French humour

[Bob]

As this started out about French humour... I recall another Simpson's quote - the ultimate putdown about the French was that "Their national comic hero is Gerry Lewis"...

And before anyone asks, no I never availed myself of this service, but on the subject of BJs, there used to be a Rolls-Royce that basically went round the Arc Du Triomphe all day... with an 'accomodating young lady' who - in exchange for the correct amount of coins of course - practiced the art of the BJ while you got to do some sightseeing in style!

No, I have no idea if this is still happening...

And Brittany? Well as someone said, it was part of Britain for a very long time...

And as we got onto Italians... if it wasn't breach of copyright, I'd scan the image in here - but if you ever see a book called 'Zany Afternoons' by Bruce McCall, have a look at "World War II aircraft that never made it into production". There is an Italian 'fighter' aircraft with a propellor at each end and a swivel seat 'So the pilot can fly in the same direction as whichever side is winning at the time"!

(By the way, I was born in England, but the bulk of my genes emanate from Ireland... another bunch of idiots - 'we' (my distant ancestors) invited the English in as we were having problems with the vikings - and the British promptly took the place over! D'Oh! To finish with another Simpsons line...)

[Lou Girardin]

What good motorbike did the French ever make anyway?

There's the Voxan.

[Lou Girardin]

and encourage Collaboration,something the French pioneered in the last war.Brits aren`t anti-French,we just dont like them much..........at all.

Heard of Oswald Mosely, Edward the 7th, Chamberlain? They predated the French by a few years.
The Pom's don't like any Europeans much, I wonder why?

[Coldkiwi]

There's the Voxan.

and it last won a race when?

I like the question:
Q: How many frenchmen does it take to defend Paris?
A: No one knows, its never been tried!

[MikeL]

Of course the French don't hate the Brits. (They just ignore them.)

One of the few French jokes about the English...

La cuisine anglaise? Si c'est chaud, c'est de la soupe. Si c'est froid, c'est de la biere.

[greenhorn]

No French we would have no 'Allo 'Allo
Great series.

[Coldkiwi]

great series... but made by the BBC and done with british script writers and actors if I'm not mistaken!

[moko]

Heard of Oswald Mosely, Edward the 7th, Chamberlain? ?

Petain? He even got the chance to work with his buddies un-like the people you mentioned.Only 20-odd of the Gestapo in Paris were German,local talent enthusiastically providing the rest of their number.Moseley was hated by most in Britain,notable exceptions being many of the so-called aristocracy,and his marches were often attacked by what would now be called "counter-demonstrators".The most famous incident being "The Battle Of Cable Street" in the East End which was so vicious that his marches were banned,and the equivalent French response to the Vichy mob?Moseley`s only counterparts these days are the BNP,a fringe party that got 2% of the vote in recent elections,bit of a contrast to Mr Le Pen`s consistent support in France.

[bluninja]

Of course the French don't hate the Brits. (They just ignore them.)

One of the few French jokes about the English...

La cuisine anglaise? Si c'est chaud, c'est de la soupe. Si c'est froid, c'est de la biere.

Other than referring to us as rose boeuf....but I guess we call them froggies....must admit that I do really like the french...and have fond memories of France...

I did a charity bicycle ride from Paris to Le Havre and on to Portsmouth. The first day was 90 miles in July sun.....after one of several steep climbs I entered a village behind the main group wobbling all over the place. A few old ladies sat outside their house enjoying the afternoon saw me and stood up starting clapping and shouting allez allez!...it was quite uplifting and I had a grin on my face as I passed trying to ride faster (and succeeding). I can't imagine that happening in UK or NZ.

[MikeL]

Other than referring to us as rose boeuf....but I guess we call them froggies....must admit that I do really like the french...and have fond memories of France...

Good onya, Simon, for having the intestinal fortitude to defy conventional stereotypes and say something positive about the French (not just France).
FWIW I firmly believe that if you have made the effort to appreciate a meal in the home of a foreigner, and tried to communicate with him, however haltingly, in his own language, or even with sign language, you will never again resort to stereotypical put-downs.
If our only knowledge of a culture is what we learn through the media or as tourists, we have an incomplete and false picture.

In 2 years living in France I never once ate frogs' legs. Snails, on the other hand...

[Jackrat]

Good onya, Simon, for having the intestinal fortitude to defy conventional stereotypes and say something positive about the French (not just France).
FWIW I firmly believe that if you have made the effort to appreciate a meal in the home of a foreigner, and tried to communicate with him, however haltingly, in his own language, or even with sign language, you will never again resort to stereotypical put-downs.
If our only knowledge of a culture is what we learn through the media or as tourists, we have an incomplete and false picture.

In 2 years living in France I never once ate frogs' legs. Snails, on the other hand...

Does this also apply to the Australians?
You want Tomato sause with that mate??
He was refering to toast fer god's sake.

[MikeL]

Does this also apply to the Australians?

Nah.
I make an exception in the case of the Aussies.

[El Dopa]

I like the question:
Q: How many frenchmen does it take to defend Paris?
A: No one knows, its never been tried!

(puts on pedants hat) Actually not quite true: The Germans besieged it in the Franco-Prussian war, if I recall my history correctly.

And there has only been one other occasion where anyone got the opportunity (WW2), where, yes, they let them walk in. But seeing as how the battle of France was pretty much a foregone conclusion by then, you can hardly blame them.

[Lou Girardin]

Only 20-odd of the Gestapo in Paris were German,local talent enthusiastically providing the rest of their number.

Really? And I suppose there was only about 50 SS troops in France too. They must have been busy boys.
I think you are confusing the Milice with the Gestapo.

[Bandito]

Why is it that whenever the French are mentioned, people start talking about wars and battles and defeats, as if fighting was somehow more important than food, or wine, or sex, or art, or literature or...?

or.... french fries. What could be more important than that?

I dont yet know how to quote correctly

The French fry came from Belgum!!!