The French are known for being constantly negative, always looking first at the things that will lead a project to fail and complaining a lot. I must say it's pretty true (this NYC article explains it very well) to a point that it's really depressing. Look at the weather for instance... a few weekd ago people were complaining about the cold, now that it's really hot, they complain about the heat ;-) I don't think there is any way to please a French!
Complaining is always fun, we are very good at that in Sweden as well.
ReplyDeleteLOL. I'm sure they complain on Mars too ;-)
DeleteUnfortunately, you are very right Eric! (comme ca doit etre triste d'etre toujours negatif. C'est pourquoi j'adore la Californie et les Americains qui sont toujours "upbeat).
ReplyDeleteI know... If only we could get a little of Californian breeze from time to time...
DeleteYou and Nadege may be the only French people who don't think we Americans are stupid just because we smile a lot. But the French don't have a monopoly on the glass-half-empty viewpoint—have you met my (Sicilian-American) ex?
ReplyDeleteLOL. Nope I don't know Tony (someone who's Sicilian-American MUST be called Tony in my mind!)
DeleteI agree with you and Nadege (and the interesting article you linked to).
ReplyDeleteAnd... one thing I try not to complain about is the weather. After all, there is nothing you can do about it, and that's a fact!
Have a great day, Eric!
Merci Tamera ! (Well it's a little late, right now it's 11:21 pm LOL
DeleteI think it is universal Eric. My husband says the same of me - too cold in winter and too hot (100 degrees today) in summer. I am fantasizing of moving to San Diego, CA, where it is 70 degrees year round and sunny skies. That is perfect to me. I wrote a post on Voltaire's theory of optimism and like Candide, I think I'll just stay on my farm and tend my garden. And, I say the glass is half.
ReplyDeleteThe glass is half! I love that ;-) I'll use it again...
DeleteNo one is talking about the photo so I will. (Not that I'm complaining!) This couple looks like they're about to settle in for an evening of watching people cross the bridge(?) in the background. Do they know something is going to happen there later? Or are they just really boring? Why aren't they home watching the Tour de France? If it's so hot, why are they wearing long sleeves? Inquiring minds want to know !
ReplyDeleteLOL Stuart. Thank you for trying to refocus (can you say that in English?) the conversation on the photo, but let's face it, it's not a very interesting photo. I'm still convalescent you know, so I have the right to post leftovers ;-)
DeleteI think it's human nature to express yourself and if one has nothing to say, they pick on the weather. - I always look at the positive side of everything and enjoy what I have...
ReplyDeleteYes, but at the same time "only pessimists can be pleasantly surprised..." ;-)
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