French Presidential Election; 2nd round thread

[Keystone Phil]

It has never crossed your mind that big city people tend to be rude in every country and that Parisian behaviour reflects mainly that? (i.e. Peking, New York, Berlin, Stockholm are all in their respective countries known for the same thing)

I understand that but I think that the French, overall, have quite an attitude. Like I said, I have dealt with the French outside of Paris.

I understand that but I think that the Americans, overall, have quite an attitude. Like I said, I have dealt with the Americans outside New York.

I understand that but I think that the Italians, overall, have quite an attitude. Like I said, I have dealt with the Italians outside Rome.

And you know what, Al? I know you think you are going to catch me being hypocritical but I honestly don't care if you really feel that way. You know as well as I do that the French have a very nasty disposition towards Americans.

You keep going after me over this because first you thought you'd get me by saying my problem was just with Parisians. When I complain about the French that can be from any other region of France, you mock me and try to use my words against me. Now I can't dislike the French unless they are from the capital city so you can simply blame it on where they are specifically from?

Think what you want about Americans and Italians. If they rub you the wrong way after your encounters with them, more power to you to say that they bother you.

And please stop this holier than thou business with this subject. I love how everyone jumps at the opportunity to say that I am that way yet refuse to admit when they act is such a way. You have your own personal prejudices, Al, and so does everyone that gave me a hard time on this subject. I'm not saying that these prejudices are a good thing but they are reality. When you have used stereotypes against Italians in the past in commentary about Italian politics, I didn't really care. Please act the same when dealing with me and my opinions of the French.

[Keystone Phil]

I'm pretty sure al isn't the only one to come out of an encounter with a disfavourable opinion of native Italians.....

Never said or assumed that he did. In fact, I have encountered a few also. My point is, however, that we all have our prejudices that we shouldn't necessarily see as good things but they do exist. For people to beat up on me over this was really ridiculous. Like I said, one on one, I treat people as individuals and won't say "Oh, you're French? Ok, don't bother with me because I hate you already" but overall, I don't like the French. Overall, you don't like certain people, too.

[Keystone Phil]

Actually I've no problem with Americans or Italians. Just pointing out the hypocrisy, that's all

Where was the hypocrisy? You clearly didn't read my post. Do me a favor and actually read what I said before you point out a double standard.

[Keystone Phil]

Maybe the French have a nasty disposition against Americans because they hate them. They probably have good reason to do it since they met that nasty cab driver in New York that one time.

Again, you're comparing this to "one" event which was never my argument. Listen, I can't continue this if everyone is going to be stubborn and ignore that these incidents have happened more than once and not just with Parisians.

We're way off topic anyway so I propose that we drop this.