On 17/07/2011 1:03 AM, sf wrote:
> On Sat, 16 Jul 2011 21:47:08 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888
> > wrote:
>
>> On Jul 16, 9:37 pm, > wrote:
>>> On Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:59:15 -0700 (PDT), spamtrap1888
>>>
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> You were not a maudit Anglais, merely an Ameri-con.
>>>
>>> Whatever that means.
>>>
>>
>> Not an oppressor, merely a tourist.
>
> Oh, okay. Thanks. We figured that if we had gotten a blatant snub
> from anyone, it would have been the guy that we asked directions from
> at the gas station in an "I don't speak English, I just pump gas" sort
> of way.
>


My French is admittedly rusty. I have heard horror stories about rude
treatment of tourists in Quebec and have come to the conclusion that it
had more to do with the way they acted and that they probably get rude
treatment everywhere. It certainly never happened to me. I always have
very friendly service, despite my fractured French.

I had similar experiences in Paris. People often talk about how rudely
they were treated in Paris but, with the exception of a middle aged
waiter at a sidewalk cafe, everyone was kind and courteous. I can
understand a 40 year old who has never risen above the position of
waiter having a chip on his shoulder.