[orgaelin]

It's not just an American thing - the English (like me) feel the same way about the French. I've been to a number of European countries but in most cases didn't get much chance to ask what they thought of their French neighbours... though I suspect the attitude would be the same.

Why do we all feel the same way about the French? It can't surely be that we're all just suckered in to the stereotyped views. I have been to various parts of France and every time I found the locals to be rude and arrogant. I did not go with any pre-judgement in mind, and wasn't even aware of the stereotype when I first went. Quite simply, the majority of French people are less friendly and polite than the English or the Americans.