NOW I GET WHY PEOPLE SAY THE FRENCH ARE RUDE… | PARIS STORYTIME

Hi my loves ! Today will be a little story time about something I recently experienced in Paris as a "tourist" haha let me know your thoughts and experiences down below !
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Arielle
~~TAGS~~
Paris, storytime, paris storytime, paris arrondissements, sudy in france, live in france, live abroad, move abroad, move to France, living in Paris, paris lifestyle, Emily in Paris, international student
~~MUSIC~~
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Édith Piaf - La Vie en Rose (DeliFB Lofi Remix)
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[@galacticambitions1277]

Canadian people are generally nice. French people are generally not nice. It took me decades to confirm these prejudices with personal experience.

[@Madame_Different]

Lol Canadian are mostly hypocrite, they won't tell you what they really think. French will always stay honest.

[@lescommercantesdindochine1954]

"Nice" (ie; a spineless coward with more concern for others' feelings than any principles) ... the worst thing to be called... but true, Canadians are the epitome of "nice".

[@galacticambitions1277]

You sound almost... French... 😂

[@mt-bd9wi]

@@lescommercantesdindochine1954 very passive aggressive and fake not nice but somewhat polite if it doesnt concern their convenience..

[@no.6377]

@@lescommercantesdindochine1954 cordial, polite, kind - "nice" is a generic term for these. But if you wanna play KZbin philosopher like you've been watching too much Jordan Peterson to understand how everyday people use certain words, sure, you could look at people being "nice" as a bad thing🤔😐😑

[@ntakovacj3644]

I've had wonderful experiences in France. But the rudest person I ever met was the agent in a Paris train station who literally sneered when my husband -- a native speaker -- asked questions about travel in Normandy. When he changed his tone and expression from pleasant to a sneer that matched hers -- she suddenly became polite!!! Not kidding.

[@Ozama1221]

Good. Eye for a eye. That'll teach that stinky french

[@anastasia10017]

personally, I think the French are just rude and insulting. If you slap back MORE rude and More insulting towards them, they will respect you and then will be your BFF.

[@moondriver955]

@@anastasia10017 in my case they threatened me that they will call police if I won’t stop raising my voice. So irritating cos they don’t even speak English.

[@denisscheffmann9240]

@@anastasia10017 je pense, pour ma part, que vous souffrez d'un complexe de supériorité qui mériterait d'être soigné. Des Français, en France qui ne parlent même pas Anglais, quelle honte!!!

[@anastasia10017]

@@denisscheffmann9240 mais quoi ? Je parle le français parfaitement et je trouve les Français sont toujours mal polis, ingrats, égoïstes et malappris.

[@skeetermegamoto]

Interestingly, I happened to be walking by the elevator at the Arc de Triomphe. The door opened and I asked if I could hop in. The girl running it said sure. Been to Paris about a dozen times. Most Parisians have been incredibly kind to me. But I have encountered about 3-4 mythic a’holes. It’s a motivator to expand your French vocab so you can put them in their place. Otherwise, they feel free to bully you. You’re not crazy. They were schmucks to you. Don’t make excuses for them either. I suggest you make an official complaint. Describe the offensive staff since you probably don't know their names.

[@tas655]

This is why I’m taking lessons this autum

[@Sonongee]

You are french maybe

[@billyungen]

Better to bark in German to Parisians. That REALLY puts them in the place!!!

[@b3at2]

They know english too… if you look irritated by something they said.. they will follow you and pick at you until you break… and deny you access to their tourist attractions… it happened to me at the catacombs. Rude people. Oh and dont ask for help with out saying “Bonjour, je m’appelle” or they’ll scold you… its a nightmare .

[@MrRonantho]

you're cringe@@billyungen

[@julie_loves_monet]

I live with severe osteoarthritis and as it is an invisible illness, have definitely had people discredit my need for accessibility accommodations at times. When I was in Paris and we visited Arc de Triomphe, I too had to use the elevator. However, I only encountered very kind people throughout the duration of our trip and we went to many small towns outside of Paris as well. Here's the thing. I live in the United States in North Carolina. We have plenty of rude people here too. When people are rude it says more about them than it does us. I find when someone's really nasty to me I try to go say or do something kind for someone else as soon as possible. We can't let jerks like that ruin our experience. Just keep being kind and I love that you speak up and want to advocate for others.

[@allisonhunt1134]

I love this comment! Thank you

[@Dr._Nova_MD]

Paris is very unfriendly to invisible disabilities. Summer 2016 I had a disc herniation that was causing severe pain (I could barely walk, ended up getting spine surgery for it) and everywhere I went I got asked to prove I needed basic things like use an elevator because on the outside I looked young and healthy. It's so humiliating, especially if you are trying to have a day of being normal where your condition doesn't prevent you from living life to the fullest and then it gets shoved in your face. And the people doing this are acting like it's a personal vendetta they are fighting - when you're actually just a front desk greeter or the person selling tickets. IDK. There's something really sad about it, and the fact that it's been normalized. I would never recommend anyone with an invisible health condition travel in Paris.

[@mosta2]

I had bad experience even with a hospital receptionist, while seeking any doctor to help me with infection/fever that needed antibiotics I left the hospital after she yelled at me that I didn't go to the right place she asked me to go

[@wonderfullraluca]

Oh, is not only in Paris but in other french cities too.

[@maddscientist3170]

France sucks

[@edenimtiaz1644]

​@@wonderfullralucayeah but mostly in Paris

[@katusha83]

I live near Strasbourg and the people are very passive agressive to me because I am not french

[@IWantALeatherBag]

As a french person, i feel like we are either super nice or extremely mean/arrogant, like there is no in between! But it's not only towards english it's towards anyone

[@GreenLevi-ec6pz]

Half the french people she recalls encountering in this story are nice to her. Then she looks at the other half and goes: "oh, french people amirite?" It's just plain dumb.

[@billyungen]

The French outside of Paris are consistently and uniformly kind, understanding, helpful, and courteous. When I finally got over my Parisophobia (which I previously thought was Francophobia) and visited the real France, I was shocked at how nice everyone was. I am a big, fanatic, enthusiast for France now.

[@b3at2]

@@GreenLevi-ec6pz its kind of telling that millions of people only need to spend a few days in a foreign country to all report the same thing: French people are rude. France was amazing… but i did get refused entry to the catacombs because the ladies at the entrance taking tickets were very rude and me giving them attitude caused them To refuse my ticket. Nasty nasty rude people. And then at night all the migrants are trying to rob you 😂😂😂😂. And no one covers their mouth when they cough or sneeze…. And no air conditioning anywhere…. Its a real experience 😅

[@alainportant6412]

@@billyungen I just think parisian natives are aggravated by the hordes of poorly dressed, crocs wearing american tourists that they had to endure the sight of growing up. It's like they never quite figured the right balance between being comfortable for a long day walk, and not looking like you just got off the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride at Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Orlando Florida. Japanese tourists on the other hand, very classy. Chinese tourists are rude and poorly dressed.

[@zookaK]

We are just blunt people. No secrets to be kept here. it’s not like in America where people will call u “pretty for a fat person” in France it’s more like “tu gros garçon”

[@jenniferpackard6558]

I will never miss going to Paris.. My daughter went there a few years ago and was yelled at for standing under a very tiny awning during a really heavy rainstorm. Kindness is not part of their culture apparently.

[@DaQueenMontana]

Kindness is not part of their culture. Period ! I’m feeling such a relief that I am not the only one who think that they are sooo rude like it’s crazy !

[@dragonmaster909]

Rude, judgemental, snobby France is overrated

[@debasmitadey6232]

I have had some similar experiences as well! 😢

[@wendylbranchfield7959]

I feel like you over treated horrifically. Awful customer service, awful person who did it. However, was in Paris a year ago last October and I was treated very kindly by every stranger I spoke with.

[@flamma_larnaque]

Good to see that kindness is not in our culture when it's daily... Generalisation bro. And you want us to be nice with strangers with that ? Between the rude and imperial attitude of tourist and the generalisation on internet that we are not helpful and nice while I tried my best to help tourist who DON'T speak French... Sorry, but just let us live and forget us ?

[@iamrachael4083]

Living in France has made me so rude - I just got sick and tired of being pushed around.

[@wrappedupindogs9476]

The thing I most noticed about the Parisian rudeness was that they were as rude to one another as they were to tourists.

[@jokerjovies5806]

That’s good to know

[@wonderfullraluca]

Off course because this is the daily attitude, and not only in Paris

[@kath6720]

Really? I’m Parisian and I never noticed actual rudeness. I suppose we are not as sugary as North Americans and that can be misunderstood as rudeness. I mean I’ve had negative experiences in NY, Boston, Rio, Buenos Aires as well as many good ones. But I do agree that we stand to be colder especially to non French. But it’s not personal. It’s just us. 😉

[@stevenw.miguel]

No, it’s usually just tourists and foreigners . It was something I noticed. Once you get out Paris everybody is kind. I was warned to avoid that city and go to the west

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

​@kath6720 LOL just do an honest internet Search, and you will find how the rest of the world Feels about the French and their rudeness. Sure you'll find rude people all over the world. But the French have fine-tuned it.😊

[@davidlynch9049]

As a Canadian who speaks French, most of my encounters confirms the rudeness factor, especially in restaurants and bars. Hotels are not included, at least from my experience.

[@32446]

I would never go back to Paris. I’ve never been treated so rudely anywhere. In a cafe my friend who speaks perfect French had a waiter look at her in disgust, hold his hand up and tell her to stop speaking. I would rather go to Turkey where the people are warm and welcoming and are happy when you speak their language.

[@katusha83]

Exactly

[@jnpts]

Yes, go to turkey, it's a very good idea. Enjoy !

[@suzanne-moore]

Paris is a beautiful city but last time we visited in October, the bad experiences outweighed the good ones so we won’t be back. Too many other cities that are friendly and stress free.

[@samanthajacobs9586]

I grew up in the suburbs of NYC. Went to Paris this past April. NYC taught me a lot about holding myself in Paris. NYC is filled with rude people, you learn after awhile there’s alway a rude person around. I thought Paris was friendly but definitely a major metropolitan city. A metropolitan has it hard edges.

[@jnpts]

Pick pockets aren't french. The situation is getting worse and worse, not only in Paris area. In my opinion, a waiter in a french small town in France welcomes foreigners with a right manners. Simply don't think we are going to adopt english as a first language; understand that there is no reason for us to speak in chinese, turk, wolof, hindi, danish... 55 milions of visitors will never be a reason good enough. Sorry.

[@rebeccascheiris4944]

It is hard to say if this is a cultural difference. I think the American/Canadian idea that the customer is always right, and we have to give amazing service is just that American/Canadian. I have been to many countries where you have to call over the waiters, and people generally just give you service, which isn't friendly service. I don't agree with being unkind and yelling at people, but I do think the emotional labour expected of service workers in North America is a cultural aspect that is not expected in a lot of other countries.

[@pierren___]

What she called "yelling" is probably not even yelling lol

[@616Regis]

In French, the equivalent for "The customer is always right" is "The customer is king". Thing is, the French aren't exactly above sending their kings to the guillotine when they misbehave. But yes, a lot of behaviours that North Americans think are perfectly fine when dealing with service personnel would be considered rude or insulting in other countries.

[@anitas5817]

That’s a whole different thing. She wasn’t expecting the employee to tolerate rude behavior on her part or to say she was right. She wasn’t the problem.

[@zabryant01]

Nope same customer service applies in South Korea and Japan! The customer is important! Actually in many cases they have even better customer service than USA/Canada.

[@waluideeznuts]

@@zabryant01 yeah so true this thing is just an excuse french use to make themselves feel better about having a ghetto country

[@baraki808]

Had the worst experience with racism in Franch. Our waitress did the sqinty eye thing and laughed because we where Asian. Someone even yelled Go back home to China bruh I'm not even Chinese. Are French people aware tourism is a huge factor for their countries revenue?

[@flamma_larnaque]

Do you know that there is 70 million foreign tourists in France a year... And 90 million French tourists a year. How to say you we don't need your for our revenue. Sorry for your bad experience tho.

[@rpaafourever7908]

@@flamma_larnaqueanother example of French rudeness.. seriously tourists are coming to see your country not you as people nothing nice about you lot.. lack of self worth masquerading as specialness 😂

[@chrisp1998]

Thank you for sharing. Makes me feel less lonely in my horrible encounters with French people. Living here on and off for 5 years in the south of France and I kind of start to develop an anxiety for getting out if it involves communication with french people. Even like grocery shopping. I just have everyday at least one moment of shock by the negativity, ego, arrogance etc from the people in this country. I was always the person telling my italian partner not to complain about french people, but after a few years i kind of gave up trying. Its a country where nothing seem to work.

[@flashpanshmecker]

They import their behavior in my country (Belgium)😢

[@scaceresaragon]

It's been 15 years here in France and the anxiety never goes away haha :c

[@DaQueenMontana]

Omg totally the same experience they are soooo rude and not welcoming at all 😮‍💨I am soo excited to finish my master and leave ! Period

[@marthar0000]

I lived there for 3 years. Always the same -- plain rude.

[@clementg2437]

Or maybe you’re just not fitting in

[@SuperHigh09]

I've had a few interactions with French people and they all acted like I was beneath them. I could almost understand it if i was a tourist in their country bothering them but they were tourists in America asking for help while being shitty.

[@lisareed6159]

Had a similar experience and why it was one trip and done for us in Paris. Happened to us at the Eiffel Tower after being ignored for 10 minutes, try to get someone else's attention and the employee THEN decides to yell, scream more like it. No thanks.

[@Alex_G-ex1qd]

Oh well. One less generalizing Anglo amongst us.

[@davidlynch9049]

​@@Alex_G-ex1qdInstead of being defensive and typically arrogant about the billions tourists who spend in your country, why don't you socialize better?

[@brianlee4368]

My wife & I have visited Paris 13 times (& are returning again in October); we have had no experiences like the one you have described, but we sympathize with you for having gone through it. Here's a story on the flip-side ... We're seated outside at Fouquet's sipping Kir Royales. Another couple enters, without checking in at the entrance, & sits at an adjoining table, which has not been cleared. Our waiter goes by once, twice, without stopping & immediately the fellow is on his feet, aggressively asking that their table be cleared & that they be served. A verbal altercation ensues, mainly one-sided, with the patron doing the talking/demanding & gesticulating & the waiter standing stoically on the receiving end of the encounter. Then the white=haired waiter, 6 foot plus, 60 years plus, calmly says "Sir, I am not a dog. I will not serve you. Please leave." The fellow runs to his car, parked on Les Champs-Elysees, & gets his driver (with better French?) to come with him inside the establishment to complain. Meanwhile, the fellow's wife, who has said nothing, exits to their car. The fellow & his driver were still inside when my wife & I had finished our drinks & left. Fouquet's, no doubt, would stand behind their waiter, & rightfully so.

[@acheron9456]

It's funny Americans maybe you have a hard time seeing yourself... I am French and yet I have experienced very unpleasant events during my two trips to New York. I can't say that I found the people of this city to be warmer than elsewhere. I don't make a generalization about all Americans. Finally, Paris is one of the first cities visited in the world, too many tourists here, and you should know that their behavior is not irreproachable either... Finally, you should know, for example, that you have to greet any shopkeeper or employee in France, before asking them for a favor, something that is not done in other countries, as I have seen in Japan.

[@fadedxxautumn]

I was at a restaurant in the south of France last summer and went up to get napkins because the single waiter had not brought us any, nor was he paying attention to us. I thought it was ok, and he berated me for getting napkins and then proceeded to ration them out to us... such bizarre behavior. otherwise, I have had positive experiences in France.

[@b3at2]

😅😅😅 sounds about french.

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

Hi Aielle ! God bless you. I visited Paris 10 years ago with my teenage daughter. As tourist, we found we were either Ignored or if we had problems or questions, since we spoke no French and tried to communicate in English, we were treated VERY POORLY! I get it the French speak French:( they were not going to help if you spoke no French. My daughter learned quickly, she would find a school aged child and they would happily help. The adult's were hateful and hurtful. obtw We travel all over the world and most nationalities are friendly and helpful. THE FRENCH, NOT SO MUCH 😢 . I found the Thais to be sooo friendly I immigrated and married a Thai woman ❤ Now Id like to visit France with my Thai wife, but im afraid of the treatment we might receive. OBTW im now 70 years and walk POORLY with the help of a cane 😢

[@bridgeteam6028]

This is true. Racism is real.I have experienced this first hand.

[@jims355]

You are not overrating. I haven't been to every country in the world, but France and French speaking areas of Switzerland are by far the rudest places I've every visited. For me, it started from the moment I got to the rental car counter and its evident every day. I cant wait to get out of here.

[@lescommercantesdindochine1954]

LOLZ ... try going to China where they push you out of their way to grab food, spit on the floor, or India where rape is a national sport ... but the French are rude. Wake up.

[@sopheakphy457]

Cuz your BF is French. In fact, they act superior and speak too directly to the point that people from other cultures never come across their mind and they should learn to respect others.

[@loneinvader1888]

Of all the more than 30 countries I’ve been in France is where I met the rudest people and also had the worst interaction with humans so far. You don’t even have time to finish a sentence before they start yelling. On top of the administrative inconsistency and ignorance. I was once treated extremely badly at the airport because the agents didn’t recognise my country as part of the Schengen area even though it is one of the founding members.

[@barbaraz.5396]

When I was first in Paris about 15 years ago on a conference we went out to a cafe in a non touristy part of town. We waited for quite a while when one of the guys from the neighbouring table got up and walked over to us, he turned out to be the waiter chatting with his friends. We asked for two cappuccinos to which he said they didn’t have any. Then we asked for cafe au lait, he said he didn’t have those either. Then we asked ok what kind of coffee do you have with milk, he answered cafe crème. So we ordered those and got two cappuccinos😅 so after that I was quite worried when we decided to go on vacation in France last summer to the south western part of the country, decidedly away from big touristy places. It was really fun because really no one spoke anything else but French and mine is about 5 words (but was happy to realise I understood quite a lot). But they were so nice we were shocked! We couldn’t believe what we were experiencing! So a little advice: get out of Paris, it’s overhyped and doesn’t stand for the whole country!

[@josephturner7569]

People in the South don't like Parisians either. I live here.

[@shachar2]

sounds like: "We don't have any of your English beverages"

[@Clery75019]

Incredible I got the same experience in the US, I've been asking for a "café gourmand" and they told me they hadn't that. But then I asked if I could have little deserts with my coffee and they did it! That's exactly what a café gourmand is! Americans are so rude to ignore things from my local place! 😛

[@waluideeznuts]

@@Clery75019 French people always think theyre being so cheeky and smart with these kind of responses.. get over it. Yall are rude and everyone knows it not just Americans.

[@floridastitcher1]

We tried to take the train from Paris to Amboise and couldn’t find the right track. I went to a ticket window and asked for help. The lady yelled “No!” And slammed down the window. So nasty

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

This sounds awful… I’m sorry that happened !

[@jensphiliphohmann1876]

This "lady" needs to be fired because she's as useful as a broken clock.

[@chinedou1]

@@Ariellelaparisienne This sound invented!!

[@lillalii007]

They ALWAYS can spot an outsider. And love to make that well known. So rude my aunt lives there and even she said she doesn't fit in after living there for over 30 years, youd think that would be an awesome opportunity to travel

[@merrywalsh2809]

You were treated badly by rude people not doing their jobs. They hate their lives and they are placing the blame outside themselves. Whenever I am treated rudely I recall what my mother told me: “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” I will counter their arrogance with implacable kindness and humility for two reasons: to get what I want, and to take the higher road. My hope is that I might make their day better, and/or it will make them have second thoughts about behaving like jerks. Kill ‘em with kindness and I’ll be on my Merry way.

[@jensphiliphohmann1876]

May it work. From others I just read that they had to respond in kind to get what they wanted. Some people aren't dicks to you because they are unhappy but because they think they think you're easy prey. If kindness doesn't work, I'll try rudeness, and if this works because the guy statrs taking me seriously, I know that this is the right way to deal with such people and learn more French swair words.😎

[@tracycarmack9714]

But you catch the most flies with garbage - LOLOLOLOL

[@douglasgoodhartmusic]

No one in France is "doing their job". They are lazy, beyond measure, and work at 40% capacity, for a human.

[@dan7582]

FACTS!

[@stellarsjay1773]

I learned about greeting the owners of shops while visiting Switzerland. Very useful in many European cities.

[@jimconvery903]

I also was yelled at the last time I was in France, and it was not Paris! It was in Haute-Savoie. I asked in French where at the station I need to stand for the bus. The man screamed at me and yelled something about, "can't you see this is the line for the train! See the sign!" Every time my partner mentions wanting to go to France I warn him that we WILL be yelled at at some point during the trip. (He does not handle bullying well.) So we have been to other parts of Europe and Mexico. I've had similar experiences in Montreal, and I heard it got worse in recent years (my Canadian friend told me) because of a recent law passed affirming French as the dominant language in Quebec. He told me about a recent occurrence where a bus driver yelled at a special needs kid for speaking English on a bus.

[@xavierdpoulin]

I speak French because Im from Québec and if anybody in France dared talk to me like that, oh they wouldn't hear the end of it from me, I can be a French persons worst nightmare

[@jnpts]

I'm sorry but I consider this as absolutly normal. No cultural invasion.

[@Bloodysugar]

I've worked some years at the Arc de Triomphe, both in monitoring and ticket sells. You're pretty right about what tourists should expect from such place (and price...) but there's something you don't know : most people there have 8 or 10 months contracts with minimum salary because if they did two full years in a row the State (as is is owned and running by the ministry of culture) would have to make them "fonctionnaires" and pay them a descent salary. They are dealing around 2000 visitors by shift (3 shifts a day) and they are underpaid, have no work security, are treated like shit by officials, got their health broken by stress and pollution, and have to endure some illegal process (like being forced to pay from their pocket if they make a mistake selling tickets). It's one of the shittiest job I've ever had to do. So best elements end up leaving as soon as they can, and don't give a flying F about their tasks. It doesn't take to be French to become rude there, anyone in its right mind would end up depressed and angry.

[@fluffymajestic8656]

Respectfully, that is absolutely no excuse. Every American who’s ever had a job has started at minimum wage with absolutely no health benefits. And remember, our healthcare is not free here. Because employers are required to provide healthcare options for full-time staff, most entry level jobs are part time. So you’re under paid with no ability to move up. And that includes every server and every store clerk you run into. There is simply no excuse in the universe to be hateful to someone you don’t know. It’s actually considered morally wrong by most people in the world. It’s pure narcissism actually.

[@Florence3121]

That, and the fact that no one forces them to do a job they don't like.

[@Bloodysugar]

@@fluffymajestic8656 They are not hateful, they are exploited and pissed. To avoid an interaction to be polluted by egocentrism it takes everyone involved to care about the others. Yes all tourists deserve to be welcomed and should enjoy an excellent time with friendly people pleasing them... but if these tourists don't give an F about what these people endure, and call them narcissistic they can go "se faire foutre". Dearly.

[@Bloodysugar]

@@Florence3121 Well it could be argued that living around Paris (and inner city is even worse...) isn't an economical dream, and that for most people there's a lot of pressure to take and keep wathever job may help. As I said, they leave as soon as they can, best ones first. Losing best elements is human ressource's management at its worst, and it shows.

[@fluffymajestic8656]

@@Bloodysugar you missed the point. Everybody is exploited and pissed at some point in their working career. That’s just part of the free market. It sounds like these people were perfectly respectful and polite, but this guy just started screaming at them. There’s no excuse for that. It’s funny that you appear to think the whole world has to care about someone in order for them to be polite. In America, we would call a person who thought that way a douche. Yes, we know that’s a French word. And we also know it’s American connotations are lost on your entire country lol. (Just a joke mate, I know their are nice French people).

[@josephduke5186]

Reluctance to be helpful in any way yet quick to criticize the slightest mistep or misinterpretation? That sounds about right.

[@leenieledejo6849]

You nailed it. Many French are nitpicky when it comes to others' behavior but 100% blind and deaf when it comes to their own...

[@tzoe875]

Canadians are the nicest people in the world! Living with an invisible chronic disease is so frustrating. You would not believe the looks I get in the airport when I use a wheelchair and board early (note: not by staff)! I imagine that it gets tedious working in the hospitality business, with arrogant tourists. I just wish there was more patience, grace, tolerance and understanding everywhere. Twenty years ago we met some of the kindest, most generous and friendly people in Paris. I wonder if it would be the same today? It feels like the world is a bit angrier in general.

[@DavidWilliams-qr5yj]

The rudest ,meanest people ever were French Canadians in Quebec

[@heliedecastanet1882]

Rude people can be found everywhere, unfortunately. I had bad experiences in Italy, in France, in Germany, in UK, in Greece, in the UK, etc, etc… If you have a way to report a bad behaviour, do not hesitate to report it ! But I also noticed something, through all the vlogs dedicated to trip and travel : rude people meet rude people. Nice people meet nice people. A very illustrative example can be found in a comment on this page : Susan Agrella (who blocked me since). She is complaining about the rudeness of one French woman, and I wrote to her I was very sorry she had an bad experience with this woman, saying that alas we sometimes come across rude people everywhere, abroad and in our own country, but that I hoped she nevertheless enjoyed the trip… And she basically answered that this one and only incident put her off, that New York was far better, with far better people, wishing me good luck with "rude" people, and then blocked me 🤣 It was so funny, because she could not see she was acting very, very rude to me. So, how can we be not surprised if such a person "comes across" rude people, as rude herself as she can be ? 😂 That is why I say : rude people meet rude people. Good luck, dear Susan !

[@leluminaireentong3009]

So true

[@peppersanches412]

Universal Law of Attraction

[@heliedecastanet1882]

@user-mc6yj6sm3j If you say so, dear Elliott 🙂 I would very rude if I contradicted you 🙂

[@cindypowell7227]

You're right! How can you determine disability by sight... what about heart problems or COPD... ANYTHING that's not visible.

[@maddscientist3170]

France is at the very bottom of my list for Europe touring

[@jnpts]

Have you ever been there already ... ?

[@mobe494]

Hmmm! I am commenting since you requested it, but, it seems you have been surprised by quite a few things “here of late” as we say in America. 🤔 Might I suggest that it is unfortunately quite common for black and brown people to receive different treatment than their white colleagues/counterparts when traveling abroad? Not to say that this is always the case…but it happens more than you would think. It may not have been your authentic experience, but probably is exactly that for many tourists! 😢 I would agree that the “gentleman (and I use that term loosely)” was probably more than a little annoyed when his French rant was returned by a near-native speaking person! Yeah YOU!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 He probably does this all day long and has little fear of repercussion since most tourists just walk away shaking their heads in disgust/disbelief at such rude treatment. I am sorry that your friend’s parents have had to experience such, but, if you ask your friend to reflect on her own personal experiences, I would bet she has probably been treated the same way once or twice as well. Minorities don’t often share this type of treatment w/ others outside their culture b/c unfortunately, it is quite common and we generally get blamed for “blowing things out of portion.” Thank you for sharing. 🤗

[@juliaorpheus]

I'm sorry there are so many jerks out there that you have to just get used to being treated rudely. That is unacceptable!!!

[@sarahludos7970]

My husband and I have visited Paris many times and it is our favorite city! We have had only 1 experience and that was in the metro. We walked up to the counter and she promptly said it was closed and turned her back to us. We thought it was because we were tourists however when 2 local people walked up she was rude to them as well. The 4 of us had a good conversation and we were helped by them. When we travel we are respectful to the customs, speak a bit of the language (not fluently) and are very kind. It goes a long way.

[@sparkle5184]

I'm French and it happened to me I don't know how many times. It seems these people working at the RATP are always frustrated and don't enjoy working there !

[@Vanessa_Thiriet]

The security guards are rude to everyone in France!! Go to a supermarket when the stores are closing in the evening: you will see that it's the same. We, French, suffer from them too! They are not part of a customer service. They are not there to “serve”. They guard their place zealously (they feel empowered) and are very susceptible to any disobedience. They don't know how to round the corners. Just from his behavior, I know he's not French (running after you, yelling at you, insisting) and that plays a big part in his lack of "finesse". 80% of those guards (vigiles) in Paris come from an ex colony and live in a no-go zone... They receive no training to be friendly. They are there to prohibit, control access or evacuate the premises. Afterwards, we must admit that some are very exposed to violence and in case of conflict (even a minor one), they no longer know how to stop their anger.

[@aseemsoodim]

I can so feel you! 😢 It was my first time in Paris, just got-off from the airplane and got yelled by some crazy train woman for no fault of mine. Just ruined my whole trip!

[@Trolldollz]

We are in paris we have been here 3 days had 2 french people been really rude to us ive found this so upsetting i dont want to ever visit again 😢

[@anastasia10017]

employees in France have a lot of employment protection and they can't get fired. and if they do get fired, they get 2 years worth of unemployment (= vacation to them). So an employee can be as rude and inefficient as they want and will not fear losing their job. FYI, Paris government actually has had to try multiple PR campaigns to try to encourage Parisians to be more polite and accommodating towards foreigners.

[@harlanabraham7772]

Every time a poll comes out the French are always voted the most rude people in the world. I live in NYC. Never been to the top of the Empire State Building. It's something local people don't do. Most of Canada is very nice. Once ran into a store clerk who insisted I speak French, this was in Quebec City. I told her I don't speak French. She asked me to try. I left and made my purchases elsewhere. See, French even in other non French countries are rude to tourists. Don't like tourist areas either.

[@TheRyan4778]

Most of these polls are done by Americans or the Brits.

[@denisscheffmann9240]

vos propos illustrent de façon parfaite pourquoi certains Américains, de par leur attitude ne sont pas appréciés en France. A titre personnel je me passe parfaitement de leur présence.

[@harlanabraham7772]

@@denisscheffmann9240 The French will write in French so others can't understand. Especially when it is addressed to someone who has stated he doesn't speak French. This is the height of rudeness and why many don't want to deal with the French.

[@Alex_G-ex1qd]

@@harlanabraham7772 Were you among the Anglos pretending to 'Pray For Paris' back in the day?

[@XOXO-eo5vu]

​@@denisscheffmann9240Je n'aurais pas mieux dit ! Ce comportement est tellement méprisant et insultant envers l'histoire du Québec qui est marquée par la volonté de préservation de la langue français face à la supériorité numérique des Anglais...Cela dit, les touristes anglais sont infiniment plus courtois et respectueux, ils essaient toujours de parler français lorsqu'ils voyagent en pays francophone.

[@banditop276]

People tend to take Paris for an amusement park, it absolutely has to be like on the postcards Paris is above all a city like any other with people who have their moods and their worries

[@nela277]

Is exactly that. I have been living in Paris for the last 20 years and for 6 years I worked in tourism in Versailles, and I realized how rude some tourists can be. I was always glad to help, but people was always giving orders and not even saying hello (bonjour and merci is the basis!). So I started being rude too (rude Parisian style) 😂. Now I still glad to help people (I’m a lawyer now) but sometimes, we, parisians, we are just running out late for a meeting, for work, and the tourist are not moving in the metro, or even blocking it or are trying to ask for directions to people…guys we are not always available to help you 😂 and of course, not all French speak foreign languages too and that is a problem too.

[@jokerjovies5806]

⁠@@nela277 this is insightful. So it sounds like you can get typical rude Americans and they can spoil the experience. It probably also feels herding cattle with entitles Americans. It would probably be hard not to see them in a certain light. So long as this isn’t the French experience as a whole, I guess I shouldn’t be too worried? I’m learning French because I plan to move out and of America one day, and I sometimes get discouraged because I don’t want to move to France if I’m going to be treated badly

[@32446]

They do the same in London, however there is no need to be rude.

[@manaji]

​​@@jokerjovies5806my best advice would be to avoid Paris if you decide to move here. Honestly as a french person myself, I would warned you that Paris is like super expensive to live in! Transportation and housing are like double compared to some other big cities. Maybe try Annecy, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Avignon, etc, smaller cities than Paris, but with still some tourism will probably help, I live in one of these cities myself and most people in service here (especially young people) will be able to answer you if you need to use English to ask something. Another advice, even if your french is not perfect, saying Bonjour every time you enter a shop or want to address someone is SUPER important and will go a long way to avoid rudeness in return.( I'm saying this because a lot of Americans tourists tend to just put their purchases in front of me without even an hello and when I say Bonjour to them they answer with "How much?"😅)

[@icecreamisgoodtbh]

yet nobody complains about this in any other city interesting

[@latengocomoburro]

We do not "think", they are rude.

[@cultofpersonalit1888]

It's the not "the French" It's the Parisians. Parisians are famously known to be rude and not only with tourists but with everyone themselves included.

[@debracoulter1250]

The first time I went to Paris was on a tour. We had one person in our group with a heart condition. At the Arc de Triomph they refused to let her go on the elevator. The weird thing was that they let us ride it down. Very confusing. I’ve luckily had very decent experiences every time I have visited. I’ll be there next month and I’m so excited!

[@loritanner4478]

When people are rude at you for having health issues. Just start crying. That gets them. Do it even if you have to fake it. People need to relearn compassion. When I found out I have breast cancer now. I cried alot to people over the phone demanding that I pay ahead of time for medical procedures that I didn't have the money for all at once upfront. And we're telling me that I couldn't have my double mastectomy unless I paid. That was a lie. As soon as I started crying and losing it over the phone. Boy, did their tune change. And no, I didn't have to prepay. And I just had my double on this last Tuesday. So use the water works. Turn the tables on the rude ones.

[@annegabriellefaivre5701]

Sorry for what happened to you and your friends... Let me try to explain this complete misunderstanding : you say you expected better "customer service". Well, the Arc de Triomphe is not considered by its staff as a business, even you have to pay a fee to get in (for the maintenance of the building). The staff see themselves as public servants for the ministry of Culture. And they just don't see you as "customers". This may seem strange to you, but that's how it works. Sad, but true.. I'm French, I have lived in the US and loved it. And to many of my American friends who come here to visit, I say as as a joke : "Don't think the French don't like the Americans. The French don't even like each other either"!!!

[@outis439-A]

You guys like cheese and wine only

[@leenieledejo6849]

There's absolutely NO EXCUSE on this earth for yelling at someone in public. ESPECIALLY at visitors to your country. I lived in the UK for 40 years and NEVER saw it once. I have visited the US several times. I lived in Rome for 5 years. I never witnessed aggressive public service and especially YELLING. I have lived in Paris for several years and have seen it many times. Stop making excuses for them. Stop enabling them. It only gets worse when people enable them 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@emmanuelwood8702]

You can give the benefit of doubt if it were a one-off situation.But when so many people have the same experience its not rational to deny . The french think they are the center of the world so this is the attitude you get as a result this mindset.

[@TheNextLife]

Been here for 5 days and seen this every day

[@karenharbaugh2679]

I agree with you 100%. I've been to Paris once and that was one time too many. The French people were the rudest people I've ever encountered.

[@JulienInNYC]

Hmm … your name is Karen right ? Just kidding 😉

[@Alex_G-ex1qd]

How many freedom fries did you eat back in the day, Karen?

[@tinaoberjohann7371]

I visited Paris for the first time last summer from the USA and I did not experience rude behavior. The staff at the Musée de L’Orangerie was super helpful (my French is rusty and they spoke English to help me) and I had trouble figuring out the ticket to buy for a train into Paris from a southern suburb and one of the locals actually helped me with that since it was a fully automated stop with no staff. I was truly grateful for the help. The only uneasy experience I had was a man who approached me while I was taking some photos walking around and he was trying to be very insistent on me going to have coffee with him and was not taking no for answer so I literally ran from there. Other than that, my 10 days in Paris were amazing.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Ah that is so great ! I’m glad your experience was so positive 😊

[@useyy3xkp5]

Maybe you were Looking rich. Thier behaviour change immediatly at the moment they see they can take benefit from you😂

[@Chutchinson0423]

Girl you are not crazy this is why it has the reputation it has because it is true. I'm sorry you experienced this but I can't believe you haven't experienced this before. I lived there for 8 yrs and I am french. Worked in tourism and this was my everyday experience. It's not even customer service it's like they lack a humane approach to life, yet they will fight for important civil rights, but treat each other terribly. Most people who work in tourism jobs are straight up mean like why work in the most busy capital and have the most client facing role if you are mean?????? Work from home on a computer lol...... I have so many many stories and now I'm happily living outside of france. Life isn't a struggle and a fight everyday it's pretty laid back and wonderful because I don't live there anymore. So sorry for you experience but it is real and valid and this is why tourists have a bad time in paris...on top of people scammed, robbed and all the other fun bs that goes along

[@jeanlundi2141]

You just put into words this little contradiction I sensed in many French people. I always said I admired the french because they fight for their rights and usually complain when they are being used in some way by the system....but yeah, at the same time, that indignation seems to not based on a real humanity. I'm portuguese and I've met many many europeans from all over during my travels....and even the nicer french people seem to have a bit of 'wall'. One thing I notice is french people on average are closed-off to what happens in other places. They may find something cool about, the US, for example...but in practice....even amongst europeans, they were the most closed off I met. Even trumping many nords lol But I'm sure if I spent more time in France for a season I'd find plent of open people too.

[@wonderfullraluca]

Oh this hit me so much. I thought i was the only one to feel it and for 20 years now. I felt understood when i read your comment. Thank you

[@icecreamisgoodtbh]

Broke, no jobs, falling behind country and they have the nerve to be so arrogant about their craphole

[@Alex_G-ex1qd]

@@icecreamisgoodtbh So what crap hole do you come from.

[@katusha83]

❤

[@noora242]

I've been to Paris twice in the 2010s and luckily never experienced something like this personally! I've studied French for ~2 years but don't really speak it anymore so I would normally say "Bonjour" but then continue the conversation in English, saying sorry and that I don't speak French that well. Once I had a very friendly "no problem" and we switched languages and once the salesperson backed off smiling (haha) because I guess she didn't feel comfortable serving me in English but that was ok. One time we went to a restaurant where the waitress got someone else to answer our questions in English, but she was very friendly as well. Also had similar experiences in Nice/Cannes 🙂

[@JustCallMeAnnie]

I went to Paris in 2002 and Disneyland Paris in 2017, and I didn’t have any problems. Everyone was super friendly. I’m very thankful for that!

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Ah ok so glad you had a positive experience when you visited ! ☺️

[@jensphiliphohmann1876]

Might be because rude employees are soon ex- employees there. 😎

[@mollyjones4746]

Same but they represent Disney. I took my daughter to Spain on the transfer a young man told me to educate my 5 yr old to be quiet I was so upset he was showing off in front of his he and friends. I was a single mum with my happy child 1st time on a plane on a sunny holiday she was just happy and giggling not crying but yeah shame on the French!!

[@meldrani]

@mollyjones4746 You should've told him to mind his own business and that your daughter is not hurting anyone.

[@pameehanson3866]

I had heard that French people were rude, but your stories made me think it's kind of blown up until today! I believe if your going to work the tourist areas you'll get the same thing everyday and it does get to you as people can also be very rude to the help. Thanks for sharing and helps remind us to be nice too when were frustrated and upset, sounds like you all just tried to cooperate best you can. This does leave a negative impression and that is sad when that is not really true. Thanks

[@vessyioannou259]

Yes in Sydney unfortunately one day I went to the rides and the guy was very scary. In Austria someone was very rude at the airport so it happens everywhere unfortunately. Not to mention the taxi driver in Viena not only rude but dangerous. EVERY WHERE YOU DONT ONLY HAVE RUDE PEOPLE BUT VERY DANGEROUS

[@ahntran5141]

Narrow it down, what ethnicity was he/she???

[@dannyestrada8572]

As an Asian guy visiting France. I came to this store to order coffee. I asked if they have a caramel macchiato. I guess he couldn’t understand my English and he was screaming at me so loud that the other had turn away. Our last day in the hotel and we had a free breakfast. They serve us raw sausage and bacon And no eggs. I guess they are serving the food for the newly arrived tourists

[@ValleyGreenNaturals]

I was yelled at by a guard at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. I live here, and I was taking a friend around the city to see the sites. We had already been to several museums, when one guard at the Air & Space Museum noticed a small cork screw in the bottom of my purse (apparently dropped in my bag after a long-ago picnic...lol). I had long-forgotten it was there, and I apologized profusely. I took it out and started to toss it into the waste bin where other people were tossing their contraband. She yelled at me again and made me go outside, all the way down the steps to use a trashcan alongside the street. It was totally unnecessary to overreact the way she did, and I was very apologetic because it was an honest mistake. So even as a local, you can encounter rudeness and mistreatment in tourist settings. I compare people like that to rude TSA agents who like to assert themselves because someone has given them a little authority. As for France, I was in Paris with my Dad many years ago. Everyone, from museum and restaurant staff, to store owners of Fromageries and boutiques, was very kind to us❣

[@sharonfischer7767]

Seems classically French to me. Customer service is not a thing. Snobbery and potential racism is.

[@banditop276]

Like the idiots who generalize? Apartheid was born in France?

[@pierren___]

Now thats rude. 🔼

[@Alex_G-ex1qd]

Is stupidity classically American?

[@davidlynch9049]

​@@pierren___But acturate.

[@DeeDee-vl1kt]

I 100 percent agree with you! The man was OUT OF LINE and how I wish he would have been reprimanded by management! I hope he is the exception to the rule... Not the norm😔😔😔

[@robbin9654]

He was unprofessional thank you for standing up for yourself

[@annjohnson543]

I don't think you did anything wrong. He was probably ticked because you called him out. UGH. What a welcome to Paris for your friend's parents. You are not crazy.

[@juliemansfield3820]

That is terrible to hear, and sad for your visitors to Paris. They staff were very obliging and nice when I was there last August, and let me use the elevator when my daughter asked for me. I loved the experience.I guess there is good and bad in all countries.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Ah im so glad you had a good experience that’s so good to hear

[@MrStan0630]

I have visited Paris a few times. I don’t have a problem with rudeness, but I have a friend whose opinion I respect, and has to many cities who thinks the French are rude. I had a somewhat similar problem with a security guard (regular civilian clothes) here in the US at a train station , so maybe some security guards abuse their power. I think it is pretty well accepted that the French don’t have “The customer is always right” culture.

[@darkenrahl2469]

Frankly I traveled a lot and I had all kind of experiences, great and awful.. I think many foreigners love to hate french people and it's part of the game. Never the less, the kind of guy you delt with is very common in public services in France, let's say it's a criteria of selection to employ them. This very treatment is not dedicated to tourists or foreigners but to every single interlocutors they encounter even if you speak to them kindly, respectfully, etc. I had a bunch of nesty interactions with some of them sometimes on the behalf of visitors and I'm French. Please guys, do not take personally or because you're from abroad, this is only the way they behave toward anyone, may be because they hate their job. "Strangely enough" you will notice a different treatment when the bloke they are speaking to is built like my son 6ft7 (2meters)! 🙂

[@zourou319]

To be fair, I don't think the French are any more rude than Americans and Canadiens. I've encountered just as much(if not more) rudeness in the U.S. and Canada. And there are people in bad moods anywhere. Now I'm not trying to invalidate anybody's negative experiences, just want to point out the stereotype is excessive.

[@roryoconnor1411]

I come to Cannes in the south of France three times a year. I’ve been to Paris 5 times. Nice a few times. Ski in the French alps regularly. I’ve never come across a less friendly and pleasant culture of people. One in every 50 people are actually nice to interact with if they even acknowledge you at all and that’s being optimistic.

[@billwalton4571]

I have a french colleague who shuns people who dont work like slaves, go home a collapse after every shift. Paraphrasing, he told me he doent acknowledge people who underwork. While he himself does nothing, and is not our superior but just a colleague on the same level. Its bizarre behaviour. Its pure arrogance. I feel like saying "hey, we are in a British colony, a very successful one, we obviously know how to do something right since even french wish to migrate to our places, i pity your insecurity".

[@bicuriousdirtbikeboi2594]

I went to France on a student ambassador program when I was 13. The people there were generally pretty polite to us as long as we weren’t being obnoxious and minding our own business. Now we were a bunch of 13 year old kids so of course we were loud and lot of the time but generally no one bothered us. That being said, I did get yelled at on that same trip in Germany because I was with my home stay because we were playing tag with some neighborhood kids at a festival, and I went a little too close to a guy’s stand where he was cooking on grills. So when he came out of the shop he started screaming at me in German, and all I could think to do was say “Ya,” and “ja tut mir leid” which means “I’m sorry”. This whole time the kids in a family I was staying with were laughing and the guy looked at them and said “Is he an idiot or something? What is wrong with him?” and the girl just said “No he’s not an idiot. He’s American.” So he turned back to me and in English said “Don’t play around here where we’re cooking. Go play over there with the other kids.” And I just said “Ja! Dankeschön, Herr” and fast walked away.

[@juliaorpheus]

Totally mean to ask your friends what was wrong with you! For a 13 year old in a foreign place that must have been upsetting and totally unnecessary for him to speak to you that way, even if you were 13.

[@bicuriousdirtbikeboi2594]

@@juliaorpheus He didn’t know I wasn’t German, also I was being a shitbag so I kinda deserved it 😂

[@Rkmoose107]

Been all over Europe - the French were the rudest by far and it’s not even close. Irish and Italians by far the most friendly.

[@madricka]

I spent a wonderful 2 weeks in Paris & had an amazing time. Everyone was really nice for the most part. Though I did get snubbed by a little girl in a park who asked me a question I couldn’t answer in my messy Canadian French, she rolled her eyes, let out a big sigh & walked away. 😅 Overall I think it was appreciated that I tried to speak French as much as possible though I am far from fluent & my pronunciation is atrocious! Either way, I can’t wait to return. ❤

[@saritaschwedes8393]

could be because the parents are Indian? i don’t know anything about the prejudices of France. just a thought,🌸

[@eileenternullo8077]

Sorry about your experience. I have been in Paris I few times. My observation is that some tourists treat the city like a amusement park instead of a city. I noticed when watching the French, they are more quiet, so I try to quiet my behavior when there, more like museum behavior, than amusement park behavior.

[@sherrieshatzen3801]

My guess is your response not only surprised him, but probably scared him. I imagine he was worried that you might complain to someone who is in a position to impact his employment. His response is to becme a bully. The security guy, nut job. I am surprised because I haven't had this kind of experience. The only thing similar is the time I took an American friend to lunch. While we were looking at the menu we were speaking English because she doesn't speak French. Meanwhile the waiter is standing nearby & I can hear him talking to another waiter & making very rude comments about Americans. When he came to take our order & I spoke to him in French he had to know I had heard him & knew what he had said. I agree with everything you have said. I think righteous indignation is an appropriate response. I think you should contact someone in authority in the French touriist bureau. Why would they spend money to advertise for people to come vacation in France & then leave them with a negative impression because of the way they are treated by people who live there & work with tourists? I imagine if you give the specifics of the date, time & situations encountered somebody might want to check it out & address the employees involved.

[@jasonclark2237]

I don’t “think” they are rude. I KNOW they are rude.

[@OTTOMATT-me9cp]

Everyone knows that US tourists are assaulted, stolen, when they come in France, people spit on them, cut them in pieces and throw their bodies in the sewers. This "rude French" or "French hate US" thing is an US invention and is nothing but a pile of B.S. It's called cultural differences. Most of the French are more reserved than loud Anglosaxons who shout and yell every 5 minutes for anything, but are probably more open minded than many other nationalities. As someone living in the Paris area, i've often tried in the past to communicate in English with foreign tourists, whom English speaking tourists. The impression was that i bothered them more than anything else. Like in any major world capitals, a lot of people deal with harsh daily life problems, and are stressed. Go in NYC or London, and enjoy. Individual people and crowds are 2 different things, when one take the time to communicate. The French are rude, for sure. It's probably why France is still the most visited country in the world, with about 90 million tourists each year. Maybe that the ones who come here are all masochistics, i guess. US streets full of degenerate weirdos everywhere are probably better, for sure. This problem with the French in the US has much deeper reasons. US have zero history, immigrants from Europe, for the most. It's why they constantly need to spread their vomit on other nationalities, to compensate their inferiority complex. In addition, it would be better to avoid to give lessons to others, from a place where mass shootings are the national sport. I really think that a lot of people in US should definitively try to cure their problem with the French in good mental institutions. And if you don't like France, no one is forcing you to come there. Stay in your holes, you will feel better, and so did we. Boring in the long run.

[@rjflores438]

I had an extremely rude women at passport control at Charles De Gaule a few year back, she was so rude it really took me aback. I only asked her the stamp my passport and this was snapped at me for asking, she shouted ''for what!'' pretty loudly and was extremely unpleasant and grilled me as to the reason I was visiting Paris. I tried to stay calm because of where I was and the fact that I was on vacation for my birthday and I didnt want the trip to Paris ruined or for me to end up on a flight back home. If that woman had of spoken to me like that anywhere else, I honesty think I would have told her to F *ff as a response, thats how rude she was. I know that this a rude response to give back, but some people need to be told that their rudeness will not be tolerated and get a taste of their own medicine.

[@catnova6959]

I listened to a recent episode of The Daily podcast (New York Times) which explained their attitude to work really well. The French work ethic is that they "in general" don't like to work. "Le travail" is a dirty word . Unlike a lot of other countries where work is seen to add value to peoples lives. They use the protests over raising the retirement age by two years as an example of this. It's worth a listen. So couple that cultural difference with a customer service job in tourism and you have a lot of unhappy French people! It's a shame, I'm learning French so that i can spend three months there so that I was hoping to avoid these situations.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

This is a super interesting comment ! It is really true that people are less enthused about work in France… actually it’s the main reason I moved here, because I love their “joie de vivre”. But I guess in some cases it leads to people who really are completely fed up with their job

[@jeffwambold1196]

i recently visited Paris as part of a tour. Paris is beautiful. I like how they kept the city center as it was hundreds if years ago. the vibe a got was that that most people were annoyed with tourists. instead of being arrogant they should be proud of their city and welcome to visitors who spend thousands of dollars to visit... helping support their economy. saw lots scowls not smiles. contrast that with Ireland where it seamed that everyone was happy, engaging and helpful. I had a great time there and will go back.

[@denisscheffmann9240]

Pouvez-vous comprendre que les Américains (des USA) sont en général perçus comme des personnes arrogantes, malpolies, exubérantes et quelque peu hystériques.

[@pallasvititoe6404]

We visited Paris in 2014 - I was in my mid sixties, and my husband in his early seventies, and we had pretty good stamina. We stayed in the 6th arrondissement within easy walking distance to many things. After breakfast we walked over to Ile de la Cite, and toured the Conciergerie and Sainte Chapelle, then had a light lunch nearby which was lovely. Afterward we continued to walk around admiring the architecture and la Seine when we decided we needed a pick me up, so we went into a cafe about 2:30 to have coffee. We were seated, and the waiter took our order. He became so agitated that we were only ordering coffee that he yanked all the settings from the table including the water glasses, and he dropped many utensils on the floor. His behavior made me burst into laughter. The restaurant was not crowded, and I didn't feel like we needed to order a meal just to have a cup of coffee. Another day after touring The Louvre, we were seated at a sidewalk table for crepes and coffee. We were treated fine, but as I was coming up the stairs from the restroom, I could hear our waiter yelling extremely loud at someone to get the F out of there, and he wasn't going to seat them or serve them. It was a young couple with a small child in a stroller. The man was trying to appease the waiter by explaining his wife was tired, and something about the child. I assumed the woman said something that made the waiter mad, but the waiter was really out of control with his ranting. Neither of these incidents seemed warranted, and I don't think their over the top rude behavior would be tolerated in most restaurants in the US. In the end, we gave both waiters a nice tip, and wished the silverware snatcher a wonderful day. We even got him to smile a bit. Everyone else we encountered was pleasant and helpful to us.

[@Resmith18SR]

Just terrible. They obviously are just money hungry.

[@neresq]

Why on earth did you tip either one of them? First, who tips for bad or rude service? Secondly, and moreover, in Europe -- and most of the world -- tips are already included in the price you pay on your bill. Americans never get that, and stupidly double tip.

[@pallasvititoe6404]

@@neresq- We tipped our service - the silverware snatcher warmed up to us, and was attentive to us, and the waiter at the restaurant near the Louvre treated us good, and wasn't rude to us. Perhaps their behavior is because you and other Parisians don't tip the waitstaff, and they know ahead of time they'll have to put up with ungrateful people. By your comment, I think you're probably as rude to the waitstaff as you were to me.

[@loritanner4478]

@@pallasvititoe6404 right on! I was going to say the same thing.

[@jacqueline8559]

@@pallasvititoe6404 I live in France and, yes, Service charge is included in Restaurant bills. That said, waiting staff are people, if we have great Service we tip them as a Courtesy which is 1) Appreciated and 2) Ensures great Service whenever we return to that Restaurant 😂

[@KingJackson11355]

I just came back from Paris. Only one janitor who was not even of French descent at the palace of Versailles was nasty. Other then that everyone was super nice and friendly! I am so glad overall I had an amazing experience!

[@catherinewilson9894]

When a man yells at me, I like to tell them that they are being waaaay too emotional. It doesn’t calm them down.

[@billyungen]

France is not Paris. Get out of Paris and see the real France. In the last couple of years, I have made many trips to France without setting foot in Paris -- not even to change trains. Among other wonderful towns, I have visited Aras, Dijon, Besancon, Albi (my favorite), Poitiers -- and people have been so helpful, friendly, courteous, and considerate. They have tolerated my TERRIBLE French (2 years in high school) whenever they spoke no English. I cannot say enough good things about the kind people of France -- outside of Paris. But Americans (and Brits) go to Paris, and then they come back with a terrible (erroneous) view of France. Well, my first trip to France was also to Paris -- but NEVER again. I also lived in Washington, DC for many years, and I would certainly HOPE that no one would judge the entire USA by the arrogant, condescending, smug people who live in DC. Just stay out of Paris. (The Mona Lisa is the size of a postage stamp anyway, so you can just skip the Louvre.) You'll discover that the people in the rest of France have no love for Parisians either!

[@brunobailly7013]

9:08 YES ! "unprofessional". That's exactly the right term to describe this man's behavior. He was unprofessional from start to finish. End of the story.

[@kathleenjohnson3645]

I sprained my ankle got taken to the hospital. Everyone treated me with care and afterwards on crutches French people could not have treated me better. I use a cane now on my last trip they escorted me to elevators, head of the line, very wonderful people.

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

Thats super good to heat I’m so glad !

[@pbtraveler694]

This guy clearly had a problem, but I've had that kind of treatment in other countries too once in awhile----the issue is really that there should be clear identifiers and more helpfulness toward tourists who, let's face it, are the backbone of the economy for many countries! As tourists, we are there to appreciate the culture and history and we are excited to be there. How you are treated can really alter the experience. Since you've lived there a long time, your response is really important because it's not like you were there for the first time or didn't speak the language.

[@lindylee1139]

When people are rude I tell myself I don’t know what’s going on in their life, maybe they just found out some terrible news like someone in their family died. You just don’t know. Try to be kind and if others are rude let it go.

[@aswfegrhegdgdhfhfhgj]

I went to france on an interrail trip and immediately felt so unwelcome that I left for Italy the next day. Many refused to speak english even if they clearly could. One lady yelled to me "SPEAK FRENCH!" and cussed at me in french for trying to buy a croissant after travelling for 2 days straight. People also came right into my face, holding out their hand, basically demanding a cigarette or gum if I had it. They didn't say thanks either. People gave me weird looks, stared and even rolled their eyes at me for no apparent reason. I always try to be respectful to any culture I visit, I never litter and I try to learn some of the language and local customs. I know 3 languages and I was planning on making french the 4th, but now I never want to go back to france.

[@OTTOMATT-me9cp]

Everyone knows that US tourists are assaulted, stolen, when they come in France, people spit on them, cut them in pieces and throw their bodies in the sewers. This "rude French" or "French hate US" thing is an US invention and is nothing but a pile of B.S. It's called cultural differences. Most of the French are more reserved than loud Anglosaxons who shout and yell every 5 minutes for anything, but are probably more open minded than many other nationalities. As someone living in the Paris area, i've often tried in the past to communicate in English with foreign tourists, whom English speaking tourists. The impression was that i bothered them more than anything else. Like in any major world capitals, a lot of people deal with harsh daily life problems, and are stressed. Go in NYC or London, and enjoy. Individual people and crowds are 2 different things, when one take the time to communicate. The French are rude, for sure. It's probably why France is still the most visited country in the world, with about 90 million tourists each year. Maybe that the ones who come here are all masochistics, i guess. US streets full of degenerate weirdos everywhere are probably better, for sure. This problem with the French in the US has much deeper reasons. US have zero history, immigrants from Europe, for the most. It's why they constantly need to spread their vomit on other nationalities, to compensate their inferiority complex. In addition, it would be better to avoid to give lessons to others, from a place where mass shootings are the national sport. I really think that a lot of people in US should definitively try to cure their problem with the French in good mental institutions. And if you don't like France, no one is forcing you to come there. Stay in your holes, you will feel better, and so did we. Boring in the long run.

[@83drewski]

I think what you're saying makes a lot of sense. Those who work in the industry are probably sick of tourists, but that 'tourguide' was just plain rude. Coming to a city like Paris, one of the most expensive cities in the world, and being treated worse than shit would definitely anger any tourist

[@cynthia2233]

We were in Paris last September, and had a lovely time. We were impressed with how many of the wait staff spoke English. We found no "French rudeness". (We did not go up in the Arch, but did all of the other tourist sites)

[@angelarincon5974]

I tried to buy a sandwich in Paris and the waiter asked if I wanted it on a baguette. I answered yeah and he had a conniption. Like get over it not everyone speaks French. Not even interested. I speak fluent Spanish snd if I had a choice to learn another language IT wouldn’t be French!

[@talkswithhandswhisper744]

btw I was in france in 84, i found the , i noticed the difference how we were treated in paris vs the countryside big difference!

[@nestor6178]

Weird that something needs to happen to you for you to believe it. Do you think people were just saying Parisians were rude for fun?

[@Alex_G-ex1qd]

The French in general are scapegoats for the Anglos.

[@MarcelGomesPan]

Some people have no style, no manners. The people you described proved their quality…or lack thereof. And if i spend money, anywhere, I am the customer. I expect to be treated as such.

[@Candice7]

like in every country you will have either kind people or rude/arrogant jerks... the end.

[@Alex_G-ex1qd]

The generalizations against French people here is grotesque.

[@maximepierre8672]

As a Parisian, tbh, if everyone was having a pff laughing at your thing, it is because you were at least half at fault. If he were ubnoxious people would had stepped on

[@Ariellelaparisienne]

We were the only people in line and he was the only staff present 😅 so I’m not sure who would be stepping in

[@OTTOMATT-me9cp]

This US problem with the French is really close to mental issue. They really have time to waste spreading this load of b.s and lies. Boring, in the long run.

[@peekaboo7424]

What happened to all of you in unacceptable!!!! And guarding the elevator?!!!!!! Excuse me! Like 200 steps is alot for anyone. The elevator is there for a reason. Why guard it as though it’s something precious! The man in the green jacket wasn’t just rude he was aggressive. No excuse! Thank you for the honesty & I’ll be anywhere as long as it’s not France.