Post: #51

(10-25-2011 02:53 PM)amity Wrote:  

(10-25-2011 12:30 PM)Moma Wrote:  

(10-25-2011 05:36 AM)amity Wrote:  Montreal is hands down the city where I encountered the most arrogant, rudest people in my life, from taxi drivers to shop assistants, although I didn't help my case by not speaking much French (or forgetting it) when I was there
Not everyone was ignorant, in fact a few were really helpful and friendly, but the percentage of arseholes per head of population was staggering, way way higher than any other city I've been in

What's your race, pls?

hey Moma,

I'm Caucasian, why do you ask?

I realise I'm going against the grain by criticising Montreal but honestly I've never (before or since) met so many downright rude people in just a few days, as I met there
Maybe it was the freezing cold weather and my feeling unwell too, that contributed to it, but that doesn't fully explain it
I've been to France plenty of times including Paris and it didn't come close in terms of hostility, even when I didn't make much effort with my French

Thing is, pretty much everyone I know who's been there, raves about the place, I dunno, I guess my vibe and that of the locals just didn't gel

Post: #52

(10-25-2011 02:53 PM)amity Wrote:  

(10-25-2011 12:30 PM)Moma Wrote:  

(10-25-2011 05:36 AM)amity Wrote:  Montreal is hands down the city where I encountered the most arrogant, rudest people in my life, from taxi drivers to shop assistants, although I didn't help my case by not speaking much French (or forgetting it) when I was there
Not everyone was ignorant, in fact a few were really helpful and friendly, but the percentage of arseholes per head of population was staggering, way way higher than any other city I've been in

What's your race, pls?

hey Moma,

I'm Caucasian, why do you ask?

I realise I'm going against the grain by criticising Montreal but honestly I've never (before or since) met so many downright rude people in just a few days, as I met there
Maybe it was the freezing cold weather and my feeling unwell too, that contributed to it, but that doesn't fully explain it
I've been to France plenty of times including Paris and it didn't come close in terms of hostility, even when I didn't make much effort with my French

Thing is, pretty much everyone I know who's been there, raves about the place, I dunno, I guess my vibe and that of the locals just didn't gel

I ask because I don't know if Francophones are more rude towards certain races or not.

I had the same experience and Montreal has never been this fun and joy for me that it has for others. I actually prefer Ottawa (only 2 hours away). They are very approachable and friendly in Ottawa.

I was in Montreal a few weeks ago on business and I experienced the same type of behaviour that got right on my tits. Again, I am a very polite and respectful person but I'm very aware of vibes.
Montreal can be very hit and miss with the nasty vibes. However, of course their lizards dress fantastically and are gloriously in shape.

So my experiences concur with yours.

Post: #53

Halifax, Nova Scotia has friendly people, we were there on a tug boat several years ago, the locals would come down the the port and stop by our boat and talk with us, they would give us rides into town and just friendly, just before Christmas a family came to our boat and gave us a Christmas tree and a few wrapped presents, home made cookies and cakes. On the other spectrum, Vancouver sucked, rude people who wouldn't give us the time of day. I like Rio and maybe I was blind to it, but after reading posts about Rio being rude I started noticing things, yeah, they are pretty bad as a population, especially in Copacabana and Ipanema and other tourist areas.

Post: #54

(10-26-2011 10:57 AM)Moma Wrote:  I ask because I don't know if Francophones are more rude towards certain races or not.

Post: #55

I think the problem is not how rude is people in some place, it's rather if the code a culture employs is compatible with your own code. One example is the relations between Spaniards and Latin Americans: we call each other "rude" and "sickly-sweet" (well, I don't), but the truth is just that Spanish culture stresses the importance of sincerity, and Latin culture emphasizes good manners.

So maybe the important thing is learning to notice how every culture works, and switching your own code.

Post: #56

Kuwait, hands down. They WILL speed up and try to run you over when you cross the street. Or honk incessantly when traffic stops. They commonly slap OFW's just because. They treat all others as infidels, including other Arabs/Muslims. They will look at you with total disgust because you're a foreigner, or not dressed to their standard. They will cut in line, even in front of each other, yell, bicker, argue, refuse to pay, throw things. And the driving? Holy fuck. Prepare to meet your maker. And don't expect them to call an ambulance, because it's up to Allah to let you live or die. And because your an infidel, expect to die.

Suffer through that and all other countries seems like a scene from Marry Poppins.

Post: #57

(10-26-2011 01:07 PM)Hawk Wrote:  I think the problem is not how rude is people in some place, it's rather if the code a culture employs is compatible with your own code. One example is the relations between Spaniards and Latin Americans: we call each other "rude" and "sickly-sweet" (well, I don't), but the truth is just that Spanish culture stresses the importance of sincerity, and Latin culture emphasizes good manners.

So maybe the important thing is learning to notice how every culture works, and switching your own code.

Some cultures are blatantly xenophobic (fear/hatred of foreigners/strangers). I don't expect someone to pander to all my requests but there is a certain level of courtesy that I think should be standard amongst human beings.

Those are the same behavioural patterns that strongly discourage me from wanting to visit those countries or even learn their languages/cultures.

Post: #58

I've never been to the Netherlands, but the dutch people I have met in other countries have been the worst. Not only rude but rather arrogant. Walking around with an air of superiority just waiting to tell you everything that's wrong with America. Makes me never want to visit there because I assume most people that travel are more open-minded than their general population (tall, broad shouldered women with deep/raspy voices don't add to the appeal either).

Post: #59

Johannesburg, South Africa has to be up there on the scale of rudeness. Not people you get to know, even casually, since they often turn out to be cool - but rather officials, shop assistants etc. Customer service is a non-existant concept. As a bonus, if they want to be really rude they'll shoot you with an AK47 and take your car or other shit.

As for the Montreal discussion. I think all the talk over the last few years about how hot the chicks in Montreal are must have given them a big head. But the Quebecois in general have an inflated sence of who they are. They diss the rest of Canada ,but are happy to take their money. They pass ridiculous laws supposedly meant to protect the purity and standing of the French language in Quebec while even France itself has moved on in the language wars, partialy embracing English, and regards Quebec French as a bit of a hick patois.

Post: #60

(10-26-2011 02:41 PM)Moma Wrote:  

(10-26-2011 01:07 PM)Hawk Wrote:  I think the problem is not how rude is people in some place, it's rather if the code a culture employs is compatible with your own code. One example is the relations between Spaniards and Latin Americans: we call each other "rude" and "sickly-sweet" (well, I don't), but the truth is just that Spanish culture stresses the importance of sincerity, and Latin culture emphasizes good manners.

So maybe the important thing is learning to notice how every culture works, and switching your own code.

Some cultures are blatantly xenophobic (fear/hatred of foreigners/strangers). I don't expect someone to pander to all my requests but there is a certain level of courtesy that I think should be standard amongst human beings.

Those are the same behavioural patterns that strongly discourage me from wanting to visit those countries or even learn their languages/cultures.

Well, that may be true in some places, but I guess it's not like that in most of the planet. I wrote it thinking in Paris and Cairo, two places which get a bad rap in this thread, but where I found people quite friendly in general.

Post: #61

(10-26-2011 01:26 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  Kuwait, hands down. They WILL speed up and try to run you over when you cross the street. Or honk incessantly when traffic stops. They commonly slap OFW's just because. They treat all others as infidels, including other Arabs/Muslims. They will look at you with total disgust because you're a foreigner, or not dressed to their standard. They will cut in line, even in front of each other, yell, bicker, argue, refuse to pay, throw things. And the driving? Holy fuck. Prepare to meet your maker. And don't expect them to call an ambulance, because it's up to Allah to let you live or die. And because your an infidel, expect to die.

Suffer through that and all other countries seems like a scene from Marry Poppins.

So why did you go over their to save their asses? That'd make me bitter.

Post: #62

(10-27-2011 04:26 AM)big poppa Wrote:  I've never been to the Netherlands, but the dutch people I have met in other countries have been the worst. Not only rude but rather arrogant. Walking around with an air of superiority just waiting to tell you everything that's wrong with America. Makes me never want to visit there because I assume most people that travel are more open-minded than their general population (tall, broad shouldered women with deep/raspy voices don't add to the appeal either).

Every Dutch that I met till this day were excellent,easygoing people.Have met dutch guys/girls in Brazil and in Portugal.

Post: #63

(10-27-2011 05:33 PM)Vicious Wrote:  

(10-26-2011 01:26 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  Kuwait, hands down. They WILL speed up and try to run you over when you cross the street. Or honk incessantly when traffic stops. They commonly slap OFW's just because. They treat all others as infidels, including other Arabs/Muslims. They will look at you with total disgust because you're a foreigner, or not dressed to their standard. They will cut in line, even in front of each other, yell, bicker, argue, refuse to pay, throw things. And the driving? Holy fuck. Prepare to meet your maker. And don't expect them to call an ambulance, because it's up to Allah to let you live or die. And because your an infidel, expect to die.

Suffer through that and all other countries seems like a scene from Marry Poppins.

So why did you go over their to save their asses? That'd make me bitter.

They mostly don't fuck with the Brits and Americans. The older ones are still thankful for being liberated from Iraq. They treat Indians, Filipinos, Pakistani's, ect. like shit. We're labeled as infidels due to not being Muslim, but other nationalities get it pretty bad.

The place has some amazing food though, especially if you like Lebanese and Indian fair. Awesome coffee too.

Post: #64

(10-27-2011 09:30 AM)swisschalet Wrote:  I've never been to the Netherlands, but the dutch people I have met in other countries have been the worst. Not only rude but rather arrogant. Walking around with an air of superiority just waiting to tell you everything that's wrong with America. Makes me never want to visit there because I assume most people that travel are more open-minded than their general population (tall, broad shouldered women with deep/raspy voices don't add to the appeal either).

Good, one less competitor.

Post: #65

(10-27-2011 07:05 PM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  

(10-27-2011 09:30 AM)swisschalet Wrote:  I've never been to the Netherlands, but the dutch people I have met in other countries have been the worst. Not only rude but rather arrogant. Walking around with an air of superiority just waiting to tell you everything that's wrong with America. Makes me never want to visit there because I assume most people that travel are more open-minded than their general population (tall, broad shouldered women with deep/raspy voices don't add to the appeal either).

Good, one less competitor.

So, this proves 'swisschalet's' point...

Post: #66

(10-23-2011 11:28 AM)DLuzhin Wrote:  Paris

+1 french people are fucking rude cunts, it's a generalization picked up during my time in paris.

Post: #67

(10-28-2011 03:11 PM)isis Wrote:  

(10-23-2011 11:28 AM)DLuzhin Wrote:  Paris

+1 french people are fucking rude cunts, it's a generalization picked up during my time in paris.

+2 for Paris. By far the worst in the developed world. Rest of France, not nearly as bad.

http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/...on/246743/

Post: #68

(10-24-2011 01:33 PM)KingofScotland Wrote:  

Quote:The Balkan countries also have the rudest people from anywhere I've been.

Agreed. So unfriendly on the whole.

Rubbish. In fact I have found that the Balkan countries have some of the warmest, friendliest people in Europe.

You just have to understand that Eastern Europe don't do the over-politeness like the west.

Post: #69

I would have to go with the French too, I have never met a cool french person, they seem very keen to be obnoxious at the first given opportunity. Saying that I have mostly only met French men, maybe the women are better

Post: #70

Ok I will put 2 things in context . First for Montréal if you come and speek english to a francophone hell yeah you will be receive pretty bad . They don't know if you are from the states or another country . They think your A an stubborn anglo from Montréal or B an anglo Canadian . You have to give a little effort to speak french . If your not good we don't care . We very appreciate when someone try and we will help you and make jokes. Quebecers are probably one of the most funny ethny , they are not rude . But It piss me off when I see people came here and think they will speak english and have all their services in English when the official language is French . For the french it's most Paris that has a bad rep . In the other city they are fine . You have to consider when yo go somewhere that people are not from the same origin. Latin people (french,spanish,italian) are way more expressiv and they are less infiltrated by the english culture . Just watch theses country and compare with other country (all the scandinavia , germany,austria, slav) and you will find that the level of biliangual are really low compare to them .

Post: #71

WASHINGTON D.C./VIRGINIA!!...dont get me started.

Post: #72

(10-24-2011 01:33 PM)KingofScotland Wrote:  

Quote:The Balkan countries also have the rudest people from anywhere I've been.

Agreed. So unfriendly on the whole.

That's a lot of different countries. Which ones?

Post: #73

The FRENCH.

DC? Really?

Don't be stupid, DC is not rude by any means. You guys are delusional or have never traveled if DC is anywhere near your list. People in DC are busy and often in a hurry, but they aren't rude... and that's not me defending them. I grew up all over the place.

Post: #74

(10-24-2011 01:18 PM)FlacoLoco Wrote:  Rudest:
1. Miami
2. Miami
3. Miami

Here's my take on Miami. Many years ago Miami and all of South Florida used to be a great place to play. Now it is the capital of Latin America. If you don't speak Spanish you will be treated as a second class citizen there. Most of the girls in the bars speak English but only want Latin guys so they will only speak Spanish when out. I think Miami is a tough place for an English only speaker!

Post: #75

(10-24-2011 01:46 PM)Entropy4 Wrote:  In Paris, a woman in a deli wouldn't sell me a sandwich because I couldn't ask for it in French. Only time in my life I've eaten at McDonald's on principle.

Fuck her, she lost your business!!!!