French Have No Backbone/No Sense Of Humour.?

[Atheist]

I've heard such comments. I'm reading Verdun 1916, and I live part-time in a French village. It seems to me that they have both. They certainly have a sense of humour, although people who don't understand French wouldn't know that. They certainly have backbone; we weren't occupied by an invading army and they were. How would the English have got on if Churchill and Dad's Army had failed? The spivs and right-wing profiteers would have had a field day.

[Atheist]

Sorry, this post should have been elsewhere.

[Old_Geezer]

On a French forum ?

[douglas9401]

Maybe adding 'Some' at the beginning would help.

[Old_Geezer]

Spivs & profiteers exist all over the world.

[Atheist]

Yes, Douglas, but the people I am thinking of don't bother with that. This is probably not of general interest, but it does bug me when people make such comments. I'm sure nobody here would say such things, but I have heard them.

[Atheist]

Alors, pas de francophones ici! Bonne nuit.

[Old_Geezer]

Anyway it's the Germans that are known not to have a sense of humour; just ask Henning Wehn.

[JimF]

I'm francophone. Didn't realise that was what you were asking...

[douglas9401]

What does a Spanish dictator's communications device have to do with this?

[Atheist]

Yes,OG, Henning is lovely! He speaks good English, but with an amusing accent, so the English can enjoy him and feel superior at the same time..

[tonyav]

The French must have a sense of humour, Citroen invented the 2CV didn't they.

[Atheist]

Yes,Tony; good engineers, too.

[Atheist]

Jim. faut pas etre francophone.

[Buenchico]

Any nation that can produces both Jacques Tati and Dany Boon can't possibly be accused of lacking a sense of humour!

[Atheist]

Buen; mais il y a des gens qui ne comprennent francais.

[JimF]

"qui ne comprennent francais."
qui ne comprennent pas le français.

[Atheist]

Desole, Jim. Je parle l'argot de ce coin.

[tonyav]

Yes,Tony; good engineers, too.

Are they !

[Atheist]

Tony, pkwa pas?

[Buenchico]

Given that Jacques Tati's films are largely mimed, an understanding of French isn't necessary to enjoy them, Atheist!

Similarly, along as one can read subtitles, you only need to understand xenophobia and racism (and to have the ability to laugh at it) to fall about in mirth at the antics of the characters in Dany Boon's wonderful 'Rien à Déclarer'. It's a film that only the French could make but its humour transcends nationality:
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