I think it all goes back to the revolution. The French (I generalise of course but there’s an undeniable pattern in foreign observations) have a deep dislike of positivity. The revolution promised to sweep away the ancien régime but it never really happened. Monarchical Napoleon soon restored the status quo, and every president in modern times has failed to effect any real change. So the anger and bitterness filters down into every sphere of society - and fuels conversation at every possible moment. Basically, the French love to moan. It’s a national passtime and it’s always the fault of the president, no matter where they stand politically. Not surprising that this negative mindset permeates public relations too. Just ask my French wife 🙂
Thick skin needed for sure :) I think the French have a healthy distrust of the system but negativity goes deep in their psyche. How they ever managed to create one of the most advanced countries in the world I’ll never know!
hahaha this is so true. I've been in France since 1978, after living 10 years in Greece (where nothing ever worked either) so I've learned a lot about this! 😁
I remember in particular trying to get a passport rapidly for my French boyfriend (now my husband) for one of his first trips to the states with me. We had already bought our plane tickets and, being young and native, we had no idea that getting a French passport could take months, not weeks. After being told "non", we explained that we already had our plane tickets etc... we got a lecture from the French bureaucrat about what a bad job we'd done finding out what was needed (this was long before the internet existed, in the 1980s) and left the building with zero guarantee that we'd get his passport in time for our trip.
We received notice that his passport was ready just a few weeks later. We were so thrilled that we brought a bouquet of flowers to the grumpy bureaucrat to thank her. When we handed her the bouquet, I it was like a mask of grouchiness cracked & fell off her face. She smiled and thanked us. 🥰
I think it all goes back to the revolution. The French (I generalise of course but there’s an undeniable pattern in foreign observations) have a deep dislike of positivity. The revolution promised to sweep away the ancien régime but it never really happened. Monarchical Napoleon soon restored the status quo, and every president in modern times has failed to effect any real change. So the anger and bitterness filters down into every sphere of society - and fuels conversation at every possible moment. Basically, the French love to moan. It’s a national passtime and it’s always the fault of the president, no matter where they stand politically. Not surprising that this negative mindset permeates public relations too. Just ask my French wife 🙂
That theory does explain the distrust for the system as well. And makes me wonder who would ever want to become president.
Thick skin needed for sure :) I think the French have a healthy distrust of the system but negativity goes deep in their psyche. How they ever managed to create one of the most advanced countries in the world I’ll never know!
This is so insightful and on point
Brilliant, and so true! In addition to "c'est pas possible", they also say "c'est compliqué", which means the same thing.
Very observant with clever ideas! I sometimes think that when no-sayers decide the hassle is not going to be worth it, they give in...
hahaha this is so true. I've been in France since 1978, after living 10 years in Greece (where nothing ever worked either) so I've learned a lot about this! 😁
I remember in particular trying to get a passport rapidly for my French boyfriend (now my husband) for one of his first trips to the states with me. We had already bought our plane tickets and, being young and native, we had no idea that getting a French passport could take months, not weeks. After being told "non", we explained that we already had our plane tickets etc... we got a lecture from the French bureaucrat about what a bad job we'd done finding out what was needed (this was long before the internet existed, in the 1980s) and left the building with zero guarantee that we'd get his passport in time for our trip.
We received notice that his passport was ready just a few weeks later. We were so thrilled that we brought a bouquet of flowers to the grumpy bureaucrat to thank her. When we handed her the bouquet, I it was like a mask of grouchiness cracked & fell off her face. She smiled and thanked us. 🥰
Trained my brain on France, as above, then moved to the UK where shopkeepers think I’m some kind of psychopath with no boundaries
Good point. When I go back to the US I’m a bit pushy at restaurants and also want to be left alone until I ask for the check.
This is perhaps the definitive guide on getting past “le non.”
Isn’t it? I agree
Judy