYC! The best though is when people make that claim....then you ask them if they have ever even been to France. Of course the answer is no...
ReplyDeleteMichael, in all fairness, English is equally hard to learn. My Brazilian wife came here as a child, and still doesn't understand how multiples of a goose is a geese, but multiples of a moose are not meese!
Don’t even get her started on other things like parking in the driveway and driving on the Parkway....
Sean
Michael and Eurostyle - I think you're right - individuals are the culprits, but, I think its more common in big cities because everyone's stressed.
ReplyDeletePHX - I actually do try to say "None of us is...", "Spoonsful", and other rarely used forms of English like "May I..." (rather than "Can I...") and if you nonchalantly slip in the "is" really fast, you can sometimes get away with it!! ;) I still haven't gotten over a SoCal fast food chain, though, called Carl's Jr. It seems the final noun escaped somehow!
These commercials are priceless. Thanks for bringing them to our attention, Eric!!
ReplyDeleteCarrie, there's Carl's Jr. and don't forget Ruth's Chris Steakhouse! I don't get how that works, either.
English is very tough. Think of any word and I bet you can use it as both a noun and a verb. Perfect examples - looking around me I see "milk," "frame" and "plant."
But don't come to my house for grammar lessons. The latest argument is over "jumping rope" versus "jump roping."
I'm going to stop this off-point banter before the comment box police start complaining again.
I'm not getting into this "word" discussion—I correct grammar for a living, so it's too much like work!
ReplyDeleteEric -- don't apologize. But are you horrified or gratified to know that we worry about you? (the latter, I hope.)
My smug accomplishment of the day...I was able to read the sign in your post (before reading your explanation...I translated a bit more literally, and out of order at first :-), but I got it! :-) Love the color.
ReplyDeleteI know that!! I'm french and I was just born in Paris. I've never lived there, maybe 6 month or something like that but I don't remember...and when the people know that, they start immediately with bad jokes about parisians...
ReplyDeleteBut what can i do... ;)
I don't buy that "the French are snooty and rude" business. My theory is they treat you just like you treat them. Americans go over expecting them to be rude and expect them to speak English and get treated accordingly. I have found the French to be extremely friendly, helpful and smiley! It's all how you work it!! In fact, I must say I had a drink with a most charming Parisian just last Tuesday evening!! :)
ReplyDeletePS Check out all 100 French Strangers I've posted on my Paris blog and see for yourself.
so funny! I didn't know all of these videos, just the first one.
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