ALSO, BEARS POOP IN THE WOODS
This bulletin just in: The French are not hugely popular.
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May 17, 2005
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"I got a French-English dictionary for my French wife."
"That was a good trade!"
Posted by: Mahatma Kane Jeeves | May 17, 2005 at 08:33 AM
ribbit.
Posted by: hmmagin | May 17, 2005 at 08:33 AM
Not humorous? But they are. Just think of all the French jokes they have inspired!
(But not you, Marie!)
Posted by: Graz | May 17, 2005 at 08:37 AM
"I hear the Germans are going to create a new capital for their country now that they have been re-united with East Germany."
"Really? Where?"
"Paris."
Posted by: Mahatma Kane Jeeves | May 17, 2005 at 08:38 AM
(Er...I mean your fiance ((accent thingy))Marie!)
Posted by: Graz | May 17, 2005 at 08:38 AM
"I hear the Germans are going to create a new capital for their country now that they have been re-united with East Germany."
"Really? Where?"
"Paris."
Posted by: Mahatma Kane Jeeves | May 17, 2005 at 08:40 AM
I agree with all the horrible things said about the French. But that's who they are. They don't deny it. That's why I love them. The see nothing wrong with being self-centered, humorless, gourmand, sex fiends.
Posted by: Sondra | May 17, 2005 at 08:47 AM
To quote Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping: "Wow. Shocker."
Posted by: Jeff Meyerson | May 17, 2005 at 08:56 AM
nannied? tee-hee
Posted by: MOTW | May 17, 2005 at 08:57 AM
mkj
thot they did that back during WW2
Posted by: hmmagin | May 17, 2005 at 09:11 AM
Jeff, my reaction was along the same lines: "Imagine my surprise."
Posted by: ErnieG | May 17, 2005 at 09:14 AM
"flesh-loving" and "self-obsessed"???? Are we talking about a nation of 13 year old boys?
Posted by: casey | May 17, 2005 at 09:15 AM
"Do you know how to save a boat-load of drowning Englishmen?"
"No."
"Good."
--just bein' fair, is all--
Posted by: Mahatma Kane Jeeves | May 17, 2005 at 09:23 AM
In Heaven,
the cooks are French, the engineers are German, and the comedians are English.
In Hell,
the cooks are British, the engineers are French, and the comedians are German.
Posted by: Mahatma Kane Jeeves | May 17, 2005 at 09:30 AM
In Heaven,
the cooks are French, the engineers are German, and the comedians are English.
In Hell,
the cooks are British, the engineers are French, and the comedians are German.
Posted by: Mahatma Kane Jeeves | May 17, 2005 at 09:32 AM
The real question, of course, is who do the Continentals (i.e. not including Great Britain) dislike more - the French or the Americans?
I'm not sure I want to know....
Posted by: qetzal | May 17, 2005 at 09:39 AM
mkj ...worth reading twice!
Posted by: hmmagin | May 17, 2005 at 09:41 AM
Bonjourrrrr... ya cheese-eatin', surrender-monkies.
Posted by: Groundskeeper Willy | May 17, 2005 at 10:25 AM
The Italians describe the French as "just disgruntled Italians".
Posted by: Odd Ditty | May 17, 2005 at 10:26 AM
"Why are the French roads lined with trees on each side?"
"So the German army can march in the shade."
I heeard that one told by a French comedian named 'Coluche' (but he probably stole it from someone else). My experience has been that the French don't appreciate the 'French' jokes, mebbee I just tell them badly . . .
Posted by: Mahatma Kane Jeeves | May 17, 2005 at 10:59 AM
My experience has been the same, MKJ.
Also, I thought the Quebecois were even worse, in that not only do other countries dislike them, but even the French do!
By the way, two of the coolest guys I have worked with were French. Both funny, really into women but not icky about it, and both very smart.
Posted by: Lizzy | May 17, 2005 at 11:29 AM
Yew silly bottom-sneefing Americains! We haff more culchyoor een our unshaiven aermpeets than yew haff in yewr eentire countrais, yew uneducaited pig-dogs!
Also, yew smell of elderberries.
Le Revolutione!
Posted by: Le Ducke Federale | May 17, 2005 at 12:28 PM
Marie: Yeah, I miss Coluche. I saw him dressed as a woman in a parade in Paris in the early eighties (long story), right before the motorcycle accident that killed him.
(He did use some jokes I had already heard in English prior to his doing them, but he made them funnier anyway so I forgave him.)
Posted by: Mahatma Kane Jeeves | May 17, 2005 at 12:36 PM
As far as humor goes, the French are more into "l'esprit" (translates as 'wit'), or else flat-out burlesque farces. They do also like word-play (Raymond Devos is a good example), but it is different from the anglo-saxon stuff.
*Note to self: write a dissertation on this.*
*Reminder to self: you aren't a student any more.*
Oh. I forgot.
Posted by: Mahatma Kane Jeeves | May 17, 2005 at 01:04 PM
MKJ, when you say "word play" you mean like Scrabble, right? No wonder I don't get their humor, I'm not any good at that game.
Posted by: casey | May 17, 2005 at 01:15 PM
The real question, of course, is who do the Continentals (i.e. not including Great Britain) dislike more - the French or the Americans?
Actually, GB hates Americans too. And my guess would be on more than the French. And hey, the US did it in far less time!
Oh, and the Québécois LOVE the French with irrational passion, even though France seems to think of them as something that got scraped off in the gutter to rot. Meanwhile, a very friendly person, who just happens to speak English, deserves a fate no less in their minds than being flayed alive so they can piss on their corpse...
Posted by: marlodianne | May 17, 2005 at 01:17 PM
Oh, and I HATE it when my burlesque farces are flat-out. Nothing will cure that but vinegar and Tilex. Wait a sec, I think someone mentioned olive oil the other day....
wanders away....
Posted by: casey | May 17, 2005 at 01:18 PM
Actuall, I have a french friend (who isn't too crazy about the french, himself) who grew up loving the Pink Panther movies. When he came to America and saw them in the first time in english, he said it was like seeing them for the first time, as the french dubbed versions didn't include Clouseu's lousy french accent.
Posted by: AlanBoss | May 17, 2005 at 01:50 PM
I meant, "Actually." [sigh]
And I bring it up to point oout that at least some french do have a sense of humor.
Posted by: AlanBoss | May 17, 2005 at 01:51 PM
Arrrrghhhhh! I meant "out." I hate my new keyboard!
Posted by: AlanBoss | May 17, 2005 at 01:52 PM
Alan: when you said "to point oout" I just figured you were Canadian or something . . .
Posted by: Mahatma Kane Jeeves | May 17, 2005 at 02:33 PM
According to Mr Clodong, "We are admired for our trains, the Airbus and Michelin tyres. But the buck stops there."
Did he mean "the franc", or was that a slam against the ol' U.S. of A?
Posted by: rowrbazzle | May 17, 2005 at 02:38 PM
I'd say that sums it up. I once had a French pen-pal in High School (by accident; wanted a German one, but they gave my address to a French girl) and she refused to write to me anymore when she found out my parents voted for Bush. No great loss there.
Posted by: Bumble | May 17, 2005 at 02:38 PM
Because of the french opposition to the war in Iraq, american tourist visits have dropped off significantly. As a result, the french have been forced to be rude to each other.
Posted by: Flash | May 17, 2005 at 03:43 PM
fartez vous?
Posted by: mudstuffin | May 17, 2005 at 03:44 PM
*oui*
Posted by: mudstuffin | May 17, 2005 at 03:44 PM
"... As a result, the french have been forced to be rude to each other."
How could they tell?
Posted by: ErnieG | May 17, 2005 at 05:28 PM