Narcissic topic!

[laurette]

Hi!

Sorry for my english!

You guys, how do you feel french people and what do you think about the new president?

Well then, do you really think that we all are named Marcel or Maurice, wearing a "beret", walking with bread under our arm and always smoking?;)

I wonder about it becoz of the way american movies or series describe french people... It's just a funny topic, ok? Not so serious, so answer with humour, irony or be serious but don't be sarcastic please... I feel wanna know about your vision! Thanx...:rolleyes:

[mikizee]

I think from what I've seen the US in general has a negative opinion about the french... 'they didn't support us going to Iraq!!'

well.... looks who's in a big fat mess now.... the french just didn't buy the US's baloney when it came to trying to convince the rest of the world to go in with them. I wish Australia didn't either.

[laurette]

Thanx for your answer... Well, unfortunately, our new president (an awfull small and frustrated "thing") will make France a new support for Bush's governement... (n)

We French, seem to be such far from the Irak troubles... But, in real, we feel very angry about all this shitty useless... I feel quite worry about what our country will become but I trust in the legendary french grumpiness (:p) for make a revolution if the governement abuse! Haem...:rolleyes:

[Ali]

France had Algeria. French people know what it's like to be stuck in a Middle-Eastern country with bombs going off in Paris.

I lived in Paris for 4 years and although not many French people wear a beret any more, they ALL smoke and they all buy les baguettes on the way from work. They must be fed up with the new anti-smoking laws. Amazing that they eat such wonderful food and then smoke!

Also, the are all lazy. They only work 35 hours per week and are always on holiday or RTR. They only arrive at work at 10 am (but they stay until 7pm) and it is impossible to get fired, even if you do absolutely nothing. This is why there are so many unemployed young people. Even if they do get fired, they have unemployment insurance for a very long time and all sorts of support from the government.

France needs somebody like Sarko, to kick the lazy French dans le cul.

N'est pas?

[abcdefz]

The French loaned us money in our battle for independence, so that makes me think quite highly of them.

Anyone who made Ben Franklin action figure dolls while he was still alive is all right by me. (y)

[Ali]

France is a great country, but the French are disappearing up their own bum holes and they need a vicious little bastardo like Sarko to pull them out of it.

[QueenAdrock]

I think from what I've seen the US in general has a negative opinion about the french... 'they didn't support us going to Iraq!!'

I don't believe that. It's only a small portion of the people, but they get the airtime because of Faux News and Bill O'Reilly are loud obnoxious assholes about their opinions. They also tell us that the French hate Americans and are quite snotty about us and tourists, and that we'll be treated like trash if we go over there, which I don't think is true either.

I love the French society, I took several years of French in high school and learned quite a bit about it. It's not a perfect society, but they take care of their people when they need it. I hope to one day visit. (y)

[abcdefz]

I don't believe that. It's only a small portion of the people, but they get the airtime because of Faux News and Bill O'Reilly are loud obnoxious assholes about their opinions. They also tell us that the French hate Americans and are quite snotty about us and tourists, and that we'll be treated like trash if we go over there, which I don't think is true either.




...to be fair, the "we hate the French" stuff is pretty bi-partisan, going back Lord knows how many years.

Heck, there's even a joke about it in the Ratatouille promos. The whole French=snob thing.

That whole "Freedom Fry" thing was laughable from day one. But then, for over a year, the French guy at my workplace had a David Letterman joke about the French posted on his door. So, you know. It's a cliche that Americans don't like the French.

[Otis Driftwood]

Well then, do you really think that we all are named Marcel or Maurice, wearing a "beret", walking with bread under our arm and always smoking?;)

My flatmate's name is Aurelie and she's a non-of-above french girl... :D
She was very angry about old Nico getting elected, let me tell you. I love the french history of strikes and rioting!
But I'm a Bosche, that "truc" don't count.

[laurette]

Ok, I'm french but I don't feel lazy... You know, things are not so simple as it seems to be! Sarko wil provide solution fo "rich" people but won't help the poorest to own more, even if they work more... Trust me... I was a master student who always had a job during 25h/week, found the time to get other activities (writing, filming) and see my friends. I didn't feel lazy but I can't complain of course.

The problem in France is: you can study for 4, 5 or until 8 years that makes you not sure to find a job and you accept sometimes having a job just for eat, and it can last a long time... Sarko advises reforms we don't need, espacially for the education, artistic and scientific districts.
Well then, I agree that we dont have to complain ( and it's true: we smoke!!) because we have social and secure coverage, unemployement benefits... But it won't last and it s not a reason for forgetting the real troubles.
I don't feel our new president because he's providing a France of privileges, where rich people will take all the benefits and the poor one will fight for having the remains...

I'll try to put some french typical recipies in the right topic for you to taste... Everything is not so good, but I can find some delicious! Mioum!;)

[Ali]

The problem in France is: you can study for 4, 5 or until 8 years that makes you not sure to find a job and you accept sometimes having a job just for eat, and it can last a long time... Sarko advises reforms we don't need, espacially for the education, artistic and scientific districts. The problem in France, as I see it, is that it is too difficult for a company to fire an employee (there are something like three tribunals before the employee can be fired) so there are not enough job vacancies for young French people. Another reason for unemployment is that the economy is not competetive enough and too protectionist and so there are no foreign companies investing in France. Don't forget that the Baby Boomers are all holding onto their jobs, which makes it harder for the next generation to find work. This is happening all over Europe, not just France.

Laurette, would you prefer De Villepin (le petit Chirac) to have been your president? It seems to me that Sarko has proved himself to be very effective in his role as Minister for the Interior and for the Economy (roles which Chirac gave him to make him unpopular). He doesn't care what people think of him (a nice change) and he is determined to make La France competetive.

It's not his fault that there were riots in les banlieues (and Paris) last year, even though he got into trouble with the media for calling them 'scum' (I forgot the French word he used). That is the fault of the French people who are, I am sorry to say, very racist. Maybe not the younger generation, but the people in charge of HR departments have a habit of seperating the job applications of people with Arabic names or who are from les banlieues and therefore not 'truly French'. Women are also unfairly treated in the workplace in France. Now, look at the cabinet which Sarko has formed and tell me he's doing the wrong thing. You were very lucky not to get Royal. She was glamourous, but she had no clue how to run a country and would have ruined La France. I bet you she would not have done as well as Sarko with the talks about the new constitution... sorry, Treaty.

Why do you say that Sarko will only benefit the Rich and leave the poor with nothing? If the economy improves, then there will be more jobs and hopefully Sarko's example of choosing a representative cabinet will filter into the workforce.

[laurette]

Ok, I think you don't feel the question as the same point of view than I do. I don't support Royal ( glamourous???) and i know that the socialists are in lack of competences but trust me and time will tell, everything Sarko does is not for the good of the whole nation.
I am not against the reforms (of course not) but about his governenment, Fillion is the worst. I feel sorry because my english is too bad for traducing my thoughts better... But, I can't believe that we can take off all the toubles by using repression, by lying people when they say that the social problems will be treated without differences between social classes. Fillion wants to remove more than 13 000 teaching jobs which is the most worst thing in order to make education a priority (haem!)...
Otherwise, I'm not sure that it's a good point that a president (with such power) doesn't care about what his compatriots think of him... You know?

Well, does anybody here know some french singers, bands or musiciens that they like?.. Share, share!

[Carlos]

I am short of time, and so will not comment on the political aspect of france right now...

however, I will say that France is putting out some awesome music at the moment - espcially Ed Bangers record label (http://www.myspace.com/edbangerrecords)
The Justice album Cross, is one of the best electro albums out right now - proper fucked up beats :p ....as well as Uffie, and Sebastian.. quality label. (y)

[Ali]

Well, does anybody here know some french singers, bands or musiciens that they like?.. Share, share!J'aime Amon Tobin (I know he's actually Brazilian, but I saw him at Elysée Montmartre in 2004).


So, you are against Sarko beause of Fillion and you do not support Royal.

Who did you prefer?

[laurette]

None of them... Don't worry I don't support JM Le Pen neither!!:p

I mean, I can't get satisfaction from one's idea of how a country has to run or how people should behave... And I don't feel ashamed about that because I'm not able to join ideas that I don't share... Whoever it can't be... Well, I can't explain further because too hard in english and I' afraid no to be well understood... So that's all I want to say about that!

Thanx for your share, it's interesting:(y)

[laurette]

Sorry! wanted to say:

"Thanx for your share, it's interesting...(y)"