h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This is a better question than Why does the English hate the French?.

Also why do the Americans think they are better than everyone else? Sorry not all Americans do, but it does seem that way to outsiders.
Why are Germans thought to be unfunny? Why are Aussies thought to be drunken Kangaroo shooting madmen?
Why are the Welsh thought to be sheep shaggers? Why are the Scottish thought to be tight? Why are the Irish thought to be thick, pub loving paddys? Why are the English thought to be all Cockneys or stiff upper lip or football thugs?

It's only when you spend time with these people that you understand that none of these things are true!!

We all put down other countrys to make our lifes in our own countrys seem just that little bit better than theirs, but if you look at it we are all the same in away. We all work to pay the bills, we get taxed, we look after our familys and hope that we get to grow old and see our children have a family of their own.

If you think that's bad I have a Belgian Gran so if I don't do well in French as a subject I'm dead so I can't hate the French/Belgian but I do anyway!!

~~Halo/Emily~~

Hello Lord Sin....

In reply to your questions,

Aren't the Americans better than everyone else? I have always been told that they are (by Americans , of course).

Have you ever met a German who made you laugh?

I thought it was the Aussies who were sheep shaggers - or is it the New Zealanders (3 million people and 40 million sheep!!)

The Welsh - well they should have a whole posting just for themselves ....

Perhaps it would be more polite to describe the Scotts as careful with their money (slight bias here - I love Scottish men).

I don't think the Irish are thick, as such, they just happen to be on a completely different wave length/planet - and yes, they do love their pubs, but so do the English.

In your (fairly accurate) summary of the English, you have missed out one section - The Middle English - those uniquely English people - the do-gooders who sit on Parish councils, never drive too fast, write letters of complaint to the BBC, who are always the first to form an orderly queue....

However, I cannot understand why the French hate the English so much, except for the obvious historical reasons. The French are (generally) liverish, wine-drinking , aldulterous, unwashed, rude tempermental people, who smell of garlic and Gauloises, but who enjoy life to the full. The English are quite the opposite - why should the French hate the English? If anything they should pity them.

P.S. Despite their faults, I like French men too.

I don't hate the frnch I just hate having to learn the language!!
~~Halo/Emily~~

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I'm actually Scottish so we don't get quite the same........hatered!!

Okay, I'm the American. Its okay with me, if everyone feels superior to me (I have a very low self esteem). What I HATE is when people are here (and I'm sure Americans do it overseas so don't even start.....) and they tell me HOW MUCH BETTER THEIR Country is then the one they are currently in. Now if they are just visiting, that is okay, however if they are living here, I always ask this question. "If your country is so great, and the people in your country so much better, then why the hell are you LIVING here???".

I am greatly relieved to see that it is not just the American's that the French hate.

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Let's put it this way everyone loves to hate the Brits but it's not the Scottish, Welsh or Irish they have a problem with it's the English. And we get caught up in it!

Like the Beef crisis it was the English beef that was infected with CJD and Scotland lost money because people like the French did care what was infected or not they just thought it comes from the UK so it must all be blood mad!!

I don't have a probl;em with the french it's the fact that Scotland gets such a bad rep because of the English!

was that harsh??

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Oh yes, and Vive le France, of course. And everywhere else too...

Ouch!
This might be worse than insulting them...
It's Vive *la* France!

Well, at least I'm making an effort...

What's worse about it??

Ever been in France?
Ever seen, how they treat you, when your French isn't that good?

no!

Where I've spent most time in France, they do seem to appreciate any attempt at speaking French, compared to just talking slowly and loudly in English.
I guess it depends where and when you go - out of tourist season in the mountains, people have the time to try and understand you.
Somewhere busy, and particularly in Paris, it may be quite different.

I dare say someone speaking bad English in a busy place in London could risk being treated less than perfectly.

That's right, of course.
Generalizations are _always_ wrong. (This is a bit of a... what do you call it? Damn. You know, self-contradictory... )
But you're right, Paris is worst.
The thing that really zarked me off was that they did never try to slow down a little bit. Even though it was clear, that I didn't understand them.
Excusez moi, monsineur, ou est la gare?
Ahvousallezahcetteionureabasonnearmeriounabascetteinuremont.
Pardon? *looks lost*
Ahvousallezahcetteionureabasonnearmeriounabascetteinuremont! *smiles*
And if you don't know any French at all, you're _really_ lost.

But this should not be misunderstood, I liked it there. A lot. Much more than the place, i actually live.

Excuse me sir where is the train station.....