France

[Dicky Ticker]

Do you think they are over the top, or are we just more restrained?

[Biker Biggles]

It pains me to say it but I admire the French for their sheer bloodymindedness in standing up for themselves against their ruling class.They dont take no **** from anyone,and I wish we had the same drive this side of the ditch.

[Biker Biggles]

Oh it seems they are going to have to help out our Navy with air cover as well according to the government today.You couldnt make it up.

[sv4me]

We've got more fuel than them at the minute, cheese eating surrender monkeys :mrgreen:

And I cant stand (not all of them obviously) their mentality, theyd strike if somebody looked at them funny

[Biker Biggles]

We may have more fuel than them but we still have to buy electricity from them,and have our Cunarder cruise ships built by them,and have our waterservices and trains run by them.Bloodymindedness or not they seem to be doing a few thigs right,and certainly better than us.

[Kilted Ginger]

Pity they didnt stand up so well against the germans ;)

[timwilky]

I work for a French company and thus have lots of experience with the French on a personal level.

I have to say, they are generally realists. However, they are a proud nation who put their country/jobs etc first and sod everyone else. I wish we as a nation were more like them. They defend their national interest and the police etc. will collude with workers/unions etc to assist them in what would be illegal in this country.

[davepreston]

France

isnt that start just above the m25???

and yes they are a bunch of cheese eating surrender monkeys

how many french soldiers does it take to defend paris

no one knows it hasnt been done yet

[thulfi]

french girls are hot.

[dizzyblonde]

Just been on the phone to bestie mate as it happens.
She says its rediculous over there, plenty of places starting to close due to lack of fuel.
I was quite shocked when she said she had a call from the college of son no1(hes only 16), to find out why he wasn't there, she lives 100 km away from it, and a quick call to him....
'I'm on strike mum''
'no you feckin ain't, get back to school!!!''

They can strike at college????

At least theres one thing, when she runs out of fuel, she can't go out speeding again:rolleyes: shes been a bit naughty!

[sv4me]

We may have more fuel than them but we still have to buy electricity from them,and have our Cunarder cruise ships built by them,and have our waterservices and trains run by them.Bloodymindedness or not they seem to be doing a few thigs right,and certainly better than us.

I know what you're saying but both countries do certain things better than the other (like the French and running away :p) and both countries have the same problems like immigration and unemployment to tackle.

On the electricity front, France are able to supply to many EU countries because of the level of investment in nuclear power back in the 70s. We instead persist with bloody windmills :rolleyes: I read in the Economist the % of our electricity we get from France is only about 5%. And last year when France was suffering a heatwave and all the power stations were underperforming massively they were importing power from us, roles reversed.

I thought the latest Cunard cruise liner was built in Italy btw?

I admire their attitude of protecting their own interests and looking out for #1 though, something we should definitely do more of. But I dont for a second think we should be more like the French [-(

[maviczap]

I admire their attitude of protecting their own interests and looking out for #1 though, something we should definitely do more of. But I dont for a second think we should be more like the French [-(

+1 to this and what Tim and Biggles said

[anna]

I think the French are realists, they understand that the pension policy has been made, but they also know that it is the sign of more legislation being made.

They want to very clearly state to their government that they dont like their actions, and that further legislation will be met with a high price.

If we had stood up for what we believed in more, then perhaps we would have stayed out of Iraq or perhaps been more outraged at the spending of our pension schemes or for the NHS and police cuts or....

oh no we didn´t because no one stands up for anything in the Uk, all stiff upper lip which has now been replaced with outright apathy.

[maviczap]

Yep a big +1

Although I think some of the Anti Union legislation has clipped the Unions power in the UK?

Not so in France ?

[anna]

Not so in France ?

A lot of the protests currently in France arent legal. I dont see it stopping them.

[maviczap]

Good on em for a least shouting about it :p

[Biker Biggles]

France has a culture of resistance to authority while Britain has the opposite,more a servile culture of tugging the forelock and saying yes sir to the authority figure.The French revolution is the origin of this.While we had pangs of guilt about regicide and Charles1 the French did a proper job and killed off most of their aristocracy,and ever since have done their utmost to reject the class system and replace it with an egalitarian one.Doesnt always work,but they dont tug their forelocks to anyone,and good on them.

[-Ralph-]

french girls are hot.

I can testify, even after 9 years together, that this is true :makelurve:

France has a culture of resistance to authority while Britain has the opposite,more a servile culture of tugging the forelock and saying yes sir to the authority figure.

True, it's all about education. But this has developed into a firm belief that the country owes them a living, which is wrong.

If you think French are realists, I could come up with many examples to the contrary. We have seen in recent polls a majority of well off people agreeing that they shouldn't really get child benefit. This is not bowing to authority, it's a dose of realism.

All employees of the French SNCF on the other hand, still get a "Coal Allowance" in their pay packet, as compensation for the health hazards involved in operating a steam train. You try and argue with them why they shouldn't be getting it and it's like banging your head off a brick wall.

It's all swings and roundabouts. Somebody who knows both countries equally (and that's not me BTW), can come up with an equal number of arguments for and against.

[sv4me]

True, it's all about education. But this has developed into a firm belief that the country owes them a living, which is wrong.

My fellow orgers, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country :cool:

It's all swings and roundabouts. Somebody who knows both countries equally (and that's not me BTW), can come up with an equal number of arguments for and against.

:winner:

[thulfi]

I can testify, even after 9 years together, that this is true :makelurve:

nice work:salut:

[Sid Squid]

Do you think they are over the top, or are we just more restrained?
Bit of both I think.

We should be more like them in some ways, and the reverse.

I like France and the French though - Vive la difference!

[BanannaMan]

Restrained?
No, I don't think that's the right word.
As an outsider I'd say Brits are more reservered.
(meaning: with more dignity and mannors)

The french just need the **** slapped out of them every now and again.

[Sir Trev]

France needs to be a little careful - business is starting to avoid them because of their strikes. We've had countless people stuck there due to the strikes this year and we're starting to avoid the place for meetings now. I was over last week and was lucky to avoid the problems but a Paris-based collegaue could not get to us (in Montpellier). While waiting for the taxi outside the hotel on Friday the students at the college across the road kicked off - smoke bombs and shouting. Luckily the taxi driver knew a way around them.

Nice place, nice people, nice food, nice wine - lousy work ethic and any excuse to strike is jumped on. Avoid the place for a while.

[Weetabix]

My signature says it all

[Sally]

http://www.forumgarden.com/forums/attachments/did-you-know/31565d1270489092-little-known-facts-regarding-world-war-2-holy-thread-resurrection.jpg

[Specialone]

I personally respect the way they stand together if something ticks them off.
They have a great picturesque country as well, which I hope to see more of later this year.

I give them massive respect for the war memorials they have everywhere and the condition they are kept in, especially the graves etc in normandy.

Roads, rail, public transport etc are efficient and make ours look a joke, they have a lot going for them.

Edit, just seen the date of the op ;)