I know they were recently listed as the World's worst tourists. They've had a lousy reputation for centuries with their political and military blunders. I think they made the Eiffel tower just so they would have a high place to hang a white flag. [Which is why Germany ass-raped them twice] They are pompous, self indulgent, and brag about their wines.

(Message edited by copperfieldkid on July 23, 2009)

It's the bragging about their wines thing that really pisses me off. You never see Thai people, for example, stoop so low.

Only place in the world where 6 year old Frenchkids were correcting my 4-year-old level French. Only Hotties in Paris were the French Algerians/Morrocans. But gotta thank them for coming up with French Fries

"I know they were recently listed as the World's worst tourists".
I am absolutely not surprised.
That is my experience with them too.

I on the other hand, have had a great experience with the French in France. It's the ones they send to the U.S. that have always annoyed me...

The French, never have a people been arrogant with less reason. In all fairness great wine and cheese but lousy human beings. On the bright side they make Americans look almost human…(just joking, or am I?)

I beg to differ Isawal. Have you ever dealt with the arrogance of the Argentineans, a people whose only claim to fame is that god awful dance and music called the tango?

(Message edited by LAguy on July 24, 2009)

simple answer $54.00 the french still win.

Laguy,
I beg to differ. Argentineans can also be proud of the fact that they got their asses kicked by the Brits in the Falklands. That's pretty special. On the other hand, unlike the French, at least they fought.

My opinion of the French was forever forged when one day I was standing in line to board a plane and was right behind the sweatiest and aweful smelling people ever - a couple of French. Ended up getting out of line and going to the end - along the way praying that they would not be sitting anywhere close to me.

That on top of the incredible ratio of other French arrogant, unfriendy assholes I have met along the way, pretty much has my opinion set.

Argentineans also have a seat at the table of unfriendly and arrogant people, but at least I have never met one that smells like a French.

I saw some funny shit about the French....my biggest problem with them is their hygiene.

I also understand that they are the only Country in recorded history to lose a war with Mexico.

I know they quit everything they start....it is a wonder they have children as I would think their men quit sex before the orgasm.

Okay, here are some further insights/facts related to the French/Argentinean issue:

Demerit for the French: A couple of days ago I was in the lounge at one of Bangkok's finer hotels, and had to listen to a Frenchman go on and on about how the only reason H1N1 has spread as far as it has is because the United States did not take the measures necessary to control it within its borders. I felt like saying the same thing about the French and Nazism.

Demerit for Argentineans: I few months ago I was getting ready to board a flight between the US and Argentina. I was at the head of the line and had to move slightly to the left to let someone in a wheelchair pass. As I did that, an Argentinean rushed ahead of me and rolled his luggage over my feet. When I pointed out that he had just done that, he said "Well, you got in my way."

Demerit for Argentineans: As many know, there is a rivalry between Brasil and Argentina. If you ask an Argentinean about this, they often will say (while adjusting the cork in their butt) it is just a friendly rivalry. If you ask a Brasileiro (as I have done a number of times) they will say, "No, it is not just a rivalry; we really hate them and how they act."

Demerit for Isawal (and Argentineans): Yes, I did report a great session for US$54 (2 hours, so I paid double the one-hour rate) at a casa in Argentina. However, (and this may break Isawal's heart for reasons only those who have followed Isawal closely will appreciate) my partner for those two hours was Peruvian. In fact, as a general rule the Paraguayans in Buenos Aires give good to great service, while the Argentineans don't seem to. I have only one Peruvian data point (within Argentina) so can't really comment.

As a striking example of this, I recently found a casa in Buenos Aires "stocked" primarily with Paraguayans from the border area, many of whom speak Spanish and Portuguese, and approach quasi-Brasileira status insofar as sex goes. With some exceptions, the service there is towards the top of what one expects in Buenos Aires. One day, I picked a girl out of the lineup and after she came to the room asked her where she was from. She said Buenos Aires. This concerned me greatly, and indeed, I received rather poor service from her, as I have come to expect from Argentineans (with some notable exceptions, however). When in the midst of a later session with one of the Paraguayans there, she told me the Argentinean I had sessioned with had a "very cold personality."

Also, in Argentina the Argentineans who run the casas tend to lie, cheat, and so forth. I have never been to a country where they short time you as often, promise things like anal and don't come through, and so forth. Then again, I haven't visited every country in the world, so perhaps there is one as bad. And Isawal, it is not Peru.

Based on what I have read in this thread, I suppose the one thing that can be said in favor of Argentineans is they don't smell as bad as the French. But that is the best that can be said about them.

Peruvian?! I am shocked and stunned. I have spent some time in BA and Paris and on their home turf I found the French way worse. Arrogant.rude and dishonest best describe their most endearing qualities.

I was a Machu Pichu. A bunch of Argentine kids were there on a tour. I would have to say these were the rudest group of kids that I have ever meet.

MM

Most Peruvians that I have met in th US are well educated, hard working, and really nice people.

World's worst tourists? I read that too (now, some might suggest the US was out of running this past year since they were too afraid of terrorists to leave the country). The French had a lousy reputation for centuries with their political and military blunders? Yeah, particularly that blunder where they helped finance some young upstart nation back in the late 18th century. Oh, and that other blunder of conquering Europe, you know, that time France made Germany it's bitch? Of course that wasn't as dumb as when they tried to take over all of South East Asia. I mean, only the French would be stupid enough to get involved in war down there, right? I still can't get over how they were stupid enough not to join Britain and the US in the invasion of Iraq.

"They are pompous, self indulgent, and brag about their wines." Pompous, probably, but I've never once heard them claim they were the greatest/best nation in the world. Self indulgent? No, I've never witnessed that. I've witnessed it plenty of times in the US, though. Brag about their wines? Um, why not? Wine drinkers assure me they have consistently high quality wines.

I find it amusing that people love to use the French as a punching bag without knowing much about the country and it's people, but it's more amusing to watch the kettle accuse the pot of being black.

And, for the record, I've met more than my share of rude and inconsiderate Parisians in Paris but had no issues with French while traveling. Interestingly enough, all the rude American's I've run into abroad, have turned out to be Republicans.

Apparently 1 out of 15 posts defends the French.
In my book those are bad odds. Sort of like an ode to dry humping

C'est la vie

(Message edited by copperfieldkid on July 28, 2009)

One out of fifteen posts point out that the kettle is also black.

Actually, although my post may have had a hint of anti-French sentiment (my reference to the H1N1 French guy), I don't think you can include mine in the 15 to 1 score.

My post was essentially anti-Argentinean. I hesitated to get involved in such stereotyping on the grounds it could devolve into racism. However, I have consulted the relevant authorities and since Argentinean does not constitute a race, I believe I am home free.

Now the real question is why Argentineans did not score highly on the world's worst tourists scale. The reason I am afraid is that owing to their obnoxious nature they have descended from being one of the top 10 richest nations in the world in the early 1900's to about #58 (and still sinking) today. In other words, the Argentineans generally don't have enough money to take vacations in foreign countries, particularly now that their peso is worth about half of what the Brasilian real is worth (just a few years ago it was worth more). In order to qualify as the world's worst tourists, the country has to have a fair number of citizens who go to other countries as tourists, which it is doubtful Argentina today has.

These days one of my greatest pleasures while in Buenos Aires is seeing all the Brasileiro tourists (who visit owing to the relative strength of the real) ordering around the Argentineans in the hotels, shops, and so forth. From the Argentinean perspective, this must be like having a colonial master ordered around by the help.

(Message edited by LAguy on July 28, 2009)

www.geoffcottonsongs.com This is an English comedian who makes fun of the french.

Sacrebleu!

they did invent the bidet, something we can all relate to.

(Message edited by copperfieldkid on July 29, 2009)

Regarding worrying about stereotyping on the grounds it could devolve into racism, I guess the french are indeed a unique race of people evolved over time into rude and smelly people with an inflated self-worth. I guess it is ok to be "racist" to the "french race". Earlier today was in an elevador with two french guys that are staying in a temp apartment in my building - it just amazing how true the french stereotype is time after time.

I have a few stories about the french. Once my X and i were staying at a 5 star resort in Guanacaste Costa Rica. We went to the breakfast buffet, found a nice table near the pool and order a couple bloody marys. When the drinks arrived we left all our stuff, drinks, camera, sunglasses and purse at the table and went to the buffet to get our eggs. When we returned, our stuff was pushed all the way onto a corner of the table and 2 people were sitting in our chairs. My X stopped and looked I went right up to the table and stared at this fucking asshole and he said to me " Iz thees your ta-ble?? Oh no fuck face our drinks and our stuff is here because its not our ta-ble. I looked at him and I said French, right? figures! Then I asked him politely to find another table. I have a friend who has a child with a frenchman who insists he raise the child so he does not become a costa rican or an american. He wants him to be a French Gentleman! Not a tica or a rude american!! Give me a break. And lastly my daughter was touring Europe, Belgium, France and Italy. She said everyone was extremely nice and helpful thru out Europe EXCEPT in France where they were rude and outright disrespectful. So there you are 0 for 3!

if you want to hear more french stories the mad professor has quite a few,he lived in paris quite a while or at least he claimed to do.i guess he still outside help on a regular basis

(Message edited by copperfieldkid on August 01, 2009)

The French people fucken loved me. Don't know what that says for Thebowler. I will say anyone going on vacation. If you go to the Lourve get there before it opens at 9. Then get the fuck out at about 1PM. The french just smell too bad to stomach. French breath is horrible. They have the worst breath of any culture i have been around. The cemetaries are funny. 1940. Geeze. The Germans just fucken walked in and kicked ass. With no apparent resistance.

Funny the post above the guy wants his kid to be French German? I would have immediately said "what you want the left side of his body to surrender to his right side"? It would just get worse from there for the guy.

I will say the fucken cooks are amazing all the food was great. Men that cook that good have to fight like pussies.

But i don't have a problem with the french.

Bowler,

just think, 123 years ago [1886] when the French decided to give us a statue it could have been in your likeness. Imagine, The Statue of Bowler. One can only imagine what they would have used instead of a torch to signify enlightenment. Not only would it serve as an additional viewing point, but depending on it's length, possibly been a walk out observation platform!!

as this has changed to be an Argentinian thread, let me comment about my Argentinia experience. I went across the border in Iguaçu a few times, and was scammed like a gringo in Rio.

They gave me an exchange rate of 1.20 at the falls, and 1:1 at the restaurant. Only much later did I find out that the real rate was 2 Pesos for one Real. I should have pulled out some money out of the ATM.

Bowler-

Can you elaborate on your "the cemetaries are funny" comment?

There are a lot of Americans buried in cemeteries in France and there is not much funny about that.

I was in France on a two week trip and everyone I spoke to was friendly, did not encounter one rude person there.