"MM" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > My family plans a trip to New York and Arizona in late April. We are
    > worried about the American people we see on television. They are
    > putting swastikas on French flags and painting Hitler-mustaches on
    > pictures of Chirac. The Americans (especially New Yorkers) are famous for
    > rudeness but I wonder if it is too much right now. I would like to
    > hear from any French people who have traveled there in the past month.
    > How are they treating us?

Bravo!

For the French discussing politics is a national passtime like
watching NFL football in the US. And, just like the Green Bay
and Bears fans, they will be happy to go out for a glass of wine
together after the game. They may say, "how could you have
the stupidity to elect that Nazi Bush", but it is not a personal
statement and they won't treat you any differently if you don't
get all defensive and take it personally. Also, they will be happy
to be just as critical of the of French politicians.

Then again I wonder how we could have the stupidity to elect that
Nazi Bush.

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
    > Rudy wrote:
    >> My family plans a trip to Paris and Provence in late April. We are
    >> worried about the French people we see on television. They are
    >> putting swastikas on American flags and painting Hitler-mustaches on
    >> pictures of Bush. The French (especially Parisians) are famous for
    >> rudeness but I wonder if it is too much right now. I would like to
    >> hear from any Americans who have traveled there in the past month.
    >> How are they treating us?
    > Didn't I read exactly the same post (word for word) regarding American
    > friendliness to French tourists? Methinks "Rudy" is a troll!

I agree with your assessment of Rudy as a troll, but the post you saw was a
parody of this one (this one came first).

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

On Tue, 25 Feb 2003 02:57:45 GMT, jcoulter
wrote:

    >"MM" wrote in news:[email protected]:
    >> My family plans a trip to New York and Arizona in late April. We are
    >> worried about the American people we see on television. They are
    >> putting swastikas on French flags and painting Hitler-mustaches on
    >> pictures of Chirac. The Americans (especially New Yorkers) are famous
    >> for rudeness but I wonder if it is too much right now. I would like
    >> to hear from any French people who have traveled there in the past
    >> month. How are they treating us?
    >>
    >>
    >I doubt if anyone would have the timerity (I was going to say gaul) to be
    >rude to your face. Though most of my neighbors seem to be blissfully into
    >war preparations as though it is their Christian duty, they are also fairly
    >friendly folk who wouldn't dream of being deliberately rude. But then I
    >salute you for coming to this most unforeign friendly of tourist spots on
    >earth. We Americans demand English be spoken where we travel and grudgingly
    >give of our limited knowledge to those who would cross our borders.
    >bienvenue et bonne route


Speak for yourself ace.

On Tue, 25 Feb 2003 10:16:38 +0000, Curtis E Carr
wrote:

    >MM wrote:
    >> My family plans a trip to New York and Arizona in late April. We are
    >> worried about the American people we see on television. They are
    >> putting swastikas on French flags and painting Hitler-mustaches on
    >> pictures of Chirac. The Americans (especially New Yorkers) are famous for
    >> rudeness but I wonder if it is too much right now. I would like to
    >> hear from any French people who have traveled there in the past month.
    >> How are they treating us?
    >I wouldn't worry........they'll probably think you are Spanish anyway.......
    >CC


Yes, as if we don't have any Hispanics here to tell the difference.
They are only the largest minority group in the US.

Gimme a break while I try to stop laughing! As opposed to what
happens in France such as swastikas being painted in Jewish
cemetaries, Bush hanged in effigy, American flags being burned?
Hey, peaceniks will be peaceniks on both sides of the pond.
Anyway, where'd you get the idea that New Yorkers are rude? I
find New Yorkers helpful when asked and refreshingly indifferent
otherwise.
The only thing you'l have to worry about in Arizona is being run
over on the sidewalk by some out of control bluehead who mistakes the
gas for the brake in their '75 DeVille.

On Mon, 24 Feb 2003 20:33:28 -0500, "MM" wrote:

    >My family plans a trip to New York and Arizona in late April. We are
    >worried about the American people we see on television. They are
    >putting swastikas on French flags and painting Hitler-mustaches on
    >pictures of Chirac. The Americans (especially New Yorkers) are famous for
    >rudeness but I wonder if it is too much right now. I would like to
    >hear from any French people who have traveled there in the past month.
    >How are they treating us?

le Tue, 25 Feb 2003 21:50:05 GMT, dans l'article , Cesare Borgia a dit ...

    > Gimme a break while I try to stop laughing! As opposed to what
    > happens in France such as swastikas being painted in Jewish
    > cemetaries, Bush hanged in effigy, American flags being burned?
    > Hey, peaceniks will be peaceniks on both sides of the pond.
    > Anyway, where'd you get the idea that New Yorkers are rude? I
    > find New Yorkers helpful when asked and refreshingly indifferent
    > otherwise.
    > The only thing you'l have to worry about in Arizona is being run
    > over on the sidewalk by some out of control bluehead who mistakes the
    > gas for the brake in their '75 DeVille.

*chomp*, *chomp*, *chomp* ...

--
Desmond Coughlan
desmond @ zeouane.org
http: // www . zeouane . org

[email protected] (Miguel Cruz) wrote:

    >I gotta wonder why these threads are starting like clockwork; every time the
    >last one dies down, another one with an improbable address and almost
    >identical story (had a trip to France planned; heard about nasty things X,
    >Y, and Z; should we cancel?) appears.
    >miguel

Because they know there are so many gullible people here. Gee, I
wonder if Desmond will have a reply for this honest inquiry?

K

On Tue, 25 Feb 2003 16:33:59 GMT, [email protected] (Ed Krol) wrote:

    >For the French discussing politics is a national passtime like
    >watching NFL football in the US. And, just like the Green Bay
    >and Bears fans, they will be happy to go out for a glass of wine
    >together after the game. They may say, "how could you have
    >the stupidity to elect that Nazi Bush", but it is not a personal
    >statement and they won't treat you any differently if you don't
    >get all defensive and take it personally. Also, they will be happy
    >to be just as critical of the of French politicians.
    >Then again I wonder how we could have the stupidity to elect that
    >Nazi Bush.

We didn't.

And back to travel discussions... :-)

Michael

On Tue, 25 Feb 2003 07:23:03 -0800, "Paul Tauger"
wrote:

[snip]
    >Three travel rules:
    >1. Always remember you're a guest in someone else's home. Act like a guest.
    >2. If in doubt, ask. Don't assume.
    >3. If you're going to make a mistake, err on the side of generosity, i.e.
    >it's better to tip too much than too little, pay too much than too little,
    >etc.
    >I've followed these rules when I travel for the last 20 years and never had
    >a bad travel experience.

You're a wise man, and I mean that 100% seriously.

Good job.

Michael

Paul Tauger wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "Rudy" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > My family plans a trip to Paris and Provence in late April. We are
    > > worried about the French people we see on television. They are
    > > putting swastikas on American flags and painting Hitler-mustaches on
    > > pictures of Bush. The French (especially Parisians) are famous for
    > > rudeness but I wonder if it is too much right now. I would like to
    > > hear from any Americans who have traveled there in the past month.
    > > How are they treating us?
    > I see you're not getting much help from anyone.
    > It's always been my experience that people outside the U.S. can
distinguish
    > between the American government and individual American visitors. Though
I
    > haven't been to France recently, I've noticed generally that people
overseas
    > will criticize the US government when they speak with me -- something that
    > never happened before. However, their antipathy towards America's actions
    > didn't translate into hostility towards me -- I was treated as warmly and
as
    > well as always. Note that I did _not_ argue with anyone, or attempt to
    > defend America's current policies or administration (not that I would,
    > anyway).
    > Three travel rules:
    > 1. Always remember you're a guest in someone else's home. Act like a
guest.
    > 2. If in doubt, ask. Don't assume.
    > 3. If you're going to make a mistake, err on the side of generosity, i.e.
    > it's better to tip too much than too little, pay too much than too little,
    > etc.
    > I've followed these rules when I travel for the last 20 years and never
had
    > a bad travel experience.

4. Learn a few words and it can make a big difference. Even if you can't say
it correctly, the effort is appreciated. Learn 'please', 'thank you',
'hello', 'goodbye' and 'Do you speak English?'. The locals will often be
happy to help you do this.
---
DFM

Paul Tauger wrote:
    >
    > "MM" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > My family plans a trip to New York and Arizona in late April. We are
    > > worried about the American people we see on television. They are
    > > putting swastikas on French flags and painting Hitler-mustaches on
    > > pictures of Chirac. The Americans (especially New Yorkers) are famous for
    > > rudeness but I wonder if it is too much right now. I would like to
    > > hear from any French people who have traveled there in the past month.
    > > How are they treating us?
    >
    > Bravo!

Of course, if you've read further on in the group, where the identical
post (with the obvious substitutions) is made vis a vis Americans
planning a trip to France (and by the same poster), I think we can
safely assume we've been feeding the trolls, here!
    >
    > >
    > >

Here's a clue for the clueless. Somebody posted the usual
stuff about the rude French and how Americans might be
scared to go to to France. That post did not come from
me. I posted a satirical item, about a supposed French
tourist headed for the USA. The two were not from the same
person, as a cursory glance at the headers, or even the
"From" field would indicate. Several gullible types thought
I was serious, but anyone who thinks that both posts were
from the same posted is indeed clueless.

A few perceptive souls actually understood my point.
Some folks can't comprehend irony, and they aren't
all American, depsite the ususal stereotypes.


"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Paul Tauger wrote:
    > >
    > > "MM" wrote in message
    > > news:[email protected]...
    > > > My family plans a trip to New York and Arizona in late April. We are
    > > > worried about the American people we see on television. They are
    > > > putting swastikas on French flags and painting Hitler-mustaches on
    > > > pictures of Chirac. The Americans (especially New Yorkers) are famous
for
    > > > rudeness but I wonder if it is too much right now. I would like to
    > > > hear from any French people who have traveled there in the past month.
    > > > How are they treating us?
    > >
    > > Bravo!
    > Of course, if you've read further on in the group, where the identical
    > post (with the obvious substitutions) is made vis a vis Americans
    > planning a trip to France (and by the same poster), I think we can
    > safely assume we've been feeding the trolls, here!
    > >
    > > >
    > > >

"Pan" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Tue, 25 Feb 2003 07:23:03 -0800, "Paul Tauger"
    > wrote:
    > [snip]
    > >Three travel rules:
    > >
    > >1. Always remember you're a guest in someone else's home. Act like a
guest.
    > >2. If in doubt, ask. Don't assume.
    > >3. If you're going to make a mistake, err on the side of generosity,
i.e.
    > >it's better to tip too much than too little, pay too much than too
little,
    > >etc.
    > >
    > >I've followed these rules when I travel for the last 20 years and never
had
    > >a bad travel experience.
    > You're a wise man, and I mean that 100% seriously.
    > Good job.

Thank you.

    > Michael

DocsH: Compare the food.










"It doesn't matter what you do in the bedroom as long as you don't do
it in the street and frighten the horses".
-- Mrs. Patrick Campbell (English actress)