Britons think French deserve their 'negative stereotype': poll

AFP ^ | October 31, 2005

[West Coast Conservative]

Eighty-six percent of people in Britain aged 18 to 30 think the French deserve "a popular negative stereotype," suggests an opinion poll conducted for an Anglo-French art show in London.

That compares to 27 percent of like-aged people in France who felt the British held a negative stereotype of their nation, according to the survey.

The informal poll of 500 people in London, and as many in Paris, was commissioned by the organisers of an Entente Cordiale art show that opened in west London over the weekend. No margin of error was disclosed.

"British people should face up to the fact that they have an enormous problem when it comes to the French," said exhibition organiser Richard Kaye, a Brition resident in France.

"The British will make jokes about the French which would, if made to the detriment of other national or ethnic groups, be considered extremely racist and dangerous."

[MeanWestTexan]

No, written French (like all Latin-based languages) is more formal and structured and requires all the "le la" business.

English, being about half Germanic, makes that optional.

Hence, shorter.

The benefit of crude, primative, ancestors.

[BroncosFan]

When an SAS officer was asked about the most popular languages amongst his men he answered: "Arabic, Russian . . . and French, ya know, just in case."

[chilepepper]

frankly, i don't think the poofters deserve *ANYTHING* at all!

[Waverunner]

Let us remember the history of France, one of the oldest inhabited areas on the planet, home of Neanderthal man -
who's genes survive this day , passed on to the ladies of France.
the conquered by Julius Caesar in one of the classic campaigns of ancient times.
The raided at will by the Huns, viking, Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoth's, and assorted other goth punks of the middle ages.
Then lost the hundred years war to the Brits.
then lost the Germans and dutch in the wars of reformation.
then lost the seven years war.
then lost the Napoleonic wars. ( with a Corsican leader)
then lost the colonies of Haiti 9 yes lost to Haiti)
then lost the colony of Mexico ( yes lost to Mexico)
then lost to Prussia ( Germany)
then almost lost to Germany ( ww1)
then lost to Germany/Italy( ww2)
then lost french indo china
then lost Algeria
no wonder they are grumpy, what with hairy ladies and a loosing streak longer than any one else's

[Vicomte13]

"English, being about half Germanic, makes that optional.
Hence, shorter.
The benefit of crude, primative, ancestors."

Indeed! I cheerfully concede the point!

[NoCmpromiz]

Cheese eating surrender monkey ping. (Check post 44!)

[Oztrich Boy]

"British people should face up to the fact that they have an enormous problem when it comes to the French," said exhibition organiser Richard Kaye, a Brition resident in France.

The French are an enormous problem for everyone.

But 86% of Brits realize this.

[snoringbear]

Hey truth_seeker,

Question: Do you know why the French planted trees along the Champs Elysees? Answer: So the Germans would not have to march in the sun! Heh, heh....

[propertius]

"Combien des sous sont ces saucissons la? Ces saucissons sont six sous sont ces saucissons la." (16)

"Oi, How much be them bangers yonder? Them bangers be six groats be them bangers yonder." (16)

Mind you, having said that, the French translation of the latest Harry Potter book is 150 pages longer than the English version. French children will find War and Peace a doddle after that.

[Vicomte13]

There's an extra "sont" in the second sentence.