My brilliant discovery for today!

[Meowster]

And teh irish all dress like a lepricon and says "top o teh morning to you!!!"

I would like to put you straight on that. They say, "Top o teh mornin' to you, laddy." regardless of age or gender.

The french smell of fermented grapes.

[Jimi]

If the simpsons has taught me anything (which it hasn't) it's that the french look like frogs, and put antifreeze in their wine.

[Darth Mandarb]

I'll stick up for the French ... thanks for showing up at the end of our Revolutionary War after we had won! Thanks France!

Isn't it funny how if any American on these boards makes any comment that could be viewed as derogatory against another nation (even the French), others immediately cast derogatory comments on Americans?

[wine] "But you Americans started it!!" [/wine]

I'm sick of the hypocrisy in the world ...

And oh yeah, Google searching is fun!!  Great discovery man!!

dm

[Matt Brown]

I wonder why nobody makes fun of russia...they opposed the war, and their military history is almost as sorry as the french..plus, what has russia done for america? given us bond villians, and thats about it. France at least gave us the statue of liberty.

[Trapezoid]

As I said, the French stereotype is just too easy to pick on. The Russians don't have as clear a stereotype and are generally too cool to pick on. But those French with their striped shirts, berets, and snooty dispositions, c'mon. As far as fun-making goes, France is the boy-band of cultures.
No offense meant, this post is more of a commentary on the nature of the jesting of the French rather than the French themselves.

[DGMacphee]

And teh irish all dress like a lepricon and says "top o teh morning to you!!!"

I would like to put you straight on that. They say, "Top o teh mornin' to you, laddy." regardless of age or gender.

And they still dress like leprichans, right?

That's what watching TV has taught me.


You know, I've also noticed that no one really had a problem with the French until this last year.

Could it be that a lot of people (some even non-American) got caught up in the whole French/Freedom thing, and now are just looking for things about the French to complain about.

And fucking Freedom Fries -- Whoever though of that little piece of political PR/spin/propaganda should be shot, because it's pitiful even for propaganda standards.

And people got sucked into it, which makes it even worse.

[Meowster]

I make fun of countries worldwide, regardless of skin colour, eye colour or political position. And Tony Blair is a liar, a bad bad liar. And a bad public speaker. Just thought I'd say it (Turned on the TV, saw him)

I don't know what the deal with France is, but they are delightfully caricaturish peoples  

[Bob The Hun]

You know, I've also noticed that no one really had a problem with the French until this last year.

Huh?
I remember hearing jokes about the french for my entire life. It's just been amplified in recent times.

(btw, I've been to France before, and they weren't all that nice to me. Maybe they don't like tourists, or something)

And they still dress like leprichans, right?

Yes, of course. But I'm only half-Irish, so I only wear the bright green top hat.

[Matt Brown]

no, they like tourists. they generate lots of dough. my girlfriend is in france now. she sends my postcards about how nice they are to her. (and how the french cant drive, but thats something else.) they are also nice to her family, cause they buy stuff.


maybe they just hate you.

[Bob The Hun]

I can only hope.

[Trapezoid]

Yeah, ribbing the French is a time-honored tradition. I agree the Freedom Fries thing was dumb, but now that it's mostly over with I think it's fun to use the term in an ironic way.

[Darth Mandarb]

Yeah, ribbing the French is a time-honored tradition. I agree the Freedom Fries thing was dumb, but now that it's mostly over with I think it's fun to use the term in an ironic way.

I agree with Trapezoid ... now, when around women, and I use a cuss word I say, "Excuse my Freedom."

The Freedom Fries thing was stupid.

[humor] But the French still suck. [/humor]

dm

[Meowster]

what the HELL is the French Freedom Fries thing? Did they not endorse chips or something??

[Goldmund]

russia...they opposed the war, and their military history is almost as sorry as the french

You're so very right. Their military history, like winning the second world war - ever heard of Stalingrad? - is absolutely sorry, compared to the Bravery of Being Out of Range, which is a tactics employed only by valiant countries.

..plus, what has russia done for america?

Considering that most great men of America were emigrants or children of emigrants, the question of "doing" and "giving" is slightly out of place, in my opinion.

[DGMacphee]

You know, I've also noticed that no one really had a problem with the French until this last year.

Huh?
I remember hearing jokes about the french for my entire life. It's just been amplified in recent times.

(btw, I've been to France before, and they weren't all that nice to me. Maybe they don't like tourists, or something)

But most of the jokes weren't that they suck at war.

Most of the jokes were that they don't wash and are really snooty to people (as you said, they don't like tourists).

But there have been many great things and people that come out of France.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau anyone?

[Andail]

I wonder why nobody makes fun of russia...they opposed the war, and their military history is almost as sorry as the french..

Please stop talking about things you don't know about.
Russia and France were the ones taking the really hard punches in the world war, and without either of them, we would have lost the war.

You see, despite of what you are taught nowadays, America was not a super military power at this time. Right after the depression, USA had the tenth biggest army in the world, about the same size as Belgium's.
There are some facts - like the atomic bomb and the finishing off in Normandie - that have created some sort of illusion that it was all thank to USA the war was won.
I know that Bush said recently, as he listed all glorious victories of the american army during the history, that they liberated Europe. Among others.
Please try to be better than Bush.

I think some of you americans should be a bit more humble, considering what your military record mostly is about, without the propaganda bit.

[Femme Stab Mode >:D]

WW1 - 9.5 million Russians dead.
WW2 - 20 million Russians dead
We beat the French before and we beaten the Germans before. USA tried to invade Russia after the civil war and even in our depleted state at the time we fought them off.  My great grand fathers were all in the Army, most in the elite Gvardia (guardian) troops.One of them got shot dead on the day WW2 was over.  We beaten the Turkish too, all with the sheer numbers. Russians fought in Vietnam.  Get your facts straight Mr. Panda.

[Fuzzpilz]

What's with all this pride in one's country's military heritage/record, anyway? Where's the justification for it? "My grandpa killed more people than your grandpa!" I don't mean to be rude or patronising, but I really don't see what's so good about that kind of thing, and why the generations that are alive today seem to think they can somehow take credit for it just by being descendants of contemporaries.

[plasticman]

why exactly do you say "we", when you're referring to your country ? are you taking pride in those "victories" so much that you consider them your personal deeds ?


dg's mention of cousteau is kinda funny. in spite of his accomplishments, the guy was highly detestable.
i wonder who the most famous french people are.

edit- haha, sorry pilz.

[DGMacphee]

dg's mention of cousteau is kinda funny. in spite of his accomplishments...

But I'm talking about his accomplishments.

You see, I'm not really interested in whether he was detestable or not -- I don't really have any inkling to meet the man (Besides, he's dead).

But, his films are extraordinary!

It reminds me of people who call Yahtzee things like detestable -- despite people's personal opinions, he has made some great accomplishments, especially his games.

And I just don't understand why people can appreciate a great work of cinema/game/art/creative venture, despite personal standing of the creator.

It seems more like nitpicking than bringing up a valid argument.

As a side point, I can name numerous American filmmakers that are just as detestable -- But I still appreciate their work!  



EDIT: While on the subject of nitpicking, do people look for minor things to "make fun of"/"argue over" because they feel insecure over being challenged on something?

I don't mean this to anyone in particular -- I mean this as a general comment on the grand scale of things in society.

Things like: Americans making fun of the French because they feel insecure of people accusing them of being war-like (In other words, using the French as a scapegoat).

Or French people getting defensive because they haven't had a strong military record (and let's face it, military accomplishments are a very masculine aspect of society and most of the leaders in the world are men, etc, etc, etc)

I'm not accusing Americans of being war-mongers or calling the French a bunch of pansies -- I merely use both as examples for a point.

And my point is: do people really feel so insecure that they have to argue with minor nitpicky commentary?

I'd like to hear other people's thoughts on this.