Bad Manners in France
The rude, the loud, the French?
“Lack of manners” was quoted as the number one source of stress for 60% of French people, according to a recent study by French polling institute, lpsos.
The list also includes, boorish waiters, loud cell phone chatter, and pushy commuters. So the land of style and sophistication suffers from incivility and bad manners.
Recently France’s public transport agency has begun an attack on bad manners by plastering posters on commuter trains. Will that help? Is that all we need to do to change behavior from bad to good? Why didn’t we think of that! While I agree that putting up posters to remind passengers to be a little more mindful of their manners can’t hurt, I don’t believe that the self-absorbed cell phone user will adhere. Yet, it can provide nearby passengers something to refer to as they point and boldly stare at the offender.
Have you been to France recently? What were your observations?
It’s a sad state of affairs when the country from where the word “etiquette” originated, is struggling with lack of etiquette.
Does this mean that we are no longer the “laide Américains” (ugly Americans) when visiting France?
My take: Apparently the lack of courtesy, consideration, and respect is becoming a worldwide dilemma. What can we do? Well, we can begin by setting an example. Decide to be polite even to the most exasperating human being you interact with. Remain composed. Walk away if you must, but do not allow yourself to become intertwined in an unproductive conversation.
Helping businesses and individuals find success through better communication and social skills.
Rosalinda Oropeza Randall, Social Skills and Civility Presenter, Media Source, and author of “Don’t Burp in the Boardroom.”
She also offers customized presentations geared for specific audiences including: Startups, IT Professionals, Service Professionals, Sales Professionals, New Hires, Millennials, and an entire series for College and University students and athletes moving from the classroom into the workplace.. For more information, please contact me. 650.871.6200.
© 2017, Rosalinda Randall.
