Sometimes I bloody love the French, I really do

Posted by: Kevin-W on 05 October 2015

Not only do they have the world's best food, the sexiest and most beautiful women on the planet, one of its most mellifluous languages, and gave us Marcel Proust, Manet and Duchamp, Ravel and Debussy and Jean Renoir; but they really know how to protest. And protest effectively.

 

Today Air France said it was laying off 2,900 people - and what did the workers do? They had a good old riot, attacking two of the senior executives ripping - literally - the shirts off their backs. One of those so targeted was the HR director, which is hilarious - because, as everyone knows, not matter how far a firm "downsizes", bloated HR departments never get any smaller.

 

Good pics in the Graun, here:  http://www.theguardian.com/wor...ves-job-losses-paris

 

I'm sure the dim, the dullards, the lickspittles of degenerate neo-liberal capitalism will moan, deplore or shake their heads and say nothing could be done to save the jobs in question, but for all right-thinking people this will be seen as a hugely entertaining example of justice meted out to the complacent and uncaring managerial class.

 

Vive la France! If only they'd do the same over here...

Posted on: 05 October 2015 by JamieWednesday

My Parents live in France so I get to see and hear quite a bit of it. The above reflects the good and bad of the French. They know how to protest. They also know how to not pay taxes and are borderline broke. They use legislation to protect French 'art' and language. And much of it is not wanted by the French.

 

So, the French mob over a few management types, plus ca change. As they say in Hampstead.

Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Bananahead

The language thing is interesting. I have had a weekend house in Franche Comte for the last 12 years. All of my neighbours kids are actively learning English as are a lot of the adults. At one time, if you went into a bar or restaurant then you simply had to interact in French, now I start in French and 90% of the time they answer in English.

 

I do seem to pay a lot of property tax. And something strange, I can actually see what they spend the money on.

Posted on: 05 October 2015 by JamieWednesday

 

 

I do seem to pay a lot of property tax. And something strange, I can actually see what they spend the money on.

Ah, that's where you're going wrong you see. Only the expats pay the 2nd, income related part of the property tax. Everyone else just doesn't declare their real income. Simples. Still, nice of you to pay for their speed bumps and STOP signs tho'...

Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Frenchnaim
Originally Posted by JamieWednesday:

My Parents live in France so I get to see and hear quite a bit of it. The above reflects the good and bad of the French. They know how to protest. They also know how to not pay taxes and are borderline broke. They use legislation to protect French 'art' and language. And much of it is not wanted by the French.

 

So, the French mob over a few management types, plus ca change. As they say in Hampstead.

Any sentence beginning with "The French are..." or "The British are..." "They are...", etc. should be taken with a pinch of salt, in my view. France, Britain, and so on, are diverse nations, it's too easy to generalise.

Well, I pay taxes, for instance... and I don't complain about it: according to Jamie, France is "borderline broke", but if I needed to go to hospital tomorrow, I would prefer to be sent to a French hospital.

And public debt as a percentage of GDP is only marginally lower in Britain (which has a higher deficit).

Posted on: 05 October 2015 by JamieWednesday
Originally Posted by Frenchnaim:
Originally Posted by JamieWednesday:

My Parents live in France so I get to see and hear quite a bit of it. The above reflects the good and bad of the French. They know how to protest. They also know how to not pay taxes and are borderline broke. They use legislation to protect French 'art' and language. And much of it is not wanted by the French.

 

So, the French mob over a few management types, plus ca change. As they say in Hampstead.

Any sentence beginning with "The French are..." or "The British are..." "They are...", etc. should be taken with a pinch of salt, in my view. France, Britain, and so on, are diverse nations, it's too easy to generalise.

Well, I pay taxes, for instance... and I don't complain about it: according to Jamie, France is "borderline broke", but if I needed to go to hospital tomorrow, I would prefer to be sent to a French hospital.

And public debt as a percentage of GDP is only marginally lower in Britain (which has a higher deficit).

100% agree with you. If he still lived in the UK, my Dad would most certainly be dead by now IMO. The NHS in Epsom tried their best to see him off this mortal wotsit. But various medicos around Montpellier & Beziers have righted Surrey's Bests wrongs and got him ticking again. Not least by making him go cold turkey away from the smoking, as they seemed to think it rather unfair that he expected them to fix him up, only to then continue trying to relentlessly poison himself.

Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by JamieWednesday:

 They use legislation to protect French 'art' and language. And much of it is not wanted by the French.

 

Comment les Français pourraient veulent pas la langue française, la langue des cadences de Proust dans leur nation? Il est comme la musique à nos oreilles et je souhaite seulement je pouvais parler mieux.

 

Je suis désolé pour mon mauvais français!

Posted on: 05 October 2015 by fatcat

Kevin


I must agree with you on one point, Didier was one of the best footballers I’ve ever seen.

I take it you haven’t looked any further than the guardians webpage.

 

Avez vous un Cuppa

 

Posted on: 05 October 2015 by JamieWednesday
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:
Originally Posted by JamieWednesday:

 They use legislation to protect French 'art' and language. And much of it is not wanted by the French.

 

Comment les Français pourraient veulent pas la langue française, la langue des cadences de Proust dans leur nation? Il est comme la musique à nos oreilles et je souhaite seulement je pouvais parler mieux.

 

Je suis désolé pour mon mauvais français!

 

Oui, et vous avez vu combien ils veulent pour un CD?

 

 

Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Kevin-W
Formatage étrange là. Couper et coller de Google Translate Jamie?
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Kevin-W
Oh. Je vois que vous avez corrigé maintenant. 

 Mais oui, les prix des CD sont très élevés par rapport au Royaume-Uni
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by fatcat:
Kevin

I must agree with you on one point, Didier was one of the best footballers I’ve ever seen.

I take it you haven’t looked any further than the guardians webpage.

 
Avez vous un Cuppa
 
Oui, Drogba était un grand footballeur, mais Cantona et Henry étaient mieux.

 Je regardais aussi le site du Daily Telegraph.
 
Une tasse de thé! Bonne idée! Earl Grey, s'il vous plaît!
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by JamieWednesday
Trying to contribute to forum on a flan iPhone is a really bad idea
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by JamieWednesday
You see! 'Flan' ????

Mon Dieu!
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by JamieWednesday:
Trying to contribute to forum on a flan iPhone is a really bad idea
Vraiment! 
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Bert Schurink
I am not sure if I can like the protesting, it's always affeating ones holiday. They however have a good system of working hours etc...
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Bert Schurink:
I am not sure if I can like the protesting, it's always affeating ones holiday.
Pour encourager les autres.
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Frenchnaim
And I'd always thought foreign languages were not allowed on the forum! Mr Dane, they're breaking the rules, quick!
 
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Frenchnaim:
And I'd always thought foreign languages were not allowed on the forum! Mr Dane, they're breaking the rules, quick!
 
Arrêtez d'être un mouchard!
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Frenchnaim
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:
Originally Posted by Frenchnaim:
And I'd always thought foreign languages were not allowed on the forum! Mr Dane, they're breaking the rules, quick!
 
Arrêtez d'être un mouchard!
Sorry, I'm just ambitious, that's all.
Incidentally, "Arrête" is fine, it's the Naim forum, not the Académie Française...
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by dayjay
Flipping heck, I go for a quick run and when I get back we've changed languages.  Je suis un rock star is about all I can manage
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by Frenchnaim:
Originally Posted by Kevin-W:
Originally Posted by Frenchnaim:
And I'd always thought foreign languages were not allowed on the forum! Mr Dane, they're breaking the rules, quick!
 
Arrêtez d'être un mouchard!
Sorry, I'm just ambitious, that's all.
Incidentally, "Arrête" is fine, it's the Naim forum, not the Académie Française...
Mon école enseigne les langues d'une manière très formelle... 
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by northpole
Something's going wrong with my Apple Mac - I was reading this thread and the text keeps appearing in a random array of letters and stuff!
 
My view on the French is rather narrow focused at the moment - I'll be better placed to comment after Ireland take them on in their next world cup match!
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Kevin-W
Originally Posted by northpole:
Something's going wrong with my Apple Mac - I was reading this thread and the text keeps appearing in a random array of letters and stuff!
 
Je vécu le même problème quand je mis à jour pour OSX El Capitane hier et essayé d'utiliser Microsoft Word... 
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by Frenchnaim
Oh no... I hope you're not Johnny bloody Halliday...
 
Je suis un rock star is about all I can manage
 
Posted on: 05 October 2015 by dayjay
Originally Posted by Frenchnaim:
Oh no... I hope you're not Johnny bloody Halliday...
 
Je suis un rock star is about all I can manage
 
Je efferte la, and we are really pushing it now