Yeah - I have issues with that whole stereotype. It's unfortunate, but I did think this article might be of interest to people in here.

As for the stereotype itself, it gets on my nerves, ESPECIALLY when it's applied to the entire country. I mean, COME ON! It's a major city. Go up to anyone in any major city and start talking to them in a language that is not their own. Make no effort to speak to them in their own language. Interrupt them from whatever it was they were in the middle of rushing to do. How friendly and warm a response are you likely to get in New York? Probably no different than what you'd get in Paris. And who would judge the entire USA by the behavior of those in NYC? Ugh.

It's a huge sterotype, i think.

I've lived there, married me one of them there "parisians" ;-) and everyone i've ever meet was friendly, helpful, etc.

they don't smile at strangers - but that's just a cultural thing. New Yorker's don't do it, either.

and by teh way, having not spend too much time in NY, i have to say the small amount of time i spent (flight delyas or stop overs), i found ny-ers to be very rude as a city.

guess it's all persepctive

they are generally quite friendly.

Vlad,
After having read this and many other of your posts, I must say that think you are quite an idiot. And that is being frank. Pun intended.

Salut Luoti !
Merci pour cette tres bonne analyse !
It's true, Parisians are seen from other French to be rude...
I live in Santa Cruz in California and it is the same here with most local people talking about New Yorkers...
I heard many times Lille is pretty interesting and I know by having some friends up there and around that area that people are pretty friendly in your area, some people say it's due to "colder" weather, well maybe and there must be some more but you know I lived in Paris for 14 years coming from the wine country above Lyon and if you don't run you might miss you subway that then will take you late to your RER...it's silly but Parisians have lots of stressing things that are daily life to them, put anyone in a big cage (even as Beautiful as Paris) and you'll see how stressed they get...in fact, most Parisians don't "see" Paris much, if they don't take the bus like I had the chance or would chose to do a lot, they spend their "life" underground in the subway network and in their buildings...
Now that's a general situation but it might be the most common...
I agree people in the wine countries are usually a little cold...
Bordeaux has a bad reputation as well, my Mom is from there and she wouldn't go back...
Bordeaux has a special status though cause it has that kind of Bourgoisie status due to its wine quality (well there are so many great wines in other areas in France as well, but anyway).
I think if we take the time and look more we can "understand" why people are the way we are.
But truth is people or we do not always have or take the time...
Like you said "Still it doesn't mean we can't understand each other, on the opposite. :-)"
Very true!
I am getting used to Americans's big smile and the thing is I am a bit like that myself, I am most of it happy and smile a lot naturally (Gemini!! haha can't help it) but I sometimes "miss" the outspoken way French people have, but hey, I moved over here!
And I am still lucky here cause it's an area of activits and such so it's not lilke people are sheep and everything, people here are very progressive and think outside the box so much.
Thanks for your input Luoti.
Une bonne soiree sur Lille !
Sandrine.

There's too much stress, too many people, too much unhappiness, despite the sparkling beautiful side that Paris has, from the cultural point of view.
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Amen. It's not about "paris", i think, but about "urban" and in teh case of Tokyo, NY, LA, Paris, etc., "extreme urban".

On the other hand, when you can sit back and have good chocolate and bread before work, it does make the day go a bit better than when all you can find are "krispy kremes". :-)

I like French people, practicing the language on my travels to Canada and prefer the french rudeness upfront, if thats what you want to call it. I appreciate the love for the Parisian culture. I was born and raised in NYC and coming from a hispanic background in New York, we tend to appreciate the diversity of different backgrounds which would include the so-called rude maneuirsm, something the average caucasian New Yorker will find arrogant and judge with a punch in the face. So, who's really rude?

""have broke the ice" (French expression which I do not know the english equivalent! lol)"

It's the same in English.